ISIL: Jihadists urge multiple killings of Americans, Canadians, Europeans and Australians

Jihadists in ISIL have gone to new links of terrorism, urging the killing of innocent citizens in the USA, Canada, Europe and Australia - and all the countries that are forming a common front against these barbaric outlaws. 

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Syria: Aleppo's Forgotten Christians - Are they also facing the end?

Aleppo's Christians have been caught in the brutal crossfire of opposing groups in the three year-old military crisis. What will become of one of the last groups of Armenian and Chaldean Christians in the northern reaches of Syria? "Genocide and ethnic cleansing" - these words articulate the fears of Christians in Aleppo - but few in the world know of their crisis. 

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Further, what has happened to the two Orthodox bishops in Syria who were abducted in 2013?
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KOBANE: Ten consequences of the US supporting the Syrian Kurds

Amberin Zaman, a Turkish journalist, gives a penetrating analysis of the results of the US giving aid to Syrian Kurds in Kobane by initiating air drops. Read more.

Syria: "What's the response to ISIS taking further control in Syria?"

The joyous reaction of the residents of Tabaqa, in northern Syria, was cause for concern and has deeply challenged western nations. Read more

Turkey and ISIS: "The New Test of Turkey's loyalty to NATO and the West"

There's a new litmus test in the Middle East:

Will Turkey join NATO, the USA and the West and Muslim nations in the Middle East, against ISIS?

Read here.

How much freedom with Turkey give to Kurdish soldiers who want to fight against ISIL in order to maintain their iconic city of Kobane? Read more.

Autumn Scenes in Turkey: A Softer view of the landscape this weekend !

An amazing collection of 61 photos showing autumn colors in Turkey is available on Turkish Hurriyet Daily News, from Istanbul. Click here.

Islam 's internal tensions: Islamists fighting Muslims

Jeffrey Simpson, in the Globe and Mail, writes:

"...a great deal of the strife in the Muslim world today is among religious groups, sects and governments, mixed into a toxic brew by power politics, religious ideology and historical enmities.

The West’s ability to decisively influence these conflicts, each of which is unique, is more limited than those anxious to intervene apparently understand."

See if you can count the number of conflicts he lists in this article, after having read through it here.

A Genocide in the Making: "Iraqi Minorities face Extinction" - Report

More than 12,000 persons have been killed in the advance of ISIL militants. Thousands have lost their homes and been forced to flee as refugees.

This grim report by MRG, Minority Rights Group International, warns of a coming genocide due to assassinations, kidnappings and sexual violence. Those resisting a forced conversion to Islam, as understood by ISIL, are particularly at risk. Read more.

Ottomans and Turkey: Could the Ottoman Empire have continued after World War I?

Historian Orhan Koroglu gives a fascinating take on a topic some historians might enjoy, 100 years after the beginning of World War I.

His take is that the Ottoman Empire had collapsed on its own and could not have continued. His take that "There were no Turks (in 1900), only Ottomans", will give a new twist to those in the west who seek reasons to put Turkey down. Also, his take on the number of dead (Ottoman Turks and Armenians) may give readers reason to pause and absorb a different point of view.

Comments such as, "There was nothing to be proud of the Ottoman Empire (in its death throes)" will not be appreciated by many Turks.

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War in Gaza: Evaluations and Impressions from both sides

Daniel Ben Simon looks at Israeli's attitudes as they evaluate the war. Almost every family was touched by the war, given it unexpected length.  Read More

In 1973, the Six Day war cost Israel 2,500 soldiers, but it was considered a "clear victory". This 51 day "operation on Gaza", though, cost Israel about 60 soldiers, yet only 25% of Israelis consider the results a victory. However, the action against Hamas in Gaza has galvanized public opinion. Soldiers are being considered as heroes.

Was Hamas defeated? Efraim Inbar argues that they were defeated this time, but another round of acrimonious interaction is around the corner. Read more
 

The Turkish Hostages: How and Why were they set free? At what cost?

The story of the 49 Turkish hostages in Iraq, captured by ISIS, has gripped the country for weeks. The story of their release is instructive, and slightly disturbing... for Turks, for friends of Turkey and for those hoping that Turkey will take an offensive position against ISIS. Read more.

IN PHOTOS: The ISIL Crisis Hits 22 Turkish Cities

The long-simmering "quiet" conflict in Turkey between Kurdish desires for greater autonomy and the refusal of Ankara, Turkey's capital, to give way, has come to a head with clashes in 22 Turkish cities. Photos and text here.

For a set of 35 photos showing the mayhem across Turkey, click here.

Palestine: "Give the money to Palestine, not to the UN!" - "Sweden recognizes Palestine as a 'State' "

Palestine - what's the best way to help the Palestinians? Is it by giving money to the UN? Is money given through the UN well spent? Here is a provocative set of ideas: Read more

Sweden has recognized Palestine as a state - with far reaching consequences Read more.
 

Turkey and Syria: "What is drawing 'boy-soldiers' into ISIS?"

This dramatic story of a 14 year old boy from Ankara is part of the "soft underbelly" of the new movement known as ISIS, an almost undiscovered portion of Turkish society.

On the one hand, a radical imam appeals to the religious sentiments of youth. Terrible conditions in Turkey's large cities "push" aspiring youth into the arms of radicals. ISIS offers training, good food and a sense of purpose.

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ISIS: 9,347 Civilians killed; 17386 wounded; 1.8 million refugees

Islamic State insurgents in Iraq have carried out mass executions, abducted women and girls as sex slaves, and used children as fighters in systematic violations that may amount to war crimes, the United Nations said on Thursday.

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