The Gulf: ISIS in Return for Iran!.....

This gives quite a picture with those in the ME. What do you think.....is the writers assessment correct? Is it ISIS for Iran.



The Gulf-Gulf conversation about the challenges posed by the Islamic State (IS/ISIS) and the alliances that will be forged to destroy it indicates that a striking disparity exists between the positions of official leaderships and the sentiment of the grassroots. There is a sense of schizophrenia surrounding what the Gulf parties want from the United States, as they quarrel over what Washington wants from them. What is remarkable -- and certainly healthy -- is the sudden candor in expressing radical differences, for example between the fact that Gulf governments have characterized the ISIS threat as an "existential" one, and the fact that a large segment of the public sympathizes with ISIS and its motives, and sees it as something necessary in the balance of power and the balance of terror. A segment in the Gulf says that Islam is innocent of ISIS and that ISIS has nothing to do with Islam. Another segment sees it as the pure Islam that spoke about Christians in the language of "convert or be killed or exiled." Therefore, this segment of society in the Gulf does not perceive ISIS and its practices from the standpoint of terrorism -- and this is more common in Saudi society relative to other Gulf societies.

Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz made it clear that the priority should be to fight terrorism, whether it is practiced by ISIS or by similar organizations. On the other hand, there is a significant segment of Saudi society -- including within institutions -- that deny the charge of terrorism from ISIS and sees the latter as a necessary instrument to confront the Islamic Republic of Iran and its regional ambitions, especially in the war in Syria, and as a way to avenge the Sunnis in Iraq who have been marginalized by the Shiites. This race between these two principles and two paths is directly impacting President Barack Obama's assessment of and objectives behind his declared war on ISIS, amid a lack of confidence in Obama and ongoing doubt in whether he is serious this time or whether he is going to back track again.

The Gulf: ISIS in Return for Iran! | Raghida Dergham

The former Minister of Kuwait got it Right. His words say it best.....especially with respects to Islam.


Perhaps everyone in the Gulf region, the Middle East, and in the Western and Eastern capitals are biting their nails, fearing the ISIS threat to them in one form or another. ISIS's threats are wide ranging, while the governments of many countries pursue selective policies. Many decision makers are being stubborn or are gambling, amid radical political divisions. However, it will not be possible to wage a serious war against ISIS with military operations alone, because only the political tack is able to mobilize the necessary popular support against ISIS. This requires radically new policies from all countries concerned, from Washington to Moscow, to Beijing and Tehran, as well as the Gulf capitals, Iraq, and Syria.

The former Kuwaiti Minister of Information Saad bin Mohammed bin Tefla, addressed the "culture of terrorism" and ISIS. He said, "Let us not say that these people have nothing to do with Islam." He then asked, "Do ISIS, Hezbollah, and the Muslim Brotherhood represent political Islam or not? The answer is yes. These groups rely in all their behavior on the fatwas of political Islam, and it is time for us to look inwards and assess the values in the educational philosophy and curricula we have, because they helped in the growth of religious ideology and religious states, from ISIS to Hezbollah.".....snip~

ISIS exists at the confluence of geopolitical rivalries (within and beyond the Mideast), sectarian rivalries, radical political Islamist movements, and power vacuums. Those factors have created a complex and dynamic situation that creates differences in how people and countries view ISIS, what role countries are willing to undertake, how various countries view others' measures vis-a-vis ISIS, etc.

An example of the complexity resulting from the myriad factors in which ISIS has emerged and grown can be seen in Iran's seeking at least some degree of linkage between its assistance in combating ISIS with easing of conditions related to its uranium enrichment. From Reuters:

Iran is ready to work with the United States and its allies to stop Islamic State militants, but would like more flexibility on Iran's uranium enrichment program in exchange, senior Iranian officials told Reuters.

The comments from the officials, who asked not to be named, highlight how difficult it may be for the Western powers to keep the nuclear negotiations separate from other regional conflicts. Iran wields influence in the Syrian civil war and on the Iraqi government, which is fighting the advance of Islamic State fighters.

Exclusive: Iran seeks give and take on Islamic State militants, nuclear program | Reuters

donsutherland1 said:

An example of the complexity resulting from the myriad factors in which ISIS has emerged and grown can be seen in Iran's seeking at least some degree of linkage between its assistance in combating ISIS with easing of conditions related to its uranium enrichment. From Reuters:

Iran is ready to work with the United States and its allies to stop Islamic State militants, but would like more flexibility on Iran's uranium enrichment program in exchange, senior Iranian officials told Reuters.

The comments from the officials, who asked not to be named, highlight how difficult it may be for the Western powers to keep the nuclear negotiations separate from other regional conflicts. Iran wields influence in the Syrian civil war and on the Iraqi government, which is fighting the advance of Islamic State fighters.

Exclusive: Iran seeks give and take on Islamic State militants, nuclear program | Reuters

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Mornin DS. :2wave: That's what I heard as well as that Iran was boasting how they are bulwark against Terrorism. I was listening to the Hammer/Krauthammer on this particular issue and he didn't pull the punches on BO and Kerry for showing how they were looking for Iran to be involved.

Cheney...Dick Cheney...said, a decade ago, that occupying Iraq was ludicrous because the nation would be impossible to control, that it would splinter off into different sectarian states. Which is why Bush part 1 decided not to take out Saddam. Bush part 2, the golden, (or special child) went in anyway, and now we are seeing just what Cheney said would happen. Northern Iraq is falling into this Islamist State, IS. Southern Syria is as well. So now we are seeing what they predicted all along....Iraq falling back into religious borders,,,,a caliphate, that stretches from southern Syria to northern Iraq...a legitimate radical islamist state.

Its interesting to note, that, terrorism, or radical fundamentalism, didn't exist until the US got involved, regarding mesopotamia.

Rohaynes said:

Its interesting to note, that, terrorism, or radical fundamentalism, didn't exist until the US got involved, regarding mesopotamia.

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:screwy