ISIS: Why it is the most successful terrorist organization yet.

A brilliant analysis of the effectiveness of ISIS, with a chart showing how many countries have their nationals fighting for the cause of the new "caliphate".

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Another great analysis of how the Middle East moved from the "Arab Spring" to devastation is given by the BBC News in this article.

ISIS: Managing to bring secularists and Muslims together in thought against a common enemy?

It isn't often that the secular press looks at events in the same way that Muslim groups do.

When ISIS is concerned, it appears that absolute red lines have been drawn against barbaric cruelty.

Canada is raising its voice in protest against cruelty to Christians in Iraq. Read More

The Canadian Council of Muslims has raised its voice against ISIS and it's deviant nature. Read more

And Ben Caspit, writing in Al Monitor, asks, "When will the West wake up to the threat of radical Islam?" Read more

The Syrian Kurds - What do they want? What will they do?

What is happening to the Syrian Kurds in the midst of all this fighting?

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And for another day, "What does the increased prominence of 'Kurdistan' in Iraq, mean for Kurds in Turkey?" (A very sensitive topic...)

Israel and Syria: How likely is peace? What needs to happen?

What does Israel want from Syria? What does Syria want from Israel? How much can they be engaged in peace making under the circumstances?

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Turkey: "Demolish our top three universities - Let's return to the 11th Century"

Boagazici University seen from the Bosporus

One of Turkey's most respected government officials, Yusuf Kaplan, wants the countries top three universities "demolished". They are Istanbul's Bogazici University, Ankara's Middle East Technical University, known as ODTU, and Bilkent University.

The model of education being called for by Yusuf Kaplan dates back to the 11th Century when the Seljuk Empire employed a system of ed
ucation known as Nezamiyehs. The reason for the "demolishing" of the present system of education, according to Kaplan, is to "educate our younger generation on the basis of our 'civilization' thesis."

The recommendation for the change in the education model apparently originated with President-elect Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In the opinion expressed during the recent election, Erdogan suggested that these three universities will "conduct world-renowned, pioneering studies" on religion of Islam using the Quram, alongside the teachings of Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism and Hinduism.

According to Kaplan, whose recommendations carry weight in the Turkish government, "If we do not carry out these modifications in our educational system, we will become extinct in 20 years."

Turkey has 170 universities and the three universities that Kaplan wants to "demolish" are three of the five Turkish institutions that are listed in the "Times Higher Education List".

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