ISIS militants attack and take over Iraqi northern city of Mosul

[Johnny199r]

Originally Posted by Bagor

Which is all well and good until you read.


Which begs the question why didn't they throw life at him?
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-31166062

As someone who works in the justice system, maximum sentences never get handed out for anything in canada/Western Europe.

[CaptainCrunch]

He won't last through the 12 years. Once the DOC hear that he posed with heads of children, and probably raped young girls. He'll get a shank between the shoulder blades.

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by Johnny199r

As someone who works in the justice system, maximum sentences never get handed out for anything in canada/Western Europe.

Why not? What's the point of having them then?

[_Q_]

Originally Posted by Thor

I've been hearing more about the King that he's very secular, does anyone have any links that they can find discussing that more, having little luck.

What a bada$$ though!

I wouldn't call him secular, but he's very moderate.

The best I could find was this 2005 video of a speech he made at the Catholic University of America in DC. I highly recommend you watch it. It shows the true face of Moderate Islam, which is quite different from what we're shown here on the news.

http://www.c-span.org/video/?188856-...lam-path-peace

Some highlights from the speech include:
- Calling for dialogue between Muslims and Christians
- Talks modern muslims reclaiming Islam, which is a religion of tolerance, wisdom and charity
- Discusses the "Amman Message" which rejects the Isolation of Islam from modern society as well as reaffirms Islam's message of compassion; respect for others; tolerance and acceptance; and freedom of religion

There's a lot more in there, so again, I highly recommend you watch it.

If you're interested in learning more about the King, his wikipedia article is actually very detailed.

Originally Posted by Wikipedia

Jordan has embarked on an aggressive economic liberalization program under King Abdullah II in an effort to stimulate the economy and raise the standard of living. Jordan's economic growth peaked at 8 percent in 2004 and has been averaging at 7 percent. King Abdullah II has liberalized the telecommunications sector and has implemented an ICT curriculum into Jordan's education system. This has made Jordan's telecommunications sector the most competitive in the region.

On 20 January 2007, King Abdullah revealed to Haaretz that Jordan has plans to develop nuclear power for internal energy purposes because unlike other countries in the region Jordan has almost no oil.[26] Jordan is one of the few non-petroleum producing nations in the region and is strategically dependent on oil from its neighbor, Iraq. Continuing civil unrest in Iraq puts Jordanian national and energy security at risk. Jordan's first nuclear power plant will be ready by 2015 and it will be located in Aqaba.

n 2010, King Abdullah proposed a World Interfaith Harmony Week at the UN, to promote a culture of peace; the elimination of all forms of intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief; and the promotion of interreligious dialogue.[4]

He's also a huge fan of Star Trek and has appeared in a non-speaking role on the show.



As for Jordan itself, yes it has its issues, but it's one of the most liberal, tolerant, safe and beautiful countries I have visited in the region, filled with some very friendly and welcoming people. I really think it's one of those places that everyone needs to visit once in their life. Here are some pictures from my last trip there a few years ago:







Here's a link to the rest of the pictures if anyone's interested:
http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=101508

[Johnny199r]

Originally Posted by Bagor

Why not? What's the point of having them then?

As far as I can tell, there is no point in having them.

[PIMking]

I hope he wipes ISIS off the face of this earth, it's refreshing to see a middle eastern country not taking crap from ISIS and fighting back, and coming out swinging too.

Good for KAII..

[Wastedyouth]

Welp, they are currently blitzing Mosul like crazy. I can hear it from about 30ish Kms away. Sounds like thunder. Except its clear out and coming from one direction and shaking the ground I am standing on.

Fun!

[Machiavelli]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

Welp, they are currently blitzing Mosul like crazy. I can hear it from about 30ish Kms away. Sounds like thunder. Except its clear out and coming from one direction and shaking the ground I am standing on.

Fun!

Holy cow, stay safe.

[cracher]

Originally Posted by _Q_

- Discusses the "Amman Message" which rejects the Isolation of Islam from modern society as well as reaffirms Islam's message of compassion; respect for others; tolerance and acceptance; and freedom of religion

Can confirm that Amman practices what they preach. Did Amman->Jordan side dead sea->Telaviv->Haifa a few years ago. Was amazed at the Amman party scene - absolute top-shelf everything. Everyone we encountered (and I was travelling with 2 US-born jews and a Jordan-born Chicagolander with palestinian roots) was super friendly, open, helpful. I would go to Amman again in a heartbeat.

[sharkov]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

Welp, they are currently blitzing Mosul like crazy. I can hear it from about 30ish Kms away. Sounds like thunder. Except its clear out and coming from one direction and shaking the ground I am standing on.

Fun!

Wow! You can be CP's official war correspondent

[killer_carlson]

yikes. What are you doing over there?

[T@T]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

Welp, they are currently blitzing Mosul like crazy. I can hear it from about 30ish Kms away. Sounds like thunder. Except its clear out and coming from one direction and shaking the ground I am standing on.

Fun!

Pics or it's not happening

j/k stay safe.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Well at least T@T isn't the only one pushing for full-on genocide anymore. Completely repulsive post.

Ummm, where did I mention full-on genocide?

I don't think I'm alone in wanting all terrorists/isis put in one pile and dropping a bomb on them.

Whatever you think Mr. rubik's cube

[rubecube]

This is neat.

http://www.cvltnation.com/anarchists...talking-about/

Along Syria's borders with Turkey and Northern Iraq, lies a mainly Kurdish area with a population of 4.6 million where a huge social experiment is taking place at the centre of a crossfire between Syria's dictatorship, ISIS's collective insanity and Turkey's ongoing hostility towards the idea of Kurdish autonomy, with the US and NATO looming large in the background. The Democratic Union Party (PYD) and Kurdish National Council (KNC) established in the region of Rojava a society that mixes fierce libertarianism (guns are everywhere and there are no taxes – none) and Occupy-friendly anarchist thought with a healthy dose of feminism. While most Kurdish groups, especially those the US is friendly with, would some day like to establish a Kurdish state, in Rojava they have leap-frogged over the idea of the nation state into a more advanced system that they call Democratic Confederalism.

The only part of Rojava's experiment that has received any international attention has been the YPJ, the female-only paramilitary forces that have been fighting, and winning, against ISIS and the Syrian Army. NBC, the Guardian and even Marie Claire have all covered the YPJ's bravery without even paying lip service to the ideology that makes it possible.

It was the YPJ, along with their male counterparts the YPG, that rescued the thousands of Yazidis stranded and encircled by ISIS on Mount Sinjar in northern Iraq. The Yazidi community had the misfortune to be based almost entirely inside the area that ISIS has claimed – and they have been a hated minority in the Islamic world for a thousand years, accused of 'devil worship'. While the US dropped supplies from above, the Syrian fighting groups broke ISIS's lines and saved tens of thousands of lives. They also successfully defended the city of Kobani when ISIS launched an all-out assault on the city of forty-five thousand with tanks, missiles and even drones. Despite heavy losses, the city remains ISIS-free, though its surrounding villages are still contested.

[Wastedyouth]

I thought I would see the explosions at night, but it was so cloudy last night the visibility was terrible.

It was difficult sleeping at times because, even though I know its the "good" side doing the bombing, when you are sleeping and your trailer rattles you can't help but wake up going WTF??

Anyways, seems as though the bombing has concluded. For now.

[metallicat]

Are you concerned about being a target by ISIS? Are you a westerner?

[Wastedyouth]

Yeah, I'm Canadian. No, we got the notice from the Pesh Merga that we were high priority targets for ISIS. But at the work site and camp site we have a tonne of security. I suppose when I go on excursions into Erbil I might be at a higher risk, but I honestly think that, while im in the borders of Kurdistan, I'm quite safe. (well, from ISIS, Kurdish drivers on the other hand....)

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

Yeah, I'm Canadian. No, we got the notice from the Pesh Merga that we were high priority targets for ISIS. But at the work site and camp site we have a tonne of security. I suppose when I go on excursions into Erbil I might be at a higher risk, but I honestly think that, while im in the borders of Kurdistan, I'm quite safe. (well, from ISIS, Kurdish drivers on the other hand....)

I think you should change your username. It will have no accurate description for when you're 80 years old telling life stories to your grand-kids.

[Cheese]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

Yeah, I'm Canadian. No, we got the notice from the Pesh Merga that we were high priority targets for ISIS. But at the work site and camp site we have a tonne of security. I suppose when I go on excursions into Erbil I might be at a higher risk, but I honestly think that, while im in the borders of Kurdistan, I'm quite safe. (well, from ISIS, Kurdish drivers on the other hand....)

explain what high security is in your case? Are you allowed to carry weapons?

[Wastedyouth]

Originally Posted by Cheese

explain what high security is in your case? Are you allowed to carry weapons?

No, unfortunately I can't carry. It's against the law and also against company rules.

The area I work in is protected by the OPF (Oilfield Police Force) and the Pesh Merga. There are gaurd towers for the OPF and PM dotted throughout the landscape in all directions and road blocks on all the roads to identify drivers.

We also had a private security force that was around us most of the time. Usually when you want to go to the airport or town VSC (the security company) does all the transits in convoy with guards.

But I drive into Erbil myself all the time. The biggest danger is really the other horrid drivers on the roads.

Our camp borders onto the newly built OPF base camp, so in about 3 weeks there will be 300 OPF officers within shouting distance of my camp.


So like I said, I feel fairly safe. We would be screwed if a true attack happened, but ISIS would have to get through a lot of security measures and we would have a lot of advanced notice in that case so I could get away before any of the real fighting starts.

And add in that several local workers from the villages around our area work under me, so they usually have their finger on the pulse of what is going on as well.

Edit: Also, Canada has a military camp near erbil now and a sniper regiment in training the pesh merga. Canada recorded the first on ground kills by coalition forces. That's why we became HVT's, because of our snipers. I heard a story from a Pesh Merga guard (and he may be exaggerating but I like to think not), that one canadian sniper took a class of sniper trainees out on patrol 2 weeks ago and they ended up engaging ISIS and he and the trainees sniped 17 militants, with the Canadian getting the majority of the kills. Could all be bull####, but needless to say, makes Canadians look like bad asses (which I am not at all, haha).