Islamic State Crisis Megathread (ISIS/ISIL/IS)

[Ganos Lao]

Fuck the Iraqi Army, we need troops there.

I don't see that as being a popular action.

If not, then you're getting into a grinding match that you will and I repeat, will lose a shit ton of irreplaceable soldiers.

Isn't that what would happen if the US went back in? It'd be like dealing with the Vietcong more than Saddam, no doubt, and I'd suspect people would make that assumption that it'd be a rather bloody grinding match. Plus, how will the US go about gathering another coalition?

[MERIZoC]

ISIS attempts to drum up anti-Communist sympathies, accusing the Kurds of being led by Communists.

I mean, they aren't too far off.

[Gauthier]

ISIS attempts to drum up anti-Communist sympathies, accusing the Kurds of being led by Communists.

I mean, they aren't too far off.

Assad is the one with Putin's backing and they call the Kurds communist?

[The Greater Aryan Race]

ISIS attempts to drum up anti-Communist sympathies, accusing the Kurds of being led by Communists.

A tad late for that considering they've been beheading any Kurdish fighters they catch.

[Blakk Metal]

ISIS attempts to drum up anti-Communist sympathies, accusing the Kurds of being led by Communists.

Communists are relevant?

[Gauthier]

ISIS attempts to drum up anti-Communist sympathies, accusing the Kurds of being led by Communists.

Communists are relevant?

Lessee... 'Socialism' is a swear word in the United States so...

[The Lone Alliance]

ISIS attempts to drum up anti-Communist sympathies, accusing the Kurds of being led by Communists.

If they're trying to use the PKK for that then they're out of luck, they abandoned Marxist–Leninism years ago. They're more Libertarian Socialists now.

[The Alma Mater]

ISIS attempts to drum up anti-Communist sympathies, accusing the Kurds of being led by Communists.

If they're trying to use the PKK for that then they're out of luck, they abandoned Marxist–Leninism years ago. They're more Libertarian Socialists now.

And facts like these would matter to IS because.... ?

[The Lone Alliance]

If they're trying to use the PKK for that then they're out of luck, they abandoned Marxist–Leninism years ago. They're more Libertarian Socialists now.

And facts like these would matter to IS because.... ?

Because if they're trying to use it to motivate their own people then they picked one of the stupider ones.

[The Alma Mater]

And facts like these would matter to IS because.... ?

Because if they're trying to use it to motivate their own people then they picked one of the stupider ones.

Facts matter very little in a propaganda war. They could also have yelled that the Kurds eat babies or are reptilians from outer space. As long as they get to yell "charge !", they are happy.

[Napkiraly]

Plus, how will the US go about gathering another coalition?

Same as last time, blackjack and hookers.

[Imperial City-States]

Plus, how will the US go about gathering another coalition?

Same as last time, blackjack and hookers.

Except this time we'll have MOAR blackjack and hookers!

[Jamzmania]

Fuck the Iraqi Army, we need troops there.

I don't see that as being a popular action.

If not, then you're getting into a grinding match that you will and I repeat, will lose a shit ton of irreplaceable soldiers.

Isn't that what would happen if the US went back in? It'd be like dealing with the Vietcong more than Saddam, no doubt, and I'd suspect people would make that assumption that it'd be a rather bloody grinding match. Plus, how will the US go about gathering another coalition?

You seem to think that ISIS has popular local support, that they have the numbers (how many people do they have? 50,000? Less?), and that the terrain is even suitable for the kind of resistance comparable to the Viet Cong.

[Napkiraly]

Same as last time, blackjack and hookers.

Except this time we'll have MOAR blackjack and hookers!

Have all the blackjack and hookers!

[The Black Forrest]

I don't see that as being a popular action.



Isn't that what would happen if the US went back in? It'd be like dealing with the Vietcong more than Saddam, no doubt, and I'd suspect people would make that assumption that it'd be a rather bloody grinding match. Plus, how will the US go about gathering another coalition?

You seem to think that ISIS has popular local support, that they have the numbers (how many people do they have? 50,000? Less?), and that the terrain is even suitable for the kind of resistance comparable to the Viet Cong.

Not really. The NVA and the cong only had to fight one country. ISIS is fighting on multiple fronts.

[Imperial City-States]

You seem to think that ISIS has popular local support, that they have the numbers (how many people do they have? 50,000? Less?), and that the terrain is even suitable for the kind of resistance comparable to the Viet Cong.

Just going to expand a bit on what you said:

Saying the terrain is 'less suitable' is a horrible understatement. The terrain of Iraq is suitable to really one thing. Open warfare (some extent Urban warfare) ISIS, is not compatible with Open warfare as they lack any means of exploiting it. Any mass movements by ISIS are obliterated by Long Range fire support. Be it Air Support directed by US 'advisers' or by semi-competent Kurdish forces. The Iraqi Army's incompetence is the only reason that ISIS hasn't been obliterated at this point. The only reason the VC even survived was due to the dense jungle canopy that prevented precision air strikes. Even with the thick Jungle. During U.S bombing operations the N.V.A was annihilated as an effective fighting entity, Slash and Burn operations rendered V.C operations in South Vietnam inhibited (should've finished the job in Laos and Cambodia but i digress).

[The Alma Mater]

I don't see that as being a popular action.



Isn't that what would happen if the US went back in? It'd be like dealing with the Vietcong more than Saddam, no doubt, and I'd suspect people would make that assumption that it'd be a rather bloody grinding match. Plus, how will the US go about gathering another coalition?

You seem to think that ISIS has popular local support, that they have the numbers (how many people do they have? 50,000? Less?), and that the terrain is even suitable for the kind of resistance comparable to the Viet Cong.

Who do the locals prefer then - IS or the great Satan known as the USA ?

[Napkiraly]

I don't see that as being a popular action.



Isn't that what would happen if the US went back in? It'd be like dealing with the Vietcong more than Saddam, no doubt, and I'd suspect people would make that assumption that it'd be a rather bloody grinding match. Plus, how will the US go about gathering another coalition?

You seem to think that ISIS has popular local support, that they have the numbers (how many people do they have? 50,000? Less?), and that the terrain is even suitable for the kind of resistance comparable to the Viet Cong.

Lower estimates are around 50 000. Upper is over 200 000.

[Jamzmania]

You seem to think that ISIS has popular local support, that they have the numbers (how many people do they have? 50,000? Less?), and that the terrain is even suitable for the kind of resistance comparable to the Viet Cong.

Who do the locals prefer then - IS or the great Satan known as the USA ?

Probably the ones that aren't regularly slaughtering innocent people in the streets.

[Napkiraly]

You seem to think that ISIS has popular local support, that they have the numbers (how many people do they have? 50,000? Less?), and that the terrain is even suitable for the kind of resistance comparable to the Viet Cong.

Who do the locals prefer then - IS or the great Satan known as the USA ?

After awhile, more likely the USA. After all, what helped drive out ISIS grand daddy (AQ in Iraq) during the surge was the Anbar Awakening. They found AQ too stifling. ISIS is taking everything up to eleven.

[Jamzmania]

You seem to think that ISIS has popular local support, that they have the numbers (how many people do they have? 50,000? Less?), and that the terrain is even suitable for the kind of resistance comparable to the Viet Cong.

Lower estimates are around 50 000. Upper is over 200 000.

The CIA estimates there are around 30,000 or less inside Syria and Iraq.

[Napkiraly]

Who do the locals prefer then - IS or the great Satan known as the USA ?

Probably the ones that aren't regularly slaughtering innocent people in the streets.

And trying to rape their sisters, daughters, wives, mothers, aunts, etc.

[The Alma Mater]

Who do the locals prefer then - IS or the great Satan known as the USA ?

Probably the ones that aren't regularly slaughtering innocent people in the streets.

Really ? That seems to not be how things work IRL. As long as a dictator manages to take away the trash on time and limits congestion on the roads, a few deaths every now and then is something peope shrug about. "Filthy furriners" otoh ...

[Napkiraly]

Lower estimates are around 50 000. Upper is over 200 000.

The CIA estimates there are around 30,000 or less inside Syria and Iraq.

IIRC that was back in the summer of last year however. And then there are all the groups outside Syria and Iraq that have pledged allegiance to ISIS. Most likely the numbers in Iraq and Syria are between the CIA's estimate and the upper 200 000. Something like 80k seems rather reasonable.

[The Black Forrest]

Probably the ones that aren't regularly slaughtering innocent people in the streets.

Really ? That seems to not be how things work IRL. As long as a dictator manages to take away the trash on time and limits congestion on the roads, a few deaths every now and then is something peope shrug about. "Filthy furriners" otoh ...

Wait you suggesting people will get annoyed by isis wiping out their history because it's idolatry?