| thomasquinn 32989 09.08.2014 04:59 |
Despite all the misery, destruction and the mass-murder of civilians in the greatest uninterrupted war zone the world has seen since WWII (running from Israel to Afghanistan and, if Egypt were to return to a state of war, from Libya and the CAR to Afghanistan), there are finally some sparks of good news. For the first time in history, the Iraqi government and Iraqi religious authorities are expressing full support for the Kurdish autonomous region and the Peshmerga, the Kurdish army. Kurdish soldiers have liberated at least 15,000 of the cornered Yezidi minority under threat of imminent massacring by ISIS. America, Iraq and Iran are, for the first time ever, close to agreeing on an independent Kurdish state (although Turkey and Syria also control part of the territory that should at some point become an independent Kurdish republic), which would likely be the most secular state in the Middle East, trumping even Israel and Lebanon. A unified Kurdistan could also prove invaluable in stabilizing Syria and in defusing Israeli-Arab tensions (Kurds do not have any principal objections to Israel or Jews, but since they also have decent, if sometimes strained, relations with the Arab states, they could be an important mediator and a counterbalance, forcing Israel into a more constructive foreign policy and restraining the Arab states somewhat at the same time). As such Netanyahu has recently expressed Israeli support for the establishment of a Kurdish state, also a virtually unprecedented move. Right now, it's the Kurds who are doing most to stop ISIS. The Kurds are by far the most moderate, reasonable and secular of the bellligerent parties in Syria. They are a voice of moderation and reason in Northern Iran (and Iran, despite its many, many flaws is not nearly as oppressive a country as many Islamophobes like you to think - Jews can visit Synagogues in the heart of Teheran without any fear, Christians can practice their religion unmolested, and women can walk the streets of Teheran without a head scarf if they so choose, all that despite their fundamentalist Islamic regime. In fact, there are even women in the Iranian parliament - their position is definitely better in Iran than in, say, Saoudi Arabia, and maybe even better than in China or Russia), their section or Iraq is the only part of the country where true stability and peace have returned to a fair degree since the American invasion, and I believe that a long-overdue Kurdish Republic will help bring some more stability to the region. Certainly, the Kurds deserve our support, being by far the most progressive, secular and tolerant group in the Middle East at this time, not to mention the strongest opponents to Islamic terrorism, excluding some communist groups like the Iranian Mujahideen-e Khalq. |
| GERRYISADICK 09.08.2014 07:27 |
Thank God the middle east was getting depressing |
| Donna13 09.08.2014 07:27 |
Well, the USA is using air strikes in Northern Iraq and that is temporarily helping the situation. I think anyone trying to make sense of the Middle East may think that there are logical political reasons for the fighting. But I think it is just a cult-like brainwashing that is happening to the young men. There will always be an excuse: land, religion, revenge, hatred, economic conditions, past wars, etc., but I think it comes down to young men just wanting to join a group of other men to feel important, and more powerful. I think it is a combination of testosterone, poor reasoning, and misplaced trust. So I see it as more of a biological and psychological problem than a political problem. Also, because the lack of reasoning ability is so widespread, it also could be described as a cultural problem. Religion could be blamed, but religious ideas are not always needed for brainwashing to occur. It can just be group thinking that takes over. There was an interesting article on the BBC site today about an organization in Germany working to reach the young men who are either about to run off to join the fighting in Syria or who are already there. The organization has had some success: their method is to have friends and family members help the young man re-think his decision to fight. The problem with adolescence is that the young men are looking for meaning and purpose and trying to define themselves, and they are easily confused and misguided into joining a destructive cause. It is very sad. |
| GERRYISADICK 09.08.2014 07:36 |
Why anyone would blow themselves up is beyond me! |
| mooghead 09.08.2014 08:27 |
Virgins.... lots of virgins.... ;-) |
| GERRYISADICK 09.08.2014 08:35 |
Yes a 40 year old virgin |
| thomasquinn 32989 09.08.2014 12:27 |
mooghead wrote: Virgins.... lots of virgins.... ;-) |
| GERRYISADICK 09.08.2014 12:38 |
Yes that is probably what happens to them or they end up with a 72 year old virgin |
| Donna13 15.08.2014 16:10 |
There is an interview on the BBC site today with a young man currently living in England who is planning to leave England and die fighting in Syria or Iraq. Rather than trust his own family, who are against this idea, he is putting his trust and belief in a message he saw on the internet that God is calling him to do this. link |
| The Real Wizard 16.08.2014 01:25 |
Donna13 wrote: There is an interview on the BBC site today with a young man currently living in England who is planning to leave England and die fighting in Syria or Iraq. Rather than trust his own family, who are against this idea, he is putting his trust and belief in a message he saw on the internet that God is calling him to do this. linkAnd to think he is a member of the same species who engages in space exploration... |
| Donna13 16.08.2014 06:38 |
Yeah, but with other circumstances, maybe this young man would not have gotten so mixed up. (Such as maybe having an older more sensible brother that he looked up to.). Most people do dumb things when they are young, like drinking and driving, or getting into fights or dangerous fun physical activities like jumping horses or riding motorcycles. Then when you are older you consider the risk first. It seems there should be some counter- influence, but the problem is that the brainwashing makes them suspicious of any other idea (such as that it is coming from "the government"). This situation of running off to try to die in a jihad is so serious that I think the families should be allowed to have their young man committed to a mental hospital or some program (if it existed) that would keep the young man very busy while he matures into a well-reasoned adult. This is the last thing you would want at that age (to be restricted) but some people are just not able to make good decisions on their own until older. |
| mooghead 16.08.2014 07:03 |
Donna13 wrote: There is an interview on the BBC site today with a young man currently living in England who is planning to leave England and die fighting in Syria or Iraq. Rather than trust his own family, who are against this idea, he is putting his trust and belief in a message he saw on the internet that God is calling him to do this. linkWhich god? People and their imaginary friends... tut... |
| mooghead 16.08.2014 07:12 |
How did I just do that? |
| thomasquinn 32989 16.08.2014 09:06 |
If a post ends with a hyperlink, the [ / Q U O T E ] tag QueenZone uses doesn't work. You need to click edit post and add at least a single character (a space is allowed) between the end of the hyperlink and the /quote tag. |
| mooghead 16.08.2014 09:09 |
Its almost like queenzone works in a completely different way to every other site on the internet? |
| thomasquinn 32989 16.08.2014 10:14 |
I don't really know how any forums are coded, so I can say nothing sensible on that subject. Anyway, if you play according to QZ's scripting-rules, it's not half bad. Even if it is very, very odd. But that's why we love it, after all. |
| The Real Wizard 18.08.2014 01:43 |
thomasquinn 32989 wrote: If a post ends with a hyperlink, the [ / Q U O T E ] tag QueenZone uses doesn't work. You need to click edit post and add at least a single character (a space is allowed) between the end of the hyperlink and the /quote tag.Or just press enter after the link so there's a line between it and the end quote tag. |
| The Real Wizard 18.08.2014 01:43 |
mooghead wrote: Its almost like queenzone works in a completely different way to every other site on the internet?Yup. This forum was coded by the fellow who runs the site. For better or for worse, it is what it is ! |