5 ms·

ISIS’s strategy of terror

29 points by hunglee2 11y ago

voidz 11y ago
Preface, from the article: > Der Spiegel investigative journalist Christoph Reuter is probably known to the English-speaking readership for his recent story on coming into possession of ISIS’s initial planning documents. However, this story is only part of his lengthy investigative work in Syria and Iraq, which has resulted in many reports and a new book, published in April this year. This article is actually an interview with Christoph Reuter about the book he wrote. I posted this short summary because I don't like not knowing what to expect before I open a link on HN. Perhaps this applies to more people than just me, so here ya go.
- stephengillie 11y ago
  Ah, so this is a "submarine" article[1] about the author's new book. These days everything is a "submarine" advertisement for one thing or another, and it's nice to know what's going to be advertised before you start reading. Thanks. [1]http://www.paulgraham.com/submarine.html http://www.paulgraham.com/submarine.html
  - hga 11y ago
    But this "submarine" is fully surfaced, they mention the book in the first paragraph, give you the full title and an Amazon link to it in the 3rd, and shortly follow with a big picture of the cover. Sure, it's a type of advertisement, but it has a lot of stand alone value, and surely this is a legitimate way to try to convince you to buy the book.
    - AnimalMuppet 11y ago
      Let me re-emphasize that: It has a lot of stand alone value. This is a very interesting and well-informed article. All these comments so far, and none are about the content...
aikah 11y ago
relevant : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Management_of_Savagery https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Management_of_Savagery These people aren't "savages", their leaders are highly educated , they have a 'Nazi' like doctrine which is methodical and somehow 'rational' from an economic and political standpoint. But as someone interested in old Egyptian mythology I wish the media stopped calling them ISIS.
- luso_brazilian 11y ago
  If you think Egyptian mythology has a problem with the name clash imagine this software incubator (also called Isis) [1] "Thursday, April 2, 2015 - 09:30 to 11:30 Isis Innovation Ltd, Ewert House, Ewert Place, Oxford OX2 7SG, United Kingdom The Isis Software Incubator is running its spring 4 week accelerator programme starting March 23. During this time several of our ventures will come in for 4 full weeks of working to progress their ventures and participating in different training sessions we’ve put together for them. For the first time we're opening up our doors so you can join them for these!" [1] http://www.eship.ox.ac.uk/startup-marketing-1-isis-software-incubator http://www.eship.ox.ac.uk/startup-marketing-1-isis-software-...
  - comrh 11y ago
    The TV show Archer also had that problem. http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/13/showbiz/tv/archer-isis-fx/ http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/13/showbiz/tv/archer-isis-fx/
- dublinben 11y ago
  >calling them ISIS I think you can fairly reliably tell the quality of news source based on what they call this organization. You should just ignore anyone calling them ISIS. At least listen to anyone who calls them ISIL. Anyone who still calls them IS, or the Islamic State, needs to get with the times. Finally, you can probably trust that anyone referring to them as Daesh knows what they are talking about. https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2014/10/09/words-matter-isis-war-use-daesh/V85GYEuasEEJgrUun0dMUP/story.html https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2014/10/09/words-matter-...
AnimalMuppet 11y ago
Actual content that I found interesting: ISIS has a number of old Iraqi Baath intelligence people. ISIS is fighting the Syrian government, but also working with it against other rebel groups. Iran is desperate for people to send to Syria as fighters. They're even arresting people on trumped-up drug charges (which gets you something like 20 to life in Iran), then offers them the option of fighting in Syria. ISIS isn't really trying to inspire the masses to rise up and join them. They're trying to inspire the masses to fear and therefore obey them.

29 points by hunglee2 11y ago

voidz 11y ago

Preface, from the article: > Der Spiegel investigative journalist Christoph Reuter is probably known to the English-speaking readership for his recent story on coming into possession of ISIS’s initial planning documents. However, this story is only part of his lengthy investigative work in Syria and Iraq, which has resulted in many reports and a new book, published in April this year. This article is actually an interview with Christoph Reuter about the book he wrote. I posted this short summary because I don't like not knowing what to expect before I open a link on HN. Perhaps this applies to more people than just me, so here ya go.

stephengillie 11y ago
Ah, so this is a "submarine" article[1] about the author's new book. These days everything is a "submarine" advertisement for one thing or another, and it's nice to know what's going to be advertised before you start reading. Thanks. [1]http://www.paulgraham.com/submarine.html http://www.paulgraham.com/submarine.html
- hga 11y ago
  But this "submarine" is fully surfaced, they mention the book in the first paragraph, give you the full title and an Amazon link to it in the 3rd, and shortly follow with a big picture of the cover. Sure, it's a type of advertisement, but it has a lot of stand alone value, and surely this is a legitimate way to try to convince you to buy the book.
  - AnimalMuppet 11y ago
    Let me re-emphasize that: It has a lot of stand alone value. This is a very interesting and well-informed article. All these comments so far, and none are about the content...

aikah 11y ago

relevant : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Management_of_Savagery https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Management_of_Savagery These people aren't "savages", their leaders are highly educated , they have a 'Nazi' like doctrine which is methodical and somehow 'rational' from an economic and political standpoint. But as someone interested in old Egyptian mythology I wish the media stopped calling them ISIS.

luso_brazilian 11y ago
If you think Egyptian mythology has a problem with the name clash imagine this software incubator (also called Isis) [1] "Thursday, April 2, 2015 - 09:30 to 11:30 Isis Innovation Ltd, Ewert House, Ewert Place, Oxford OX2 7SG, United Kingdom The Isis Software Incubator is running its spring 4 week accelerator programme starting March 23. During this time several of our ventures will come in for 4 full weeks of working to progress their ventures and participating in different training sessions we’ve put together for them. For the first time we're opening up our doors so you can join them for these!" [1] http://www.eship.ox.ac.uk/startup-marketing-1-isis-software-incubator http://www.eship.ox.ac.uk/startup-marketing-1-isis-software-...
- comrh 11y ago
  The TV show Archer also had that problem. http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/13/showbiz/tv/archer-isis-fx/ http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/13/showbiz/tv/archer-isis-fx/
dublinben 11y ago
>calling them ISIS I think you can fairly reliably tell the quality of news source based on what they call this organization. You should just ignore anyone calling them ISIS. At least listen to anyone who calls them ISIL. Anyone who still calls them IS, or the Islamic State, needs to get with the times. Finally, you can probably trust that anyone referring to them as Daesh knows what they are talking about. https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2014/10/09/words-matter-isis-war-use-daesh/V85GYEuasEEJgrUun0dMUP/story.html https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2014/10/09/words-matter-...

AnimalMuppet 11y ago

Actual content that I found interesting: ISIS has a number of old Iraqi Baath intelligence people. ISIS is fighting the Syrian government, but also working with it against other rebel groups. Iran is desperate for people to send to Syria as fighters. They're even arresting people on trumped-up drug charges (which gets you something like 20 to life in Iran), then offers them the option of fighting in Syria. ISIS isn't really trying to inspire the masses to rise up and join them. They're trying to inspire the masses to fear and therefore obey them.