The Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant Megathread

[CountDeMoney]

However, I for one am glad that grumbler has not misunderstood the nature of the Islamic State.

Always pleased when my understandings make you glad.

GOT YER BACK, YO 

[Sheilbh]

I don't think anyone who went to an Anglo-Saxon school knows how to pronounce Latin correctly, in my experience.

Only public schoolboys would know anything at all about Latin.

I don't know if I agree with Yi or Jacob or Mongers on that article because I can't understand what they're all saying

[garbon]

I don't think anyone who went to an Anglo-Saxon school knows how to pronounce Latin correctly, in my experience.

Only public schoolboys would know anything at all about Latin.

We had Latin available in actual "public school".

[Valmy]

Hic Haec Hoc Huius Huius Huius Huic Huic Huic....erm....that is all I remember.  Thanks High School Latin!

[CountDeMoney]

Only public schoolboys would know anything at all about Latin.

We had Latin available in actual "public school".

Sonitvs.

[Malthus]

Hic Haec Hoc Huius Huius Huius Huic Huic Huic....

Sounds like a cartoon bubble indicating a solid night of boozing. 

[Valmy]

Hic Haec Hoc Huius Huius Huius Huic Huic Huic....

Sounds like a cartoon bubble indicating a solid night of boozing. 

What did you think of the article?  Just asking because the ISIS is thinking kind of reminded me of Judaism, I mean if Judaism was in favor of slaughtering non-Jews and keeping slaves...

[garbon]

Only public schoolboys would know anything at all about Latin.

We had Latin available in actual "public school".

Sonitvs.

Sorry I only took latin for about a year so if there's any hidden meaning behind that - it is beyond me.

[mongers]

I don't think anyone who went to an Anglo-Saxon school knows how to pronounce Latin correctly, in my experience.

Only public schoolboys would know anything at all about Latin.

I don't know if I agree with Yi or Jacob or Mongers on that article because I can't understand what they're all saying

I don't know if those are mutually exclusive positions, though once again Yi's played the enigmatically nuanced card, so who knows for sure.

[Berkut]

One thing about the article that I found kind of alarming is that I don't think there is any way to combat that kind of extremism except with rather brutal amounts of force. Which is, conversely, exactly what they want.

He goes on quite a bit about the "silent salafis" which is interesting for a theological/argument viewpoint, but in any practical sense I cannot see how they could possibly be an answer. They aren't going to appeal to whatever it is that is driving this violent radicalism, even if they can make a rationally compelling theological argument for being an alternative.

This strikes me as a straight up and relatively unambiguous diametrically opposed cultural conflict where there really cannot be any real accommodation on either side. That is pretty alarming.

[Eddie Teach]

though once again Yi's played the enigmatically nuanced card, so who knows for sure.

CDM, natch.

[mongers]

Well I think a large segment of the Western foreign 'fighters'(murders) thinking of heading to the ME, aren't the sort to be distracted by a nicely esoteric theological argument, they're going there for the FPS style murder and mayhem.

[Barrister]

One thing about the article that I found kind of alarming is that I don't think there is any way to combat that kind of extremism except with rather brutal amounts of force. Which is, conversely, exactly what they want.

He goes on quite a bit about the "silent salafis" which is interesting for a theological/argument viewpoint, but in any practical sense I cannot see how they could possibly be an answer. They aren't going to appeal to whatever it is that is driving this violent radicalism, even if they can make a rationally compelling theological argument for being an alternative.

This strikes me as a straight up and relatively unambiguous diametrically opposed cultural conflict where there really cannot be any real accommodation on either side. That is pretty alarming.

Not really.  He makes the argument that our current effort to contain and weaken can potentially be effective.  Once IS is no longer a growing, vigorous entity, but instead is a sad bunch of jihadists hiding in their bunkers, the recuiting and fundraising dries up.

[Sheilbh]

Well I think a large segment of the Western foreign 'fighters'(murders) thinking of heading to the ME, aren't the sort to be distracted by a nicely esoteric theological argument, they're going there for the FPS style murder and mayhem.

Yep. And in much of their 'territory' there will be pragmatic supporters who are backing them because, well because you wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of them.

And of course the side-effect of their territorial is that they are arguably easier to 'beat' than al-Qaeda.

[Agelastus]

Hic Haec Hoc Huius Huius Huius Huic Huic Huic....erm....that is all I remember.  Thanks High School Latin!

"...Hunc, hanc, hoc"?

Heck, I used to know this.