Would you tell me about ISIS/ISIL because my knowledge is not up to date, thank you.

[uppityperson]

I was under the impression that it was guerilla warfare, without a set physical location, etc, making any sort of action, was, against them impossible. I understand from talking to a couple people that that is no longer the case, that in the last year they have become not shadows in the dark but having geographically location, etc.

I read the long wiki page, and now am turning to you, my DU Community, to ask for more information.

They scare the crap out of me and i expect the USA to get more involved militarily which also gives me concern.

Thank you in advance.

[HassleCat]

1. Pretending

It's convenient for us to make believe they are some kind of highly organized, monolithic enemy, with tight leadership, a battle plan, a grand design, specific goals, etc. That makes it much easier to get $500 million dollars to train a couple dozen insurgents, who immediately surrender and hand over their weapons.

[CJCRANE]

2. Toyota's No. 1 Customer for Pickup Trucks. nt

[OxQQme]

3. More like our Dept of Defense

Smells of Iran/Contra. Arming both sides.

[Electric Monk]

4. Call them Daesh, instead

http://i100.independent.co.uk/article/why-isis-will-hate-it-if-we-start-calling-them-daesh--bkC822p_zl

http://theweek.com/speedreads/446139/france-says-name-isis-offensive-call-daesh-instead

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/19/us-general-rebrands-isis

[uppityperson]

6. That is interesting, thanks for the links. I will refer to them as Daesh

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. Maybe you should start back in January 2014 - you have a lot of catching up to do

They already had control of some towns in Syria like Raqqa, but when they took Fallujah was the first time they became well known in the West:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014688406

Then Mosul:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014823308

[uppityperson]

7. Thank you, I'll go read them. I have been busy elsewhere this yr

Fighting a war over territory is one thing. Over ideology demand another approach.

[KG]

8. bombing them won't help. its a cultural movement, killing a bunch isn't going to kill the movement.

american policy makers learned absolutely nothing from viet nam

[uppityperson]

9. Fighting over land is 1 thing, over ideology is another. Now it seems they have both.

Education, healthcare, food, shelter, ability to continue them. This is what will help change ideology. I have read they are making schools to indoctrinate the next generation in fundamentalism. More moderate Muslims refuse to send their children to these "schools", some are kidnapped and forced to live, attend.

I know that these things don't make $$$$$ like bombs and jets do so are not happening. Like here, those with money make more while the rest suffer.

[LittleBlue]

10. Their most effective attack (and why they can't be stopped by Arab armies) are dump truck bombs

They armor large vehicles and fill them with unexploded bombs. These bombs are used to make Arab armies with low morale flee. It's so powerful that it stuns their enemies. Then they send in fighters to mop up whoever is left.

I read that in taking one city, they used 14 of these.