ISIS - Genghis Khan - Saladin - Communism

[Stratego]

Do you think that ISIS can develop or evolve into a legitimate challenge to the existing global powers in our lifetime? Right now they seem like fractured bands of militias fighting for regional goals, but banner goal is still to establish a Caliphate. In addition to fighting, they're building schools and utilizing propaganda and have seem to build a following that's larger than originally anticipated.

There were other cases where ragtag militia groups were able to unite under a strong leadership and eventually gain enough power to challenge the existing power. Genghis Khan was able to unite the Mongolian tribes to challenge the existing Chinese dynasty. Saladin was able to unite the Muslims against the crusaders. And Mao was able to transform Communists from a small force fighting along the mountain sides into a big enough force to fight the Nationalist party.

Do you think that ISIS can or will do the same?

[eynon81]

I think they have.

ISIS needs to be a wake-up call to the west.

[Stratego]

Can they transform into a force that can challenge the existing power in conventional warfare?

[eynon81]

[Libertarian602]

[lnrw]

when bush 41 sent word to the shiite leadership in Basra, during desert storm, that America was on its way to Basra, saddam killed over 150000 shiites in the Basra rebellion and pretty much wiped out any effective shiite leadership.

whatever could be f**k up was f**k up. and in most cases, could hardly be more f**k up, until now.

you can't fix stupid, but you can elect it.

[Libertarian602]

That was the downside of 41's Gulf War victory. I've always wonder what the thinking was behind urging the Shia to uprise.

[Spider]

[NAB]

[spacemonkey]

Isis will only insure the sands of the mid east will remain a backward shithole for decades to come.