Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

onager

(9,356 posts)
Tue Feb 17, 2015, 01:19 PM Feb 2015

What ISIS Really Wants (The Atlantic)

Very interesting article by Graeme Wood, and one of the best I've read explaining the core beliefs of ISIS:

Its rise to power is less like the triumph of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt (a group whose leaders the Islamic State considers apostates) than like the realization of a dystopian alternate reality in which David Koresh or Jim Jones survived to wield absolute power over not just a few hundred people, but some 8 million.


In fact, much of what the group does looks nonsensical except in light of a sincere, carefully considered commitment to returning civilization to a seventh-century legal environment, and ultimately to bringing about the apocalypse...

The reality is that the Islamic State is Islamic. Very Islamic. Yes, it has attracted psychopaths and adventure seekers, drawn largely from the disaffected populations of the Middle East and Europe. But the religion preached by its most ardent followers derives from coherent and even learned interpretations of Islam.


http://www.theatlantic.com/features/archive/2015/02/what-isis-really-wants/384980/

Rebuttal and counter-rebuttal at Raw Story. American Muslim leader denounced the article as "wrong." But as Wood points out, he didn't say specifically WHAT Wood got wrong:

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2015/02/americas-most-prominent-muslim-says-the-atlantic-is-doing-pr-for-isis/

46 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
What ISIS Really Wants (The Atlantic) (Original Post) onager Feb 2015 OP
Why is this thread in the A&A group? TexasTowelie Feb 2015 #1
Feel free to re-post it anywhere you wish. onager Feb 2015 #2
Fair enough. TexasTowelie Feb 2015 #12
As to why it's here AlbertCat Nov 2015 #41
Maybe it's because atheists are interested skepticscott Feb 2015 #3
To avoid an alert Cartoonist Feb 2015 #4
Yep, and I've already been torpedoed in this group today. onager Feb 2015 #8
tsk tsk tsk progressoid Feb 2015 #19
because we like to discuss this sort of stuff here. Warren Stupidity Feb 2015 #5
I have no reason to alert on the thread, TexasTowelie Feb 2015 #10
So you just felt the urge to admonish the op? Warren Stupidity Feb 2015 #13
No, I did not read the SOP before I posted. TexasTowelie Feb 2015 #14
Overreact? That's rich. Act_of_Reparation Feb 2015 #15
The harshness of your response proves my point. TexasTowelie Feb 2015 #16
actually the discussions here, except when we get tone trolled, Warren Stupidity Feb 2015 #18
"By posting the article in this group I expect that the discussion will be quite limited ...." PassingFair Nov 2015 #40
unusual how? Warren Stupidity Feb 2015 #17
Warren, TexasTowelie Feb 2015 #21
You might try actually discussing issues here instead of bringing the meta. Warren Stupidity Feb 2015 #26
Actually, faith-based topics are the almost exclusive content of A&A EvolveOrConvolve Nov 2015 #37
I'm not offended, TT, feel free to drop in anytime. mountain grammy Nov 2015 #45
Reading is hard. Act_of_Reparation Feb 2015 #7
See post #10. nt TexasTowelie Feb 2015 #11
Gracious, you've been harshed! LiberalAndProud Feb 2015 #22
Thank you. TexasTowelie Feb 2015 #23
harshed has a long history. Warren Stupidity Feb 2015 #27
I thought so. LiberalAndProud Feb 2015 #28
Just wanted to say I didn't take offense. AlbertCat Nov 2015 #42
TT, just a quick note RussBLib Nov 2015 #38
I don't care where it's posted, it's important work. mountain grammy Feb 2015 #6
We all know that ISIS's intent Curmudgeoness Feb 2015 #9
Salvation religions..... ugh... AlbertCat Nov 2015 #43
I'd rather not make enemies unnecessarily. onager Feb 2015 #20
Thank you onager. TexasTowelie Feb 2015 #24
It's only "wrong" in the sense that not all Muslims believe in the armageddon prophecy, LiberalAndProud Feb 2015 #25
Why do they want edhopper Feb 2015 #29
Well, they want the whole world. onager Feb 2015 #30
I think due to the things you mentioned edhopper Feb 2015 #31
If history has taught us anything, it is that conquering a nation is easy... Act_of_Reparation Feb 2015 #32
Kick for current importance. HuckleB Nov 2015 #33
I wonder, if ISIS acquired nukes.... RussBLib Nov 2015 #34
I don't think anyone asks them, they're basically property. haikugal Nov 2015 #35
right. you may have some women who prefer being behind the veil RussBLib Nov 2015 #36
I'm sorry, but ISIS is Islamic RussBLib Nov 2015 #39
when will ISIS come to blows with their funders, the House of Saud? Duppers Nov 2015 #44
It's all in their books. mountain grammy Nov 2015 #46

TexasTowelie

(116,812 posts)
1. Why is this thread in the A&A group?
Tue Feb 17, 2015, 01:38 PM
Feb 2015

I think that the Muslim/Islam group or the Religion group might be more appropriate.

onager

(9,356 posts)
2. Feel free to re-post it anywhere you wish.
Tue Feb 17, 2015, 01:59 PM
Feb 2015

As to why it's here - mostly because this is where I hang out.

TexasTowelie

(116,812 posts)
12. Fair enough.
Tue Feb 17, 2015, 04:36 PM
Feb 2015

After reading the SOP for this group I can understand why it can be considered relevant for this group.

 

AlbertCat

(17,505 posts)
41. As to why it's here
Mon Nov 16, 2015, 12:23 PM
Nov 2015

Everyone's head won't explode after the 1st 3 words.

It can actually be discussed here.

Cartoonist

(7,532 posts)
4. To avoid an alert
Tue Feb 17, 2015, 02:06 PM
Feb 2015

Some people are touchy in protected groups. Don't dare try saying anything negative about religion in the interfaith group regardless what the SOP says.

onager

(9,356 posts)
8. Yep, and I've already been torpedoed in this group today.
Tue Feb 17, 2015, 03:44 PM
Feb 2015

Hey, are all nautical references banned yet?

Thanks to progressoid for posting my jury results in the other thread. The one where I can't post because, you know, a hide.

progressoid

(50,748 posts)
19. tsk tsk tsk
Tue Feb 17, 2015, 05:59 PM
Feb 2015
I hope you have learned your lesson!




I was juror 2, 4, or 5. (I didn't have time to "add an explanation&quot
 

Warren Stupidity

(48,181 posts)
5. because we like to discuss this sort of stuff here.
Tue Feb 17, 2015, 02:55 PM
Feb 2015

We actually tend to have much more interesting discussions on issues like this here, rather than in the toxic waste dump forum, where what we have instead is endless snark, veiled insults, and anything but actual discussions.

Thanks for the question though. Perhaps you should alert on the op as inappropriate for the forum and see what the hosts think.

Or you could simply discuss the issue.

TexasTowelie

(116,812 posts)
10. I have no reason to alert on the thread,
Tue Feb 17, 2015, 04:33 PM
Feb 2015

it just seemed like it was in a group where it did not belong. Thanks for your reply.

 

Warren Stupidity

(48,181 posts)
13. So you just felt the urge to admonish the op?
Tue Feb 17, 2015, 04:51 PM
Feb 2015

I just can't imagine wandering into a group I rarely participate in and demanding to know why something which is actually completely on topic was being posted there. Did you, for example, read the SOP before you posted?

Here:


A place where atheists and agnostics can engage in frank discussions about the effects of religion on politics, free of debate about the existence of a deity or deities.


TexasTowelie

(116,812 posts)
14. No, I did not read the SOP before I posted.
Tue Feb 17, 2015, 05:02 PM
Feb 2015

It seemed unusual for the topic to be discussed in this group though.

I was not admonishing the poster who made the OP; however, I notice that some of the people in this group have a tendency to over react whenever someone asks a question. I did not intend to offend anyone.

Have a good day.

Act_of_Reparation

(9,116 posts)
15. Overreact? That's rich.
Tue Feb 17, 2015, 05:11 PM
Feb 2015

You don't think it slightly presumptuous to take it upon yourself to question whether a post in a forum in which you rarely participate is on-topic? Even if you had read the SOP, what business is it of yours what the people who frequently post here choose to discuss?

We have hosts, and I think all of us who participate here regularly agree they do a fine job on their own. They don't need your help.

To answer the second part of your question, as to why this was not posted in the Islam group: I would have to guess it is because we know better than to take a dump on someone's safe haven... it is a courtesy we rarely see reciprocated here.

TexasTowelie

(116,812 posts)
16. The harshness of your response proves my point.
Tue Feb 17, 2015, 05:24 PM
Feb 2015

It is not my business as to what it is discussed in this group because I do not own DU. I merely felt it was odd to discuss Islam in the A&A group so for you to be snippy with me after I said that I did not mean to offend is also rich.

Please continue your discussion without me. I was interested in the topic and thought it should be in a different group than this one. By posting the article in this group I expect that the discussion will be quite limited which defeats the purpose of having a discussion board.

 

Warren Stupidity

(48,181 posts)
18. actually the discussions here, except when we get tone trolled,
Tue Feb 17, 2015, 05:38 PM
Feb 2015

are generally more interesting and fruitful than any other forum, as they do not degenerate into theist vs atheist shit flinging orangutan raves.

PassingFair

(22,437 posts)
40. "By posting the article in this group I expect that the discussion will be quite limited ...."
Mon Nov 16, 2015, 09:11 AM
Nov 2015

"By posting the article in this group I expect that the discussion will be quite limited which defeats the purpose of having a discussion board."


What?

 

Warren Stupidity

(48,181 posts)
17. unusual how?
Tue Feb 17, 2015, 05:32 PM
Feb 2015

Look at the other posts here. In what way is this particular op unusual?

I realize you may not think you were admonishing anyone, but tone on the internet is real tricky, and discussing an op by asking why it was posted where it was posted is real difficult to do without coming off the wrong way.


I notice that some of the people in this group have a tendency to over react whenever someone asks a question.


Oh we have a regular parade of alert nannies, sock puppets, and presumptuous visitors who show up not to participate so much as to tell us how we should participate. Your question fit right into that bucket. You may or may not have known that, but that is how your question was going to be experienced.

TexasTowelie

(116,812 posts)
21. Warren,
Tue Feb 17, 2015, 06:20 PM
Feb 2015

By "unusual" I meant discussing a faith-based topic within the A&A group.

I realize that this is a safe haven group, but I think that it does not serve any group well when someone from outside the group asks a seemingly innocuous question (which I now realize was "loaded" from the perspective of other people). While I was raised as a Christian, there are also times that I'm more agnostic about questions of faith. It would be helpful to be able to participate in a group where I could discuss those ideas. I may be incorrect since I'm not an active participant within the group, but the group does seem to be dominated by atheists over agnostics.

I apologize for the perceived tone of my question, but it seemed legitimate to ask in my opinion. I left it to other members of the group to decide whether to alert on the thread because I certainly did not wish to tell other how to participate within the group.

I hope that clarifies why I asked the question initially and after reading the SOP for the group I can see why the OP can be posted here.

Sincerely,

TxT

 

Warren Stupidity

(48,181 posts)
26. You might try actually discussing issues here instead of bringing the meta.
Tue Feb 17, 2015, 07:14 PM
Feb 2015

You might be pleasantly surprised.

EvolveOrConvolve

(6,452 posts)
37. Actually, faith-based topics are the almost exclusive content of A&A
Sun Nov 15, 2015, 01:26 AM
Nov 2015

We just happen to be, in general, on the other side of the faith equation. You'll actually probably find the most rational discussion of Islam (and in particular, incidents like those in Paris). We lie somewhere between the mouth-breathing, moronic conservative "go to war with and kill all the Muslims" rhetoric and the sometimes misguided liberals on our side that insist that Islam has nothing to do with these sorts of terror attacks.

mountain grammy

(27,277 posts)
45. I'm not offended, TT, feel free to drop in anytime.
Mon Nov 23, 2015, 06:24 PM
Nov 2015

I tend to like your posts and know you meant no offense.

I've read this article often, having bookmarked it months ago. I just re-read it after the Paris attacks. It's challenging me to look at this problem in ways I really don't want to. End timers, Muslim or otherwise, scare me. They have nothing to lose.

Act_of_Reparation

(9,116 posts)
7. Reading is hard.
Tue Feb 17, 2015, 03:21 PM
Feb 2015

The A&A Group's Statement of Purpose:

A place where atheists and agnostics can engage in frank discussions about the effects of religion on politics, free of debate about the existence of a deity or deities.


Any questions?

LiberalAndProud

(12,799 posts)
22. Gracious, you've been harshed!
Tue Feb 17, 2015, 06:29 PM
Feb 2015

Is that a word? If it's not, I just coined it.


Just wanted to say I didn't take offense. TT

TexasTowelie

(116,812 posts)
23. Thank you.
Tue Feb 17, 2015, 06:44 PM
Feb 2015

I thought that it was an innocuous question and suggestion, but I realize and understand why others could think otherwise. Please attribute it to foot-in-mouth disease.

 

AlbertCat

(17,505 posts)
42. Just wanted to say I didn't take offense.
Mon Nov 16, 2015, 12:30 PM
Nov 2015

Me neither.

And, I'm sure some posts sound more harsh than they really are intended. That's a feature of message boards.

But notice how you weren't instantly banned. Go post it in some other safe groups and see what happens.

RussBLib

(9,666 posts)
38. TT, just a quick note
Sun Nov 15, 2015, 11:46 AM
Nov 2015

I think your head is in the right place, but I think you have been in and out of this group long enough to know that Onager, the poster of the OP, is a long-time and well-respected member of this group. Don't you think it would be rather unlikely that Onager would violate the terms or intent of this group?

Now, if an unknown someone with close to zero posts had posted this OP here, your question would be much more valid.

IOW, take the actual poster into consideration.

mountain grammy

(27,277 posts)
6. I don't care where it's posted, it's important work.
Tue Feb 17, 2015, 02:55 PM
Feb 2015

Thanks for posting. I've bookmarked for further reference.

Since many non believers are legitimately concerned about religious rule, I feel the post is appropriate here.

Curmudgeoness

(18,219 posts)
9. We all know that ISIS's intent
Tue Feb 17, 2015, 03:49 PM
Feb 2015

is to bring fundamentalist and extreme Islam to the Middle East, and beyond. These are the "true believers" who wish to impose their brand of Islam on all Muslims as well as wipe the infidels off the face of the earth. Anyone who does not think this is the purpose of their actions is deluding themselves.

It really should fall upon the moderate Muslims, those who say that ISIS does not speak for them regarding Islam, to stop them. From what I am told, these are a minority of extremists and do not represent Islam, so it is time for the people who are saying this to fight back against them. The same goes with the Taliban. Stop giving them power and respectability.

 

AlbertCat

(17,505 posts)
43. Salvation religions..... ugh...
Mon Nov 16, 2015, 12:32 PM
Nov 2015

All the world must be Islam


All the world must be Christendom.


Sorry guys.... never gonna happen. They can't even decide what's "correct" among themselves!


Give it up already!

onager

(9,356 posts)
20. I'd rather not make enemies unnecessarily.
Tue Feb 17, 2015, 06:01 PM
Feb 2015

T.T. may not post here a lot, but I have seen them participating in this group and never causing trouble, AFAIK.

I know we're all a mite touchy from looking over our shoulders for the Hall Monitors these days. But I'd rather give people the benefit of the doubt until they prove otherwise. Like those who barge in here calling us racists and haters - they can FOAD.

T.T., sorry about the splash damage. I think you were just curious about why the post was here and asked a reasonable question.

LiberalAndProud

(12,799 posts)
25. It's only "wrong" in the sense that not all Muslims believe in the armageddon prophecy,
Tue Feb 17, 2015, 07:01 PM
Feb 2015

a perfect mirror of their Christian cousins.

Just because some religious folks do not think we should catapult head first into the end times, it doesn't mean there aren't a whole lot of true believers who abso-fucking-lutely do.

onager

(9,356 posts)
30. Well, they want the whole world.
Wed Feb 18, 2015, 11:53 AM
Feb 2015

But your question started me wondering about how they do intend to expand.

I read some Internet posts by ISIS members who've actually gone there. They say ISIS is Paradise: every brother gets a free house, clothing, etc. Wood mentions that in the article - it's mandatory for their government to provide those things, under the form of Islam they are trying to incorporate.

But that just means their government stole all that stuff from other people and is re-distributing it to the "brothers." Leaving out the Islamic hocus-pocus, that's something all conquerors routinely do. The same thing happened when Yugoslavia fell apart - apply some ethnic cleansing to the hated minority, then confiscate their property and give it to your guys.

At some point, ISIS will run out of stuff they can steal. Along with the stockpiles of weapons and ammo left in Saddam-era Iraq.

And as you mention about their navy - how do they support their military logistically? How do they hope to have an air force (or navy)? Modern weapons systems require big stockpiles of spare parts, a supply chain to replace those parts, and trained technicians to maintain/repair the systems. Where does all that come from?

So far, they're getting some funding thru illegal oil sales. That can't last forever, either.

And speaking of funding - they plan to establish a new economic order in the Caliphate. Modern currency systems are considered haram (forbidden).

Only money directly backed by gold and silver is halal (allowed). Yeah, that should work out well. Maybe we can send Ron Paul over to advise them on goldbuggery.

As always, I have no solutions and am just randomly spinning both of my brain cells. But the "navy" remark just got me wondering.

edhopper

(34,836 posts)
31. I think due to the things you mentioned
Wed Feb 18, 2015, 12:08 PM
Feb 2015

and the harshness of their behavior, turning the World against them, they will be short lived or isolated to a small pocket.

Act_of_Reparation

(9,116 posts)
32. If history has taught us anything, it is that conquering a nation is easy...
Wed Feb 18, 2015, 03:40 PM
Feb 2015

...but holding onto it can be really hard.

Sooner or later, ISIS is going to wind up pissing on a pair of boots that don't belong to an ineffectual government wrecked by corruption and sectarian conflict, and they're probably going to get their asses beat.

I just worry for those who suffer under them in the meantime.

RussBLib

(9,666 posts)
34. I wonder, if ISIS acquired nukes....
Sat Nov 14, 2015, 01:37 PM
Nov 2015

...would they happily use them to try to wipe out all us heathens?

I haven't read the Atlantic story yet, but will, but if they want to "take over" every square inch of the planet for their "paradise" they are more insane than I imagined. And as for a "paradise" as Onager mentioned, how do the women really feel about that?

RussBLib

(9,666 posts)
36. right. you may have some women who prefer being behind the veil
Sat Nov 14, 2015, 10:58 PM
Nov 2015

but that's no reason to put them ALL behind the veil.

The way Islam, and especially radical Islam, treats women should disqualify it from the global stage. We shouldn't even be paying it lip service.

I'm mostly a pacifist, but these barbaric pieces of ISIS shit need to be wiped. Out.

RussBLib

(9,666 posts)
39. I'm sorry, but ISIS is Islamic
Sun Nov 15, 2015, 12:53 PM
Nov 2015

They quote from the Koran; they use the Koran to justify their actions; it's all about Islam. They even use it in their name: Islamic State of Syria.

Just because they may be an extreme version of Islam does not make them non-Islamic, in the same sense that the extreme elements of Christianity are still linked to Christianity.

I really don't understand this hesitation to proclaim that ISIS is Islamic.

You know, we've had religious wars throughout the last 2,000 years. One more doesn't seem like the end of the world, no matter how much it may play into their apocalyptic vision. This type of indiscriminate killing cannot go unanswered.

Duppers

(28,246 posts)
44. when will ISIS come to blows with their funders, the House of Saud?
Sun Nov 22, 2015, 07:30 PM
Nov 2015

As long as the oil money continues to flow?

I'm not trying to divert the discussion from the importance of religion. Just wish the world would convert to alternative energies and cut off this religion's money source.

My hat's off to this poster, olegramps:

"The Islamists' sole determination is to impose their religion on every living man, woman and child. They view anyone who opposes their goal to establish a theocracy as an enemy of their faith and an enemy worthy of death.
We are not immune to this threat. It is little different than what the extreme right wing Republicans preach when they want to make their interpretation of the Judeo-Christian teachings the law of the land. This message is preached daily by the Christian Ayatollahs who are intent of destroying secular government which they view as un-godly atheism.
Superstitious beliefs are the plague of mankind and the real enemy of peace."


http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=7347114







Latest Discussions»Alliance Forums»Atheists & Agnostics»What ISIS Really Wants (T...