	Generational Dynamics
	Forecasting America's Destiny ... and the World's

\| HOME \| WEB LOG \| COUNTRY WIKI \| COMMENT \| FORUM \| DOWNLOADS \| ABOUT \|

Generational Dynamics Web Log for 25-Jun-2014
25-Jun-14 World View -- The Iraqi catastrophe worsens as European youth join ISIS

Web Log - June, 2014

25-Jun-14 World View -- The Iraqi catastrophe worsens as European youth join ISIS

Boko Haram in Nigeria abducts 60 more girls and 30 boys

This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com

The Iraqi catastrophe worsens as European youth join ISIS
ISIS conducts sophisticated media campaign to attract European youth
Russia may revoke its March 1 resolution authorizing Ukraine invasion
Boko Haram in Nigeria abducts 60 more girls and 30 boys

The Iraqi catastrophe worsens as European youth join ISIS

European authorities are becoming increasingly concerned about the numbers of European youth who are going to Syria to join the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and the jihad against the regimes in Syria and Iraq. Media interviews with some of these young jihadists indicate an enormous level of ignorance:

"I'm from the south of England. I grew up in a middle class family. Life was easy back home. I had a life. I had a car. But the thing is: You cannot practice Islam back home. We see all around us evil. We see pedophiles. We see homosexuality. We see crime. We see rape."

There are hundreds and, more likely, thousands of young men who have gone to fight with ISIS, as are would-be jihadists from around the world, from America to Indonesia to Pakistan to Africa to Russia.

According to a Lebanese analyst, the Western media are ignoring the danger posed by ISIS, by vastly underestimating its power and accomplishments, and even sometimes portraying it as a benign people's revolution of tribal youths.

ISIS was formed only a little over a year ago in Syria, and it's repeatedly fought off and beaten not only attacks by Syria's army, but also other Sunni militant groups such as Jabhat al-Nusra. Despite having to fight battles on several fronts, in the last few weeks it's accomplish an extremely complex and sophisticated victory in Iraq, taking control of an Iraqi land area that is bigger than several Arab countries combined, and is threatening Saudi Arabia and Jordan. ISIS has taken control of many of the border crossings between Iraq and Syria, effectively erasing the border between the two countries.

The Western media have also given an unlikely impression of the size of ISIS, sometimes describing it as having only a few hundred or a few thousand fighters. In fact, the old Al-Qaeda in Iraq, led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, had at least 15,000 fighters, and possibly many times more. ISIS is likely to have all those fighters available, and those are buttressed by foreign jihadists coming from around the world.

None of this should be any surprise to long-time readers of Generational Dynamics World View, as we've been describing the increasing strength of the jihadist movement in Syria for well over a year. It's also worth taking a moment to repeat the main factors that have made this possible:

The "industrial strength" torture and extermination of Sunni civilians by Syria's president Bashar al-Assad, even using sarin gas and other chemical weapons with impunity.

The support by Russia's president Vladimir Putin, who is a war criminal for providing unlimited supplies of heavy weapons to al-Assad to continue his genocide.

The disastrous and incompetent foreign policy of President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry, which has caused one debacle after another. The most disastrous event was Obama's flip-flop on the chemical weapons "red line" in Syria, which convinced jihadists around the world that America is no longer strong or credible.

CNN and Al Monitor

ISIS conducts sophisticated media campaign to attract European youth

In the last few months, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has launched a sophisticated Al-Hayat Media ("Life is belief and jihad") and a media campaign in English, German, French, and other languages, targeting Western audiences. The character and quality of the productions suggest that the staff is experienced in producing media materials for Western audiences. Apparently, one of the main figures active in the new media branch is German rapper-turned-jihad-fighter Abu Talha Al Almani (aka Deso Dogg), who was wounded twice in the fighting in Syria. Al-Hayat's twitter account was shut down because of its offensive material, but Al-Hayat media's videos and materials are also distributed in other ways.

One British youth, who goes by the name Abu Abdullah Al Brittani, gives online advice to underage British youth on how to exchange currencies, how to travel to Syria and join ISIS, and even gives advice on marriage and family. MEMRI and Daily Mail (London)

Russia may revoke its March 1 resolution authorizing Ukraine invasion

Russia's president Vladimir Putin has asked Russia's Federation Council to cancel the resolution, passed on March 1, that authorized an invasion of Ukraine by Russia's armed forces. Putin's call is a response to the unilateral ceasefire called by Ukraine's President Petr Poroshenko. A decision will be reached today (Wednesday). Voice of Russia

Boko Haram in Nigeria abducts 60 more girls and 30 boys

The Nigerian terrorist and sex pervert group Boko Haram has abducted 60 more girls and young women, some as young as 3. In addition, some 30 boys were abducted. The abduction took place during a three-day siege of a village in northeast Nigeria, during which many people were killed, the entire village was burned down, and the Boko Haram perverts took their time picking out the girls that they wanted to abduct. These new kidnappings come over two months after 200-300 schoolgirls were abducted. The Nigerian army and government is viewed as helpless against the crimes of Boko Haram. However, Boko Haram has indicated that it may be willing to release 219 schoolgirls in return for the release of all Boko Haram militants currently in Nigerian jails. The government has rejected such suggestions in the past, but is now said to be considering it. AFP and AP

(Comments: For reader comments, questions and discussion, see the 25-Jun-14 World View -- The Iraqi catastrophe worsens as European youth join ISIS thread of the Generational Dynamics forum. Comments may be posted anonymously.) (25-Jun-2014) Permanent Link
Receive daily World View columns by e-mail
Donate to Generational Dynamics via PayPal

Web Log Pages

Current Web Log

Generational Dynamics Web Log for 25-Jun-2014 25-Jun-14 World View -- The Iraqi catastrophe worsens as European youth join ISIS

The Iraqi catastrophe worsens as European youth join ISIS

ISIS conducts sophisticated media campaign to attract European youth

Russia may revoke its March 1 resolution authorizing Ukraine invasion

Boko Haram in Nigeria abducts 60 more girls and 30 boys

Web Log Pages

Generational Dynamics Web Log for 25-Jun-2014
25-Jun-14 World View -- The Iraqi catastrophe worsens as European youth join ISIS