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Saturday Morning ISIS Update

While ISIS got overshadowed by other events this week, it's still on a tear, wreaking havoc in both Iraq and Syria. It announced today it seized the Assad military airport in Deirezzor city and the army there is trying to flee.

ISIS is also getting tougher on Shari'a law enforcement. Their women's unit is patrolling for women who don't dress appropriately. How would you like to be confronted by this group? ISIS is getting tougher about Shari'a law violators: Thursday it stoned an adulteress in the Tabaqa market area in Raqqa. Friday, it stoned another one to death near the football stadium. These were public events, and well attended. One of the events was even made wheelchair accessible (see the photo.) Are we supposed to take that as a sign of how caring they are for the disabled among them?

Question: Were these really adulteresses or just wives of ISIS enemies? The photos were posted on an official ISIS page. [More...]

ISIS also left the Christians in Mosul a warning: they had 24 hours to leave, or they could convert, die or pay a tax. Almost all of them fled. "Choose one of these: Islam, the sword, al-Jiziya (tax) or till Saturday to flee"

ISIS took over a gas field in Al-Sha'er, Homs. It also again took the Baji refinery, which resulted in Assad hitting it with airstrikes. Aleppo also got hit with airstrikes. It did a lot of damage in Tikrit, claiming many executions. And a news source repeats ISIS' claim to have taken Speicher air base north of Tikrit and 7 of those spiffy planes the Russians recently delivered.

The Syrian Observatory says ISIS now controls 98% of Dayr az-Zawr province. And on top of all this, it managed to distribute toys to the poor children, food to families and money to the needy. As I've said before, these adrenaline junkies are quite the multi-taskers.

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  • Display: Sort:
    So you're letting (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat Jul 19, 2014 at 01:11:52 PM EST
    Bin Laden make all the decisions. Glad to know you put your faith in him.

    Jim please take a break from (5.00 / 2) (#23)
    by Jeralyn on Sat Jul 19, 2014 at 01:38:20 PM EST
    Talkleft or stop commenting on this topic. You are flaming and close to trolling, as well as blog-clogging. You are entitled to your opinion, but not to spread incendiary calls to action. If you really believe what you write, find a place those views are welcome. Otherwise, limit yourself to one or two comments per thread on this topic.

    Christians have been warned (none / 0) (#1)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sat Jul 19, 2014 at 08:49:54 AM EST
    by ISIS to leave Mosul.

    A city where Christians have lived for thousands of years.

    Time for the West to act.

    So many wars to fight, so little time (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by MKS on Sat Jul 19, 2014 at 09:13:01 AM EST
    Ukraine, Iraq.....just an embarrassment of riches....We really have the opportunity to be at war with all kinds of people.....it is a dream come true.

    Parent
    I was thinking (none / 0) (#24)
    by lentinel on Sat Jul 19, 2014 at 03:50:02 PM EST
    so disappointed that war with Syria didn't work out.
    And Iran - I really had high hopes for that.
    North Korea - well, you never know. One can hope.

    But Ukraine. And RUSSIA!
    Now you're talking.

    I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

    Parent

    Evil thoughts... (5.00 / 1) (#25)
    by fishcamp on Sat Jul 19, 2014 at 04:07:59 PM EST
    are the Devil's toenails at the window of disappointment.

    Parent
    While it's just a fantasy, (none / 0) (#27)
    by NYShooter on Sat Jul 19, 2014 at 06:27:31 PM EST
    and, even at my age, I'd gladly volunteer to go to North Korea, and, not return until that Sadistic, mutant, "Kim" family pays the price for the enslavement, torture, and, debasement of millions of innocent men, women, and, children.

    That this kind of crime against humanity is permitted to exist in 2014 is a statement saying that, maybe, we should slither back into the ocean.

    Parent

    is that snark, Jim? (5.00 / 3) (#22)
    by Jeralyn on Sat Jul 19, 2014 at 01:33:49 PM EST
    one has nothing to do with the other. If it's not snark, it's not even worth responding. Take that bait where it will be appreciated.

    Parent
    We already did--"act," that is (none / 0) (#2)
    by MKS on Sat Jul 19, 2014 at 09:07:23 AM EST
    It is not time to get involved in another war.

    It appears that because "Christians" are threatened, you are more inclined to send us back into war.  If it were just Muslims, then maybe we should stay out according to you?


    Parent

    Yes and yes (none / 0) (#9)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sat Jul 19, 2014 at 11:03:03 AM EST
    Whether we like it or not this is a religious war.

    The west, and that includes us, is part of the "enemy." As bin Ladin said in March of 1997 to Peter Arnet, then with CNN:

    REPORTER: Mr. Bin Ladin, will the end of the United States' presence in Saudi Arabia, their withdrawal, will that end your call for jihad against the United States and against the US ?

    BIN LADIN: So, the driving-away jihad against the US does not stop with its withdrawal from the Arabian peninsula, but rather it must desist from aggressive intervention against Muslims in the whole world.

    Link

    But then no one paid any attention what Hitler was saying either.. and millions and millions died.


    Parent

    So we are in a religious war (5.00 / 2) (#11)
    by MKS on Sat Jul 19, 2014 at 11:19:16 AM EST
    That means "we" are the Christians....Well, I want no part of being Christian, then.  Speak for your old, white bigoted Southern Baptists, but not me.

    And, "we" are at war with the Muslim faith?

    The good thing is that your views are in the minority.  You and Dick Cheney and Sarah Palin.  Wacko right wingers get people killed.

    News flash, Bin Laden is dead. I know that ruins your narrative....And the quote you cite talks about resisting U.S. interventionism--that supports your view?

    You have lost this argument.  The American people are finished with Cheney style militarism.  No more wars of choice.  No more wars for fun for old men, armchair warriors. Go watch football instead.

     

    Parent

    I am SO GLAD (none / 0) (#14)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat Jul 19, 2014 at 12:16:11 PM EST
    for you to finally admit that you agree with Bin Laden. I always knew it but now that you admit it, it's there in writing for all to see.

    Parent
    Nope. Wrong again. (none / 0) (#3)
    by Angel on Sat Jul 19, 2014 at 09:08:27 AM EST
    We don't need to be engaged in any more wars, especially religious wars.  

    Parent
    He means (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Jul 19, 2014 at 09:14:49 AM EST
    "Act out".

    Parent
    Unfortunately what we need (none / 0) (#18)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sat Jul 19, 2014 at 01:05:35 PM EST
    and what our enemies will allow are two different things.

    Parent
    Again (5.00 / 1) (#21)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat Jul 19, 2014 at 01:13:31 PM EST
    you are letting them define what we do. You have made two comments saying that American foreign policy decisions should be made by Osama Bin Laden. You are really letting us know full on today aren't you.

    Fortunately the only people that agree with letting Bin Laden decide our foreign policy is the knee jerkers on the far right.

    Parent

    What do you mean by "act"? (none / 0) (#6)
    by Yman on Sat Jul 19, 2014 at 10:32:53 AM EST
    By "the West", do you mean US alone if other western countries don't agree?

    Parent
    Act how? (none / 0) (#8)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Jul 19, 2014 at 10:47:35 AM EST
    It is likely we are acting.    But you can quietly evacuate people or you make a big hoopla and get a bunch of innocent people killed.

    Parent
    Maybe we should (1.00 / 1) (#10)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sat Jul 19, 2014 at 11:06:29 AM EST
    quietly evacuate you from your home with nothing but the clothes on your back.

    How'd you like that??

    Parent

    If it means I am alive (5.00 / 1) (#19)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Jul 19, 2014 at 01:07:22 PM EST
    During militant or military actions, I would like that a lot please, pretty please!

    Parent
    Where are the Quds forces? (none / 0) (#7)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Jul 19, 2014 at 10:46:11 AM EST
    Quds forces have always been a shadowy fear riddled two words.  Lots of rumors, not much evidence.  For some reason I always thought they were mostly talk..lots of propaganda stirred in.  My husband sort of disagreed with me, and I figured he would know better than I.

    Seriously though Iran, where are your badass feared Quds forces?  Are they out to lunch?  What?

    Blame game and conspiracy theories (5.00 / 1) (#26)
    by Politalkix on Sat Jul 19, 2014 at 05:58:56 PM EST
    come first link

    Parent
    I read in the Navy Times earlier today (none / 0) (#28)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Jul 19, 2014 at 09:10:40 PM EST
    That Quds have been fighting ISIL, but taking heavy losses.  The article sourcing seemed a little iffy too to me.  Seems difficult right now to get a clear picture, everyone is spinning.

    Parent