First of all - Hi! I'm back. Haven't posted in a couple years, but I feel I need to take my rants off Facebook and channel them elsewhere, so this seems as good a place as any.
Today - my rant is ISIS. The Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, but it's far more than that. The opinion I'm about to express will contain some well-known facts about ISIS/ISIL that I encourage readers to research for themselves. And of course, I will espouse my opinion on the situation involving this uprising.
Let me state for the record, that I am NOT a racist. I hold nothing against any human being based upon their race - where one is born or what race one is, is no one's "fault" and in fact creates wonderful diversity for our planet.
I will however, reserve the right to critique the choices people make - as adults - with the full capacity to reason their own actions.
There is a tendency in the media, the political spin doctors, and at all levels of government to classify ISIS or ISIL as a terrorist organization. While terrorism IS part of their modus operandi, it should not be mistaken for the be-all, end-all of their existence.
There is also a tendency to disconnect the group with the Islamic religion, in favor of labeling the group simple "madmen." While I agree that their intentions are in fact "mad", it is wrong to ignore the influence of Islam - particularly the Qur'an and the words of the prophet Mohammed - with respect to the group's ambitions. For that matter, their very name bears the name of their religion.
What is ISIS/ISIL?
ISIS stands for The Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (Syria). ISIL stands for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. There is much confusion over these terms, I've actually heard people criticize president Obama for using ISIL, prompting the ill-educated public to accuse him of "being so stupid, he doesn't even know the name of the group he's talking about."
TO BE CLEAR - ISIS and ISIL - are the SAME GROUP. There is NO difference aside from which faction happens to be referring to it.
ISIS (ISIL) is a jihadist, rebel group which controls territory in Iraq and Syria an also operates in North Africa, the Middle East, South Asia and Southeast Asia.
It has allegiance to Al-Queda and other Sunni insurgent groups.
It's leader is a man named, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and the group has grown considerably under his leadership. He was the key to the sudden strengthening of the group because he is believed to be a prophesied caliph (leader) to bring a WORLDWIDE caliphate, (claims religious, political and military authority over all Muslims worldwide), to fruition.
The group actually controls vast areas of northern Iraq and eastern Syria at this time, despite meager military bombardments. They also control pockets all across the regions I previously described.
Their actual, stated intention is to, in five years, conquer the entire Middle East, Muslim Africa, Muslim Asia, and in fact - SPAIN.
While a 5-year plan may be a bit optimistic, they have conquered vast swaths of land very quickly. And their plan to achieve this is not unlike many conquering armies of the past.
They start with a village, conquer it, conscript more men and teen boys from that village, kill anyone who opposes them, and moves on to the next village. Repeat.
It's a simple and comprehensive plan.
But what of the religion? You say they sound like simple brigands and they are not of "God"?
Wrong.
They have been very successful because they use the words "of God" available to them in the Qur'an. The Qur'an very explicitly dictates in many ways that a caliphate should exist and Sharia Law should be achieved via Jihad.
Essentially, anyone who is not on-board with this is guilted into being on-board with it using their own religion as an example. If that doesn't work - they die. The use of their RELIGION is how they have been able to conquer so much so fast and how they are able to have so many cells in the region who will likely one day soon become an equal problem.
For the record - Christianity once did the same. Still does in more mild manners. But at one time, Christianity was as bloody a proposition as Islam.
Islam is about 600 years younger. Go back 600 years or so into Christianity's past. Think about the chaos. The Inquisition, the Crusades, burning "witches" - every bit as barbaric.
ISIS represents the "growing pains" of RELIGION. Period.
But we don't live in benign times. In 1400, no one was going to destroy entire countries via nuclear annihilation.
If ISIS continues to flourish and uprisings start occurring everywhere they are now and the world sits back and does nothing ... how long before they get hold of something that will really do some damage? And think of the millions of Muslims worldwide, embedded in other countries. How much damage could even a small percentage do if they became seduced by their religion's dark side?
Bottom line - ISIS is the problem in the Middle East that we should've been waiting for. If ever a time was necessary to stop a growing army - this is it.
I am sorry we spent so much time fighting in the Middle East, plutocratic wars that were little more than profiteering for our elite. Because this day was bound to come. Now we're really being backed into a corner and most Americans don't even see it.
Yesterday this happened:
http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/isis-terror/obamas-isis-war-powers-request-heads-congress-n304316
Link it up - check it out.
Unfortunately - this one IS necessary.
But I can only hope our leaders realize that we've taken too much out of our economy and military to go this route ourselves. We need to organize a global response to the question of ISIS. The security and stability of the world may lie in how we proceed.
The USA cannot be the designated "world police." We cannot sustain that title anymore. We need to acknowledge that we need help with this battle and we need to accept it.
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