Profile of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the newly appointed 'Caliph' of 'all Muslims'

[mota bhai 2,675]

Baghdadi, born in Samarra in 1971 according to Washington, apparently joined the insurgency that erupted shortly after the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, at one point spending time in an American military prison in the country.

In October 2005, American forces said they believed they had killed "Abu Dua," one of Baghdadi's known aliases, in a strike on the Iraq-Syria border.

But that appears to have been incorrect, as he took the reins of what was then known as the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI) in May 2010 after two of its chiefs were killed in a US-Iraqi raid.

Since then, details about him have slowly trickled out.

In October 2011, the US Treasury designated him as a "terrorist", and this year, Iraq released a picture they said was of Baghdadi, the first from an official source, depicting a balding, bearded man in a suit and tie.

US officials said last year that the jihadist was likely in Syria, but information of his whereabouts since has been unclear.

Late last month, Lieutenant General Abdulamir al-Zaidi, who heads a northern security command centre, said his forces believed Baghdadi was inside Iraq, but other officials have contested this.

He is touted within ISIL as a battlefield commander and tactician, a crucial distinction compared with Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri, has attracted legions of foreign fighters, with estimates pegging them in the thousands.

At the time Baghdadi took over the group in April 2010, when it was ISI and tied to Al-Qaeda, it appeared to be on the ropes, after the "surge" of US forces combined with the shifting allegiances of Sunni tribesmen to deal him a blow.

But the group has bounced back, expanding into Syria in 2013.

Baghdadi sought to merge with Al-Qaeda's Syrian franchise, Al-Nusra Front, which rejected the deal, and the two groups have mostly operated separately since.

http://www.dnaindia.com/world/report-profile-of-abu-bakr-al-baghdadi-the-newly-appointed-caliph-of-all-muslims-1998592

[lostinblue 1,989]

ISIS: We will ruin the Kaaba after capturing Saudi Arabia...

Baku. Rashad Suleymanov – APA. Representatives of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) stated that they will ruin the Kaaba after capturing Saudi Arabia.

APA reports quoting Turkish media that ISIS wants to take control of Arar city of Saudi Arabia and start operations here.

ISIS member Abu Turab Al Mugaddasi said that they would destroy the Kaaba in Mecca: “If Allah wills, we will kill those who worship stones in Mecca and destroy the Kaaba. People go to Mecca to touch the stones, not for Allah.”

http://en.apa.az/news/213369

Looks like stocking up on fuel, oil gas and diesel is in order .So when is that keystone pipeline going to be finished?.

[UncleBeer 244]

That whole "Arab spring" thing turned out especially well, eh mr. preznit?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

That whole "Arab spring" thing turned out especially well, eh mr. preznit?

It's amazing that anyone would find humour in civil the misery of someone else's civil war.

What would be your solution to Middle East instability?

[JohnR! 5,495]

It's amazing that anyone would find humour in civil the misery of someone else's civil war.

What would be your solution to Middle East instability?

What is even more amazing is that the poster has no idea of the countries involved in the Arab spring...

[UncleBeer 244]

What is even more amazing is that the poster has no idea of the countries involved in the Arab spring...

You miss the point. The preznit was in favor of anyone that looked like rock-throwing "community organizers" like himself in the Mid-East. And this is what he (we) got.

[JohnR! 5,495]

You miss the point. The preznit was in favor of anyone that looked like rock-throwing "community organizers" like himself in the Mid-East. And this is what he (we) got.

Indeed, I miss the point, as in 'I long for there to be one'...

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

You miss the point. The preznit was in favor of anyone that looked like rock-throwing "community organizers" like himself in the Mid-East. And this is what he (we) got.

So what do you believe should have been done? The only choices, surely, are to support the status quo, arm rebel groups, or invade.

[Ryan H 3,834]

~~~Closed for review~~~

***Thread back open, several posts that had nothing to do with the topic have been removed. One post violating the TOS (name calling) also removed and Administrative Action taken. Please discuss the topic of this thread, if there are other issues you would like to discuss, please start another thread or do so in an existing thread on the topic.***

Edited June 30, 2014 by Ryan H

[mota bhai 2,675]

Aww, what did I miss

[Girl from Celebes 588]

Aww, what did I miss

Sometimes you need to follow your own thread to see how is it going so far. At least you'll see interesting comments before have been deleted. You will never know what it comes,

[JohnR! 5,495]

Aww, what did I miss

More of the same, which is to say you missed nothing at all...

[mota bhai 2,675]

Sometimes you need to follow your own thread to see how is it going so far. At least you'll see interesting comments before have been deleted. You will never know what it comes,

Thank you for your sage advice. I am happy to see you contributing to the Current Events forum, please continue to do so. We need more wise women to set these men straight.