To the Point
The Islamic State is Transforming Syria’s Civil War
The ultra-extremist Islamic State now controls 30% of Syria, refining and selling oil to finance its expanding “caliphate.” Does Syria's President Assad look like the lesser of two evils? What’s the US doing to arm so-called “moderate” forces against both a murderous government and the Islamic State?
By Warren Olney • • 52m ListenThe ultra-extremist Islamic State now controls 30% of Syria, refining and selling oil to finance its expanding “caliphate.” Its video propaganda features beheadings and other means of subduing civilians, which has been said to attract holy warriors from all over the world. Syria’s President Assad now claims he really is under attack by terrorists. Does he look like the lesser of two evils? What’s the US doing to arm so-called “moderate” forces against both a murderous government and the Islamic State?
Also, Israel calls on more reserve troops, and is the NSA's ex-cyber security chief worth $1 million a month as a civilian cyber-warrior?
Banner Image: Smoke rises during clashes between Iraqi security forces and militants of the Islamic State, formerly known as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), in the Hamrin mountains in Diyala province July 29, 2014. Picture taken July 29, 2014. REUTERS/Stringer
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The UN’s high commissioner for refugees said today that both sides have violated international humanitarian law during the fighting in Gaza. Meanwhile, Israel has called up another 16,000 reservists. Aron Heller is in Jerusalem for the Associated Press.
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Former General Keith Alexander, retired director of the National Security Agency, is going corporate, charging $1 million a month for cyber-warfare technology he wants to patent. Shane Harris covers intelligence and counter intelligence for Foreign Policy magazine. His upcoming book is called, @War : The Rise of the Internet Military Complex.
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