Islamic State Crisis Megathread (ISIS/ISIL/IS)

[Germanic Templars]

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present you, 10 things you need to know about ISIS.

[Sebastianbourg]

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present you, 10 things you need to know about ISIS.

When Al-Qaeda says your too extreme you're just a normal guy...beheading journalists and aid workers.

[Shnercropolis]

Hey guys.
Guys.
Wanna hear my opinion?
Russia should intervene.

I mean, I'm 100% all-American who (mostly) hates Putin, and even I think that. Hell, it's better than America spending our own monies on it.

[Gauthier]

I remember reading somewhere that in order to put down an Islamic uprising in the Philippines one American general supposedly had his soldiers dip their bullets in pig blood, then bury the dead rebels with pigs. Nobody's sure if those rumors were ever true but the revolt ended right quick.

Time for history to repeat itself?

Because using a tactic that specifically profanes a religious prohibition against an extremist subset won't hideously backfire in the information age.

[Baltenstein]

The majority of the Turkish landmass is in the Middle East geographically, being separated from Europe by the Dardanelles in the West and the Caucasus in the North. No such natural land barrier separates Turkey from the Middle East.

Now culturally speaking, that's a different topic. Turkey belongs to a different linguistic group, they use a different alphabet then all the others and they have their unique state ideology. Being Muslim doesn't mean that you're Middle Eastern - nobody would call Bosnia or Albania part of the ME.

But if Erdogan would have his way, Turkey would not only become part of the Middle East but its very heartland. He's probably angry that Turkey lost the Arabian lands after WW1 and is now seeking ways to reestablish the connection. Which means that the Turkish people have to get rid of him fucking pronto.
Oh, and give the Kurds more autonomy please, since Turkey apparently doesn't feel the need to protect them, let them do so themselves.

[Herskerstad]

I remember reading somewhere that in order to put down an Islamic uprising in the Philippines one American general supposedly had his soldiers dip their bullets in pig blood, then bury the dead rebels with pigs. Nobody's sure if those rumors were ever true but the revolt ended right quick.

Time for history to repeat itself?

Because using a tactic that specifically profanes a religious prohibition against an extremist subset won't hideously backfire in the information age.

In the hypothetical universe where the Islamic deity is the right one, and the failjihadists would, by virtue of that, be denied access to paradise. Would be comedy gold and completely worth it.

[Herargon]

The majority of the Turkish landmass is in the Middle East geographically, being separated from Europe by the Dardanelles in the West and the Caucasus in the North. No such natural land barrier separates Turkey from the Middle East.

Now culturally speaking, that's a different topic. Turkey belongs to a different linguistic group, they use a different alphabet then all the others and they have their unique state ideology. Being Muslim doesn't mean that you're Middle Eastern - nobody would call Bosnia or Albania part of the ME.

But if Erdogan would have his way, Turkey would not only become part of the Middle East but its very heartland. He's probably angry that Turkey lost the Arabian lands after WW1 and is now seeking ways to reestablish the connection. Which means that the Turkish people have to get rid of him fucking pronto.
Oh, and give the Kurds more autonomy please, since Turkey apparently doesn't feel the need to protect them, let them do so themselves.

Erdogan is fearing IS will come, I think. That's why he isn't actively fighting ISIS.

[Herargon]

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present you, 10 things you need to know about ISIS.

When Al-Qaeda says your too extreme you're just a normal guy...beheading journalists and aid workers.

Or you might be deemed normal... Returning from beheading-land.

[Socialist Czechia]

A little offtopic, but is there any theoretical possibility of Ottoman's return? That Erdogan's approach would end with annexed Syria and Iraq and re-establishment of Ottoman Empire with sultan as a puppet?

[The balkens]

A little offtopic, but is there any theoretical possibility of Ottoman's return? That Erdogan's approach would end with annexed Syria and Iraq and re-establishment of Ottoman Empire with sultan as a puppet?

Doubtful, considering that Araturk is still a factor.

[Herskerstad]

A little offtopic, but is there any theoretical possibility of Ottoman's return? That Erdogan's approach would end with annexed Syria and Iraq and re-establishment of Ottoman Empire with sultan as a puppet?

About the same chance as Spain going on a crusade to reconquer the Philippines.

[Baltenstein]

A little offtopic, but is there any theoretical possibility of Ottoman's return? That Erdogan's approach would end with annexed Syria and Iraq and re-establishment of Ottoman Empire with sultan as a puppet?

You mean, as in: a literal re-establishment of the Ottoman dynastic empire? Dude, please.

[Herargon]

A little offtopic, but is there any theoretical possibility of Ottoman's return? That Erdogan's approach would end with annexed Syria and Iraq and re-establishment of Ottoman Empire with sultan as a puppet?

No

Because:

Iraq and Syrian minorities
Most countries won't like a lebensraum annexation
Erdogans reputation
Pro-europeanism/secularism

[Socialist Czechia]

A little offtopic, but is there any theoretical possibility of Ottoman's return? That Erdogan's approach would end with annexed Syria and Iraq and re-establishment of Ottoman Empire with sultan as a puppet?

Doubtful, considering that Araturk is still a factor.

Well, people under his command are indoctrinated enough to believe, that ottoman hero, Mustafa Kemal Pasha, revolted from desperation, not because he was so much against Ottomans

[Socialist Czechia]

A little offtopic, but is there any theoretical possibility of Ottoman's return? That Erdogan's approach would end with annexed Syria and Iraq and re-establishment of Ottoman Empire with sultan as a puppet?

About the same chance as Spain going on a crusade to reconquer the Philippines.

What about chance to re-conquer Spanish Morrocco, if they tried to annex Ceuta and Melila?

[Socialist Czechia]

A little offtopic, but is there any theoretical possibility of Ottoman's return? That Erdogan's approach would end with annexed Syria and Iraq and re-establishment of Ottoman Empire with sultan as a puppet?

No

Because:

Iraq and Syrian minorities
Most countries won't like a lebensraum annexation
Erdogans reputation
Pro-europeanism/secularism

Well, Europe has no problem with half of Cyprus occupied by Turkish armed forces for decades. Syria as Turkish protectorate, de facto annexed? Why not.

[Papait]

A little offtopic, but is there any theoretical possibility of Ottoman's return? That Erdogan's approach would end with annexed Syria and Iraq and re-establishment of Ottoman Empire with sultan as a puppet?

No. Since turkwy has (with good reason) not mingled im the foght against IS. So the world will not allow them, and they problably dont want it either. More likely is Iran taking parts of iraq. Syria possibly losing small parts to lebanon but mostly remaining like it was, maybe with another man in xharge but still. Kurdistan will likely gain independence under iranian pressure

[Herskerstad]

Doubtful, considering that Araturk is still a factor.

Well, people under his command are indoctrinated enough to believe, that ottoman hero, Mustafa Kemal Pasha, revolted from desperation, not because he was so much against Ottomans

While it technically is possible that Turkey could become de-jure imperialist, and even probable that they will claim spheres of influence with directives to how the Ottoman empire used to be or part of it, becoming an Ottoman state would be committing international suicide, they'd lose any ties with the EU, the left-leaning portions of the nation would despise them, even though they are largely irrelevant at this point, and the relations with both internationally and regionally would decline rapidly.

[Socialist Czechia]

Well, people under his command are indoctrinated enough to believe, that ottoman hero, Mustafa Kemal Pasha, revolted from desperation, not because he was so much against Ottomans

While it technically is possible that Turkey could become de-jure imperialist, and even probable that they will claim spheres of influence with directives to how the Ottoman empire used to be or part of it, becoming an Ottoman state would be committing international suicide, they'd lose any ties with the EU, the left-leaning portions of the nation would despise them, even though they are largely irrelevant at this point, and the relations with both internationally and regionally would decline rapidly.

Which is highly probable, if (when) EU will collapse.

However, I presume, that irredentist Turkey would mean Third Balkan War and Siege of Istanbul, very at least: Greece and Bulgaria wouldn't tolerate Turkish inverventions and claims, and Iranian regime or Armenia would join them too.

(according to Erdogan, whole Cyprus and whole 'Rumelia' are Turkish already anyway )

[Baltenstein]

No

Because:

Iraq and Syrian minorities
Most countries won't like a lebensraum annexation
Erdogans reputation
Pro-europeanism/secularism

Well, Europe has no problem with half of Cyprus occupied by Turkish armed forces for decades. Syria as Turkish protectorate, de facto annexed? Why not.

"No problem" is hardly accurate. The EU has made it clear that there will be no Turkish EU entry until the Cyprus dispute is settled. And nobody recognizes Northern Cyprus, nor will anybody other than Turkey ever recognize it.

And there are a lot of players (The Kurds, Russia, Iran, Saudi-Arabia, Israel) who would categorically oppose any Turkish-occupied Syria scenario.

[Baltenstein]

While it technically is possible that Turkey could become de-jure imperialist, and even probable that they will claim spheres of influence with directives to how the Ottoman empire used to be or part of it, becoming an Ottoman state would be committing international suicide, they'd lose any ties with the EU, the left-leaning portions of the nation would despise them, even though they are largely irrelevant at this point, and the relations with both internationally and regionally would decline rapidly.

Which is highly probable, if (when) EU will collapse.

However, I presume, that irredentist Turkey would mean Third Balkan War and Siege of Istanbul, very at least: Greece and Bulgaria wouldn't tolerate Turkish inverventions and claims, and Iranian regime or Armenia would join them too.

Siege of Istanbul? Dude, The greater city area has almost as many citizens as Greece and Bulgaria combined. The Greeks and Bulgarians would be more busy with fortifying their borders from the flood of refugees in such a scenario.

[Socialist Czechia]

Which is highly probable, if (when) EU will collapse.

However, I presume, that irredentist Turkey would mean Third Balkan War and Siege of Istanbul, very at least: Greece and Bulgaria wouldn't tolerate Turkish inverventions and claims, and Iranian regime or Armenia would join them too.

Siege of Istanbul? Dude, The greater city area has almost as many citizens as Greece and Bulgaria combined. The Greeks and Bulgarians would be more busy with fortifying their borders from the flood of refugees in such a scenario.

If both states did join attack against Istanbul, I highly doubt turkish refugees would run towards artillery fire, machine guns and tank brigades

[Baltenstein]

Siege of Istanbul? Dude, The greater city area has almost as many citizens as Greece and Bulgaria combined. The Greeks and Bulgarians would be more busy with fortifying their borders from the flood of refugees in such a scenario.

If both states did join attack against Istanbul, I highly doubt turkish refugees would run towards artillery fire, machine guns and tank brigades

Not only are you ignoring that Bulgaria and Greece are not exactly friendly neighbors (there are issues regarding FYROM and the Slavophone minority in Northern Greece), so there would hardly be a joint effort, you are not answering the question as to why those two would want to conquer a city which has a bigger Muslim population than their entire countries.

[Socialist Czechia]

If both states did join attack against Istanbul, I highly doubt turkish refugees would run towards artillery fire, machine guns and tank brigades

Not only are you ignoring that Bulgaria and Greece are not exactly friendly neighbors (there are issues regarding FYROM and the Slavophone minority in Northern Greece), so there would hardly be a joint effort, you are not answering the question as to why those two would want to conquer a city which has a bigger Muslim population than their entire countries.

Despite Bulgarian imperialism, they were more than once anti-Ottoman allies. For example, my people doesn't like Poles much, but if they will invade Germany one day, we would help them, of course

And do you realize what would happen to Turkish state, if Istanbul was under artillery, rocket and gunfire and millions of it's inhabitants would try escape to Anatolia?

Of course this is all theoretical talk.
Today, only few people thinks that such destructive wars, Kursk-like battles or Leningrad-like sieges are gone forever, which is kinda silly assumption.

[The balkens]

Not only are you ignoring that Bulgaria and Greece are not exactly friendly neighbors (there are issues regarding FYROM and the Slavophone minority in Northern Greece), so there would hardly be a joint effort, you are not answering the question as to why those two would want to conquer a city which has a bigger Muslim population than their entire countries.

Despite Bulgarian imperialism, they were more than once anti-Ottoman allies. For example, my people doesn't like Poles much, but if they will invade Germany one day, we would help them, of course

And do you realize what would happen to Turkish state, if Istanbul was under artillery, rocket and gunfire and millions of it's inhabitants would try escape to Anatolia?

Of course this is all theoretical talk.
Today, only few people thinks that such destructive wars, Kursk-like battles or Leningrad-like sieges are gone forever, which is kinda silly assumption.

Heh...HA...HAHAHAHHAHAHA.

No.