A Look At The Islamic State

[T.Lex]

The students get REALLY nervous when told to get into a single-file line....

At recess they play _________ and ___________.

 

[jamil]

Wait. Why aren't they a state? I keep seeing maps with boundaries that they control. They defend those borders. They make and enforce the laws for the areas they control.

They appear to be doing all the things that states do.

They are a state in a practical sense, acting as an organized political authority within their declared borders. Heck, they're even issuing parking tickets.

However, the international community does not recognize their borders or their authority to rule, nor should they recognize it. I don't have a problem with the press and administration not recognizing their statehood. However, I see a big problem with the administration not recognizing their armed forces as an army. He speaks of them as one would speak of a band of thugs. This band of thugs is 30K+ strong well equipped and trained soldiers.

 

[pudly]

If he recognized them as an army, he would have to say this is a war instead of counter-terrorism. Then he wouldn't even have a fig leaf to cover the fact that he had copied Bush's "preemptive war" strategy.

 

[jamil]

If he recognized them as an army, he would have to say this is a war instead of counter-terrorism. Then he wouldn't even have a fig leaf to cover the fact that he had copied Bush's "preemptive war" strategy.

Well, reality being what it is...

 

[T.Lex]

Couple things.

IMHO (and historically) "official" international recognition is probably one of the least compelling components of "statehood." Someone is buying oil from them, bringing consumer products to them, etc.

Which does lead to the other issue. As jamil points out - reality is important. This artificial rubric of statehood as a precondition for war was never really true and is even less important in the modern era of international terrorism.

I believe the president as CINC does have authority to order troops into hot spots for limited periods of deployment without congressional oversight. I also believe that our constitutional system does require a congressional mandate - however it is captioned - for sustained deployments. I'm not sure the War Powers Act is constitutional, but it does provide a relatively straightforward approach for how to define the difference.

Having said all that, this whole idea of air-power-only smacks of "bomb them into the stone age" but with LGBs/JDAMs instead of carpet bombing. Do the same thing, expect the same result.

 

[Kart29]

Some Americans are racist. Racist Americans sometimes do bad things.

Not all Americans are racist. Doesn't mean the non-racist Americans deserve blame for the bad things racist Americans do.

That's why I tend to use the term "islamofascists." The radicals tend to be more about power - fascism - than religion. That's just the leverage point they use.

I agree.

However, if a large number of racist Americans banded together and formed a group called "Racists of America", we might be safe in assuming they really are racists. Of course not all Americans are members of "Racists of America", but the ones that are, are pretty much all racists.

Similarly, not all terrorists are Muslim. But the terrorists in the Islamic State ARE all Muslims.

Further, I think it is pretty clear that the terrorists in the IS openly and most emphatically cite their religion as the reason behind their actions. Muslims from all over the world have come to join them in their cause. And the reason these Muslims have come from the US, UK, Belgium, Chechnya, etal, is not because they want to gain power, but because they want to follow their religion. Perhaps the leaders of the organization have the acquisition of power as their primary motivator. But the rank and file who are doing the killing and oppression are obviously motivated by religious fervor.

 

[mrjarrell]

Yet another brick in the hearts and minds wall for IS. They've reopened the schools and want kids in there. They set the curriculum and what they don't want taught is telling. Must have some Texan members in their ranks.

ISIS Bans Teaching Evolution In Schools

 

[88GT]

Of all the things to be concerned with what ISIS is mandating about the curriculum and evolution is high on the list of concerns?

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

I've been reading and hearing about the numbers of "out-of-towners" that have been traveling to the ME to join up with ISIS. According to this source, over 300 Americans have gone--I wonder how many more like minded individuals are staying put.

See Which Countries Islamic State Fighters Are Coming From | TheBlaze.com

 

[T.Lex]

@88GT
Arg. Don't get me started on priorities.

But, I guess it is about building coalitions. I mean, there's one group that's angry about the beheadings, mass murders, and violence, then there is (apparently) a different group that is mainly concerned about educational curriculum. If this administration can get both groups to agree on what to do, then they are way ahead of the game.

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

And in regards to why those beheading victims simply stood there and "took it", according to this guy, they probably thought it was one of many mock executions.

Journalist Once Held by Islamic State Militants Reveals Why He Believes Beheading Victims Appeared So Calm Before Their Deaths | TheBlaze.com

 

[88GT]

@88GT
Arg. Don't get me started on priorities.

But, I guess it is about building coalitions. I mean, there's one group that's angry about the beheadings, mass murders, and violence, then there is (apparently) a different group that is mainly concerned about educational curriculum. If this administration can get both groups to agree on what to do, then they are way ahead of the game.

Well, there's that. The educational issues don't even make my list in the scheme of things when the big picture is considered.

But I was generally referring to just within the educational choices ISIS is making. Seems a bit bass ackwards to worry that evolution isn't being taught when there are other far more dangerous and anti-liberty forming the core of the curriculum. Ironically, the fact that the education will largely be theocratic in nature, I wonder why that particular detail didn't raise the eyebrows. I guess it's only bad when it's _______________ that's the basis for an education.

 

[jamil]

Of all the things to be concerned with what ISIS is mandating about the curriculum and evolution is high on the list of concerns?

It was just a hidden jab at a forbidden target. He's gotta get his quota notwithstanding the crackdown.

 

[88GT]

It was just a hidden jab at a forbidden target. He's gotta get his quota notwithstanding the crackdown.

No, not really. It just seems illogical to be concerned that Darwin's On the Origin of Species isn't going to be on the textbook list when the students will likely to be fed complete BS about the world in general and the great enemies of America and Western Europe in particular.

 

[mrjarrell]

Evolution is not the only thing they are forbidding the teaching of, as the article says. They are setting the schools up to brainwash kids into their organisation and outlook and that's why some of the parents aren't sending their kids to the schools.

 

[T.Lex]

Wait - is this about Common Core again?

(I keed, I keed.)

The winner writes the history books, right? And the biology, and the chemistry, and the social studies books. So far, ISIS won the authority to teach whatever they want in the schools.

Just seems like this is one of their more petty sins.

 

[Henry]

It's like using a colonoscope to see inside the rectum of the world.

That area is nothing but a sh*thole.

Still looks the same.

 

[ArcadiaGP]

I've been seeing too many reports of ISIS making threats and not enough reports of ISIS members being killed.

 

[ArcadiaGP]

ISIS ramping up threats against the Pope.
Pope Assassination Imminent, Iraq Ambassador To Vatican Warns - International Business Times

 

[ghuns]

ISIS ramping up threats against the Pope.
Pope Assassination Imminent, Iraq Ambassador To Vatican Warns - International Business Times

I bet there are some Swiss dudes in funny costumes runnin round Vatican city, peeing down their leg, even as we speak.