Sunnis in Iraq push back against extremists

[LuckyTheDog]

Even Sunnis who tentatively welcome the Islamic State's help in overthrowing what they view as an American-installed, sectarian political system privately express concern that the extremists are pursuing the same strategy they used in neighboring Syria, where they hijacked and eventually routed a more mainstream, nationalist rebel movement. The civil war next door paved the way for today's cross-border caliphate, which encompasses nearly all of eastern Syria and roughly half of Iraq.

On this side of the border, the Islamic State is working with sympathetic tribes, members of Saddam Hussein's former Baath Party, old-regime intelligence and military officers, and homegrown Islamists. These backup groups undoubtedly are wary of the jihadist powerhouse at the vanguard of the insurgency, especially with increasing reports that the extremists have executed some erstwhile Sunni comrades for not pledging allegiance to "caliph" Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, or for refusing to abide by his harsh brand of Islamic law.

MORE HERE: http://wonkynewsnerd.com/sunnis-iraq-push-back-extremists/

[delrem]

1. What they care about is beside the point.

The point is the $$ coming from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and other freedom loving Western Allies.

And don't you forget it.

[betterdemsonly]

2. Bet this will be greated with dead silence from all the Liberal Interventionists

that supported funding Isis, in order to overthrow Assad!

[delrem]

4. I just *love* the label 'Liberal Interventionist'

It's so much more downloadable than 'PNAC neocon'.

[moondust]

13. Anything to back up your claim

of "'Liberal Interventionists' that supported funding ISIS"--as opposed to funding the "more mainstream, nationalist rebel movement" that was "routed" by ISIS according to the OP?

[Kaleva]

3. My guess is that many Baathists won't have a problem swearing allegience

They are survivors who wouldn't have had a problem turning on family and friends in order to curry favor from Saddam

[delrem]

5. Can you explain your experience of "turning on family and friends"

that gives you this insight into the behaviour of people, half a world away?

[Kaleva]

6. Same way I gained my knowledge of the planet Jupiter which is millions of miles away.

By reading.

It is a wonderful way to broaden one's awareness of what is going on in the world and beyond.

[delrem]

8. So, you learned about "turning on families and friends"

in the same way as you learned random facts of astronomy, from "readings".

OK. But I don't hold your opinion accountable for anything.

eta: in fact, I consider your opinion prejudiced.

[Kaleva]

11. And how did you come to that conclusion? By reading.

You've probably never had much direct contact with any presidential candidate you supported but by putting together random facts gained from reading various sources, you were able to make a decision on which candidate best fit your own views.

A hallmark of regimes ruled by a tyrannical despot is that absolute loyalty to the leader was paramount. If one wanted to advance one's own career or improve their position, to avoid prison or death, they had to be willing to sell out friends and even family. This happened in Hitler's Germany, Stalin's USSR, in Mao's China, in North Korea even today and it happened in Saddam's Iraq.

[delrem]

12. We aren't talking about "presidential candidates"

We're talking about your totally blue-sky statement about "Baathists" having no problem "turning on family and friends".

It just seems to me to be the very essence of bigotry and prejudice and your talk about "presidential candidates" no more explains it than your talk about "Jupiter".

In fact, I don't think there's any "there" there.

[JI7]

14. Baathists refers to something political, just like teabaggers, if i said the anti immigrant protests

are full of teabaggers which explains their being hateful scum you think it would be bigotry and prejudice or that i have some personal experience as being part of it ?

[delrem]

15. Forget it. I was wrong to try to speak to you. nt

eta: and you weren't even the person I was speaking to!

aye - fucking - amazing.

bye

[Kaleva]

16. Odd that on DU one meets a member who stands up for Baathists.

[delrem]

17. Totally appropriate that on DU a member is still priming the pump for the '03 US invasion of Iraq.

[Igel]

7. Too soon.

The conglomeration will disintegrate. It's a matter of time.

However, for all the low-level concern it will take time for them to organize, figure out what to do, create problems. The first attempt may well fail, driving people further underground so the next attempt to shatter ISIS does work.

More likely they'll wind up underground until there's enough dissatisfaction that ISIS simply won't be able to maintain control. That sounds like a good thing but it won't be. If it takes too long the control and command structures that keep Syria and Iraq together will have withered and the result will be a patchwork of tribes and organizations, a very large failed non-state area. Which will either have to be conquered by local groups or from without. It may drag Lebanon into the maelstrom. Probably very bloody either way, and the winners may be Kurds, Sa'udis, and Iranians.

[delrem]

10. Ridiculous. The time is now.

The USA has made sure the time is now.
Between the USA, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and outliers, ISIS is armed to the teeth.

ISIS is, of course "Friends of Syria".

[Uncle Joe]

9. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, LuckyTheDog.