John Cantlie video proves that Isis expects victory in Kobani

[Jefferson23]

October 28, 2014

The use of Mr Cantlie demonstrates once again Isis' skill and originality in conducting a propaganda war


The report by John Cantlie, the British journalist held captive by Isis, from the besieged Syrian Kurdish town of Kobani on the Turkish border, is revealing about the Islamic militants’ plans.

Isis would not be sponsoring such a high-profile report claiming that it is in control of most of Kobani unless it intends to fight on until final victory in the five-week siege. Mr Cantlie says that the mujahedin or holy warriors “are just mopping up now, street to street and building to building”. He pours scorn on the idea that there is an all-out battle, saying: “It is nearly over. As you can hear, it is very quiet, just the occasional gunfire.”

Mr Cantlie is in a general sense speaking under duress, since he has been a prisoner of Isis since 2012 and two American journalists held captive, James Foley and Steven Sotloff, have been ritually murdered by the movement. But there is no doubt that the film was taken in Kobani, where Mr Cantlie is filmed in an open space and then on top of a building. There is a rattle of machine-gun fire in the background but no explosions or evidence of heavy fighting.

The film opens with a shot from the air, apparently from an Isis drone. The streets all appear empty and most of the town is intact, though some buildings look entirely shattered, as if by a US airstrike. “Hello, I am John Cantlie,” says the reporter, who is dressed in black, “and today we are in the city of Kobani on the Syrian-Turkish border. That is, in fact, Turkey right behind me.”

remainder: http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/isis-captive-john-cantlie-says-battle-of-kobani-is-nearly-over-9824356.html

[GGJohn]

1. Every other report has the Kurdish fighters stopping ISIS dead in their tracks

and pushing ISIS back, now, more Iraqi Kurdish fighters are joining the fight.
No, ISIS isn't winning this battle, they're losing and they're using propaganda to try to make it seem as if the battle is all but over.

I wonder when that video was actually taken?

[Jefferson23]

2. They're going to persist for now and I wish I knew when the video was taken too. n/t

[GGJohn]

3. For now yes, but I suspect that ISIS now has no chance of wresting control of Kobani

from the Kurds, they're trying to put on a brave face because they know that a defeat will damage their reputation of being unstoppable.

Another thing, their brutal tactics of murdering innocent civilians and soldiers alike are starting to backfire on them in Iraq, alot of Sunni tribes are now aligning themselves with the Shite tribes and fighting back against these murdering barbarians.

[Jefferson23]

4. I hope you're right. There is a great deal of disturbing unrest throughout the ME, we'll see.

Thanks for the thoughtful reply.

[GGJohn]

5. And thank you for the thread,

very thought provoking.