Page 7 of 8 FirstFirst ... 5678 LastLast
Results 181 to 210 of 225

Thread: ISIS....

  1. #181
    NSA DocReveals ISIS Leader Al-Baghdadi is U.S., British and Israeli Intelligence Asset

    NSA documents add more detail to plan to destabilize MiddleEast
    According to a document recently released by NSAwhistleblower Edward Snowden, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of ISIS, now theIslamic State, is an intelligence asset.

    The NSA document reveals the United States, Israel, andBritain are responsible for the creation of ISIS.
    http://www.infowars.com/nsa-doc-reve...ligence-asset/

  2. #182

  3. #183
    Quote Originally Posted by Spenni View Post
    Support an independent Kurdistan and cut any losses?
    Do you really think a majority of US voters see the situation that way?

  4. #184
    Do we base our foreign policy of issues that are not widely known on opinion polls?
    Hope is the denial of reality

  5. #185
    Quote Originally Posted by GGT View Post
    Do you really think a majority of US voters see the situation that way?
    I think were at war and we need to fight the war.

    Islamic State needs to crushed to the point where it can no longer exist as an entity. I don't think the 1st world has stomach for that type of war anymore though.

  6. #186
    We crushed it in 2007. Look where we are now. As long as Sunnis in that region have significant grievances against their governments and the motivation to do something about those grievances, ISIS or groups like it will find ways to take advantage of those grievances. Without the support of the Sunni tribes, ISIS would be no more than yet another terrorist group.
    Hope is the denial of reality

  7. #187
    We're going to end up fighting a conventional war with these guys at some point, aren't we? Not this year. Not next year. But before the turn of the decade, we're going to have to get into an honest to god land-war with these fuckers, and it's going to leave another huge mess behind, because the political situation in the middle-east is so broken and no one knows how to fix it.
    The light that once I thought compassion still casting shadows in your action
    The words you shared were cold transactions that bring me to curse what you've done
    When you're up there absorbed in greatness with such success you've grown complacent
    I hope you scorch your many faces when you fly too close to the sun

  8. #188
    Stingy DM Veldan Rath's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Maine! And yes, we have plumbing!
    Posts
    3,064
    You neocon chicken-hawk!
    Brevior saltare cum deformibus viris est vita

  9. #189
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Amsterdam/Istanbul
    Posts
    12,462
    Quote Originally Posted by Steely Glint View Post
    We're going to end up fighting a conventional war with these guys at some point, aren't we? Not this year. Not next year. But before the turn of the decade, we're going to have to get into an honest to god land-war with these fuckers, and it's going to leave another huge mess behind, because the political situation in the middle-east is so broken and no one knows how to fix it.
    I seriously consider this a possibility, it will be bloody too if it happens.
    Congratulations America

  10. #190
    I fail to see what a war accomplishes against ISIS. The problem is the support they enjoy, not their numbers. At the very least, we'd need to occupy the areas currently under ISIS control (including those in Syria); can't see how that could go wrong...
    Hope is the denial of reality

  11. #191
    Quote Originally Posted by Spenni View Post
    I think were at war and we need to fight the war.

    Islamic State needs to crushed to the point where it can no longer exist as an entity. I don't think the 1st world has stomach for that type of war anymore though.
    Since US congress has called things "armed conflict" for nearly 15 years, do you think they're going to make an official Declaration of War any time soon? Besides, the Islamic State isn't recognized as a legitimate nation, so the 'traditional type' of War Declarations (against existing/legitimate nations) wouldn't work anyway.

    Quote Originally Posted by Loki View Post
    We crushed it in 2007. Look where we are now. As long as Sunnis in that region have significant grievances against their governments and the motivation to do something about those grievances, ISIS or groups like it will find ways to take advantage of those grievances. Without the support of the Sunni tribes, ISIS would be no more than yet another terrorist group.
    Hang on. The Islamic State (ISIS) didn't even exist in '07. If you're referring to 'the military surge' against Al Qaeda in Iraq, what ideology was crushed?




    Quote Originally Posted by Steely Glint View Post
    We're going to end up fighting a conventional war with these guys at some point, aren't we? Not this year. Not next year. But before the turn of the decade, we're going to have to get into an honest to god land-war with these fuckers, and it's going to leave another huge mess behind, because the political situation in the middle-east is so broken and no one knows how to fix it.
    That's why I started a thread about the possibilities of WWIII.

    Quote Originally Posted by Loki View Post
    I fail to see what a war accomplishes against ISIS. The problem is the support they enjoy, not their numbers. At the very least, we'd need to occupy the areas currently under ISIS control (including those in Syria); can't see how that could go wrong...
    Of course the US/west can't, and shouldn't occupy other nations.

    But maybe we've been too slow in seeing how open, democratic, 'western' systems of education, information, finance, travel (etc.) can be used by terrorists to wreak havoc....because we believed that Free Markets and Free Trade could transcend any political--or religious--ideology?

    That doesn't even work in domestic policy, so who's kidding whom?

  12. #192
    And the relevance of free trade is?
    Hope is the denial of reality

  13. #193
    Quote Originally Posted by Loki View Post
    And the relevance of free trade is?
    Isn't it obvious? We think Free Trade can only influence international policies in positive ways. We're reluctant to admit the negative consequences, or Blowback.

    Boko Haram loosely translates to "western education is evil"......yet, they use western technology to disseminate their message, and get new recruits. How do we counter that kind of ideology?

    We're not going to shut down the internet just because a few terrorists have found ways to exploit the weakest link. At the same time, I don't think the west knows how to use technology that benefits people, without also giving terrorists the same benefits.

  14. #194
    You're a living, walking non-sequitur.
    Hope is the denial of reality

  15. #195
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Amsterdam/Istanbul
    Posts
    12,462
    I honestly was shocked CNN gave a 20 minute slot to the terrorist apologist claptrap from the (probably) terrorist linked organization CAGE.
    Congratulations America

  16. #196
    Quote Originally Posted by GGT View Post
    Isn't it obvious? We think Free Trade can only influence international policies in positive ways. We're reluctant to admit the negative consequences, or Blowback.

    Boko Haram loosely translates to "western education is evil"......yet, they use western technology to disseminate their message, and get new recruits. How do we counter that kind of ideology?

    We're not going to shut down the internet just because a few terrorists have found ways to exploit the weakest link. At the same time, I don't think the west knows how to use technology that benefits people, without also giving terrorists the same benefits.
    Unless your suggestion is to try to defeat terrorism by abandoning "free trade" I'm not sure why you believe the notion of free trade is relevant to this particular problem.
    "One day, we shall die. All the other days, we shall live."

  17. #197
    If you ask her what free trade is, she'll probably say something about banker salaries and and vaccines.
    Hope is the denial of reality

  18. #198
    It's too bad there's so little reporting behind the chain of towns and cities that ISIS controls. I wonder if they have any idea how to actually run a state.

  19. #199
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Amsterdam/Istanbul
    Posts
    12,462
    So far they have never been evicted by the locals in the parts that they rule. You also should keep in mind that with people expecting very little good from government at all it's easier to be acceptable government.
    Congratulations America

  20. #200
    Quote Originally Posted by Dreadnaught View Post
    It's too bad there's so little reporting behind the chain of towns and cities that ISIS controls. I wonder if they have any idea how to actually run a state.
    By which standards? Specify century and level of crappiness pls

    I think they should be expected to be more competent than eg. the Taliban at least.
    "One day, we shall die. All the other days, we shall live."

  21. #201
    Senior Member Flixy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    The Netherlands
    Posts
    6,435
    I don't even know how well Taliban ran the country, actually.
    Keep on keepin' the beat alive!

  22. #202
    It's not exactly fair to compare the Taliban, which ruled an incredibly undeveloped society, with ISIS, which controls parts of fairly developed Syria and Iraq. From the limited reports I've seen, ISIS created a clear hierarchy and various institutions necessary for rule. Which is to say that the intent to rule is there. But the competence of those institutions leaves a lot to be desired. It can get money to where it wants to go, but doesn't have the skill to turn that into policy successes. ISIS can provide food, security, and some level of schooling and healthcare, but not much else.
    Hope is the denial of reality

  23. #203
    Senior Member Flixy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    The Netherlands
    Posts
    6,435
    Isn't that pretty much the amount of government that is common in the parts they control? Food, security, education and healthcare?
    Keep on keepin' the beat alive!

  24. #204
    Those services aren't particularly good, and there's the issue of having services that promote employment and stuff.
    Hope is the denial of reality

  25. #205
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Amsterdam/Istanbul
    Posts
    12,462
    Quote Originally Posted by Loki View Post
    It's not exactly fair to compare the Taliban, which ruled an incredibly undeveloped society, with ISIS, which controls parts of fairly developed Syria and Iraq. From the limited reports I've seen, ISIS created a clear hierarchy and various institutions necessary for rule. Which is to say that the intent to rule is there. But the competence of those institutions leaves a lot to be desired. It can get money to where it wants to go, but doesn't have the skill to turn that into policy successes. ISIS can provide food, security, and some level of schooling and healthcare, but not much else.
    For a big number of Syrians especially those who don't like Assad, that's not a step back from what they had. And most of them were used to shut up to start with.
    Congratulations America

  26. #206
    It actually is, because there's no longer a functioning economy. I suppose there's more equality in those areas, but certainly not more productivity.
    Hope is the denial of reality

  27. #207
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Amsterdam/Istanbul
    Posts
    12,462
    Quote Originally Posted by Loki View Post
    It actually is, because there's no longer a functioning economy. I suppose there's more equality in those areas, but certainly not more productivity.
    Up to either right now or quite recently IS was quite capable of funding the functions of a state, thus keeping a lot of people happy enough. As for the rest of them; they were always used to working around the state, not with it. If you think that doesn't still happen under IS, I urge you to think again.

    The problem for those opposed to IS, is that IS is not nearly as bad for a majority of Sunni muslims as we think it is. They may not necessarily like IS, but neither would they like the alternatives which may actually want to kill or deprive them for no other reason than that they are Sunni. After all a bit to the south millions of people live under a regime for decades already, that's barely marginally better than IS.
    Congratulations America

  28. #208
    Another bump. Hard to believe this thread started nearly a year ago.....and there's still no consensus about what ISIS is, let alone what it means for domestic safety and/or international policies.


  29. #209
    Pretty sure there is...
    Hope is the denial of reality

  30. #210
    If there was "consensus", policy debates wouldn't be as contentious, would they?

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •