Fuck Muhammad!!!

[HairOfTheDog]

Foreigners Fighting for IS

The Washington Post also republished the number of foreigners from different countries who have left their home countries to join IS in Syria (as of Oct. 2014).

In my opinion, it defies logic to believe that these individuals are all poverty-stricken and without jobs.

[Duchess]

I know you like graphs, numbers, stats, the whole nine yards so this isn't a diss on that...

I don't trust this type of thing. I always wonder how do they know. It's like the weather map and the forecaster has his lil' graph and the severe weather stops right there! Right there, no further. I always say, "bitch, please.

We have ISIS and we have a group of powerful men running countries who want them stopped. Why can't they join together, join their armies and stop them. Is that too simplistic?

[HairOfTheDog]

I know you like graphs, numbers, stats, the whole nine yards so this isn't a diss on that...

I don't trust this type of thing. I always wonder how do they know. It's like the weather map and the forecaster has his lil' graph and the severe weather stops right there! Right there, no further. I always say, "bitch, please.

We have ISIS and we have a group of powerful men running countries who want them stopped. Why can't they join together, join their armies and stop them. Is that too simplistic?

It wouldn't bother me even if it was a diss. I promise. I do like stats and graphs and data presented in an easily understood and comparative format, but I don't like bullshit in any format.

For obvious reasons, there are agencies in each country tracking the activities, postings, passport travel...of foreigners who have taken off for Turkey (last stop = Syria). In addition, there are international organizations researching and documenting the phenomena.

The numbers in the chart are estimates and include individuals who have self-admittedly joined IS and been confirmed to be among their ranks, along with other individuals who have entered the region and not returned home (where all evidence points to the conclusion that they've joined the Islamic State). I don't doubt the reasonable accuracy of the numbers, with a small margin of error. But, I understand if others have their personal reasons for believing the estimates are too high or too low or otherwise bogus.

Yeah, I think it's much too simplistic for reasons covered at length in more than just this thread. Again, just my opinion: were it so simple, there would be no KKK, al-Qaeda, al-Shabab, Boko Haram, street gangs, cartels, etc... -- many powerful people and individuals have wanted to rid the world of them for longer than IS has existed (but, they all have their supporters too).

[Mohammed]

The source for the Times story is Khalid Al-Saiaghi, reportedly a friend of Makawi. The story doesn't say how he got his information or upon what he's basing his speculation, so I don't consider it confirmed fact either.

As for you putting on your hero cape and driving into the danger zone on behalf of your close kidnapped friend -- that sounds ill-conceived, to say the least, and a risk that doesn't seem to consider the potential impacts on the future of your own two girls. But, a sheik's gotta do what a sheik's gotta do...

No darling, it wouldn't be simply because I wouldn't do anything ill-conceived. It is nice to have reached this stage and age where you actually don't do anything hero stuff, but think about anything that might happen because you are responsible for so many people. It kinda keeps you real.

So yesterday contact was established and the blessing is that it is indeed a tribal issue, meaning a Sheik got pissed off by not getting his donor money quick enough. Pathetic for sure but so much nicer and to deal with than Al Qaeda.

Looking at from where that Sheik is all getting approached now, ministries, foreign powers, close locals from my side, I believe he didn't realize the shit that taking Isabel will raise. Also Shereen, our very own hero, is a bit he didn't expect because she comes from a very influential family, who already send the message.

I wouldn't, and couldn't, approach them if it would have been Al Qaeda. An upset Sheik is a very different picture. Just because out of honour and respect he would actually invite me to see for myself that they are well taken care off. By now, after realizing who all is calling him, I don't even think he would consider selling them to Al Qaeda, which was done by some before. It's all about the money.

So we are a bit more relaxed now, I just don't think Johannes is the right guy for this IF he is actually involved, haven't seen him yesterday at a party where everybody left in town attended, as he is a total sweetheart but that is not what you need for this around here. However, a huge force of people is involved so it doesn't really matter.

She'll be fine. We are making damn sure of that!

[Duchess]

Mo, do people over there view Americans differently than they do the Brits, French or Germans, etc?

[HairOfTheDog]

She'll be fine. We are making damn sure of that!

It sounds like both women are lovely people who have a lot of family and friends -- along with officials -- negotiating for their release, Mo. Hopeful.



I read that Isabelle was set to leave Yemen this week; that she stayed past France's plea for French nationals to evacuate because she was working towards completing a project for her employer. I agree with you that her boss should have taken greater security precautions under the circumstances.

Anyway, I hope you see your friend again very soon and look forward to your updates.

[Mohammed]

Mo, do people over there view Americans differently than they do the Brits, French or Germans, etc?

Like I mentioned earlier, you have about 70.000 Yemenis holding American passports, I don't think you will find the same number for any other country. So yes, they definitely view America different from the rest. It's those who are not being given a green card that are trying to fuck you up. At least that's what I believe.

[HairOfTheDog]

Sad story.

Dr Avijit Roy, a scientist and blogger from Atlanta, Georgia, and a prominent atheist thinker in Bangladesh, was killed on a university campus in Dhaka, Bangladesh on Thursday night. RIP.

The killers sliced through his skull with three deliberate blows, then dropped their weapons and fled. Roy's wife, Rafida Ahmed (pictured below with Roy), was also attacked, and is in hospital with a deep gash to her head.




An obscure militant group called Ansar Bangla 7 has claimed responsibility for the attacking, which it said was because of Roy's 'crime against Islam'. It said he was their 'top target' because of his US citizenship, and that they wanted to take revenge for American military action against ISIS and the Taliban.

Writing in the pages of the New York-based Center for Inquiry, Roy said: 'For me, religious extremism is like a highly contagious virus', comparing extremists like the Charlie Hebdo attackers, who endanger their own lives for religious principle, to animals being ruled by a disease.

He continued by saying: 'Faith-based terrorisms are nothing but viruses - if allowed to spread, they will wreak havoc on society in epidemic proportions.'

Roy had expressed a similar sentiment in his latest book, published in Bengali, titled Biswasher Virus (Virus of Faith). He was leaving a book fair held on the University of Dhaka's campus Thursday when he was jumped by at least two attackers.

Full story: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...z3T5Cm7w7S

[Duchess]

That's so awful. My God.

[HairOfTheDog]

This is Mohammed Emwazi, now 26 years old.



Kuwaiti born, citizen of England, graduate of Westminster University, fan of al-Shabaab, former fighter for Nusra Front in Syria, and now the beheader for IS known as Jihadi John.


He grew up in Ladbroke Grove ^, a stone's throw from some of the British capital's most affluent zones. It's being reported that other Islamic terrorists have also emerged from the same neighborhood. Emwazi had been on England's M15 terrorist radar for years before he started starring in IS videos.

Some people commenting to the latest news stories are attempting to rationalize his actions -- on the basis that he was discriminated against when he went on holiday with some Muslim friends overseas several years ago, and that he changed a lot after he was denied travel to Jordan to marry a bride due to travel restrictions against him for suspected terrorist ties, and that he got hit in the head sometime in junior school, etc... Some people are idiots.

[Duchess]

SNL was pushin' the envelope last night (nothing new there). Those who haven't seen the original commercial probably won't get it. It's still early so the shit hasn't had time to hit the fan yet. I laughed but I can see where it's going to piss off a lot of people.

[HairOfTheDog]

^ It's kind of funny; doesn't offend me.

There are a lot of people posting their outrage that SNL would try to make ISIS and its recruitment of westerners a laughing matter.

It's okay to mock Muhammad and just about anything else in a democratic society, so why the hell should westerners joining Islamic terrorist groups be immune from ridicule?

[blueberryhill]

SNL was pushin' the envelope last night (nothing new there). Those who haven't seen the original commercial probably won't get it. It's still early so the shit hasn't had time to hit the fan yet. I laughed but I can see where it's going to piss off a lot of people.

Everyone is always pissed off about something.....I thought this was hilarious and if I offend anyone by saying that, I don't give a f**k....

[Duchess]

ISIS has threatened Twitter founder Jack Dorsey and his employees after the site removed accounts linked to the extremists.

Twitter confirmed to Daily Mail Online that the company was working with authorities to verify the seriousness of the threat which claimed employees' necks are 'a target for the soldiers of the Caliphate'.

The chilling warning, written in Arabic, featured a picture of Dorsey in a gun's cross-hairs and the Twitter logo. It was posted on Sunday on an anonymous site based in Poland which is used by programmers to share code.

Dorsey, who is worth an estimated $2.5billion and lives in California, made no mention of the threat online on Sunday as he tweeted his 2.87million followers.



Story

[HairOfTheDog]

IS -- GLOBAL TERRORIST NETWORK & CALIPHATE IN PROGRESS?

Boko Haram is the latest of about a dozen terror groups to claim allegiance to ISIS, and a pattern is beginning to emerge in how ISIS treats such relationships. It’s very different from the al Qaeda model.

Al Qeada once sought to create the protocol for franchising a jihadi movement. But that group sought to create furtive links with groups and demanded strict adherence to its brand of jihadism.

ISIS, on the other hand, appears more flexible. Groups like Boko Haram and Libya’s Islamic Youth Shura Council, which pledged allegiance to ISIS on June 22, have been allowed to embrace tactics and brand in ways that allows them to flesh out their vision for a province within an ISIS-led caliphate.

“Rather than trying to expand [like al Qeada] from the center, the Islamic State is mushrooming all over the place,” Pham said. “There may not be conducting tactical command day-to-day, but they’re certainly going to have tighter command on messaging and strategy.”

Or as Jason Pack, president of Libya-Analysis.com and longtime student of the relationship between ISIS and Libyan jihadist groups, explained, after a group pledges allegiance, ISIS fighters move in and offer “something like a jihadi startup kit.”

Perhaps the best example of this is Libya’s Islamic Youth Shura Council, based out of the city of Derna. In the weeks leading up to its pledge of allegiance, the Shura Council revamped its online presence to mirror the ISIS campaign. Two months ago, Boko Haram transformed its rudimentary online presence into a flashy ISIS-like display. And as The Daily Beast reported in January, there appeared to be increasing ties between the Boko Haram and ISIS, particularly on media operations and tactics.

Like Boko Haram, the Shura Council was not short on cash. Rather, after swearing its loyalty, evidence emerged that fighters were traveling to Libya and offering terror tactics. Moreover, Libyans fighting on behalf of ISIS in Iraq and Syria were allowed to come home and share their lessons with local counterparts, Pack said.

Full piece: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/20...dwide.html

[HairOfTheDog]

Dang it, I'm always worried about Mo these days but don't wanna mess up his photography thread with a bunch of news and stuff.

He told us yesterday that since he's in Sanaa and not Aden, he's pretty safe. I know he's probably just fine even in Sanaa since he's probably partying at home and not worshiping at the Mosque. But, still, this news has me worrying like an effin' hen again and hoping none of his friends were victims.


Snip:


Quadruple suicide bombers on Friday hit a pair of mosques controlled by Shiite rebels in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, unleashing blasts through crowds of worshippers that killed at least 137 people and wounded around 350 others in the deadliest violence to hit the fragile war-torn nation in decades.

A group claiming to be a Yemeni branch of the Islamic State group said it carried out the bombings and warned of an "upcoming flood" of attacks against the rebels, known as Houthis, who have taken over the capital and much of Yemen. The claim, posted online, could not immediately be independently confirmed and offered no proof of an Islamic State role.

If true, Friday's bombing would be the first major attack by IS supporters in Yemen and an ominous sign that the influence of the group that holds much of Iraq and Syria has spread to this chaotic nation. The claim was posted on the same web bulletin board where the Islamic State affiliate in Libya claimed responsibility for Wednesday's deadly attack on a museum in Tunisia.

Full story: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/20...08792.html

[blueberryhill]

Yes, too much happening in your hood. Keep us informed as to your health and welfare.

[HairOfTheDog]

IS Attack in Tunisia

Last week in Tunisia, three IS terrorists ambushed and killed 21 people at The Bardo Museum in Tunis.

Those killed were European and Japanese tourists on a cruise ship stop. RIP.



Two of the gunmen were shot and killed when police arrived at the scene. Both gunmen were Tunisians in their 20s who were lured by IS recruitment materials and money to go into Libya for training. The third POS (pictured with backpack in above surveillance pic) is still on the loose.

Tunisia's President said yesterday that the two slain terrorists were wearing suicide vests, but they didn't have a chance to detonate them before they were killed by police, or else the casualties would have been even higher. Still, 6 Police Chiefs and Security Officers were fired for failing to protect the museum adequately.

IS has managed to attract about 3,000 Tunisian recruits as the country continues to transition to a democratic government following the Arab Spring of 2011.

The leader of Tunisia's moderate non-violent Islamist party, Ennadha, says the country will continue to be under threat of attack as long as neighboring Libya remains unstable.

Ennadha's Intellectual Leader, Rached Ghannouchi, told the BBC that there is "no place for Daesh in Tunisia" and IS would not be able to establish a foothold in Tunisia itself. However, young men are being armed in Libya and crossing borders and it's hard to control. Tunisia has declared itself at war with IS.


Refs:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-32018405
http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2015/0...e-run.html

[Maggot]

I bet that wouldn't work well at a mud truck rally in Texas.

[HairOfTheDog]

I bet that wouldn't work well at a mud truck rally in Texas.

Yeah, I bet you'd have a hard time finding anybody who would argue that a mud truck rally in Texas and one of the most significant history and art museums in the Mediterranean/Africa are comparable attractions.




And still, either could be the scene of mass murder of an equivalent scale at the hands of surprise attackers, in my opinion.

I understand clearly, Maggot, that you think a bunch of Texas mud truckers carrying guns would somehow be immune to an orchestrated ambush attack and would undoubtedly save the day and kill the bad guys first. Or, that the fact that a bunch of the event attendees would presumably be carrying guns is a scary thought to jihadists on a suicide mission.

I don't agree, but hope you're right -- I'd hate to read about those armed American mudder truckers getting killed by terrorist mother fuckers at least as much as I hate reading about the slaughter of innocent Europeans and Asians on foreign holiday in North Africa.