The Islamic State declared its caliphate on June 29, 2014. At one point it controlled a territory larger than Britain, and it attracted 30,000 Muslims from 100 different countries to join it. Unfortunately, few, if any, Islamic State jihadis will take its collapse as a sign that their premises were wrong; they will just go wage jihad somewhere else, which is why Western countries are suicidal to take back the ISIS jihadis who are their citizens.
This collapse is due to President Trump. When Obama left office, it looked as if ISIS was here to stay, and was on the path to legitimization, a la the Palestine Liberation Organization.
“ISIS caliphate has officially crumbled and last stronghold liberated,” by Benjamin Hall, Fox News, March 21, 2019:
BAGHOUZ, Syria — The caliphate has crumbled, and the final offensive is over. While the official announcement hasn’t yet been made – Fox News has been told that this village, the last ISIS stronghold, is liberated.
It’s the first time since we’ve been here in Syria for five days that the bombs have stopped dropping and the gunfire has disappeared. We have witnessed the end of the caliphate – the brutal empire that once ruled over 8 million people – is gone.
Troops here are now bringing down the black flags of ISIS. The flags no longer fly over the town, instilling fear.
The last five days, Fox News has witnessed the last major offensive up close -– with U.S.-backed SDF forces attacking ISIS from three sides, pushing the fighters back, house to house, then tent to tent, against the Euphrates River.
Inside Baghouz, it’s easy to see how they hid for so long – not just in tunnels but trenches and hundreds of cubby holes covered by tarpaulins, which blend in perfectly to the dirt.
In the end, the majority surrendered. In fact, since the start of the year about 60,000 have dripped into the desert, and most are now held in camps….
celia1000 says
I am proud of our troops, of the SDF forces, and especially of the Kurds! I am immensely grateful that they have finally been able to reach this milestone in the struggle against Isis and similar terrorists!
AnneM04031959 says
For this reason, the Kurds should have their own country.
celia1000 says
I totally agree! It’s shameful that they do not have one now! They have acted in an extremely humane manner toward their Isis POWs, and their efforts to rescue and feed tens of thousands of women and children deserve the highest praise! I don’t know why the international community isn’t pitching in to feed, house, and provide medical treatment to these people. El Hawl camp has about three times as many people as it was designed to hold, and many babies and children are dying of cold and hunger.
In any case, you’re right, but I don’t know how Iran and Turkey could EVER be persuaded to give the Kurds land for the state of Kurdistan. Probably Iraq would, but I’m not sure.
celia1000 says
I just saw that the Isis women are protesting the conditions at El Hawl camp, some of them had firearms and opened fire, and that the SDF opened fire on them, killing five, including some children. My initial reaction is indignation, without knowing all the details, that the Isis women aren’t grateful for the food and tents they’ve been given, scanty though it may be. What do they think is going to happen when tens of thousands of violent POWs suddenly come out from their underground tunnels and are taken prisoner? Shamima Begum said last month that she had been given a heater, so I think they’re probably doing the best they can. And the Isis women were setting tents on fire there a few weeks ago. They’d probably better put these women in the same prisons where they’re putting the male prisoners.
Rarely says
If they moved the women prisoners in with the men where would the sheep and goats go?
Demsci says
I was thinking the exact same thought. BUT earlier the Americans tried to placate the Iraqi government and therefore they did not support independence for Iraqi Kurdistan. And later pres. Trump wanted to withdraw from Syria.
And after pondering this whole situation I read and agreed with someone who pointed out how difficult it is for the Kurds to be totally independent and therefore how difficult it is for the West to support such a state, and WHY? Because Kurdistan, be it in Turkey, Syria, Iraq or Iran is totally landlocked. And for now wherever you look, the way to the sea is or can be blocked; by Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran. Access to the Black Sea is no good because Turkey controls the Dardanelles.
Perhaps later the Kurds will find their guaranteed out let to the sea, but without it seems so difficult to maintain a totally independent nation. And let’s face it; then the Kurds, who are mostly Muslims, will probably accommodate all their Islamic neighbors.
celia1000 says
What have the Kurds said about that issue? You’re right, it IS important to have access to the sea. However, Russia spent centuries trying to get a seaport, and Bolivia is a landlocked country. I’ll have to research it, I’m glad you brought it up. As you say, they’re Muslim, maybe work out a deal for a corridor?
Demsci says
Well, Celia1000, when there would be a democratic regime change in Iran! In the southeast of Iran India is rapidly developing the port of Chabahar. With the intention to connect to Afghanistan while bypassing hostile Pakistan. Well that port could also easily link to Iranian Kurdistan and that to Iraqi and Syrian Kurdistan.
The problem is the Iranian regime now will never grant their Kurds independence. The Iraqi government is hostile to an independent Kurdistan too. And what can be done in Syria? Nothing! The Turks occupy a swathe of land west of the Euphrates. Al qaida is master in Idlib. Assad wants North East Syria, East of the Euphrates, with its oil fields, back! And there still live a lot of Muslim Arabs there.
Bolivia’s neighbors are not dead set against its independence.
A daredevil thought might be: for the Kurds, of Syria, Iraq and Iran to connect to Israel in the Golan, out from the Euphrates, alongside the border with Jordan. In a desert. Where now already is the US base of Al Tanf. But this is of course only wishful thinking.
Frederick King says
The Kurds should have their own Country. I believe Iraqi Kurdistan is about the only safe muslim area in the muslim world.
christianblood says
celia1000
You really think that the US and the its allies were in Syria to fight ISIS?
You are deluded!
celia1000 says
They were in Syria to fight ISIS. It is not I who am deluded. We could not let such a group take and control so much territory so brutally. The world is waking up to what the defining struggle of our age is, and it is not due to corrupt and greedy Western powers.
christianblood says
celia1000
Which source are you getting your news about the world, Celia?
From the US and Western mainstream propaganda channels like the CNN, NBC, Foxnews, BBC, NYT, Wapo, Skynews etc?
U$A and its allies were in Syria NOT to fight ISIS or Al-Qaeda (that was a mere cover story fed to the sheepish, uninformed masses in West). US and its allies were in Syria to use their jihadist proxies like Al-Qaeda, ISIS and dozens of other jihadist groups against the legitimate Syrian government of Assad and finally to overthrow that government and replace it with jihadists like they did in Libya and elsewhere and finally set up a weak puppet government there that is basically a vassal state for their empire!
You need to wake up, Celia!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfXSYkFZPKM&feature=youtu.be
brian matuliewich says
the ummah just moved to Africa and will start over again, where in the FUCK is John Georgales? dead?detained?wtf?
DHazard says
ISIS was constantly characterized as representing a false Islam. As far as I can tell a fake Muslim is any Muslim who disagrees with any other Muslim on anything Muhammad might have said or done. So there are still 1.7 billion fake Muslims in the World. More than enough to fill in the gap.
joscefi says
Another piece of Obama’s legacy destroyed…
roberta says
Very good point.
Isabellathecrusader says
The Caliphate lives on in the hearts and minds of every practicing Muslim. I hate to be so negative and wish it weren’t so but the survivors will lay low, regroup, feed their hate and seek revenge when they get strong enough, again. Like they say over at Gates of Vienna, we are in a new phase of a very old war.
gravenimage says
Western nations should *not* allow these Jihadists to return.
Mike says
Yes and politicians who do let them back in should be charged with accessory to murder in the likley attacks that will follow
Anjuli Pandavar says
This, to our cost, is what is not understood. “The Caliphate lives on in the hearts and minds of every practicing Muslim,” more accurately “The Qur’an lives on in the hearts and minds of every practicing Muslim.” Even the leaders of the “caliphate” themselves boasted of exactly that. Unfortunately, it is still taboo to be honest about what is in the hearts of Muslims, even if we proclaim our honesty about Islam.
August West says
If you look at the image at the top of this article…
The jihadi with the wedding and three fingers on his magazine has the fire select lever on his ak in the safe position and his finger on the trigger.
The rifle will not fire like this.
This is a propaganda image made by somebody without basic knowledge of the AK rifle.
For what its worth
gravenimage says
The Islamic State’s caliphate has officially ended as its last stronghold is liberated
……………..
*So* glad to hear this. The United States in particular should be proud–and has Trump to thank for this.
ISIS is still an ongoing threat, but the defeat of the bloody Caliphate is one for the good guys!
Paul J says
Their caliphate was in reality one great big boot camp and training exercise that was open for nearly 5 years. Our societies have now been infiltrated with battle hardened ‘soldiers’ who will go on to train devout muslims that are living amongst us now. Thanks to that shooting in NZ anyone in Australia and NZ who even dares to criticize a muslim will be branded a nazi/right wing extremist Islamophobe (happening already), so they are winning the psychological aspect of warfare as I write this. The “mosques are our barracks” as the Turkish President said, yes and the troops are coming home from their overseas exercises. God help us.
Guy Forester says
Unfortunately, that is just the start of the concerted surrender, indoctrination, and attempts to stamp out any dissent to the official government dictates. The lib/prog run US states will be following shortly. There is an interesting post over at Ammoland news regarding the wacko manifesto. This guy managed to accomplish, at least in NZ and Australia, what he intended to accomplish in the US. This thing smells every bit as bad as the somehow unsolvable mass shooting in Las Vegas. FBI informant girlfriend, 100k sent to her, multiple suitcases and guns in room. No, nothing here. Wonder how this will end. I have my opinions and guesses, but I will just say it won’t be good.
Janwaar Bibi says
This collapse is due to President Trump.
This collapse is due to the Syrian government and their allies Russia, Iran, and the Shi’ite militias. The Kurds played a secondary role. The US sent a billion dollars of weapons to an assortment of jihadi group like al-Nusra and al-Qaeda, and a lot of that weaponry ended up with ISIS as planned. Look up Operation Timber Sycamore.
gravenimage says
Uh huh…
kuriakose says
Janwaar Bibi: Yes it is a shame the efforts of the Syrian Army and Russia are being downplayed. After all it is the very same US that supported the jihadis in Afghanistan and Yugoslavia and Chechnya. All kinds of strange double games being played out here. And who are the Syrian Democratic forces I wonder. Democracy is an oxymoron for islam. The same democracy was touted for Iraq, but look at it now.
Janwaar Bibi says
There is no shame – it is just US propaganda. They support every jihadist movement and dictator when it is convenient to them and abandon them when they have served their purpose. When the Russians entered Syria, they found thousands of ISIS oil tankers out in the open, ferrying oil from ISIS territory to Turkey. Putin asked why the US and UK had not bombed these tankers if they were really interested in stopping ISIS. The State department said that they were concerned about environmental pollution.
ISIS is a creation of the Saudis and Emiratis, it was armed by the US and supported by Israel. The goal was to hamstring the Shi’ite government in Iraq, limit Iranian influence, and destroy Syria. Their plan failed because Putin put a boot up the rear-end of these thugs.
Chand says
Agree with you generally, Janwaar Bibi, except the US and Israel helping ISIS bit. Don’t think they did it intentionally but all happened because of this Shia-Sunni conflict there and their belief that Iran is the bigger threat.
This is the latest effect in the long chain of cause-and-effect beginning with the Cold War when the West considered Marxist atheist communism a bigger danger than Islamic jihadism, leading them to…….
aid the jihadis in Afghanistan…….
which toppled hope for a cleansing of Afghanistan and eventually Pakistan of the virus of Islamic jihadism………………
leading to the emboldening of the jihadis who took on the West…………
which resulted in 9/11………………
which led to the West not pursuing Bin Laden properly, letting him slip………….
and letting off Pakistan, (its great ally then)………………….
instead concentrating on Saddam who, (like Gaddafi and Assad) had opposed and had crushed Islamic jihadism………………
leading to the shia-sunni conflict there…………….
spilling over into Syria………….
leading to the rise of ISIS when the conflict escalated………..
roberta says
If the dog (every now and then) doesnt get the fly swatter to the face or a swift kick to the rear, he gets confused on his position in life.
muslims are no different. islam needs to be kicked until its happy. Kicked to death even better.
gravenimage says
Civilized people don’t kick dogs–Islam is very cruel to animals, dogs especially, though.
Raja says
Yes, Gravenimage,
Islam is very cruel to dogs. You see it is cultural problem like in Istanbul they leave lots of pet dogs on to the streets when they are not young enough. Koran or Hadith calls black dogs devil.
Would a Creator call its creation devil? The list is endless.
Raja says
Why was the ISIS fought in the first place I don’t understand? The entire West is recognizing Islam as a catalyst for multi-culturism, a perfect Utopia. On the one hand it is evil because Islam is used by ISIS on the other hand Islam is good because most every Muslims are Sharia fans and for Islamic supremacy in all forms and in various stages.
What have the world leaders done to address this flagrant contradiction?
Trump is the only one who manages to speak against radical Islam and again his silence with regard to Asia Bibi’s Islamic torture is deafening.
roberta says
”Civilized people don’t kick dogs” The next time a dog tries to bite you, just set down and reason with him. You will get as far as the Yazidis and Christians did with isis.
Guy Forester says
Don’t worry. There will be another so called hotspot that someone will decide requires US intervention. I doubt that we learned that it is near suicidal to get pulled into these Muslim v Muslim conflicts. There is not one single country dominated by a religion we dare not name that is not run by some kind of despot. Some are worse than others. They spend just as much time trying to keep a lid on the holy warriors destroying their own rule as anything else. They let the Christians and other religions get persecuted, attacked, and subjugated to keep their support base happy,yet not wipe them out just yet. The kleptocrats still need the taxes and bribes paid by the hardworking and non-entitled segments of the populace.
gravenimage says
I actually think that wiping out the “Caliphate” was a good thing.
And those Yezidi child sex slaves were not part of a “Muslim v Muslim conflict”.
Guy Forester says
This is not to endorse Saddam or any of the other despots that represent the religion that we dare not name.
However, the Yazidis, Christians, and other minority groups have tended to be protected by some of the despots (think of the Assad clan). While this is really done for reasons that benefit said despot, it keeps these groups from being attacked and driven out by the more dominant muslim groups. When we went in to Iraq with the half baked idea that we could somehow get them to act like we do in the West, all it did was unleash the centuries old animosities between Sunni and Shia, with groups like the Christians and Yazidis in the cross fire. Kurds are not arabs, so they became targets as well, even if muslim.
We fared no better in getting involved in Syria. By backing one muslim group over another, all that is done is perpetuate the muslim v muslim age old conflicts with minority groups stuck in the middle.
I wish I had a formula that would lead to a successful change from despotism and religious intolerance for that part of the world. Unfortunately, the book with that kind of info in it is usually not allowed there, at least not anymore.
kuriakose says
Guy Forester, what book are you referring to?
As far as I can see, the waters are being muddied a lot.
CRUSADER says
Give some captured lands to the Kurds, allow Kurds to set up free governmental systems in new Kurd lands,
and in return for it, the Kurds are the ones to slaughter all the ISIS survivors.
Hooyah!!!
na says
ISIS is over But EWrdogan has taken chrge of ISIS. His tweet is simimilar to ISIS take .”The shooter is a hero”
CRUSADER says
Weirdo-gon
Where’d-he-gone?
to HELL !!!
Arthur McGowan says
Obama, Hillary, Kerry, and McCain founded, funded, and armed ISIS. All undone by Trump.
Sharyati says
Kudos to the American troops and to Trump who had the political will to destroy ISIS, unlike his predecessor who even refused to name it as ISIS. But alas folks!! Islamic Jihad is still alive and kicking and is not dying any time soon. Unless of course this scourge on mankind is routed out of existence
David Kavanagh says
Am I the only one who thought that we would have done better to recognise the Islamic state and encourage any Muslims so inclined to relocste there and take up citizenship?
Beneath the Veil of Consciousness says
When are the war trials starting? We’re going to need a lot of rope. Another good reason to bring back the hemp industry. I’ll say it again,
be sure to revisit the movie, “Mars Attacks!” It so closely mirrors the willful ignorance of so many self-serving leaders of the free world. It could just as readily been titled, “Islam Attacks!” As for the Kurds, like Israel, to survive as a nation in that awful neighborhood, they’d need to be armed to the teeth.
Don’t foget to share this message: BOYCOTT ALL MUSLIM COUNTRIES!!! THEY ARE CESSPOOLS OF HATRED.
Walter Sieruk says
First, it should be known that Donald Trump has the wisdom to know that The way to defeat those cruel, vicious, malicious and murderous jihadist thugs who compose the brutal and deadly jihad entity ISIS is by the use of many very strong powers of militant might. That is hit them hard, hit hem long, keep on hitting them and don’t stop hitting them. Meaning take them down, put them down, keep them down and don’t let them rise up again. As Thomas Jefferson had, so well, stated “With every barbarous people…force is law.” Furthermore, the jihadists of ISIS in their mad Islamic quest to establish a caliphate, with all the cruel, brutal and murdering violence that is part of it, will not respond the reason. For the Muslim fanatics who compose ISIS cannot understand logic, nor do they care about reason. Those jihadists of ISIS in their irrational unquestioning blind Islamic faith have and leave no room for reason. In this unreasoning blind Islamic drive the jihadist/Muslims who make up ISIS are a reminder of what Benjamin Franklin had printed in POOR RICHARD’S ALMANACK. Which is “The way to see by faith is to shut the eye of reason.”
Chand says
Yes, a great victory for humankind, thanks to the many Muslim soldiers who went through hell to achieve this and many not making it and not forgetting the millions of Muslim civilians, and some Christians, Yazidis and Jews living in those areas who suffered terribly under these Islamo- fascists.