Islamic State Crisis Megathread (ISIS/ISIL/IS)

[Cabana]

Any word on the North Koreans captured in Libya?

Our Dear Leader is personally going to lead the special forces team to save them.

[Migas999]

Two security guards are killed as they chase an IS suicide bomber away from worshippers during a bombing of a Shiite mosque in Saudi Arabia.

Brave men

[Utrinque Paratus]

Any word on the North Koreans captured in Libya?

Our Dear Leader is personally going to lead the special forces team to save them.

I can actually see them deplying NK Special Forces to fight them, after all they've been very active in sending things to Syria - it's only a matter of time before they deploy on the ground.

[Migas999]

Our Dear Leader is personally going to lead the special forces team to save them.

I can actually see them deplying NK Special Forces to fight them, after all they've been very active in sending things to Syria - it's only a matter of time before they deploy on the ground.

I wonder what kind of reaction that will invoke in the US led coalition

[Utrinque Paratus]

I can actually see them deplying NK Special Forces to fight them, after all they've been very active in sending things to Syria - it's only a matter of time before they deploy on the ground.

I wonder what kind of reaction that will invoke in the US led coalition

As long as they are fighting against ISIS, which they definitely would be then I don't think the US would be too bothered. They might act like it to save face, but in actuality - probably not too much.

[Migas999]

I wonder what kind of reaction that will invoke in the US led coalition

As long as they are fighting against ISIS, which they definitely would be then I don't think the US would be too bothered. They might act like it to save face, but in actuality - probably not too much.

Maybe but isnt´t allowing North Korea to deploy troops(specops) overseas a sort of huge slap in the face to the US?

[Utrinque Paratus]

As long as they are fighting against ISIS, which they definitely would be then I don't think the US would be too bothered. They might act like it to save face, but in actuality - probably not too much.

Maybe but isnt´t allowing North Korea to deploy troops(specops) overseas a sort of huge slap in the face to the US?

It isn't really the decision of the US though, it's the decision of the Iraqi and Syrian leaders and also Kim Jong-Un as well obviously.

[Migas999]

Maybe but isnt´t allowing North Korea to deploy troops(specops) overseas a sort of huge slap in the face to the US?

It isn't really the decision of the US though, it's the decision of the Iraqi and Syrian leaders and also Kim Jong-Un as well obviously.

You thin Iraq and Syria would want that?

[Utrinque Paratus]

It isn't really the decision of the US though, it's the decision of the Iraqi and Syrian leaders and also Kim Jong-Un as well obviously.

You thin Iraq and Syria would want that?

Syria is allied with North Korea, and North Korea has supplied equipment. Iraq is now a puppet of the US, so most likely no but Syria wouldn't mind.

[Migas999]

You thin Iraq and Syria would want that?

Syria is allied with North Korea, and North Korea has supplied equipment. Iraq is now a puppet of the US, so most likely no but Syria wouldn't mind.

Syria would want it, Iraq wouldn´t, sounds like an international incident

[Utrinque Paratus]

Syria is allied with North Korea, and North Korea has supplied equipment. Iraq is now a puppet of the US, so most likely no but Syria wouldn't mind.

Syria would want it, Iraq wouldn´t, sounds like an international incident

Don't deploy to Iraq, ISIS is more active in Syria anyway.

[Migas999]

Syria would want it, Iraq wouldn´t, sounds like an international incident

Don't deploy to Iraq, ISIS is more active in Syria anyway.

Makes sense

[Grave_n_idle]

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/27/isis-releases-footage-of-palmyra-ruins-intact

That's a weird one.

ISIS won't destroy historical ruins. But they'll still destroy polytheist statues and, one assumes, people.

Is this some kind of.. charm offensive?

Ah.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 81695.html

Looks like it was pure theatre - creating an effective backdrop for violence.

There's something odd, here. The violence isn't new - the use of psychology and even the science of set-design is.

Either someone behind ISIS has a natural 'talent' for the psychological war, or they've imported creative talent. Or maybe they're just learning from Hollywood. How ironic if ISIS is becoming more effective because they're copying the skills of The Mandarin.

[Utrinque Paratus]

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/27/isis-releases-footage-of-palmyra-ruins-intact

That's a weird one.

ISIS won't destroy historical ruins. But they'll still destroy polytheist statues and, one assumes, people.

Is this some kind of.. charm offensive?

Ah.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 81695.html

Looks like it was pure theatre - creating an effective backdrop for violence.

There's something odd, here. The violence isn't new - the use of psychology and even the science of set-design is.

Either someone behind ISIS has a natural 'talent' for the psychological war, or they've imported creative talent. Or maybe they're just learning from Hollywood. How ironic if ISIS is becoming more effective because they're copying the skills of The Mandarin.

Most likely imported the 'talent'.

[Migas999]

Ah.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 81695.html

Looks like it was pure theatre - creating an effective backdrop for violence.

There's something odd, here. The violence isn't new - the use of psychology and even the science of set-design is.

Either someone behind ISIS has a natural 'talent' for the psychological war, or they've imported creative talent. Or maybe they're just learning from Hollywood. How ironic if ISIS is becoming more effective because they're copying the skills of The Mandarin.

Most likely imported the 'talent'.

By imported one could mean kidnapped

[Organized States]

Syrian Arab Army in Retreat from Idilb

[McFjord]

ISIS would be much weaker if the US had not supported the so-called Free Syrian Army.

[The Nuclear Fist]

How is the Syrian Army losing so much ground?

[Washington Resistance Army]

How is the Syrian Army losing so much ground?

They're fighting a several front war, it's not that shocking.

[Organized States]

How is the Syrian Army losing so much ground?

They're fighting a several front war, it's not that shocking.

Exactly. They're spread thin.

As I said a few days ago, this conflict is turning into a Meatgrinder. An entire generation of Syrians has been lost. The SAA's running out of people. Simple.

[Saiwania]

It appears that it was a mistake for Syria to give up their chemical weapons, they need it now more than ever as a force multiplier to bring to bear on the battlefield. Only better weaponry and equipment can save Syria's military from being worn down through attrition.

[Cabana]

It appears that it was a mistake for Syria to give up their chemical weapons, they need it now more than ever as a force multiplier to bring to bear on the battlefield. Only better weaponry and equipment can save Syria's military from being worn down through attrition.

Are you saying they should use WMDs?

[Socialist Czechia]

It appears that it was a mistake for Syria to give up their chemical weapons, they need it now more than ever as a force multiplier to bring to bear on the battlefield. Only better weaponry and equipment can save Syria's military from being worn down through attrition.

Are you saying they should use WMDs?

Some people thinks that WMDs are literally never justified. That there's no situation is so bad that it would required WMDs with no doubt.
I am not amongst them.

However, to utterly annihilate everything in ISIL's territory would still required quite a few tactical nukes and many gas bombs, and something better than sarin...perhaps 'Murican VX gas.

Seriously, if there would be option only between ISIL's victory and WMDs, then let's make whole ISIL a toxic, radioactive graveyard.

[West Aurelia]

IS gives online training on how to avoid being spied on.

[Laanvia]

ISIS would be much weaker if the US had not supported the so-called Free Syrian Army.

The FSA are freedom fighters. They aren't terrorists.