Iraqi PM declares "State of Emergency" as ISIS occupy Mosul

[United Marxist Nations]

Both are right (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant or Islamic State in Iraq and Syria).

In fact, I would say the first is the right one as they now also have cells in Jordan.

This^. Their objective is wider than just Iraq and Syria.

So, they basically want to recreate the Caliphate?

[Volnotova]

Both are right (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant or Islamic State in Iraq and Syria).

In fact, I would say the first is the right one as they now also have cells in Jordan.

Now I feel like an idiot.

Well, I guess that as long as they haven't captured any towns in Jordan you can still call them ISIS.

[Saruhan]

You have a valid point, but stop calling it ISIL.

Both are right (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant or Islamic State in Iraq and Syria).

In fact, I would say the first is the right one as they now also have cells in Jordan.

It's actually Islamic state of Iraq and Shams, not Syria

[Volnotova]

This^. Their objective is wider than just Iraq and Syria.

So, they basically want to recreate the Caliphate?

Pretty much. (Just look up their propaganda videos, I also posted a source earlier were they threatened Jordan)

[Senkaku]

What arms suppliers are going to sell to ISIL? I don't think Russia or Mexico is going to, which is where the RPG-29 was produced;

There are numerous short sighted criminal organizations in Russia and Mexico, and ISIS could very well manufacture their own bazookas.

and the only countries in the region where supplies of RPG-29s can be obtained from are Iran and Syria.

They stand a good chance of taking Syria right now.

I think al-Assad can at least hang on for longer than al-Maliki, if not maintain an independent portion of Syria, especially since he's got Russian support. But they'll probably be able to sweep the other rebel movements aside soon and take control of the areas that the rebels currently hold.

Now I almost regret making Assad give up his chemical weapons, because ISIL seem like just the perfect target for them.

[Geilinor]

This^. Their objective is wider than just Iraq and Syria.

So, they basically want to recreate the Caliphate?

I don't know, but they did say they'll kill the king of Jordan and are gaining ground in Syria.

[Dracoria]

Not too sure about that. They seem to have some pretty advanced equipment (from the videos I have seen), including anti-air missiles.

If anything, I think manpower is going to become an issue in the next few days (though they have been bolstered by freed fighters and new requitement lately).

Also take into account they can basically buy a technical for every single one of their fighters atm.

They have some equipment now, yes. There was a sizeable amount inside the country or recently smuggled in. The question is, how easily can they get more?

[Senkaku]

This^. Their objective is wider than just Iraq and Syria.

So, they basically want to recreate the Caliphate?

Except meaner and with more ambitions to blow up the West.

[Volnotova]

Both are right (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant or Islamic State in Iraq and Syria).

In fact, I would say the first is the right one as they now also have cells in Jordan.

It's actually Islamic state of Iraq and Shams, not Syria

There in lays the problem.

Apparently 'Shams' can refer to both Syria and 'Greater Syria', which in the English language is known as the Levant.

Hence ISIL.

[United Marxist Nations]

So, they basically want to recreate the Caliphate?

Except meaner and with more ambitions to blow up the West.

I don't know, the Caliphate was pretty ambitious about conquering the West.

[Saruhan]

It's actually Islamic state of Iraq and Shams, not Syria

Therin lays the problem.

Apparently 'Shams' can refer to both Syria and 'Greater Syria', which in the English language is known as the Levant.

Hence ISIL.

I've heard Shams being used for the Levant more than Syria (Suriya) but either way they want most of the central ME

[United Marxist Nations]

So, they basically want to recreate the Caliphate?

I don't know, but they did say they'll kill the king of Jordan and are gaining ground in Syria.

Of course they are, the West is giving them equipment to fight "evil Assad".

[Geilinor]

Both are right (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant or Islamic State in Iraq and Syria).

In fact, I would say the first is the right one as they now also have cells in Jordan.

It's actually Islamic state of Iraq and Shams, not Syria

Al-Sham is the region around Syria. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syria_%28region%29

[Saruhan]

It's actually Islamic state of Iraq and Shams, not Syria

Al-Sham is the region around Syria. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syria_%28region%29

So yeah, basically what we refer to as the Levant.

[Geilinor]

I don't know, but they did say they'll kill the king of Jordan and are gaining ground in Syria.

Of course they are, the West is giving them equipment to fight "evil Assad".

ISIL has almost exclusively targeted rival rebels — including the Nusra Front which Baghdadi originally nurtured — rather than Assad’s forces, as it exploits turmoil in Syria and insecurity in Iraq to carve out territory.

They aren't fighting Assad.

[Blakk Metal]

This^. Their objective is wider than just Iraq and Syria.

So, they basically want to recreate the Caliphate?

Yeah. That's pretty much what radical Islam is all about.

There are numerous short sighted criminal organizations in Russia and Mexico, and ISIS could very well manufacture their own bazookas.

They stand a good chance of taking Syria right now.

I think al-Assad can at least hang on for longer than al-Maliki, if not maintain an independent portion of Syria, especially since he's got Russian support. But they'll probably be able to sweep the other rebel movements aside soon and take control of the areas that the rebels currently hold.

Now I almost regret making Assad give up his chemical weapons, because ISIL seem like just the perfect target for them.

Are talking deadly ones, or gay ass Vietnam shit?

So, they basically want to recreate the Caliphate?

Except meaner and with more ambitions to blow up the West.

You do realize the last Caliphate went as far as Austria before being stopped, right?

[Senkaku]

Not too sure about that. They seem to have some pretty advanced equipment (from the videos I have seen), including anti-air missiles.

If anything, I think manpower is going to become an issue in the next few days (though they have been bolstered by freed fighters and new requitement lately).

Also take into account they can basically buy a technical for every single one of their fighters atm.

They have some equipment now, yes. There was a sizeable amount inside the country or recently smuggled in. The question is, how easily can they get more?

Depends on whether or not the Saudis and Qataris are secretly backing them, like they've done for other organizations. If they are, then probably quite easily. If not, they'll have to try and smuggle it into Basra (because let's face it, they will take Basra) or perhaps Lebanese and Syrian ports.

I also expect, with all the instability spilling over from Syria, they'll be going after Lebanon.

It'd be nice to see the Turks get a little more involved in their own backyard.

[Saiwania]

Just to clarify, I am going by what the English section of Wikipedia is officially calling them on the basis that if an article is collaboratively edited and reviewed; chances are it has been translated accurately for the most part.

[United Marxist Nations]

Of course they are, the West is giving them equipment to fight "evil Assad".

ISIL has almost exclusively targeted rival rebels — including the Nusra Front which Baghdadi originally nurtured — rather than Assad’s forces, as it exploits turmoil in Syria and insecurity in Iraq to carve out territory.

They aren't fighting Assad.

I know I've seen Islamists targeting his forces... were those different groups? Either way, they'll have to target his troops eventually, if they want control of more than just sparsely inhabited areas in Northeastern Syria.

[Senkaku]

Now I almost regret making Assad give up his chemical weapons, because ISIL seem like just the perfect target for them.

Are talking deadly ones, or gay ass Vietnam shit?

Both.

Senkaku";p="20486893"]

So, they basically want to recreate the Caliphate?

Except meaner and with more ambitions to blow up the West.

You do realize the last Caliphate went as far as Austria before being stopped, right?[/quote]

Yes, I do. I'm not stupid. And I'm sure ISIL wouldn't hold back if they thought they could push that far.

[Dracoria]

They have some equipment now, yes. There was a sizeable amount inside the country or recently smuggled in. The question is, how easily can they get more?

Depends on whether or not the Saudis and Qataris are secretly backing them, like they've done for other organizations. If they are, then probably quite easily. If not, they'll have to try and smuggle it into Basra (because let's face it, they will take Basra) or perhaps Lebanese and Syrian ports.

I also expect, with all the instability spilling over from Syria, they'll be going after Lebanon.

It'd be nice to see the Turks get a little more involved in their own backyard.

The issue with smuggling through Basra is, they're just asking for an Iranian or western blockade of the Gulf again. Woudln't it be kind of crazy if both the US and Iran agreed to such a thing?

Smuggling from Saudi Arabia is more likely, but the large movements necessary to provide that many weapons would probably be noticed by one spy agency or another. It isn't like there's much cover from satellites or spy planes/drones going across the border.

[Senkaku]

Depends on whether or not the Saudis and Qataris are secretly backing them, like they've done for other organizations. If they are, then probably quite easily. If not, they'll have to try and smuggle it into Basra (because let's face it, they will take Basra) or perhaps Lebanese and Syrian ports.

I also expect, with all the instability spilling over from Syria, they'll be going after Lebanon.

It'd be nice to see the Turks get a little more involved in their own backyard.

The issue with smuggling through Basra is, they're just asking for an Iranian or western blockade of the Gulf again. Woudln't it be kind of crazy if both the US and Iran agreed to such a thing?

Smuggling from Saudi Arabia is more likely, but the large movements necessary to provide that many weapons would probably be noticed by one spy agency or another. It isn't like there's much cover from satellites or spy planes/drones going across the border.

Actually, if that happened, combined w/the new nuclear deals, it could represent a significant turn for the better in US-Iran relations...


Edit: and its not like anyone would stop the Saudis.

[Dracoria]

The issue with smuggling through Basra is, they're just asking for an Iranian or western blockade of the Gulf again. Woudln't it be kind of crazy if both the US and Iran agreed to such a thing?

Smuggling from Saudi Arabia is more likely, but the large movements necessary to provide that many weapons would probably be noticed by one spy agency or another. It isn't like there's much cover from satellites or spy planes/drones going across the border.

Actually, if that happened, combined w/the new nuclear deals, it could represent a significant turn for the better in US-Iran relations...


Edit: and its not like anyone would stop the Saudis.

Maybe it's just the little optimist who hides inside my head and peeks out every now and then, but I keep hoping this whole ugly affair may actually provide a turning point in several regional and global relationships. What if the US and Iran actually work on the same side this time? What if Israel is seen as acting in favor of the Syrian and Iraqi people more than the Saudis are? There won't be immediate changes, but maybe doors will be opened down the road.

[Greed and Death]

So, they basically want to recreate the Caliphate?

Except meaner and with more ambitions to blow up the West.

Yeah the Caliphate was arguably extremely tolerant and protective of minorities for its time.

[Blakk Metal]

Except meaner and with more ambitions to blow up the West.

Yeah the Caliphate was arguably extremely tolerant and protective of minorities for its time.

The Caliphate also enslaved more people than the West ever did.

As for tolerance, the Mongols were better.