Re: The Rise of ISIS

[Rockhopper]

Yes Ka, that's the disturbing part. Almost as if ISIS was created just so they could do our liberties.

Our PM wants to send troops over the Iraq to fight them but Kiwi's are not impressed with that. So it's debatable if it will happen.

Tim.

[Rockhopper]

There is a historical episode that reflects ISIS and that is the Pope's Crusades in the Middle Ages. Same mentality.Total destruction of all other Religions.

Tim.

[Lenzabi]

Al Queda was a bogey-man to replace the the defunct Soviet Empire. Al Queda is impotent, so ISIS shows up, and also Khorasan. our Military Industrial Complex needs bogey men to help justify our lack of liberties, and also their fatty contracts

[Rockhopper]

Precisely Len. Back in the early 90's Russia wanted to open up and Europe was amenable to having Russia join in the EU. The Yanx blocked that because they needed an enemy and Russia was the modern traditional enemy for them then.

Had Russia joined with Europe we wouldn't have the problems that we have now. And there would be no need for NATO either.

Tim.

[Lenzabi]

They were afraid of the EU dominated by Russia.

[Stargate]

They were afraid of the EU dominated by Russia.

There is still a certain Russian domination still going on for the EU in terms of natural gas.

[Rockhopper]

A marriage of convenience Star!

Tim.

[Rockhopper]

Here's why things are so bad in Iraq and Syria.

Speaking from a base besieged by Islamic State fighters, a police lieutenant in Anbar province painted a grim picture of the Iraqi government's faltering hold on this restive western region. Surrounded on all sides, he expects the jihadi group to be within firing range any day now.
Sitting just to the west of Hit, a small town along a key highway connecting the city of Haditha to Anbar's provincial capital of Ramadi, al-Asad is the largest military base in Anbar and one of just two that remain in government control. Last week, after first attacking the eastern edge of Hit with suicide bombers, Islamic State militants overran the town. The United Nations says the ensuing clashes displaced more than 180,000 people.
"Unfortunately, after we lost Hit, [the Islamic State] has been advancing dramatically," the lieutenant explained over the phone. "They're coming specifically for us."
Sounding exasperated over the poor cell-phone connection, the lieutenant explained that soldiers poured into al-Asad air base after the fall of Hit, temporarily making the men confident in their defenses. But, he said, that quickly turned to despair as they realized that they were now left cut off and outgunned.
"We have some tanks, artillery, machine guns, and light weapons," he explained, but feared that it was not enough to withstand a prolonged attack. "What does [the Islamic State] have? American anti-aircraft weapons!"
Iraqi troops are not only frustrated with Baghdad, which they say has not given them enough weapons to fight the jihadists -- but they're disappointed with the U.S.-led air campaign meant to support them. Over the past two weeks, about a dozen airstrikes have targeted Anbar out of the nearly 50 airstrikes carried out by U.S.-led forces in Iraq. In the first week of October, meanwhile, there were more than 15 airstrikes in Anbar, according to information released by U.S. Central Command. U.S. officials have said that the recent decrease in airstrikes in Anbar is due in part to bad weather conditions, a claim dismissed by those on the ground in Anbar.

Source.

Tim.

[Lenzabi]

That ISIS/IL have US made anti-air defenses in their hands means our planes are less likely to fly where they can be shot down. Yet, we also proved in Libya the ability to jam most anti-air defenses, so Hmmmm, seems they have to have news worthy stuff showing a more powerful than reality version of ISIL.

[Stargate]

That ISIS/IL have US made anti-air defenses in their hands means our planes are less likely to fly where they can be shot down. Yet, we also proved in Libya the ability to jam most anti-air defenses, so Hmmmm, seems they have to have news worthy stuff showing a more powerful than reality version of ISIL.

Len,, you may have read that the so called freedom fighters who fought the Syrian government have joined the ISIS group because of the US bombing that are perceived to be supporting ASSAD. THE BOMBINGS have done little to stop Isis and so they have launched a massive recruthing campaign all over the world. Isis is now campaigning in England threatening that sheria law will overtake the world.
Strange things are happening.

[Rockhopper]

Yeah Star but ISIS has been conflated way beyond what they really are. The Media is portraying them an 'Epitome of Evil' who have taken over a huge swathe of territory. But in fact, they barely control a very small part of Syria/Iraq. They control some small towns and a few roads but not the main highways there.

The US bombing has only scattered them into the surrounding countryside where they spend most of their time trying to survive. Hell, they can't even take over Kobani and they are only fighting a small force of Kurds there.

While they claim to support the Sunni, the Sunnis by and large don't support them and their excesses.

Tim.

[Stargate]

I am always skeptical of what the media reports Tim, so what you say seems to make more sense.

[Rockhopper]

They are still dangerous Star but not anywhere as bad as the media makes out.

Tim.

[Stargate]

Why would they be dangerous when they were created by the forces that opposes them? Are you saying the propaganda is willfully generated? If so, very interesting.

[Rockhopper]

Propaganda indeed Star! Got to have an enemy to justify the huge expense buying shiny new things what go bang!

Tim.

[Rockhopper]

Apparently they are finding that holding ground is damned difficult!

For a force that has built its reputation on an aura of momentum and invincibility, the Islamic State group is now dealing with a series of military setbacks in Iraq and a prolonged stalemate in the small Syrian border town of Kobani.

Gone are the days when Isis was able to seize territory in both countries with relative ease.

Its newfound problems, including a loss of oil revenue, raise questions about the extent to which it will be able to continue recruiting fighters who want to be with a winner.

"Isis has run a very effective psychological campaign to intimidate its rivals and attract support and recruits," said Faysal Itani, a resident fellow at the Atlantic Council, using an acronym for the extremists. But now, he said, the need to maintain its reputation is limiting the group's options.

This is particularly true in Kobani, where a pre-emptive IS withdrawal in the face of US-led bombings from the sky and ethnic Kurdish fighters on the ground could prove too costly.

Source

Tim.

[Agartha]

Isis will die eventually as they are loosing credibility and power.

In the UK, the behading of charity worker Alan Henning has backfired big time on Isis, as it has turned young muslims against the group. The man was a lovely human being who went there to help children, and Isis behaded him like an animal.

But, having said that, I personally think that if the West doesn't stop sending troops to bomb foreign countries, other groups like Isis will always be made by angry civilians.

[Stargate]

I am of the opinion that if the west stopped their agressive poster on the world these radical groups would cool down. They are being tolerated for one reason or the other.
AGS, you know that the west commited some unspeakable atrocities in the past, there is nothing new.

[Lenzabi]

The Military Industrial Complex needs boogeymen to justify it's existence and survival, it fears a peace based economy

[Agartha]

I agree with you both:  the West in the past has committed atrocities and got richer at the same time........ the West now always needs a scapegoat to carry on their pockets enriching plans.

But guilty are the governments and the super rich who profits with their wars.

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