i have no idea where to begin even replying...
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Originally Posted by
Bob's World
Carl, actually it is you espousing ideological nonsense. I tolerate your binded shots in my general direction, and I realize many are equally as ideolgogically blinded as yourself and agree in large part with your baseless positions. That does not make those positions correct.
In many ways you are a microcosm of post Cold War US national security strategy, becoming increasingly ideological ourselves to the point where we perceive ourselves to be existentially threatened merely because some other ideolog believes differently.
Personally I am cautious of all ideologs, regardless of their espoused creed. I prefer those who think, seek to understand, and then speak or act; over those who memorize, recite and perform.
These are political struggles. When one loses sight of that reality and over-focuses on "the lipstick" (to borrow your phrase) one forgets its all about the pig. And that pig is politics; and the political competition is driven by fundamental human nature, not fundamentalist ideology. Those denied legal redress will take illegal redress. It is what humans have always done and will always do.
...to this nonsense. Political preferences are non ideiological? Ever hear of the spanish civil war? So politics is purely proceducral? I take it these people travel abroad to risk their lives for such administrative or procedural political goals as wether or not the central government should pick up household rubiish on Tuesday instead of Wednesday? Its crap like this that simply turned me off SWC. Bobs worls and I have debated before. Right now I just can't be bothered. Politics is not ideological?!! Thank god this site doesnt require a subscription.
'Greenbirds: Measuring Importance and Influence in Syrian Foreign Fighter Networks'
ICSR @ Kings has published this research paper today:
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An analysis of social media has shown what a selection of foreign fighters in Syria are liking, following and interacting with. What are their key online influences?....The analysis identifies two relatively unknown clerics who have been acting as online cheerleaders for fighters seeking to topple President Bashar al-Assad. It also identifies a new breed of 'disseminators' advising and supporting the men and women who have joined rebel groups. Two preachers, Ahmad Musa Jibril (US-based) and Musa Cerantonio (based in Australia)
From a short article:http://www.theguardian.com/news/data...ighters-syria?
An eight minute video:http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/v...al-media-video
The report via:http://icsr.info/2014/04/icsr-insigh...eign-fighters/
Messages for those who wish to fight
A short, six minute CNN interview with Peter Neumann from ICSR and he is very pessimistic about teh impact of foreign fighters. This quote comes after his direct contact with fighters:
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They are telling us that the Syrian people do not like them very much. They are telling us that they hate the idea that all this infighting is going on between different groups – they came to Syria in order to fight Bashar Assad; what they end up doing is killing other Sunni rebels. And so there are a lot of powerful messages. If governments paid more attention, these would be very powerful messages to deter people from going to Syria in the first place
Link:http://amanpour.blogs.cnn.com/2014/0...stan-in-1980s/
So most of them are already home?
Amidst a longer story, IMHO fear-mongering, is this passage:
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Security officials estimate that about two-thirds of those have already returned.
Link:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#ixzz36h0sNQoY
From the Guy Next Door to the Fighter Overseas: A Look at Four Foreign Fighters who J
A Ticket to Turkey and a Desire to Fight: Why Some Foreign Fighters Travel to Syria
A Ticket to Turkey and a Desire to Fight: Why Some Foreign Fighters Travel to Syria
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Foreign fighter in Syria/Iraq now exceeds 20k; surpasses Afghanistan conflict
The latest ICSR estimate:
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The number of foreigners that have joined Sunni militant organizations in the Syria/Iraq conflict continues to rise. According to ICSR’s latest estimate, the total now exceeds 20,000 – of which nearly a fifth were residents or nationals of Western European countries.
Link to short document:http://icsr.info/2015/01/foreign-fig...onflict-1980s/
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B8TD24DCEAAHwz7.png
How Many Fighters Does the Islamic State Really Have?
How Many Fighters Does the Islamic State Really Have?
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Petraeus: Use Al Qaeda Fighters to Beat ISIS
Petraeus: Use Al Qaeda Fighters to Beat ISIS
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Global Efforts Fail to Stem Flow of Foreign Fighters to Syria, Iraq
Global Efforts Fail to Stem Flow of Foreign Fighters to Syria, Iraq
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Failing to Stem the Flow of Foreign Fighters
A succinct Soufan Group briefing note, the keypoint IMHO is:
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Both the UN and U.S. estimates find that nearly 30,000 people have traveled to Syria; the monthly rate of 1,000 remains unchanged
Link:http://soufangroup.com/tsg-intelbrie...eign-fighters/
Their argument is weakened by no mention of the recent ICSR report and nowt on those who change their mind.