Islam's Dysfunctional State: In Isis-controlled Syria and Iraq everyday life is falling apart
Basic services such as water and rubbish collection are failing and residents are struggling to find foodExcerpt:
Residents say services are collapsing, prices are soaring and medicines are scarce in towns and cities across the caliphate that Isis proclaimed in Iraq and Syria, belying the groups boasts that it is delivering a model form of governance for Muslims.
Slick videos depicting functioning governing offices and the distribution of aid fail to match the reality of growing deprivation and disorganised, erratic leadership, the residents say. A trumpeted Isis currency has not materialised, nor have the passports the group promised. Schools barely function, doctors are few and disease is on the rise.
In the Iraqi city of Mosul, the water has become undrinkable because supplies of chlorine have dried up, according to a journalist living there, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Hepatitis was spreading and flour for bread was becoming increasingly scarce, he said. Life in the city is nearly dead, and it is as though we are living in a giant prison, he said.
LINK to full article in the Independent UK:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/islams-dysfunctional-state-in-isiscontrolled-syria-and-iraq-everyday-life-is-falling-apart-9945774.html
DetlefK
(16,423 posts)They want a return of the golden age of Islam of medieval times, when the arab world was the most civilized part of the world (maybe with the exception of China). The core-belief is that it was the fact of having the right religion that determined their privileged status.
ISIS has the right religion. -> They will win.
But, they are not winning, DESPITE having the right religion... Something doesn't fit here.
CJCRANE
(18,184 posts)to pre-medieval times. The golden age was too decadent and liberal for them. They are very puritanical, there isn't much room for art and creativity in their world.
In any case, their reading of history and theology is all wrong according to most experts I've read. I tend to think that ISIS is more like a hypnotic cult that attracts mainly criminals, sociopaths and the very gullible, rather than a broad-based religious movement.
vinny9698
(1,016 posts)Hypnotic cult, criminals, sociopaths, and the very gullible.
traits for a true "Patriot"
quadrature
(2,049 posts)what about other stuff?
there has got to be a way to stop the war
by cutting off imports.
or maybe not.
bemildred
(90,061 posts)As several people I have read say: Are we ready for Arab Spring Part II? Because it's coming in 2015.
But Pooty-Poot needs to worry about feeding his own people, and E. Ukraine too, so it's no surprise he is curtailing exports in response to sanctions.
CJCRANE
(18,184 posts)(including American ones) which I thought was weird, but makes sense from a humanitarian point of view.
It isn't fair to punish the civilian population for something which is beyond their control.
But makes me wonder how sincere is the anti-Western rhetoric, if the West is helping them?
quadrature
(2,049 posts)if you starve people out
(which is the idea I am suggesting),
the civilian population becomes less cooperative,
because they are hungry or dead.
same idea applies to,
water, gasoline, electricity, etc