The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) - will anyone stop them?

[Heretic]

Pretty brutal what this group is doing...

Islamist militants continued their violent offensive in Iraq Thursday, inching closer to the capital and sending thousands of ethnic minorities fleeing to the mountains.

The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) continued to seize areas of northern Iraq, causing international alarm and humanitarian concern.

ISIS fighters are controlling a checkpoint at the border area of the region, which is a Kurdish, semi-autonomous region close to Arbil, a major city that houses the Kurdish regional government.

The Sunni militants captured Qaraqosh, Iraq's biggest Christian town, earlier this week, causing residents to flee out of fear of persecution. Christians are left with little options, and are forced to either evacuate, convert to Islam or be killed, according to Reuters.

ISIS, which is al-Qaeda affiliated and considered even more extreme than al-Qaeda, views the ethnic minorities in Iraq--Shiites, Christians and Yazidis, a Kurdish religious minority--as infidels. They believe they should convert to Islam or face death.

The defeat of the Kurdish forces over the weekend caused tens of thousands of Yazidis to flee to the mountains in the town of Sinjar.

Pope Francis called on world leaders to put an end to what he called "the humanitarian tragedy" in northern Iraq, and France called an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council to consider options on how to combat ISIS.

ISIS said in a statement on Twitter that it has captured 15 towns, a military base and the Mosul dam, which is a strategic location on the Tigris River.

The shares of energy companies operating in the region fell after news broke that the group had captured lucrative oilfields.

On Thursday, Reuters reported that ISIS put their black flag over the dam. The capture of the dam allows militants to either flood or cut off electricity and water supplies to cities.

Some of the thousands of ethnic minorities who are trapped in the mountains in Sinjar were rescued in the yesterday, according to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Around 200,000 minorities have fled to the mountains due to the conflict.

"This is a tragedy of immense proportions, impacting the lives of hundreds of thousands of people," U.N. spokesman David Swanson told Reuters.

He said that the people are in dire need of food, water, shelter and medicine. He said that as many as 40 children have died from dehydration in the mountains.

Yazidis are seen as "devil worshippers" by ISIS, who is trying to establish an Islamic empire.

Thousands of Yazidis are fleeing to Turkey to seek asylum.

ISIS is continuing to wage war against Kurdish forces in an effort to capture more areas of Iraq.

Eleven people were recently killed in Kirkuk, a strategic oil town in the north, by two car bombs that exploded near a Shiite mosque. A car bomb also exploded in a Shiite area of Baghdad, killing 14. All in all, car bombs in crowded Shiite markets have killed 59 and wounded 125.

The Islamic State has also seized a border town in Lebanon, raising fears that militants in the Arab world will join their cause and expand their offensive against non-Islamists. ISIS declared a caliphate in areas of Syria and Iraq.

On Wednesday, the militants also clashed with Kurdish forces in Makhmur, southwest of Arbil. While witnesses said the militants seized the town, officials said the Kurdish peshmerga forces are still in control in the region.

ISIS is the biggest threat to Iraq's security since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003. The militant group has worsened sectarian fighting, causing the situation to mirror the civil war that peaked in 2006 and 2007 when the U.S. still occupied Iraq.

Kidnappings, bombing and executions are once again frequent, leaving religious and ethnic minorities particularly vulnerable.

The militants have been driving Shiite Muslims from towns in Nineveh, and last month, they set a deadline for Christians to either leave Mosul or face certain death.

The Sunni militants seek to kill all non-Sunni Islamists, and Shiites in particular, as they believe Shiites receive unwarranted power in Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's predominantly Shiite government.

However, Maliki has refused calls to give up his bid for a third term. He said the process of choosing a new prime minister would open the "gates of hell" in the already fractured country.

http://www.latinpost.com/articles/18795/20140807/isis-militants-seize-more-iraqi-towns-as-refugees-flee-to-mountains.htm

Jonathan Mann speaks to Mark Arabo about why he thinks ISIS' persecution of Christians in Iraq has become a genocide.

http://news.msn.com/world/video?videoid=2bfdecd8-28d6-bd10-3bdb-9fe0cecfe467#tscptmf

[CanadianLoonie]

[Dral]

I know it's horrible, but every time I hear something about ISIS I cant help but think they are being led by this person:

[Caboose]

I know it's horrible, but every time I hear something about ISIS I cant help but think they are being led by this person:

Classic you.

[Special Ed]

Lol what are you smoking? Care to offer proof of that ridiculous conspiracy?

[inane]

Well, to be fair, the US has been arming everyone over there at some point or another.

[Dral]

Classic you.

[Mr. Ambien]

Lol what are you smoking? Care to offer proof of that ridiculous conspiracy?

Well, he isn't wrong, it's been shown the US was training ISIS people outside of Iraq (this type of US policy of training and funding extremists has a long standing history). And while they might have not provided the weapons, that was covered likely by Saudi Arabia.

[VanIsleNuckFan]

Lol what are you smoking? Care to offer proof of that ridiculous conspiracy?

When all of our proof from either perspective comes from 3rd party sources, ie: neither you or I witnessing it, who can believe what we are told these days. You have to use your logic coupled with info from independent and mainstream 3rd party sources and hope to form at least a blurry rendition of what may be actually happening.

Isn't it convenient though that the US/UK will march anywhere that suits the (first world) agenda under the guise of civil rights abuse and genocide, but chooses to ignore all other civil rights abuse and genocide.... Hmmmmm, wonder what they actually care about.. (if you were going to say money and power you're right)

[Heretic]

Well, he isn't wrong, it's been shown the US was training ISIS people outside of Iraq (this type of US policy of training and funding extremists has a long standing history). And while they might have not provided the weapons, that was covered likely by Saudi Arabia.

Technically, that's not correct....

From what I gather, some of ISIS members were trained by America before they joined ISIS...

There are more people being displaced and killed in this then in the Israeli / Palestine conflict.

"United Nations report says rate of civilian deaths over first six months of 2014 shows sharp increase over previous year, In its report, the UN mission to Iraq says at least 5,576 civilians were killed and another 11,665 wounded from 1 January until the end of June. Another 1.2 million have been driven from their homes by the violence, it adds.

The pace of civilian deaths over the first six months marked a sharp increase over the previous year. In all of 2013, the UN reported just over 7,800 civilians killed, which was the highest annual death toll in years..."

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/18/iraqi-civilian-death-toll-5500-2014-isis

[Mr. Ambien]

Technically, that's not correct....

From what I gather, some of ISIS members were trained by America before they joined ISIS...

There are more people being displaced and killed in this then in the Israeli / Palestine conflict.

"United Nations report says rate of civilian deaths over first six months of 2014 shows sharp increase over previous year, In its report, the UN mission to Iraq says at least 5,576 civilians were killed and another 11,665 wounded from 1 January until the end of June. Another 1.2 million have been driven from their homes by the violence, it adds.

The pace of civilian deaths over the first six months marked a sharp increase over the previous year. In all of 2013, the UN reported just over 7,800 civilians killed, which was the highest annual death toll in years..."

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/18/iraqi-civilian-death-toll-5500-2014-isis

It represents the same problem the US had with training and funding Bin Laden.

That was before he was Al Qaeda too.

But is that really something that absolves the US from blame here? Hell no.. why would it?

[elvis15]

It represents the same problem the US had with training and funding Bin Laden.

That was before he was Al Qaeda too.

But is that really something that absolves the US from blame here?

I don't know that anyone thinks they're still being funded by the US, but it's absolutely true the US has been very guilty of funding or even putting in power people who've later done some real damage. They're their own worst enemy when it comes to trying to bring peace (and democracy particularly) to areas of strife and even then it's too often for their own selfish reasons.

Man, I can't wait for hockey to start up again. Maybe I'll hide out in the Weird Al thread for awhile as this is depressing as $%!#.

[Sweathog]

Weren't the Sunnis also the Syrian rebels backed by NATO? Correct me if I'm wrong.

[Special Ed]

Well, he isn't wrong, it's been shown the US was training ISIS people outside of Iraq (this type of US policy of training and funding extremists has a long standing history). And while they might have not provided the weapons, that was covered likely by Saudi Arabia.

As far as I remember the Americans were supporting the FSA for a brief period. It was found that some of that support made its way to ISIS rebels among other radicals, then the Americans stopped their support. That sparked conflict between FSA and ISIS who battled each other. I have seen FSA video statements where they speak about this.

So it happened unintentionally but of course the conspiracy nuts hear a rumor and twist it more than a tornado in a hurricane. Now there's your propaganda. Bingo suddenly the Americans are magically allied with ISIS. Yes the CIA has a history of support such groups, but they would have to be brain dead to repeat mistakes made with the creation of Al Qaeda. I highly doubt the Americans to repeat that mistake but if there's proof I'm not aware of be my guest and post it.

[Mr. Ambien]

Weren't the Sunnis also the Syrian rebels backed by NATO? Correct me if I'm wrong.

Wouldn't doubt it.

9/11 / blowback was an inevitability.

You can only screw with a region of the world, even if populated by so many barbaric people (mainly Muslims), so long before it comes back to haunt you. Or in this case, screw with your plans.

But who's to say this isn't intended?

The US had Lockheed Martin and co. build the bombs to bomb Iraq, then sent in Halliburton to clean it up and charge US taxpayers $30k for toilets or charge taxpayers insane amounts for bullet-laden sammiches.

The biggest danger to US safety and US interest is... the US. Sufficed to say it should come as no surprise the US had a hand, no matter how big or small, in ISIS.

[Beastmode33]

Pretty brutal what this group is doing...

Islamist militants continued their violent offensive in Iraq Thursday, inching closer to the capital and sending thousands of ethnic minorities fleeing to the mountains.

The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) continued to seize areas of northern Iraq, causing international alarm and humanitarian concern.

ISIS fighters are controlling a checkpoint at the border area of the region, which is a Kurdish, semi-autonomous region close to Arbil, a major city that houses the Kurdish regional government.

The Sunni militants captured Qaraqosh, Iraq's biggest Christian town, earlier this week, causing residents to flee out of fear of persecution. Christians are left with little options, and are forced to either evacuate, convert to Islam or be killed, according to Reuters.

ISIS, which is al-Qaeda affiliated and considered even more extreme than al-Qaeda, views the ethnic minorities in Iraq--Shiites, Christians and Yazidis, a Kurdish religious minority--as infidels. They believe they should convert to Islam or face death.

The defeat of the Kurdish forces over the weekend caused tens of thousands of Yazidis to flee to the mountains in the town of Sinjar.

Pope Francis called on world leaders to put an end to what he called "the humanitarian tragedy" in northern Iraq, and France called an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council to consider options on how to combat ISIS.

ISIS said in a statement on Twitter that it has captured 15 towns, a military base and the Mosul dam, which is a strategic location on the Tigris River.

The shares of energy companies operating in the region fell after news broke that the group had captured lucrative oilfields.

On Thursday, Reuters reported that ISIS put their black flag over the dam. The capture of the dam allows militants to either flood or cut off electricity and water supplies to cities.

Some of the thousands of ethnic minorities who are trapped in the mountains in Sinjar were rescued in the yesterday, according to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Around 200,000 minorities have fled to the mountains due to the conflict.

"This is a tragedy of immense proportions, impacting the lives of hundreds of thousands of people," U.N. spokesman David Swanson told Reuters.

He said that the people are in dire need of food, water, shelter and medicine. He said that as many as 40 children have died from dehydration in the mountains.

Yazidis are seen as "devil worshippers" by ISIS, who is trying to establish an Islamic empire.

Thousands of Yazidis are fleeing to Turkey to seek asylum.

ISIS is continuing to wage war against Kurdish forces in an effort to capture more areas of Iraq.

Eleven people were recently killed in Kirkuk, a strategic oil town in the north, by two car bombs that exploded near a Shiite mosque. A car bomb also exploded in a Shiite area of Baghdad, killing 14. All in all, car bombs in crowded Shiite markets have killed 59 and wounded 125.

The Islamic State has also seized a border town in Lebanon, raising fears that militants in the Arab world will join their cause and expand their offensive against non-Islamists. ISIS declared a caliphate in areas of Syria and Iraq.

On Wednesday, the militants also clashed with Kurdish forces in Makhmur, southwest of Arbil. While witnesses said the militants seized the town, officials said the Kurdish peshmerga forces are still in control in the region.

ISIS is the biggest threat to Iraq's security since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003. The militant group has worsened sectarian fighting, causing the situation to mirror the civil war that peaked in 2006 and 2007 when the U.S. still occupied Iraq.

Kidnappings, bombing and executions are once again frequent, leaving religious and ethnic minorities particularly vulnerable.

The militants have been driving Shiite Muslims from towns in Nineveh, and last month, they set a deadline for Christians to either leave Mosul or face certain death.

The Sunni militants seek to kill all non-Sunni Islamists, and Shiites in particular, as they believe Shiites receive unwarranted power in Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's predominantly Shiite government.

However, Maliki has refused calls to give up his bid for a third term. He said the process of choosing a new prime minister would open the "gates of hell" in the already fractured country.

http://www.latinpost.com/articles/18795/20140807/isis-militants-seize-more-iraqi-towns-as-refugees-flee-to-mountains.htm

Jonathan Mann speaks to Mark Arabo about why he thinks ISIS' persecution of Christians in Iraq has become a genocide.

http://news.msn.com/world/video?videoid=2bfdecd8-28d6-bd10-3bdb-9fe0cecfe467#tscptmf

Makes total sense.

But seriously, muslims of all sorts scare the crap out of me because of my interactions with them in Canada and what some muslims are doing across our globe.

Don't the good muslims who respect people and humanity regardless of race, religion, or belief feel the need to stand up to the ones who do not? How about instead of protesting what Israel is doing, or Assad, etc. we have some protests against those who think as outlined in the OP's article?

The problem with the world today (and the world of yesterday) is people who are willing to kill others based upon their race or belief. Good on the US and Israel for standing up to these terrorists, especially while being scrutinized by morons who think that hamas, ISIS, Al-Qaeda are not the issue here. Wake up Canada.

[Mr. Ambien]

Makes total sense.

But seriously, muslims of all sorts scare the crap out of me because of my interactions with them in Canada and what some muslims are doing across our globe.

Don't the good muslims who respect people and humanity regardless of race, religion, or belief feel the need to stand up to the ones who do not? How about instead of protesting what Israel is doing, or Assad, etc. we have some protests against those who think as outlined in the OP's article?

The problem with the world today (and the world of yesterday) is people who are willing to kill others based upon their race or belief. Good on the US and Israel for standing up to these terrorists, especially while being scrutinized by morons who think that hamas, ISIS, Al-Qaeda are not the issue here. Wake up Canada.

I agree with most of what you say, but I think you're ignoring the risk to Americans this long standing US foreign policy has had. 9/11 was not merely an occurrence that happened because Muslims dislike whites or non-Muslims, it happened because the US has been creating severe instability in MENA, dropping bombs all over them, and installing dictators that, in mass, kill or use chemical weapons upon (gassing) their own people, under the auspices of spreading Democracy.

I personally don't think more Americans need to get blown up because the US government has a hard-on for whatever is out there in MENA, politically or resource-wise. The Muslims out there in MENA are going to blow themselves up and create instability all on their own, they don't need help from the US.

[I.Am.Ironman]

Those who fail to learn from the past are doomed to repeat it

[Beastmode33]

I agree with most of what you say, but I think you're ignoring the risk to Americans this long standing US foreign policy has had. 9/11 was not merely an occurrence that happened because Muslims dislike whites or non-Muslims, it happened because the US has been creating severe instability in MENA, dropping bombs all over them, and installing dictators that, in mass, kill or use chemical weapons upon (gassing) their own people, under the auspices of spreading Democracy.

I personally don't think more Americans need to get blown up because the US government has a hard-on for whatever is out there in MENA, politically or resource-wise. The Muslims out there in MENA are going to blow themselves up and create instability all on their own, they don't need help from the US.

To be honest, it should not be the US, Israel, Egypt, Russia, China, or any other nation fixing these problems, it should be the UN, who unfortunately have no real power.

The world needs to come together and set a standard for human rights across the globe, all armies should be dismantled or given to the UN to police the world from violence. Democracy should be a given in every country, with leaders having no power other than to run a country like a ceo, leave policing and armies to the UN, which will act based upon a set of Global Human Rights.

My belief is that any sort of violence or intimidation should not be tolerated anywhere on earth regardless of the race or religion of the person committing the act. We could start by increasing the criminal punishments for these types of crimes right here at home.

[Buddhas Hand]

Lol what are you smoking? Care to offer proof of that ridiculous conspiracy?

My enemies enemy is my friend............... until that enemy no longer exists;