TLDR20
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Shit right now is probably one of the safer times to go.
Iraq and ISIS Discussion
- Thread starter Kraut783
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Shit right now is probably one of the safer times to go.
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...is probably what some of those Westerners were thinking since 20 tourists were butchered in a Tunisian museum not so long ago this year.
Sure, I can see the reasoning. There'd be heightened security and all, especially in the immediate aftermath, but it's still no guarantee of safety. Plus I'm not sure if all the security measures would make for a very relaxing or care-free holiday. There are plenty of other nice destinations in the world, but as holiday packages in Tunisia (and elsewhere in the region) have been getting cheaper and cheaper, that's what has kept the tourists flowing. They get a temporary bump in the road like this every so often, but it will be back to business as usual after a while.
There's always a risk-reward ratio. Hell, if you lower the price enough, you could get Brits to walk into Mordor... as long as you promise them lots of sun and cheap booze.
Nowhere is technically 100% "safe" for a Westerner these days, and people shouldn't be basing all their plans around the fear of an attack (since that's giving in to terrorism)... but I reckon there's definitely some merit in people doing risk assessments of their potential destinations (then choosing to accept the risk or not, but at least being fully aware of it). I bet a holiday in Greece would've sounded pretty good to some of those people in hindsight. Most of the public here are absolutely, hopelessly clueless when it comes to the topic of the dangers of traveling abroad.
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In other news, another Aussie died, this time with the Kurds. It seems he stepped on a land mine. Vale.
Meanwhile...
BEIRUT — A great part of the Syrian province of Homs has fallen into the hands of the Islamic State (IS) following the fall of Palmyra. Amid these developments, Lebanon is focusing on Homs. Meanwhile, the Syrian army has been regaining control over the Qalamoun barren lands since May.
Although several parts of Syria are plagued by the fighting, the fact remains that IS is focused on Homs province, which is significant for several important factors, Syrian security sources told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity.
If the terrorist organization wins this battle, it will control Syria’s center. Moreover, Homs is close to Damascus and consequently considered the last step before the major battle in the capital. More important, this province has common borders with Iraq, Jordan, Turkey and Lebanon. Its fall, according to military logic, could mean the return of border villages to IS’ control, which would lead to northern Lebanon. For all these reasons, IS seeking to overthrow Homs again, after the Syrian regime tightened its control over it in the Krak des Chevaliers battle in March 2014, two years after its occupation by militants.
Homs is an extension to the Syrian desert, located in southeast Syria and including eastern Jordan, western Iraq and northern Saudi Arabia. IS controls the Iraqi part of this desert and is looking to control the Syrian part of it — meaning Homs — to link it to the Iraqi land and secure the necessary ground for the establishment of the IS project.
http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/ori...l&utm_term=0_28264b27a0-3f03933af4-102467069#
BEIRUT — A great part of the Syrian province of Homs has fallen into the hands of the Islamic State (IS) following the fall of Palmyra. Amid these developments, Lebanon is focusing on Homs. Meanwhile, the Syrian army has been regaining control over the Qalamoun barren lands since May.
Although several parts of Syria are plagued by the fighting, the fact remains that IS is focused on Homs province, which is significant for several important factors, Syrian security sources told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity.
If the terrorist organization wins this battle, it will control Syria’s center. Moreover, Homs is close to Damascus and consequently considered the last step before the major battle in the capital. More important, this province has common borders with Iraq, Jordan, Turkey and Lebanon. Its fall, according to military logic, could mean the return of border villages to IS’ control, which would lead to northern Lebanon. For all these reasons, IS seeking to overthrow Homs again, after the Syrian regime tightened its control over it in the Krak des Chevaliers battle in March 2014, two years after its occupation by militants.
Homs is an extension to the Syrian desert, located in southeast Syria and including eastern Jordan, western Iraq and northern Saudi Arabia. IS controls the Iraqi part of this desert and is looking to control the Syrian part of it — meaning Homs — to link it to the Iraqi land and secure the necessary ground for the establishment of the IS project.
http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/ori...l&utm_term=0_28264b27a0-3f03933af4-102467069#
I was reading an article about the fierce fighting in the sinai, and noticed an offhanded quote from an Egyptian general: Isis exploited weaknesses in the Egyptian military, and was directed towards those weaknesses by foreign gov'ts.
Now who is he referring to? Iran comes to mind, but Iran and ISIS aren't exactly comfortable together. Odd.
Now who is he referring to? Iran comes to mind, but Iran and ISIS aren't exactly comfortable together. Odd.
I'd take a punt and say Turkey.
Just a hunch really, the Turkey/Syria border is porous in parts & there has been in some quarters talk of tacit approval of Daesh in Turkey.
Also look at the other nations, Israel,
Iraq, Lebanon, Saudi, Iran, Syria, Jordan. For various reasons they're not on the side of Daesh. As I said it's just a hunch.
Also look at the other nations, Israel,
Iraq, Lebanon, Saudi, Iran, Syria, Jordan. For various reasons they're not on the side of Daesh. As I said it's just a hunch.
This is from May and I doubt things have changed to much...
http://www.businessinsider.com/turkey-playing-a-double-game-with-isis-2015-5
1.ISIS - Annual Turnover $2 Billion - In Photos: The World’s 10 Richest Terrorist Organizations
IS turns through 2 bullion a year. A billion more than Hamas.
IS turns through 2 bullion a year. A billion more than Hamas.
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As America continues it obsession with TMZ, Hollywood, etc - "this" is happening.
'They beat us everywhere': Inside ISIS training camps for terror's next generation
SANLIURFA, Turkey – The children had all been shown videos of beheadings and told by their trainers with the Islamic State group (ISIS) that they would perform one someday. First, they had to practice technique. The more than 120 boys were each given a doll and a sword and told, cut off its head.
A 14-year-old who was among the boys, all abducted from Iraq's Yazidi religious minority, said he couldn't cut it right. He chopped once, twice, three times.
'They beat us everywhere': Inside ISIS training camps for terror's next generation
SANLIURFA, Turkey – The children had all been shown videos of beheadings and told by their trainers with the Islamic State group (ISIS) that they would perform one someday. First, they had to practice technique. The more than 120 boys were each given a doll and a sword and told, cut off its head.
A 14-year-old who was among the boys, all abducted from Iraq's Yazidi religious minority, said he couldn't cut it right. He chopped once, twice, three times.
Good old Turkey...
White House says Turkey has right to defend itself after Kurdish attacks
Turkey couples IS bombing runs with striking Kurdish targets
Hey, can we use your bases to bomb ISIS?
Will you look the other way when we bomb the Kurds?
Look the other way? We'll sanction it in the press.
We look forward to increasing your presence at Incirlik.
White House says Turkey has right to defend itself after Kurdish attacks
Turkey couples IS bombing runs with striking Kurdish targets
Hey, can we use your bases to bomb ISIS?
Will you look the other way when we bomb the Kurds?
Look the other way? We'll sanction it in the press.
We look forward to increasing your presence at Incirlik.
Just finished watching tonights' offering. Cooking, singing, renovating a house, meh, that's not reality TV. 
Brill
SOF Support
Math to predict IS movements and trends?
ABSTRACT
The Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) is a dominant insurgent group operating in Iraq and Syria that rose to prominence when it took over Mosul in June, 2014. In this paper, we present a data-driven approach to analyzing this group using a dataset consisting of 2200 incidents of mili- tary activity surrounding ISIS and the forces that oppose it (including Iraqi, Syrian, and the American-led coalition). We combine ideas from logic programming and causal rea- soning to mine for association rules for which we present evidence of causality. We present relationships that link ISIS vehicle-bourne improvised explosive device (VBIED) activity in Syria with military operations in Iraq, coalition air strikes, and ISIS IED activity, as well as rules that may serve as indicators of spikes in indirect fire, suicide attacks, and arrests.
http://arxiv.org/pdf/1508.01192v1.pdf
ABSTRACT
The Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) is a dominant insurgent group operating in Iraq and Syria that rose to prominence when it took over Mosul in June, 2014. In this paper, we present a data-driven approach to analyzing this group using a dataset consisting of 2200 incidents of mili- tary activity surrounding ISIS and the forces that oppose it (including Iraqi, Syrian, and the American-led coalition). We combine ideas from logic programming and causal rea- soning to mine for association rules for which we present evidence of causality. We present relationships that link ISIS vehicle-bourne improvised explosive device (VBIED) activity in Syria with military operations in Iraq, coalition air strikes, and ISIS IED activity, as well as rules that may serve as indicators of spikes in indirect fire, suicide attacks, and arrests.
http://arxiv.org/pdf/1508.01192v1.pdf
Interesting.
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