Russian airliner crashes in central Sinai - Egyptian PM

[Barrister]

ISIS has a somewhat different goal the AQ.  They intend to set up a viable Islamic state.  At this point they have succeeded.  Their position is precarious, however, and if their enemies coordinate their actions then will lose their territory and cease to have a functioning state.

Not quite.  Their goal is to establish the "Islamic State", comprising all territory historically held by muslims (look out Spain!).  Their goal is not just to set up one independent muslim-run country among many.

[PJL]

ISIS has a somewhat different goal the AQ.  They intend to set up a viable Islamic state.  At this point they have succeeded.  Their position is precarious, however, and if their enemies coordinate their actions then will lose their territory and cease to have a functioning state.

Not quite.  Their goal is to establish the "Islamic State", comprising all territory historically held by muslims (look out Spain!).  Their goal is not just to set up one independent muslim-run country among many.

I think their end goal is to establish Islamic Earth not just the historic Muslim bits.

[Liep]

Charlie Hebdo making new friends:

[Agelastus]

Charlie Hebdo making new friends:

Oh well, now I know for certain that I'm not a very nice person; that's funny. Quite clever too given some of the stories floating around contrasting the crudity of the weapons used in the Russian bombing compared to the West's "smart" weapons.

[garbon]

Oh yeah, they are known for being super clever.

[Razgovory]

Oh yeah, they are known for being super clever.

If they are, they aren't living up to it.  It's one thing to make a tasteless joke.  It's another to make a tasteless joke that isn't actually funny.

[Admiral Yi]

It's worth noting that one of the first challenges Putin had to face was the Chechen attack on that school.  The way he responded did a lot to solidify his popularity with the Russian people.

[DGuller]

It's worth noting that one of the first challenges Putin had to face was the Chechen attack on that school.  The way he responded did a lot to solidify his popularity with the Russian people.

Which school are we talking about?  Beslan happened many years into Putin's presidency, and that response was by no means something that even Russian media prostitutes could spin in a positive direction. 

What solidified Putin's popularity was starting a second war in Chechnya as a prime minister, and a relentless propaganda extolling his virtues as a decisive leader on all the major TV stations owned by oligarchs.

[Admiral Yi]

Which school are we talking about?  Beslan happened many years into Putin's presidency, and that response was by no means something that even Russian media prostitutes could spin in a positive direction. 

What I read at the time was that his response that it was his fault, for being too weak, went over very well.

[HisMajestyBOB]

Maybe you mean the apartment bombings that helped boost Putin's popularity and ensured his election to the Presidency?

[DGuller]

Which school are we talking about?  Beslan happened many years into Putin's presidency, and that response was by no means something that even Russian media prostitutes could spin in a positive direction. 

What I read at the time was that his response that it was his fault, for being too weak, went over very well.

I don't remember that, either at the time or mentioned later, not that it didn't happen.  There is no doubt that he was using Beslan as a pretext for further entrenching his rule, just like he was using prior terrorist acts, but only the apartment building bombings directly raised his popularity, in my recollection.

[Admiral Yi]

Maybe you mean the apartment bombings that helped boost Putin's popularity and ensured his election to the Presidency?

No, Beslan.

[DGuller]

Maybe you mean the apartment bombings that helped boost Putin's popularity and ensured his election to the Presidency?

No, Beslan.

But how is it one of the first challenges Putin had to face?  Just form the top of my head, without looking up Wiki, he had apartment building bombings, Kursk, and Nord Ost all before Beslan.

[Admiral Yi]

Just form the top of my head

Would you prefer ovoid or rectangular?

Look, I'm just giving my impression.  I wasn't looking for a thesis defense.  I don't even remember some of the things you mentioned.

[DGuller]

Pinpoint.