[Keith_McClary]

The nomenclature seems to betting rather bizarre IMHO: Syria’s moderate opposition, Sunni terrorists, Shia security forces, Syrian terrorists, Iranian-backed sectarian Shia government, moderate Syrian armed opposition, elements of the moderate Syrian armed opposition, Sunni extremists, sectarian Shiite forces, Alawite Shiite, Islamist militants, etc.

Funny post, Rock

We need an elaborate interactive infographic showing all these relationships, as well as the Kurds, Saudis, Israelis, Qataris, Russians, various US factions, Egyptians, Libyans, Turks, etc. This would have to be updated weekly, or maybe daily.

[PrestonSturges]

The Glass Bead Game

[ROCKMAN]

Just watched the Aljazeera report on the anniversary events surrounding the start of WW I. My wife asked why the heck did Japan enter a war being fought by a bunch of white guys half way around the world whom the Japanese couldn't care less about? Easy answer: they didn't give a crap about what was happening in Europe. What they cared about was expanding into the Pacific. At the time the Japanese Imperial Navy was nearly autonomous and saw the opportunity to capture all the Pacific islands (and the resources) Germany controlled in the Pacific since their focus was elsewhere at the time. It also allowed efforts to take control of Chinese territories since the rest of the world was also preoccupied.

So 100 years later we see the same dynamics developing in the ME IMHO. If there were no hydrocarbon resources in Iraq and Crimea would the recent events in either country get more than a 30 second spot on the evening news and then only once? Would the Russians, US, NATO, the Saudis and the EU be paying any attention to Syria if it didn't represent a gateway for Persian Gulf oil/NG?

Just as WW I was fought for the sake expansion and resource control it seems obvious to all of us that the same dynamics are at play in the ME. Of it were for oil the Sunni could kill very Shia man, woman and child in Iraq and the rest of the world wouldn't blink as it cried on BAU. A rather poignant point on the anniversary of a military conflict that killed/maimed a significant % of the global population. And all because one guy killed another guy and his wife. Sureeeee...that's why WW I was fought. And why the US invaded Iraq to protect Nebraska from a chemical attack. And why the Saudis are supporting efforts by rebels to free the Syrian people for a dictatorial gov't...similar to that in the KSA. And why Russia needed to free the Crimean people from their puppet masters. Etc., etc.

At least that one thing you can give the Nazis in the 30's: they didn't toss out any BS about what they were doing and why: they were the Master Race and it was their manifest destiny to rule and eliminate the garbage (such as Jews, gypsies, retarded/handicapped, etc.) that polluted the world.

[Rod_Cloutier]

I often wonder what people from other countries think about us 'Westerners' ? Not speaking the language, with a different cultural upbringing, and so forth.

All the news from the West being in a language you don't understand? I watched this piece today. (Graphic images) Of the ISIS standpoint of the current conflict:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=p ... cbOHCw#t=0

I have no idea whatsoever what is being said in this newscast, but it looks pretty bad. Non-native English speakers must feel similarly viewing English only news from our countries?

[Sixstrings]

Leader of ISIS has declared a caliphate and him the caliph, also in the news ISIS crucifies 9 Syrian rebels for being too moderate. They also demand that AQ and all jihadis swear allegiance to their caliph:

ISIS Declares A Caliphate; Crucifies 9 Syrian Rebels For Being "Too Moderate"

Erstwhile leader of ISIS, Sheikh Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi has declared himself Caliphate, Amir Al-Mu'minin - Leader of Believers, as militants bear down on Baghdad. This comes as the extremist group demands that all Al-Qaeda and Jihadi branches must now pledge allegiance to ISIS.. if not there are consequences as nine rebels have been crucified for being too 'moderate' or accused of receiving support from Western powers.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-06-29/isis-declares-caliphate-crucifies-9-syrian-rebels-being-too-moderate

(I hate being over the top like judge jeanie on Foxnews, but I got a bad feeling on this, this guy could be like some Saladin uniting fundi arabs, not good)

[Keith_McClary]

Russian fighter jets arrive in Iraq for fight against rebels

First five Sukhoi Su-25 fighters expected to go into action within days, according to Iraqi defense ministry.

Iraq has taken delivery of a batch of Russian fighter jets for its defense against Sunni militants, the Iraqi defense ministry announced on Sunday morning, accord to a report in the BBC.
...
The deal with Russia "was aimed at increasing the firepower of the air force and the rest of the armed forces in order to fight terrorism," the ministry said in a statement.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki told the BBC last week that his government had signed a deal with Russia and Belarus to supply second-hand jet fighters, reportedly at a cost of some $500 million (two billion shekels).

At the same time, Maliki criticized the United States for taking too long to deliver F-16 jets ordered by Iraq.

On Friday, Iraqi Air Force Commander Hameed al-Maliki confirmed that he had signed contracts for the purchase of Russian MI-35 and MI-28 attack helicopter to "keep up the momentum" in the attacks against the Sunni insurgents, Ruptly news agency reported.

A Russian expert, quoted by Lenta.ru news agency, said that six Sukhoi SU-30 jets had been sent to Iraq, but this has not yet been confirmed.

[Plantagenet]

Obama just another 200 US combat troops to Iraq. This group is supposed to guard the Baghdad airport. That get us back up to 800 soldiers sent into Iraq so far. Since the WH still claims we don't have boots on the ground in Iraq, I assume Obama has ordered them all to march around barefoot.

Obama pulling troops out of Iraq and then sending them back in again reminds of the famous old english poem about the Duke of York

Oh, The grand old Duke of York,
He had ten thousand men;
He marched them up to the top of the hill,
And he marched them down again.

And when they were up, they were up,
And when they were down, they were down,
And when they were only half-way up,
They were neither up nor down.

I guess with 800 US combat soldiers, advisors, marines etc. sent back into Iraq so far to replace the US soldiers we pulled out just a few years ago, at this point we are neither in nor out.


The modern Duke of York

[Keith_McClary]

The grand old Duke of York

Isn't the moral of that ditty that the Duke was smart to march them up but stupid to march them down?

[Plantagenet]

The grand old Duke of York

Isn't the moral of that ditty that the Duke was smart to march them up but stupid to march them down?

The poem is about a commander who isn't a very good commander. Someone who marches their army out of someplace only to realize they've made a boo-boo and they have to go back to where they were in the first place doesn't really know what they are doing.


Lets go INTO Iraq. No, lets go OUT of Iraq. Wait a minute, I made a boo-boo--you troops now march back INTO Iraq again

[Keith_McClary]

The poem is about a commander who isn't a very good commander. Someone who marches their army out of someplace only to realize they've made a boo-boo and they have to go back to where they were in the first place doesn't really know what they are doing.

I thought "up the hill" referred to an easily defended fort. By going down the hill, the troops were on a level playing field and got wiped out.

Remind us, what would President Plant 2009 have done?

[Sixstrings]

Christian Father Commits Suicide After ISIS Members Rape Wife and Daughter in Front of Him Because He Couldn't Pay Poll Tax
http://www.christianpost.com/news/christian-father-commits-suicide-after-isis-members-rape-wife-and-daughter-in-front-of-him-because-he-couldnt-pay-poll-tax-122220/

[Plantagenet]

Christian Father Commits Suicide After ISIS Members Rape Wife and Daughter in Front of Him Because He Couldn't Pay Poll Tax
http://www.christianpost.com/news/christian-father-commits-suicide-after-isis-members-rape-wife-and-daughter-in-front-of-him-because-he-couldnt-pay-poll-tax-122220/

Thats a very sad story, 6.

Perhaps the Christian man should've gone to the Caliph and asked for justice. After all, the Koran says:

سَلاَمٌ عَلَيْكُمْ كَتَبَ رَبُّكُمْ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ الرَّحْمَةَ أَنَّهُ مَن عَمِلَ مِنكُمْ سُوءًا بِجَهَالَةٍ ثُمَّ تَابَ مِن بَعْدِهِ وَأَصْلَحَ فَأَنَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ (6:54)

And when those who believe in Our messages come unto thee, say: "Peace be upon you. Your Sustainer has willed upon Himself the law of grace and mercy - so that if any of you does a bad deed out of ignorance, and thereafter repents and lives righteously, He shall be [found] much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace."

[Keith_McClary]

Current Google News - Iraq:

'There is no force that could stop ripping Iraq to shreds'
RT - ‎13 hours ago‎
Saudi Arabia: Sandwiched by jihadists in Iraq and Yemen
BBC News - ‎4 hours ago‎
As violence spreads in Iraq, a new challenge to Maliki emerges from the Shiite ...
Washington Post
2 hours ago

Written by
Loveday Morris
'Iranian attack jets deployed' to help Iraq fight Isis
BBC News - ‎8 hours ago‎
Australian jihadist preacher Musa Cerantonio on his way to Syria or Iraq
Sydney Morning Herald - ‎11 hours ago‎
Chechen fighter emerges as face of Iraq militant group
Fox News - ‎15 hours ago‎
Water supply key to outcome of conflicts in Iraq and Syria, experts warn
The Guardian - ‎2 hours ago‎
Pentagon sends attack helicopters to Iraq
The Hill - ‎19 hours ago‎
Iraqi Premier Places Unity Second to Fighting ISIS
New York Times
15 hours ago

Written by
Rod Nordland
My Head's Exploding
New York Times - ‎Jul 1, 2014‎
Iraq conflict has oil companies on 'knife's edge'
Financial Post - ‎15 hours ago‎
ISIS jihadists seize key Syria town on Iraq border
Al-Arabiya - ‎11 hours ago‎
Iraq Must Not Come Apart
New York Times - ‎Jul 1, 2014‎
Biden coaches Iraq toward new government
The Hill (blog) - ‎9 hours ago‎
The OZY Connection
OZY - ‎11 hours ago‎
Iraq conflict: More than 2400 killed in June, UN says
CBC.ca - ‎Jul 1, 2014‎
Militants try to tighten their grip on Iraq, Syria
CBS News - ‎4 hours ago‎
For Iraq, Potential Leader With a Tarnished Past
New York Times
Jun 30, 2014

Written by
Rod Nordland
A Field Guide to Iraq's Fighting Factions, Part 3: Who Gets Iraq — Iran or ...
VICE News - ‎16 hours ago‎

[PrestonSturges]

At least that one thing you can give the Nazis in the 30's: they didn't toss out any BS about what they were doing and why: they were the Master Race and it was their manifest destiny to rule and eliminate the garbage (such as Jews, gypsies, retarded/handicapped, etc.) that polluted the world.

[PrestonSturges]

Christian Father Commits Suicide After ISIS Members Rape Wife and Daughter in Front of Him Because He Couldn't Pay Poll Tax
http://www.christianpost.com/news/christian-father-commits-suicide-after-isis-members-rape-wife-and-daughter-in-front-of-him-because-he-couldnt-pay-poll-tax-122220/

Nobody told him suicide is a sin?

[ROCKMAN]

Speaking of who is and isn't taking action: the Saudi gov't has moved 30,000 troopers to the Iraq border. The report added that the Iraq military had completely abandoned the posts on the Saudi border. It would a heck of an end run for IS (formally known as ISIS) to bypass Baghdad and hit the Saudis. But the just made a good gain in Syria:

ISIS, the jihadist terrorist group that has seized a huge swath of land stretching from Syria to Iraq, has taken control of Syria's largest oil field from another terrorist group with ties to Al Qaeda. The terrorist group which fought side-by-side with Syrian rebels and the Al Nusra Front to topple Syria's government until the alliance imploded, now controls Al-Omar, in Syria's eastern Deir Ezzor province, according to the opposition group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Control of Syria's most productive oil field could be a potentially valuable resource for funding its terror operations and the Islamic caliphate is claims to have established.

[Sixstrings]

Nobody told him suicide is a sin?

How can you make a joke like that?

People that feel devastated by some overwhelming loss / trauma sometimes commit suicide, Preston.

I doubt there are mental health services and suicide hotlines in the ISIS caliphate. There's certainly no justice to turn to. And maybe he couldn't go to church, maybe ISIS burned it down and they've got that law saying Christians can't repair their churches.

How would you feel living there, you a Christian, and people are getting put up on crosses to die?

And -- pay your infidel tax or we rape your women in front of you. (that's considered leniency, he wasn't crucified)

It's dark age, barbaric stuff. THIS is the kind of islam that is our enemy. THIS is what needs stomped out.

We can do that with our military, and we can do that with olive branches -- trade, promoting American (Western) culture, doing all we can do to modernize these people.

(that's in general, with reasonable nation states with government we can work with. But a Talbian in Afghanistan had to go. And this ISIS has to go. We can tolerate a yemen, it's on the periphery, we can't fix everything -- but we have to pay attention to what is next to Israel and what's next to Saudi Arabia and what has oil, and you can't have Christians getting crucified right outside the Holy Land.)

[americandream]

Nobody told him suicide is a sin?

How can you make a joke like that?

People that feel devastated by some overwhelming loss sometimes commit suicide, Preston.

I doubt there are mental health services and suicide hotlines in the ISIS caliphate. How would you feel living there, you a Christian, and people are getting put up on crosses to die?

And -- pay your infidel tax or we rape your women in front of you.

It's dark age, barbaric stuff. THIS is the kind of islam that is our enemy. THIS is what needs stomped out.

We can do that with our military, and we can do that with olive branches -- trade, promoting American (Western) culture, doing all we can do to modernize these people.

Once again I shall have to remind you...Islamists serve a purpose but are ultimately as impotent as are you, in the face of globalisation. Even were a caliphate to rise in the region, it would soon fall prey to the hegemoney of capital. Saudi Arabia is an example of a "rigid" theocracy that has begun to feel the reformist tendencies inherent in a world awash with rootless liquidity.

So I would spare yourself all this unnecessary public display of outrage.

[Keith_McClary]

Christian Father Commits Suicide After ISIS Members Rape Wife and Daughter in Front of Him Because He Couldn't Pay Poll Tax
http://www.christianpost.com/news/christian-father-commits-suicide-after-isis-members-rape-wife-and-daughter-in-front-of-him-because-he-couldnt-pay-poll-tax-122220/

That has been ignored by the MSN. Even by Faux News. So it must be true.

[americandream]

Christian Father Commits Suicide After ISIS Members Rape Wife and Daughter in Front of Him Because He Couldn't Pay Poll Tax
http://www.christianpost.com/news/christian-father-commits-suicide-after-isis-members-rape-wife-and-daughter-in-front-of-him-because-he-couldnt-pay-poll-tax-122220/

That has been ignored by the MSN. Even by Faux News. So it must be true.

The edges of globalisation, from China through Russia to the Islamic world exist in a sort of twilight zone as they struggle to transition over to the more utilitarin style of full integration. In the meantime, old impulses rage as secular tendencies with progressive roots are attacked. We are experiencing this somewhat in the West as neo-conservatism sweeps aside social democracy. The end result will be that we will all meet somewhere in the middle....practical social relations that facilitate efficiency in the markets.