To be accurate, the "large amount" of territory that the Islamic State now controls is approximately the size of Pennsylvania. Not exactly a vast, imposing empire by global standards. While they do control a few cities, most notably Mosul, the bulk of their territorial gains have been lightly populated areas of arid, hardscrabble land where they faced little resistance. In Iraq these are regions with Sunni Muslim majorities that had not fared particularly well under the Shia-dominated Iraqi National regime of Nouri al-Maliki. The portion of their territory in Syria consists of areas that they have controlled since the onset of the Syrian Civil War, which represent their home base.
Like all insurgent groups, IS is dependent upon support from the populations in the areas that they control. They have not ventured into regions in Shia-majority southern Iraq where they would face very stiff resistance and where they would not be able to count on receiving any support from the local population. On the other hand, the IS regime is extremely well-organized, extremely well-financed and extremely well-armed. Their forces have very capable commanders and their troops are disciplined, skilled and experienced.
The Islamic State (aka ISIS, ISIL, etc.) is following the classic insurgency blueprint. An excellent and informative overview and history of successful and unsuccessful insurgencies is the book <a href="http:\/\/www.williampolk.com\/html\/violent_politics.html" target="_blank"><i>Violent Politics</i></a> by William Polk.
And what&#039;s up with airline food? Amirite?
we should send that brunch guy to kobane for some perspective on &#039;gone way too far&#039;.
To be accurate, the &quot;large amount&quot; of territory that the Islamic State now controls is approximately the size of Pennsylvania. Not exactly a vast, imposing empire by global standards. While they do control a few cities, most notably Mosul, the bulk of their territorial gains have been lightly populated areas of arid, hardscrabble land where they faced little resistance. In Iraq these are regions with Sunni Muslim majorities that had not fared particularly well under the Shia-dominated Iraqi National regime of Nouri al-Maliki. The portion of their territory in Syria consists of areas that they have controlled since the onset of the Syrian Civil War, which represent their home base.
Like all insurgent groups, IS is dependent upon support from the populations in the areas that they control. They have not ventured into regions in Shia-majority southern Iraq where they would face very stiff resistance and where they would not be able to count on receiving any support from the local population. On the other hand, the IS regime is extremely well-organized, extremely well-financed and extremely well-armed. Their forces have very capable commanders and their troops are disciplined, skilled and experienced.
The Islamic State (aka ISIS, ISIL, etc.) is following the classic insurgency blueprint. An excellent and informative overview and history of successful and unsuccessful insurgencies is the book <a href="http:\/\/www.williampolk.com\/html\/violent_politics.html" target="_blank"><i>Violent Politics</i></a> by William Polk.
Voter ID laws already select for Republican-leaning blacks, so it&#039;s no surprise Rand thinks they&#039;re A-OK.
Well, for some reason it works quite well on their base of white fucknuts.
And the death penalty. They LOVE reaching out with that.
You forgot &quot;reduce or eliminate their minimum wage&quot; and &quot;repeal their health insurance plan.&quot;
And the assholes wonder why they get 10% of the black vote? I wonder why they get that much.
Being rich enough to live in a $950,000 1-BR is no longer hip? Damn. Things are <i>always</i> going out of style before I can get them.
<i>It&rsquo;s over. I&rsquo;m through with brunch.</i> Is this what is meant by the term &quot;First World Problem&quot;?
And don&#039;t get me started on &quot;between meal snacking&quot;.
It was Hobbes&#039; fault.
Republicans talking <i>at</i> Blacks. day ending in Y.
Don&#039;t even mention second breakfast
Sounds like Cleveland Steampunk to me.
BOZOGHAZI!!!!
You know who <i>else</i> liked to say, &quot;[I&#039;m from the government and] I&#039;m here to help&quot;?