Should France go to war?

[Davin]

I think some countries should put a bunch of soldiers in Dabiq, Syria and call ISIS out to the final battle they want. Either they accept the challenge and get wiped out. Then only the most extreme followers, like those that kept sticking with Harold Camping, will stay with them when the end of the world doesn't happen. The alternative is that they don't accept the challenge, and then only the most extreme followers will stay with them. The only unfortunate side effect will be to the people in Dabiq, Syria for hosting several large armies.

[Magdalena]

Well here is a little tid bit about yours truly, I like individual persons, but I hate people.

So...Who hates people here?
No one does.
[spoiler]
OK
Thank you for sharing.[/spoiler]

[xSilverPhinx]

Well here is a little tid bit about yours truly, I like individual persons, but I hate people.

I find that feeling that way about most people takes so much energy, I'd rather save all my vitriolic hate for just a handful.   

[No one]

I hate humans in general. They are a vile, wretched truly revolting species. For all their intelligence, they are without a doubt the most senseless, harebrained creature on the planet.

I honestly believe that is the whole universe was a school and all the planets with intelligent life attended it, earth would take the short bus to get there.

[xSilverPhinx]

Hmm.

You use 'they' and 'their' like you're trying to distance yourself from the species. Surely you're human too?

I wish I could say that humankind are almost harmless, but that isn't the case. We as a species lack maturity.

[No one]

Please don't call me Shirley.

[Magdalena]

I wish I could say that humankind are almost harmless, but that isn't the case. We as a species lack maturity.

Please don't call me Shirley.

[Magdalena]

Hmm.

You use 'they' and 'their' like you're trying to distance yourself from the species. Surely you're human too?

So...Who hates people here?
No one does.

Who's human here?
No one is.



I'm done with this. 

[Tank]

Hmm.

You use 'they' and 'their' like you're trying to distance yourself from the species. Surely you're human too?

I wish I could say that humankind are almost harmless, but that isn't the case. We as a species lack maturity.

Exactly the same thought crossed my mind.

[Tank]

Hmm.

You use 'they' and 'their' like you're trying to distance yourself from the species. Surely you're human too?

So...Who hates people here?
No one does.

Who's human here?
No one is.



I'm done with this.

Don't get so upset with people Mags. This is the internet. It's not real you know.

[Magdalena]

Don't get so upset with people Mags. This is the internet. It's not real you know.

Yeah, I guess so.
[spoiler][/spoiler]

[Recusant]

A former US intelligence operative who is now the executive director of a "counter-ideology think tank" gives his assessment of the current situation in light of the recent history of the area.

"An Intelligence Vet Explains ISIS, Yemen, and 'the Dick Cheney of Iraq'" | Phase Zero

In regards to the military side of things, he seems to be in favor of a more surgical approach, rather than "massed army units."

[Icarus]

Malcolm Nance is quite persuasive and likely to have been in a better position to analyze the situation than we. 

The plot thickened today when some Turkish F16s shot down a Russian plane. The Turks say that the Russian plane violated their air space. The Russian planes have been doing that, previously unimpeded, because some of their targets were very near the Turkish/Syrian border. In those prior cases the targets were ISIS installations. Russians got a free pass. Not this time. In this case the Turks believed that the target was a rebel group, not ISIS. The rebel group is largely composed of Turkish personnel. Putin is rattling his saber. Turks are pretending outrage.

[solidsquid]

Hmm.

You use 'they' and 'their' like you're trying to distance yourself from the species. Surely you're human too?

So...Who hates people here?
No one does.

Who's human here?
No one is.



I'm done with this.

Don't get so upset with people Mags. This is the internet. It's not real you know.

[Firebird]

A former US intelligence operative who is now the executive director of a "counter-ideology think tank" gives his assessment of the current situation in light of the recent history of the area.

"An Intelligence Vet Explains ISIS, Yemen, and 'the Dick Cheney of Iraq'" | Phase Zero

In regards to the military side of things, he seems to be in favor of a more surgical approach, rather than "massed army units."

Interesting, though he wrote this in April and claimed Boko Haram would be defeated within a month, which clearly didn't happen. Also, IS may have been involved in the Ankara bombings, but that hasn't changed Erdoğan's focus from the Kurds. Not sure what will work to move Turkey against the IS short of an assassination attempt against their leaders,sadly.