Islamic State of Iraq and Syria

AJ+ | (Video Report) | – – “ISIS has a pretty black-and-white view of the world. Either you’re with them, or you’re with people they consider infidels. But what about people in the middle? ISIS has a plan for them.” AJ+: “The ISIS Trap – Will You Fall Into It?”

Government surveillance

After Paris, it’s good detective work that will keep us safe, not mass surveillance

contributors

By Pete Fussey | (The Conversation) | – – Before the dust has even settled from the attacks on Paris, familiar calls for greater surveillance powers are surfacing. The desire for greater security is understandable, but that doesn’t mean we should suspend our judgement on the measures proposed to bring it about. In the aftermath […]

European Union

Can European Union, Russia & US team up to defeat ISIL?

contributors

By Georgi Gotev & Aline Robert | (EurActiv.com) | – – Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has teamed up with French President François Hollande in seeking a ‘rapprochement’ with Russia to fight [the so-called] Islamic State [group], described by both as the biggest threat to the EU. Jean-Claude Juncker [European Commission] Juncker spoke on Wednesday (18 […]

Islamic State of Iraq and Syria

Grand Alliance against ISIL: Can Putin come in from the Cold?

contributors

By Brian Whitmore | ( RFE/RL ) | – – He wasn’t ostracized. He wasn’t isolated. And certainly nobody threatened to shirtfront him. In the space of a year, Vladimir Putin has gone from being the pariah of Brisbane to being the star of Antalya. The contrast between last year’s G20 summit in Australia and […]

France

Paris attacks: how effective has the military response been?

contributors

By Scott Lucas | (The Conversation) | – – Even as Parisians were trying to assess the scale of the attacks by Islamic State (IS) which killed 132 people on November 13, politicians were promising a decisive and effective military response. French President Francois Hollande assured, “We will be merciless toward the barbarians of Islamic […]

Featured

Is Daesh/ ISIL a modern Raiding Pirate state?

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Some analysts trying to understand Daesh (ISIL, ISIS) had suggested that it differs from al-Qaeda in its emphasis on taking and holding territory, thus becoming a state– something that al-Qaeda was largely uninterested in. They expected the self-proclaimed “caliph” Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi to concentrate his resources […]

France

From Beirut, this is Paris: in a world that doesn’t care about Arab lives

contributors

Elie Fares | (Open Democracy) | – – There is a stark contrast in the reaction of the world to the horrific terrorist attacks in Lebanon and France. But in the world that doesn’t care about Arab lives, Arabs lead the way. When a friend told me past midnight to check the news about Paris, […]

France

Paris terrorist attacks: Can France avoid trap of fear and exclusion?

contributors

By Aurelien Mondon | (The Conversation) | – – The attacks that took place at a series of venues in Paris on November 13 are already the deadliest on French soil since 1945. At least 127 people have been killed in six different places. Reports say that another 100 are in “absolute” critical condition. Police […]

Iraq

ISIL imposes Harsh Loyalty tests on Fighters at Mosul

contributors

Special Correspondent | (Niqash.org) | – – Locals in Mosul say the Islamic State group has started a campaign to “test the loyalty” of their members. Those who joined for money or power are being asked to take pay cuts or head to the front lines. There is a verse in the Koran that asks […]