The Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant Megathread

[Barrister]

Yeah, as long as they don't overextend themselves, I'm rooting for the Kurds to come out of this okay (assuming everything else goes to shit).  I read somewhere that ISIS apparently doesn't have a beef with the Kurds, which struck me as odd.  Seems like everyone in that region likes to pick on the Kurds.

Kurds are still sunnis (though hardly salafists).

ISIS's big beef is with the Shia - like al-Maliki, or Assad's Iranian allies.

[Viking]

Yeah, as long as they don't overextend themselves, I'm rooting for the Kurds to come out of this okay (assuming everything else goes to shit).  I read somewhere that ISIS apparently doesn't have a beef with the Kurds, which struck me as odd.  Seems like everyone in that region likes to pick on the Kurds.

Kurds are still sunnis (though hardly salafists).

ISIS's big beef is with the Shia - like al-Maliki, or Assad's Iranian allies.

Yeah, cause ISIS had no beef with the 150 thousand or so sunni refugees running for Irbil.

[citizen k]

Crowd Gathers to Show Support of ISIS Takeover of Mosul
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BR5cjO_FyUM

[derspiess]

Crowd Gathers to Show Support of ISIS Takeover of Mosul
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BR5cjO_FyUM

That dude speaking obviously visited the Allahu Snackbar a few too many times.  Loved the requisite shooting into the air at the end.

[citizen k]

I loved all the smartphones. The revolution will be televised "youtubed".

[Sheilbh]

Yeah, as long as they don't overextend themselves, I'm rooting for the Kurds to come out of this okay (assuming everything else goes to shit).  I read somewhere that ISIS apparently doesn't have a beef with the Kurds, which struck me as odd.  Seems like everyone in that region likes to pick on the Kurds.

From what I gather they don't really care about the Kurds provided they're not claiming an oilfield or in a 'mixed area'. They've also had a massive falling out with al-Qaeda in Kurdistan (and the rest of al-Qaeda, except, possibly, for the Yemeni branch) so there's some fights there.

Also they seem quite canny. It'd be mad to try and take Kurdish areas which are well defended by disciplined forces when they could be fighting the Iraqi army to the south.

I believe their statement has been addressed to 'the Arabs' in Iraq and basically said we've tried all forms of secular government: monarchy, Baath Republic, Persian-Safavid Republic and they've failed. It may not mean much but I think their immediate goal is a Sunni-Arab state, not something in the borders of 'Iraq' or 'Syria', which may be fine for the Kurds.

Oh noes, the ISIS is going to reestablish the Caliphate!

Not the Caliphate but an Islamic Emirate. They're already closer to that, in the heart of the Sunni Arab homeland, than al-Qaeda have ever been and they've got half a billion dollars to spend. In terms of propaganda and, if they so choose, potential to fund global terrorism they're a far bigger deal than al-Qaeda were/are.

Also I think Ricks is right. This could be the start of the end of Sykes-Picot in the Middle East which would be hellish.

[DGuller]

Also I think Ricks is right. This could be the start of the end of Sykes-Picot in the Middle East which would be hellish.

Why would it be hellish?  The current borders seem to not work very well, and leave the conflicts simmering indefinitely.

[The Brain]

I'd hate to see the Middle East descend into a maelstrom of violence.

[Sheilbh]

Why would it be hellish?  The current borders seem to not work very well, and leave the conflicts simmering indefinitely.

If we could skip to that part it'd be fine but I imagine there'd be a big war first. And I imagine every other interested party in the region - Israel, Russia, Iran, Turkey, the Gulf States, the US, probably France too - would be involved in some way.

[mongers]

I've been out to make a pot of tea; any more cities fallen in the interim? 

[The Brain]

Banzai! I made a quick visit to the jungle. Has the Divine Emperor conquered New York yet?

[Crazy_Ivan80]

I loved all the smartphones. The revolution will be televised "youtubed".

't would be nice if all those hardline muslim nutcases would only use technologies that were available to that guy they call prophet. Less hypocrite than leaning on western technology.

[garbon]

I loved all the smartphones. The revolution will be televised "youtubed".

't would be nice if all those hardline muslim nutcases would only use technologies that were available to that guy they call prophet. Less hypocrite than leaning on western technology.

Did the Muslim world have no advances on their own since Muhammad?

[The Brain]

I loved all the smartphones. The revolution will be televised "youtubed".

't would be nice if all those hardline muslim nutcases would only use technologies that were available to that guy they call prophet. Less hypocrite than leaning on western technology.

Did the Muslim world have no advances on their own since Muhammad?

Buggery was around already in ancient Greece.

[mongers]

Another unconfirmed report of Iranians crossing the border; Revolutionary Guards heading for Baghdad ?