Not quite

Submitted by Yehuda Poch (Israel), Dec 15, 2015 at 08:56

I respect the view of the author. However, my own view differs. IS has taken over where there are no effective governments in place - Syria, Iraq, and Libya - and has designs on other countries that may fall into similar situations (Lebanon, Egypt, Yemen, Jordan). It represents a rejection of Western or even Eastern influence in a region it seeks to dominate in the name of Allah. And it is exerting its influence and control in all areas where it can.

In doing so, it has occupied large swaths of land, taken control of oil fields (and thereby oil revenues), and sown fear among the local populations through its well-publicized executions of all who would oppose them. It's a classic totalitarian power grab in the name of an exapnsionist and limitless ideology.

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".