The Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant Megathread

[CountDeMoney]

Canada is proudly deploying two of our wheelbarrows beside our allies in this fight. 

The Winnipeg Jets will continue their bombing through the off-season.

[Baron von Schtinkenbutt]

isn't that the 152 mm snub nose thing that was basically a horizontal mortar that could be used to fire AT missiles too?

More of an infantry gun, but yeah, it was the system that fired the Shillelagh AT missile.

[derspiess]

isn't that the 152 mm snub nose thing that was basically a horizontal mortar that could be used to fire AT missiles too?

More of an infantry gun, but yeah, it was the system that fired the Shillelagh AT missile.

I had the privilege of bivouacking a few yards from where those sumbitches were doing all-night gunnery training at Ft. Bragg.  I didn't get much sleep that night but it sounded cool as hell.

[Baron von Schtinkenbutt]

Are those modified turrets?  Something looks a little off.

After doing some research, I think those might actually be M48A5s.  The Turks have a bunch of those, too.  The A5 variant retrofit the M60's gun onto the M48.

[Baron von Schtinkenbutt]

Anyway, here is a longish but interesting article on ISIS and ideology: How Not To Understand ISIS

[Malthus]

Anyway, here is a longish but interesting article on ISIS and ideology: How Not To Understand ISIS

The article verges into bullshit territory.

Some analysts allow the possibility that the jihadi convert is mentally unstable, a privilege usually reserved for white non-Muslim mass murderers. But rarely do they consider that sensibilities and motivations other than or in addition to mere commitment to Salafi Islam or a desire to live in a utopic state may guide their decisions.

For example, could it be that a sense of compassion for suffering fellow humans or of altruistic duty—sensibilities that are very much valued and cultivated in American society [9]—has prefigured their receptiveness to a call to arms to aid a people they consider to be oppressed?

Yes, it could be. But the author has presented exactly zero evidence that it is - other than the self-serving account of Michael Muhammad Knight, who claims he "flirted" with jihadism because he was inspired by the GI Joe theme song. One imagines that his experience may not be typical.

[Barrister]

Canada is proudly deploying two of our wheelbarrows beside our allies in this fight. 

The Winnipeg Jets will continue their bombing through the off-season.

Nah - they keep their bombs for the regular season.

[derspiess]

Speaking of ice sports, a local brewery is having some Kickstarter promotion where if you pledge $100 you get among other things curling lessons from the local curling club.  Didn't realize we had a curling club

[Admiral Yi]

Not another curling hijack.

[DontSayBanana]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-29507410

It almost sounds as the article lists these girls inability to live under Sharia law in Europe a western failing.
Let them go, especially if they lose their British passport in the process.

I mean, I moved to England because I wanted to live in a modern democracy. It should be fine for those who want to live in the middle ages to move to IS controlled territory.

I pretty much agree completely with this. It's patronizing to the point of being white knighting on an institutional scale. Giving people the right of self-determination includes giving people the right to waive it. Otherwise, it's a farce.

[Barrister]

Speaking of ice sports, a local brewery is having some Kickstarter promotion where if you pledge $100 you get among other things curling lessons from the local curling club.  Didn't realize we had a curling club

Do it.  DO IT!  You won't regret it. 

Not another curling hijack.

Quiet you.

Went out curling last night for the first time this season.  Much fun was had by all.

[Baron von Schtinkenbutt]

Not another curling hijack.

Face it, some people here just get their rocks off on it.

[Malthus]

Not another curling hijack.

Face it, some people here just get their rocks off on it.

We need to make a clean sweep of such folks.

[Barrister]

Not curling puns!

[Jacob]

Not curling puns!

You prefer straightening puns?