CidanSultan

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  1. In Russia, the alarming success of the Islamic State (IS), formerly the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), was lamented by many analysts and policymakers as, by and large, an indication of a short-sighted US policy under President George W. Bush leading to a virtual breakup of Iraq. In the current context of perpetual Washington-Moscow browbeating, this narrative finds Moscow supporters in the Middle East and elsewhere. However, Russians have enough to worry about for themselves as IS not only has significantly influenced regional geopolitics, but has served as inspiration for extremist sympathizers in other parts of the world, breathing new life into their activities, such as for the Caucasus Emirate (CE) operating in the Russian North Caucasus. Currently, North Caucasus mujahedeen are split in their support for various Islamist groups operating in the greater Middle East — partly over personal loyalties to groups’ leaders and emirs, partly over ideological imperatives, interpretation of the “global jihad” idea and its tactical implementation. In the spat between Jabhat al-Nusra and ISIS, the emirate signaled its support for the latter, further solidifying channels linking the two extremist groups. As Thomas de Waal of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace argues, “Many of the leading jihadists of ISIS come from the Caucasus, including Omar al-Shishani, (an ethnic Chechen) who comes from Georgia's Pankisi Gorge. If even a fraction of the vast amounts of money ISIS is said to have seized in Iraq makes a way back to the North Caucasus, it could boost the militants there.” However, the focus on the ethnic belonging of the mujahedeen (Chechens, Circassians, Dagestani) in this case has a rather emotional component: The strategic agenda of both the Islamic State and Caucasus Emirate is religious, not ethnic, which makes them more consolidated in substance and diverse in form. Nevertheless, the people factor is the first “bridge” between the radical groups. Indeed, many of those fighting for IS (or al-Nusra, for that matter) first joined the jihadist movement in the North Caucasus and have been reported fighting in Chechnya, Afghanistan, Iraq and other hotbeds across the Middle East. This comes as no surprise, for in the age of globalization not only can terrorism be a global threat, but terrorists themselves are “globalized” and “travel to hot spots for specific missions” as tourists do to popular destinations. There aren’t training camps in the North Caucasus the size of those in Iraq and Syria; thus the competition for human resources is strong within and between the terrorist networks. There are other obvious similarities: both IS and the CE operate in “gray zones” of their respective territories, and are united in their agenda of seeking to establish a caliphate or other extreme form of Sharia-based state entity. They may differ in organization and fundraising philosophy, but the truth of the matter is that the CE is a regional group that claims to be a part of “the global jihadist movement” while IS positions itself as its centerpiece and a new, major, driving force. In this respect, paradoxically as it may sound, it is IS that needs more of the Caucasus Emirate's support in competing with its ideological rivals (Jabhat al-Nusra and the like) over influence on the global umma. Another linking chain is financial support: In December 2013, ISIS acknowledged receiving funds and fighters from then-leader of the CE Dokku Umarov, who has since been presumed dead. The “you-scratch-my-back-I’ll-scratch-yours” approach between the IS and CE could possibly be a feasible deal now that the former looks more powerful than it did some time ago. If that happens, the arches of instability in the Greater Middle East and Eurasia will coalesce and be a much bigger headache for responsible powers — namely, Russia and the United States. Nowadays, it’s been conventional wisdom that Moscow and Washington have hit the historical bottom in their relationship since the end of the Cold War. But perhaps one of the most pragmatic takeaways from the IS surge for US-Russia relations is that in the context of “limited partnership” (at best) they should be more cooperative in the area of fighting extremist ideologies. No one should be disillusioned: The two countries pursue different tactical goals and would face long odds to achieve a full-scale cooperation. But the level of mutual “geopolitical mistrust” is lower than it has been in the post-Soviet space, existing conflicts don’t have to do with an “ideological struggle,” the issue is not aggravated by the Ukraine-style informational tug-of-war and both Russia and the United States recognize the Caucasus Emirate and IS as critical threats to their national security. The IS victory is a clear boost for the Caucasus Emirate — both in terms of prospective financial support and training of fighters — and a new challenge to Russian and US interests in the respective regions. Therefore, though the window of opportunity for a pragmatic cooperation in this field is narrow, it is real and worth considering. MAXIM A. SUCHKOV Contributor, Russia Pulse Maxim A. Suchkov, a former Fulbright visiting fellow at Georgetown University (2010–11), is currently a fellow at the Institute for Strategic Studies at the North Caucasian city of Pyatigorsk, Russia, and is a contributor to the Central Eurasian Studies Society Blog. Read more: http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2014/07/islamic-state-chechen-caucasus-emirate.html##ixzz37txQDz4g
  2. The nearest city to the location of the oil field is Homs far away from the north and east that is dominated by the "Islamic state" this recent attack comes after the last pockets of former "FSA" rebels in Homs joined "Islamic state" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUiIyWvfndw
  3. BEIRUT (AP) — Islamic extremists killed at least 115 Syrian troops, guards and workers as they captured a gas field in central Syria following daylong clashes, activists said Friday. More than 20 militants also died in the fighting on Thursday for the Shaer gas field, the deadliest battles so far between fighters of the Islamic State group and forces loyal to President Bashar Assad. Fighters from the Islamic State have in the past few weeks seized a huge chunk of territory straddling the Iraq-Syria border where they declared a self-styled caliphate. Earlier, they already captured much of Syria's oil-rich eastern province of Deir el-Zour. The massive assault on the Shaer field, which lies in the desert region of Palmyra in the central province of Homs, began with a suicide bombing and an attack on army checkpoints on Thursday, according to an activist there who goes by the name Beibares Tellawi. The militants seized the field after fierce clashes with government forces that went on for 12 hours, Tellawi said. "This is the biggest operation (by Islamic State fighters) against the regime in Homs province," Tellawi said, speaking via Skype from Homs. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 115 people on the government side were killed. The Observatory said 21 Islamic State fighters were killed during the battle, while Tellawi put the figure at 27. An official in the Homs governor's office contacted by The Associated Press said he had no information on the incident. He declined to give his name because he was not authorized to talk to media. The Syrian government rarely comments on deadly attacks targeting its forces. The Observatory and Tellawi both said that the fate of more than 200 people captured in the facility is still unknown. An amateur video said to be from the area and released by activists shows dozens of bodies strewn across a desert area. It also shows jihadis with at least two multiple rocket launchers and two tanks, which they claim were sized in the fighting. The video appeared genuine and corresponded to other AP reporting of the events. A website commonly used by militants showed similar photos, including ones depicting green ammunition boxes allegedly captured by the "lions of the Islamic State" in the fighting around the gas field, as well as artillery and a multiple rocket launcher.
  4. Hundreds of dead soldiers in Tikrit and 10 helicopters shot down.... Humiliation for the Shia led Iraq government http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-Azs4XVn7s
  5. IRBIL, Iraq — Islamic State gunmen overran a former U.S. military base early Friday and killed or captured hundreds of Iraqi government troops who had been trying to retake Saddam Hussein’s hometown of Tikrit, the worst military reversal Iraqi troops have suffered since the Islamist forces captured almost half the country last month. The defeat brought to an end a three-week campaign by the government in Baghdad to recapture Tikrit, which fell to the Islamic State on June 11. Military spokesmen earlier this week had confidently announced a final push to recapture the city. Instead, Islamic State forces turned back the army’s thrust up the main highway Wednesday. Beginning late Thursday, the Islamist forces stormed Camp Speicher, a former U.S. military base named for a pilot who disappeared during the 1991 Persian Gulf War, and overwhelmed the troops there. Witnesses reached by phone, who asked not be identified for security reasons, said that by Friday morning the final pocket of government troops had collapsed, an ignominious end for a counteroffensive that had begun with a helicopter assault into Tikrit University but ended with troops trapped at Camp Speicher. There was no comment from the Iraqi government. On Wednesday, the military had acknowledged that its forces had made what it called a “tactical retreat” to Awja, a town about 10 miles south of Tikrit, after the push into the city failed. Interviews with Tikrit residents and statements on Twitter accounts associated with the Islamic State described massive government losses. One Twitter post said Islamic State militants had shot down or destroyed on the ground as many as eight helicopters, a number that if confirmed would be a catastrophic loss for the government. Another Twitter posting said Islamic State militants had set the base’s fuel storage tanks on fire and that a suicide bomber had attacked a “gathering” of government soldiers. One resident said that as many as 700 government soldiers and 150 fighters he described as Iranians, but who may have been Shiite Muslim militiamen, had participated in the final battle. Sunni Muslims in central Iraq often inaccurately describe Iraqi Shiites as Iranians. “They were being bombarded and mortared all night, and by Friday morning you could see burning helicopters everywhere and the fighting had stopped,” the resident said. He said many of the captured soldiers had been executed. “They are parading prisoners through the streets of Tikrit,” the resident said. A military officer from the Kurdish peshmerga militia, who until the recent political split between the Kurdistan Regional Government and Baghdad had served in the Iraqi military’s special forces, confirmed the defeat. “The government forces, which were a mix of regular army, special forces units and Shiite militias, have been destroyed,” he said, speaking only on the condition of anonymity so as not to aggravate the already poisonous relationship between the Kurds and the government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in Baghdad. “When they were unable to push past Ajwa with reinforcements on Wednesday, their fate was sealed,” the officer said. The Kurdish officer said he doubted the residents’ account of 150 Iranians present in the fighting, though he said it was possible that Iranians had taken command of Shiite militias fighting with government soldiers. He said he thought that Iran’s commander in Iraq, Gen. Qassem Suleimani, had begun to re-evaluate the strategy for assisting the government in recapturing territory taken by the Islamic State. “Hajj Qassem,” he said, referring to Suleimani with an honorific, “has given up on the Iraqi army. His plan in Iraq is to replicate the plan which worked for him in Syria: to use the army to hold checkpoints but properly train elite fighters to do the real fighting, like he’s done with Hezbollah and other Syrian militias.” The officer cast doubt, however, on the quality of those forces. “In Iraq, there is no Hezbollah,” he said, referring to the Lebanese militia renowned for its fighting prowess.
  6. After losing land, and becoming bankrupt. Your enclave has become isolated as you have no real presence in the African Union run protectorate. In mugdisho you have become persona non grata and internationally to countries that matter you mean very little. The only policy you have left is to play the terrorist card. And that is pure bull as everyone knows. So cabdi cawar has resorted to making his full time job begging the Italians convincing them that they once shared a fish meal together in garowe before fulfilling Italian interests in Africa. Or going to countries that mean very little like Yemen which itself is a failed state. Desperate times... A war has been waged from two sides and your left with begging Italy and going to visits to countries like Yemen or begging tours. Hahahahah... That is why buuuuuntaland is not collapesing it has already collapsed
  7. Mooge I sincerely feel sorry for you and your defeated lot peoples Hahahahah... Miskeen. so let me get this right. It takes a bit of time for me to understand deluded pirate logic. Cabdi cawar is playing a clever game because he keeps losing land to somaliland....??? Hahahha and let me get this right somaliland is isolated now because of cabdi cawar. I have said it once before and I'll say it again. When God gave us your people as enemies he blessed us with the weakest of peoples. Let me break it down to you if there is one thing your people are allergic to its the truth. Cabdi cawars campaign was that he would get sool and sanag back and assure in a new era of development. In his promises he has utterly failed. Somaliland has secured the rest of Eastern sanag and at one stage declined cawar of an entry visa into las Korey. Secondly khatumo is finished with the fall of taleex and las canod is still part of somaliland territory and in being so has blossomed and grown. On cabdi cawars second promise he has failed yet again. The few civil servants and militia forces that can't fight or take any land from anyone have not been paid for such a long time they are starving and joining somaliland army. Somaliland internationally is not isolated the American dual track policy is in place, the European Union special status is in place on the contrary Germany is the newest country to join the band wagon of somaliland separate status. In regards to Silanyo, bixi and the sort. One thing pirates never understand is somaliland may disagree over minor details but when it comes to the Republic Of Somaliland that is always the main priority. Dahir riyala and Silanyo had arguments, before them egal and others had arguments but the nation always comes first. That is why we continue to grow while you are on verge of total collapes. Politically, economically and militarily.
  8. The all talking no action pirate enclave. Your guys have become the laughing stock of Somalis. Cabdi cawar said he going to liberate las canon....hahahahah... Instead he is grateful to be left with garowe.... Don't worry we are coming for garowe as we'll. just waiting for you to fire the first shot so we can have justification to take the last bit of desert you have left.
  9. Somaliland has a literacy rate of 78% is on the verge of signing a billion dollar port deal to enlarge it and create the somaliland Ethiopian coordidor which will initiate free trade between the states. Not to mention cheap electricity and a growing tax collection system that increases year on year. Our people live in their country unlike yours that live in Nairobi. Hahaha... We ain't refugees Mooge. We took all your land. We took what dignity you had left and you can't stop us...that's why in your parallel demension somaliland is in chaos. Hahahahah ah....
  10. Your pirate fiefdom is bankrupt it's militias are surrendering at the border saying they haven't eaten in months...
  11. This is what is the end result of your peoples.... Soil, sanag and cyan....hahahha... Somaliland owned property.
  12. This is what your pirate enclave said about somaliland: We are in no position to fight somaliland we need to maintain what's left hahahha...
  13. Pirate logic.... Somaliland is economically superior today then ever before. Militarily we continue to take more and more land....somaliland has special political status outside of somalia as is the case with the dual track policy and all the European States show. Somaliland according to your pirate parallel demension is falling apart but as is evident to normal people who have basic common sense. We are getting stronger.
  14. http://boramanews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9516&catid=34&Itemid=53
  15. The somali republic is dead and Somaliana Italiana is dead along with Somalia. If it's not dead show me or tell me one truth that proves the contrary. Somalis in Somalia pledge loyalty to tribe before God or state. The defeated lot did it under siad barre were they set in motion the problems that takes the land beneath their children's feet away from them 22 years later. Hag slavery under siad barre and under Italian rule means today they to pledge loyalty to hag before God and state. No unity even in fictional Somalia. Galcayco has a divided line between it. Warfare is endemic in Somalia. Warfare, choas, external occupation, and the list goes on. No one can tell me one reason why Somalia is not dead. Puntland sultanate hahaha.... The same sultanate that gave his daughter away to the British who then wrote a book about her flesh and how it shined in the sunset hahahaha.... Saxib the only puntland sultanate that existed is in the heads of the people who inhabit that territory. Furthermore puntland didn't go bankrupt because it fought somaliland it never fought somaliland not once. It went bankrupt because the Australian mini cab driver who led it ran off with what little they had left. Seriously sometimes I wonder and often ask myself if me and these people exist in the same reality.
  16. Is the girl the one conducting the imaginary shot to the head. Alshabab makes qoslaye run wearing slippers in his house and your talking about shooting. Hahahah... A man who can't protect his own house can't protect anything trust me Hahahah....
  17. A people who live in fiction 22 years of burying your heads in the sand is long enough
  18. Somaliland doesn't care or need your views and opinions. The facts on the ground is the territory of somaliland keeps growing, it support base keeps growing, it's support internationally grows primarily from Europeans countries that deal with it directly. It's investments keep growing, it's budget keeps growing. Somalia is dead let's not lie to ourselves. It's time we all wake up and realise the truth
  19. Good luck to all the dreamers out there who actually believe they can salvage Somalia. Puntland has been getting worse not better year on year. The curroption rate increases, they lose more land year on year, they lose more supporters year on year. It is shrinking and since 1998 it actually has not achieved much tangible success: it's not a democracy, economically bankrupt and unstable like much of the south. Hirran nothing there but rivalry and civil war, the same thing in shebelede hose. Bay and bakool we al know is pretty much defacto Alshabab except the Ethiopian parts. Kismayo is Kenyan and mugdisho is Ugandan. Is Somalia alive or dead ??
  20. Again more idealism: there is rational idealism and just obsurd idealism. There is no such thing as jubaland it is propped up by Kenyans and history shows that anything imposed from outside with little support and not to mention Alshabab won't survive the constant attacks are a reminder of that fact. Somalia itself in the case of mugdisho is in my view lost hope: even with thousands of African merceneries villa Somalia is under attack, severe insecurity issues and choas. No such thing as these so called federal states all on paper nothing actually exists on the ground and no money to back them or foundations in place. Puntland has followed the trend and has ended up as impoverished back water were a few foreign passport holders come to steal from the people proof is they can't even pay there militia wages. Somaliland is not part of the equation it left Somalia and wants nothing to do with Somalia. If mugdisho was to offer confederation and all the wealth of Somalia and capital and permanent presidency somaliland would still decline because we all know Somalia is finished The only ones who believe in are the young diaspora kids who have never been to it. Ironic
  21. Che mr Anomoly Somalian citizen. Insane is a person who does the same thing over and over agin expecting a different result somaha... You still believe in Somalia after 22 years of failure and your callin me insane hahahah ...