General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: History question - Did we call the Irish Republican Army "Roman Catholic Terrorists"? [View all]JonLP24
(30,001 posts)Is the #1 human rights violator rules over Syria & brutal oppression of Sunni civilians in Iraq since 2006. Obviously there main goal is to overthrow a government in a Muslim majority country -- either of those 2 or preferably both. This is why they are able to recruit so well within the area made up of 20,000 poverty stricken Sunnis. The population that hasn't fled mostly tolerates it because they are protection from brutal Shia militias that have been ethnically cleansing neighborhoods for years and a whole lot of other factors -- Wahabbism has had a propaganda operation operating for years.
I agree it is much closer to the Imperial Japan situation given the Al-Baghdadi dude, Wahabbi is very religiously motivated but it is way more complicated than that. IS in particular when it comes to Syria, mention Sykes-Picot very heavily in their propaganda. It appeals to the grudges & resentments left over from colonialism. Aside from that, many lived within a decade of war & "Battle of Fallujah" radicalized a lot of people not to mention indefinite detention (Al-Baghdadi gained many of his initial recruits here) & rendition.
While the shadows, leaders, financing have Wahabbi ideology goals, many of the fighters are motivated to fight the oppressors in the countries they live in.