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[smjjames]

From the info CNN put up, ISIS apparently likes to cruxify their criminals. O.o Not sure if they just decided that they liked the Roman method of punishing criminals or there is a larger meaning behind it because, well, you know, Jesus and the Cross and Christianity and all that. Either way, brutal as hell.

[10ebbor10]

Both them and the  Romans use if for intimidation. Decapitation just doesn't have the same effect.

[Sheb]

Yeah, people get used to decapitation. After a while it loose its edge, so  your crucify people instead. I guess in a few month they'll be drawing and quartering people.

[Helgoland]

My money's on crushing from the feet up.

[Funk]

Mines on skinning them alive or some thing foul like that.

Now how much do you think Iran has changed, this is rally a big step for them to offer to/ ask the US for help.

Are they just sick of the trade sanctions and want to be able to sell oil to the us?
Do that rally not like the idea of liveing next to the ISIS or who ever gains control of iraq?

[10ebbor10]

Iran and ISIS really don't get along. These are two different branches of the Islam, and they have a history of bloody conflicts. Both sides regard each other as heretics, and the conflict goes back quite a long time. As a note, Iran and Iraq are the only majority Shia countries (iran: 99%, Iraq: 50%) the gulf states 50%.

Also, Iran hasn't asked the US for aid. In fact it appears they're rather against intervention.
What they have done is saying that they will, apparently, consider cooperation.

The problem is, that now, if the US intervenes against ISIS in Iraq (and hence would, in the eye of the media, side with Iran), they will draw parallels with the other war, right across the border, in Syria, were Assad and Iran are fighting ISIS. (He isn't actually. He's focusing on the like-able rebels first, eliminating them as a power in Syria. Once that is done, you get ISIS versus Assad, which gives him more international support)

This really isn't a move to get in good relations with the US.

[Helgoland]

(He isn't actually. He's focusing on the like-able rebels first, eliminating them as a power in Syria. Once that is done, you get ISIS versus Assad, which gives him more international support)

Always remember this. Whatever may happen afterwards, Assad must go. Otherwise, this sort of behaviour will just be encouraged.

[smjjames]

Is it a split that is deeper than the Protestant-Catholic split, or maybe the Orthodox-Catholic split would be a better example. It's just my opinion, but the Protestants and Catholics eventually got along (took a while though), so, why can't the two groups get along.

Anyways, I think a few people were saying that the nation-state idea of Iraq might be dead or something, no idea. No idea how strong the Iraq national identity is though.

As for the whole intervening against ISIS, yeah, it's a huge geopolitical chessgame+landmine (meaning that whatever we do will have far reaching consequences and the wrong (or even right) move can blow up in our face).

[Sheb]

How, they did get along for a long time. This kind of stuff isn't hardwired, it's the results of recent division and self-fueling violence.

[Owlbread]

I am terribly predictable but I would support the division of Iraq into several nation states. The North is extremely problematic, however, given that at least three different well-established ethnic groups (Assyrians, Kurds and Iraqi Turkmen) claim the key regions in the North as part of their homeland.

[Helgoland]

Plus Iran and Turkey won't allow an independent Kurdistan.

[MetalSlimeHunt]

They may not have a choice soon. Syrian Kurdistan is de facto independent now, and Iraqi Kurdistan has gotten used to autonomous status.

[Owlbread]

If Syrian Kurdistan and Iraqi Kurdistan gain sufficient autonomy, the Turks and Iranians can't maintain the status quo for much longer.

[Sheb]

Which is given raise to some fun power struggle within the Kurds community: the Syria Kurdistan is now ruled by allies of the PKK, while the Iraqi Kurdistan is led by another factions, closer to Turkey.

[Owlbread]

Which is given raise to some fun power struggle within the Kurds community: the Syria Kurdistan is now ruled by allies of the PKK, while the Iraqi Kurdistan is led by another factions, closer to Turkey.

I'm fine with this just as long as the closeness of Iraqi Kurdistan and Turkey could allow the Iraqi Kurds to negotiate on behalf of the Turkish Kurds. Maybe that could lead to autonomy. The goal should be to create another "Turkish Kurdistan" entity like Syrian Kurdistan and Iraqi Kurdistan.