Uh oh...Iraq

[Lou]

Per wiki: In June 2014,The Economist reported that "ISIS may have up to 6,000 fighters in Iraq and 3,000–5,000 in Syria, including perhaps 3,000 foreigners

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_State_of_Iraq_and_the_Levant

Surely it's gone up since June but not sure where the 80,000 is coming from.

We have contributed to the chaos in some ways but we're hardly behind the reason for a number of their wars.

It's coming directly from the link you provided:

"It is reported to have 30,000 fighters in its ranks in Iraq and up to 50,000 in Syria[16] who, in addition to attacks on government and military targets, have claimed responsibility for attacks that have killed thousands of civilians"

[Lou]

http://m.aljazeera.com/story/2014819184258421392

[InsideThePark]

It's coming directly from the link you provided:"It is reported to have 30,000 fighters in its ranks in Iraq and up to 50,000 in Syria[16] who, in addition to attacks on government and military targets, have claimed responsibility for attacks that have killed thousands of civilians"

And yet it contradicts itself. Found another source that suggests it's between 30,000-50,000. Whatever the number is, it's definitely more than I thought.

[Kevin]

Check how many members their facebook group has. Duh.

[Jay]

Eric is correct actually, apparently between syria and iraq the number is in the neighborhood of 80,000 which is shocking ( i cant imagine the orgainzation is capable of arming and coordinating all these people though, it may be more of a supporter type of number). However I still think the spirit of what I was trying to say is valid.  What i mean by the western interference, is that we have been propping up these malignant regimes in places like saudi arabia and for a long time iraq. Before that it was colonial activity.  The wisdom of these policies is certainly debatable.  However its not really secret that the west has contributed to the chaos in the region in a great number of ways.

 

When there was no resistance they were able to occupy a large amount of territory.  What we're seeing now though is that in reality they may be spread too thin and not really all that effective in the first place.

[Blarg]

Also remember that is just combat troops and not the political party and supporters. The US troop deployment in Afghanistan peaked at about 84,000 but it represented our entire country plus other foreign countries were involved. So it is disingenuous to say 80,000 armed militia doesn't represent a much larger core.

[mtangelsfan]

Eric is correct actually, apparently between syria and iraq the number is in the neighborhood of 80,000 which is shocking ( i cant imagine the orgainzation is capable of arming and coordinating all these people though, it may be more of a supporter type of number). However I still think the spirit of what I was trying to say is valid.  What i mean by the western interference, is that we have been propping up these malignant regimes in places like saudi arabia and for a long time iraq. Before that it was colonial activity.  The wisdom of these policies is certainly debatable.  However its not really secret that the west has contributed to the chaos in the region in a great number of ways.

 

The west and the US in particular certainly have bloody hands and pretty much all of their attempts to meddle in foreign areas have failed miserably.  However, I don't give groups like Al Qeada and ISIS a pass for their evil behavior.  They make the choice to behave like this.

[UndertheHalo]

Certainly not giving them a pass, Im just saying where I think they came from. 

[mtangelsfan]

They came from wherever evil comes from.  Certain vacuums allow greater evil to spread.

 

I agree with the president (happens once in a blue moon) that they are a cancer.

[Jason]

They came from wherever evil comes from.  Certain vacuums allow greater evil to spread.

 

I agree with the president (happens once in a blue moon) that they are a cancer.

So does he try to remove them?

[Caralho]

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/21/world/middleeast/isis-pressed-for-ransom-before-killing-james-foley.html

 

A very good article about how these groups can fund themselves by kidnapping people. 

[Tank]

Check how many members their facebook group has. Duh.

 

"We are IS, an Islamic extremist group that has declared a new caliphate and enjoys slaughtering Christians and Americans. Please like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter."

[mrwicked]

I haven't read this thread, so not sure it has been mentioned.

Did anyone else get a strangely "fake" vibe from the beheading video?

I don't mean to imply conspiracy nonsense, etc.

It just seemed decidedly different than other videos of that nature that have come out over the years.

Edited August 21, 2014 by mrwicked

[Brandon]

Watched it last night, that was my thoughts.

 

I actually was tripping out more because he looked so calm knowing he was going to get murked. The blackout thing as it happened was weird too.

[Brandon]

Plus, they talked about bombing while stories are coming out about money.

[Tank]

i started watching the video but couldn't finish it. i was surprised they weren't using some big 12th century persian battle sword. it appeared to be nothing more than an 8" kitchen knife, which seemed kind of inefficient to me.

[Lou]

Mine are huge, but you can't have them.

[HaloMagic]

Have you enlisted or are you just talking? Are you less of a pussy because you are in favor of sending other men and women to die in a war that the US starts while you sit on your ass at the computer all day insulting people?

I wish I had balls as big as yours, tough guy.

Moded

[arch stanton]

 

Foreign ministers from the Arab Contact Group have pledged to adopt a unified stance against extremist ideology in the Arab world.

Foreign Affairs Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal presided over the crucial meeting in Jeddah on Sunday.

Five Arab countries took part in the talks that focused on pressing regional developments.

Foreign ministers Sameh Shoukry from Egypt, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan from the UAE, Khalid Al-Attiyah from Qatar and Ambassador Nawaf Al-Tell, adviser to the Foreign Affairs minister in Jordan attended the meeting.

Delegates expressed concern over extremist ideologies promoted by groups such as Islamic State (IS) that threaten regional stability and security.

They discussed the Syrian conflict and “challenges including the rise of terrorist extremist ideology”.

The talks focused on global geopolitical risks arising from ongoing conflicts in some Arab states and their impact on global peace and security. 

The ministers agreed on “the need to seriously work to deal with these crises and challenges to preserve security and stability in Arab countries,” said a report.

The Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh, had also called the group Islam’s No. 1 enemy.

Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said earlier that the meeting in Jeddah would address “the growing presence in Iraq and Syria of extremists,” notably the IS.

The rise of IS meant the “search for a political solution to the Syria crisis was needed more than ever”, it said

 

http://www.arabnews.com/news/620501

 

Little birdies tell me it's about to get ugly.

[Blarg]

It sounds as if the religion of peace has about had enough of the religion of beheading children and making enemies of the rest of the world. Better that they take care of this problem rather than involve the US and other Western nations to police the area.

[arch stanton]

The official title of the Saudi king is Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. This title they take seriously. I think they now fear that these clowns will make a move on Mecca so they will now possibly utilize some of their billions of dollars in American and European military gear.

[mrwicked]

I haven't read this thread, so not sure it has been mentioned.

Did anyone else get a strangely "fake" vibe from the beheading video?

I don't mean to imply conspiracy nonsense, etc.

It just seemed decidedly different than other videos of that nature that have come out over the years.

 

Forensics experts seem to agree.

 

"The beheading of American journalist, James Foley, at the hands of ISIS militants shocked the world but forensic experts have revealed the video was probably staged, with the murder happening off camera."

 

http://www.news.com.au/world/london-hiphop-artist-abdelmajed-abdel-bary-key-suspect-in-hunt-for-killer-of-american-journalist-james-foley/story-fndir2ev-1227034541900

Edited August 25, 2014 by mrwicked

[arch stanton]

That makes sense. Since they were only going to get one take they had to create the best possible odds for a successful scene.

[gotbeer]

Looks like they chopped off the head of the other reporter.  

 

http://news.yahoo.com/un-provides-aid-record-4-1-million-syria-103002946.html

Edited September 2, 2014 by gotbeer

[Adam]

Gotta be a strange sensation to hear a dude tell you he's going to behead somebody because of you. 

 

This ISIS stuff is the gnarest shit of our lifetime