What ISIS Really Wants (The Atlantic)

[onager]

30. Well, they want the whole world.

But your question started me wondering about how they do intend to expand.

I read some Internet posts by ISIS members who've actually gone there. They say ISIS is Paradise: every brother gets a free house, clothing, etc. Wood mentions that in the article - it's mandatory for their government to provide those things, under the form of Islam they are trying to incorporate.

But that just means their government stole all that stuff from other people and is re-distributing it to the "brothers." Leaving out the Islamic hocus-pocus, that's something all conquerors routinely do. The same thing happened when Yugoslavia fell apart - apply some ethnic cleansing to the hated minority, then confiscate their property and give it to your guys.

At some point, ISIS will run out of stuff they can steal. Along with the stockpiles of weapons and ammo left in Saddam-era Iraq.

And as you mention about their navy - how do they support their military logistically? How do they hope to have an air force (or navy)? Modern weapons systems require big stockpiles of spare parts, a supply chain to replace those parts, and trained technicians to maintain/repair the systems. Where does all that come from?

So far, they're getting some funding thru illegal oil sales. That can't last forever, either.

And speaking of funding - they plan to establish a new economic order in the Caliphate. Modern currency systems are considered haram (forbidden).

Only money directly backed by gold and silver is halal (allowed). Yeah, that should work out well. Maybe we can send Ron Paul over to advise them on goldbuggery.

As always, I have no solutions and am just randomly spinning both of my brain cells. But the "navy" remark just got me wondering.