ISIS military captured an Syrian airport, killing 150, including apparently a number of beheadings.
This is spiraling in every possible direction, it seems. The US, European and major Middle Eastern powers will have no choice but to combine forces in some fashion to root out these monsters, even if it means temporarily aligning with Assad's soldiers.
I might also point out that this identifies one of the reasons for Obama's caution in terms of arming enemies of Assad. It has never been easy to sort out the good rebels from the bad ones, and so many arms provided to Assad enemies were at risk of falling into the hands of ISIS and other extremists, as they did in Iraq. It's somewhat easier now, because there is ground that ISIS completely dominates. But that doesn't make it easier to fight Assad, because his non-extremist enemies aren't that strong.
Sad, complex and challenging times.
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There may be some good news in the article, though: if Hassad wants to deal with Isis, as it appears he must, he will have to turn his back on the US-backed Free Syrian Army.
What we need here is a scorecard to keep track of the players.
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Anakim : 8/24/2014 10:57 pm : link : reply
we don't care ----Many people
It's stupid and offers nothing on this topic.
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Who gives a shit? This isn't Gaza and the Jews aren't killing them so
Anakim : 8/24/2014 10:57 pm : link : reply
we don't care ----Many people
It's stupid and offers nothing on this topic.
Really? Where are the protests and outrage over Assad and ISIS?
Again, false equivalence that offers nothing to this topic. It's stupid and adds nothing to the conversation.
The undercover warriors will aim to “cut the head off the snake” by hitting the command structure of the Islamist terror group responsible for a trail of atrocities across Iraq and Syria, reports the Sunday People.
PM David Cameron has told the SAS and UK spy agencies to direct all their resources at defeating IS after a video of US journalist James Foley being beheaded shocked the world.
British special forces will work with America’s Delta Force and Seal Team 6. The move sees a rebirth of top secret Task Force Black, which helped defeat al-Qaeda terrorists in Iraq .
And spot on hilary.
Task Force Black - ( New Window )
there's no good template to dealing with these groups.
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Elite British and US special forces troops are forming a hunter killer unit called Task Force Black – its orders: “Smash the Islamic State.”
The undercover warriors will aim to “cut the head off the snake” by hitting the command structure of the Islamist terror group responsible for a trail of atrocities across Iraq and Syria, reports the Sunday People.
PM David Cameron has told the SAS and UK spy agencies to direct all their resources at defeating IS after a video of US journalist James Foley being beheaded shocked the world.
British special forces will work with America’s Delta Force and Seal Team 6. The move sees a rebirth of top secret Task Force Black, which helped defeat al-Qaeda terrorists in Iraq .
And spot on hilary. Task Force Black - ( New Window )
Holy shit...that reads like a shitty mid 2000's spy novel based on old ideas/tactics...even down to this cliche: "One source said: “Intelligence will be key to our operations. We have to build a network to defeat a network."
Too bad that our intelligence on the ground has been severely neglected to the point of ineffectiveness at this point, especially when it comes to ISIL. And what most people don't realize is that TF Black really isn't going to be as effective on the ground without any force buildup in/around Iraq since they require robust support infrastructures.
Sounds like a good plot to another Kate Bigelow movie, but I doubt it's going to be effective anytime soon.
Open borders, American citizens, easy access and all.
I am biting my tongue as I type this, but what has prevented this incredibly well funded, with viral hatred toward free society people from the attacks that could send us into a frenzy?
Martyrs they are, and easy targets in the USA, I suppose it's just a matter of time.
They can push around defenseless civilians and the shitty Iraqi army but that's about the extent of their abilities.
If Assad could have destroyed ISIS he would have done so already.
I believe that they are rational. They're just nihilistic and brutal beyond the comprehension of most people. They talk a big game about world conquest but I think they know that chopping off people's heads in their own shitty corner of the world is about as far as their capabilities extend.
That being said, I think the US (ideally the whole West but we all know it's always the US that ends up having to do everything) should go on the offensive to contain these guys and protect some of the really vulnerable people in the region but also to keep these guys worried about their own survival so they don't get any silly ideas.
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to a group that has in its ranks people (and probably groups) that would butcher people on a whim. "They" may not be dumb enough to do this but there are elements within "them" that absolutely are.
I believe that they are rational. They're just nihilistic and brutal beyond the comprehension of most people. They talk a big game about world conquest but I think they know that chopping off people's heads in their own shitty corner of the world is about as far as their capabilities extend.
That being said, I think the US (ideally the whole West but we all know it's always the US that ends up having to do everything) should go on the offensive to contain these guys and protect some of the really vulnerable people in the region but also to keep these guys worried about their own survival so they don't get any silly ideas.
There are some very rational elements in their midst, they wouldn't have gotten as far as they have without them. But there are sadists and zealots with messianic ambitions who are unlikely to accept the guidance of those very rational elements should they come into conflict.
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In comment 11824052 Dunedin81 said:
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to a group that has in its ranks people (and probably groups) that would butcher people on a whim. "They" may not be dumb enough to do this but there are elements within "them" that absolutely are.
I believe that they are rational. They're just nihilistic and brutal beyond the comprehension of most people. They talk a big game about world conquest but I think they know that chopping off people's heads in their own shitty corner of the world is about as far as their capabilities extend.
That being said, I think the US (ideally the whole West but we all know it's always the US that ends up having to do everything) should go on the offensive to contain these guys and protect some of the really vulnerable people in the region but also to keep these guys worried about their own survival so they don't get any silly ideas.
There are some very rational elements in their midst, they wouldn't have gotten as far as they have without them. But there are sadists and zealots with messianic ambitions who are unlikely to accept the guidance of those very rational elements should they come into conflict.
I agree but I think the rational elements will deal with the zealots before they go out and and do something stupid to upset the entire apple cart.
I didn't say he would necessarily defeat them - but, given his history, Assad will react in a more ruthless fashion.
And you definitely don't want to upset those apple carts!
All kidding aside, I can see both of your points. I can see Duned's point that there will be those sadists and zealots even within the ISIL ranks, who will defy the more rational guidance of the leadership when it comes to carrying out terrorist attacks in western nations. However, I also see your point because even if these sadists and zealots want to carry out terrorist attacks, they will require planning and support that will surely raise the concerns of their more rational leadership.
Maybe they will not be able to carry out some catastrophic or even really coordinated terrorist attacks in western nations, but they may be able to do some rudimentary attacks like gunning down a church or synagogue or even detonating a few crude bombs similar to the Boston Bombing.
Saw this article written about it.
Potentially scary stuff
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We have to stop underestimating their brutality and their commitment.
I wonder if the best thing to do with respect to Syria is to increase aid (arms) to the Syrian Free Army, knowing that some may fall into the hands of ISIS. Limit US airstrikes, and possible special forces action, to Iraq.
BTW - My guess is that one of the reasons for poor intel with respect to ISIS is that it is a very tough group to infiltrate.
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We should have backed the FSA when we had a chance.
He added that Kurdish troops are close to sealing off all entrances to the town of Jalawla itself, which they have sought to recapture for weeks.
After watching the Vice documentary, I have to say that the little bit of IS fighting they filmed sure didn't look impressive. What they showed was pure "spray and pray". That has been sufficient against armies with poor morale and motivation such as the Syrian and Iraqi armies, but a fairly well-trained force like the peshmerga, which also is highly motivated, would seem to be more than a match so long as they are well-supplied.
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Admittedly, this is not my area of expertise but I wasn't thinking of controlling their hotheads, rather, "sending them to Belize".
Talk about coming full circle.
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You don't think they are thoroughly vetted and closely observed when they arrive? I also wonder whether they are chosen to do the beheadings as a test.
I don't think it would be so easy.
It's really sad to think that they can't stop this shit for at least a little while in the face of a common enemy, with the West (and some Arab countries) ready to provide additional support at the first signs of cooperation. ISIS is clearly vulnerable to a well-armed enemy. Clearly, there are elements on both sides who don't want to see successful integration of the sects, and who consider that more important than fighting ISIS.
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The only reason anybody cares or tolerates this is ultimately oil...
The only reason anybody cares or tolerates this is ultimately oil...
That assumes, in the case of ISIS, they'll be satisfied with a Middle East caliphate. I'm not at all sure that's the case, although I think the first expansion target would be Europe as opposed to the US.
Yeah, somehow I don't think you know how difficult it is to establish a source network in a hostile environment against a brutal organization. Not only do you have to find a source (at a relevant level) willing to put his neck on the line (literally), but you then have to ensure communication and continued vetting. And if you think getting any swinging dick into ISIS will provide us actionable intelligence worth analyzing, you definitely don't know how intelligence operations work.
We have enough intelligence on the cannon fodder level of ISIL. What we lack is at the relevant leadership level, and I doubt that it's so easy as you think it is.
The only reason anybody cares or tolerates this is ultimately oil...
best way out of this mess is for the supposedly moderate Muslims to set themselves apart from all of these people and join the rest of 21st century society, fighting as one against these Islamonazis. If it is true that the vast majority of Muslims despise these groups like other civilized modern people, then it would be a good time for them all to jump aboard and help weed out the virus within their own religion and the world.
The only reason anybody cares or tolerates this is ultimately oil...
They will still have oil, and buyers for it. And we will still be the Great Satan.
Saudis support Salfism. - ( New Window )