Podcasts about islamic state isis

Critical Thinking - Syria: How, Why & What Next? The Black Spy Podcast, Season 18, Episode 0002   The Syrian conflict, which began in 2011 as part of the broader Arab Spring, has evolved into a complex and multifaceted civil war involving numerous domestic and international actors. Initially sparked by protests against President Bashar al-Assad's regime, the conflict quickly escalated into a violent struggle as the government responded with brutal crackdowns. Over the years, the war has drawn in various foreign powers, each with its own interests and agendas. The United States has been involved in the conflict primarily through its support for rebel groups, some radical Islamists and due to its fight against the Islamic State (ISIS). Washington has provided military aid and training to these opposition forces, while also conducting airstrikes against ISIS targets. However, the U.S. has been cautious about overt direct involvement against the Assad regime, focusing instead on counterterrorism efforts. Russia, on the other hand, has been a staunch ally of the Assad government, providing military support that has been crucial in turning the tide of the war in favour of the regime. Since 2015, Russian airstrikes and military advisors have bolstered Assad's forces, allowing them to reclaim significant territory. Russia's involvement is driven by its desire to maintain a foothold in the Middle East and to counter U.S. influence in the region. The United Kingdom has also played primarily a covert role utilising humanitarian aid plus limited military support to opposition groups. The UK has been involved in airstrikes against ISIS and has supported diplomatic efforts to find a political solution to the conflict. However, its influence has been overshadowed by the more direct interventions of the U.S. and Russia. Turkey's involvement is particularly significant due to its concerns over Kurdish groups in northern Syria, which it views as extensions of the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party), a designated terrorist organization. Turkey has conducted military operations against both ISIS and Kurdish forces, seeking to establish a buffer zone along its border. Additionally, Turkey has supported various rebel factions, aiming to counteract both the Assad regime and Kurdish influence. Israel's role in the conflict has been more indirect but nonetheless impactful. Israel has conducted airstrikes against Iranian positions and Hezbollah in Syria, viewing the presence of these groups as a direct threat to its national security. Israel has also provided humanitarian aid to Syrian civilians, but its primary focus remains on countering Iranian influence in the region. So recent development of the fall of Damascus after Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), led by Abu Muhammad al-Jolani, took Idlib changed matters totally adding another layer of complexity to the conflict. HTS, which evolved from the al-Nusra Front, is clearly the dominant force in the region, albeit that HTS is often at odds with other rebel factions in addition to the Assad regime. Al-Jolani has sought to rebrand HTS as a more moderate entity, attempting to gain legitimacy and support from local populations and international actors. The takeover by HTS has raised concerns among the major powers involved. In summary, the Syrian conflict is characterized by a web of alliances and enmities among local and international actors, with the recent developments surrounding HTS and al-Jolani further complicating an already volatile situation. The interplay of U.S., Russian, UK, Turkish, and Israeli interests will still continue to shape the trajectory of this war weary country. As always, please don't be afraid to contact us and put any questions you might have to any of the Black Spy Podcast team concerning this or any other of our fascinating subjects. And, if you want to continue learning whilst being entertained, please don't forget to subscribe to the Black Spy Podcast for free, so you'll never miss another episode. To contact Firgas Esack of the DAPS Agency go to Linked In To contact Carlton King by utilising any of the following: To donate - Patreon.com/TheBlackSpyPodcast Email: carltonking2003@gmail.com Facebook: The Black Spy Podcast Facebook: Carlton King Author Twitter@Carlton_King Instagram@carltonkingauthor To read Carlton's Autobiography: “Black Ops – The incredible true story of a (Black) British secret agent”

Andrew Scheer, member of Parliament for Regina—Qu'Appelle, former Conservative Party leader and former Speaker of the House, offers his thoughts on the immigration and security blunders that may have contributed to allowing a man who was involved in violence on behalf of the "Islamic State" (ISIS) immigrate to Canada.

The US Treasury has imposed sanctions on two individuals identified as South Africa-based alleged operatives of the Islamic State (ISIS). The US Treasury has identified Abubakar Swalleh and Zayd Gangat as key figures in the ISIS machinery, serving as financial backers who enable the terrorist group's activities across Central, Eastern, and Southern Africa. For expert analysis, Elvis Presslin spoke to Willem Els, a senior Intelligence expert and Training Coordinator at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), specializing in terrorism and explosives-related incidents

By supporting jihadists and known al Qaeda terrorists in from Libya to Syria and worldwide, the Deep State and its machine in Washington, D.C., directly and deliberately created the Islamic State (ISIS) and poured fuel on the fires of global Islamic terrorism, explains The New American Senior Editor Alex Newman in this episode of Behind ... The post Manufacturing Enemies: Deep State Terror & ISIS – Part 4 appeared first on The New American.

On today's show, 2:06 pm CT, 3:06 pm ET: Border Of Insanity: Illegal Aliens charged with murder, rape and kidnapping in a week of shocking crimes across the US - AP (intentionaly?) leaves out Identity of unlawful migrants charged with rape, murder of 12-year-old in Houston - US sanctions Mexican cartel leaders for drug trafficking, but Biden still won't shut down the border, Janet Yellen fumbles question from network anchor on this - Biden immigration policies slammed on both sides - Texas Congressman slams Biden executive orders on Border crisis - we'll examine. School Daze: 'Science' mag admits homeschooling works, but demands federal oversight - New Jersey middle school apologizes for teaching that the Islamic State (ISIS) is a terrorist organization after backlash - we'll explore. Your Government At Work: Pentagon makes horrifying admission about its funding of Chinese gain-of-function experiments - FCC fast-tracking Soros radio takeover causes alarm among many broadcasters/podcasters - Ex-FBI undercover asset risks all to prove claim Jan. 6 was a 'Fedsurrection' - we'll analyze. Plus, Megachurch pastor confesses to ‘inappropriate sexual behavior' with a MINOR. And, Breaking news, CNN; We are a republic, not a democracy! http://www.spreaker.com/show/christian-talk-that-rocks https://christiantalkthatrocks.net or http://christiantalkthatrocks.com

俄羅斯 éluólùsī - Russia 恐攻 kǒngōng - terrorist attack 首都 shǒudū - capital city 莫斯科 mòsīkē - Moscow 近郊 jìnjiāo - outskirts 場 chǎng - measure word for a concert, contest… 搖滾 yáogǔn - rock (music) 名 míng - measure word for people 武裝份子 wǔzhuāng fènzi - armed assailants 闖入 chuǎngrù - intrude; break into 現場 xiànchǎng - scene; site 克洛庫斯音樂廳 kèluòkùsī yīnyuètīng - Crocus City Hall 開槍掃射 kāiqiāng sǎoshè - open fire; shoot indiscriminately 造成 zàochéng - result in; cause 至少 zhìshǎo - at least 死亡 sǐwáng - death; casualty 包括 bāokuò - including 孩童 háitóng - children 俄國 éguó - Russia 境內 jìngnèi - within the borders Time Duration +來 lái - indicates a period of time extending up to the present from a point in the past 死傷 sǐshāng - casualties 慘重 cǎnzhòng - heavy; severe 攻擊事件 gōngjī shìjiàn - terrorist incident 失去 shīqù - lose 摯愛 zhì'ài - beloved; loved ones 隔一天 gé yī tiān - the next day 全國 quánguó - nationwide 降半旗 jiàng bànqí - fly the flag at half-mast 哀悼 āidào - mourn; grieve 恐怖攻擊 kǒngbù gōngjí - terrorist attack 據說 jùshuō - it is said that 通知 tōngzhī - notify; inform 當局 dāngjú - authorities 極端份子 jíduān fènzi - extremists 發起 fāqǐ - launch; initiate 組織 zǔzhī - organization; group 極端組織 jíduān zǔzhī - extremist organization 伊斯蘭國 yīsīlán guó - Islamic State (ISIS) 地區 dìqū - region; area 分支 fēnzhī - branch; faction 呼羅珊伊斯蘭國 hūluóshān Yīsīlán guó - ISIS–K 宣稱 xuānchēng - claim; proclaim 犯案 fàn'àn - commit a crime 首次 shǒucì - first; initial 襲擊 xíjí - attack; assault 科加雷姆航空 kē jiā léi mǔ hángkōng - Kogalymavia (Metrojet airline)  航班 hángbān - flight; airline flight 埃及 āijí - Egypt 西奈半島 xīnài bàndǎo - Sinai Peninsula 墜毀 zhuìhuǐ - crash; wreckage 全數罹難 quánshù lí' nàn - all perished 隨即 suíjí - immediately; promptly 並且 bìngqiě - and; moreover 公開 gōngkāi - publicize; make public 爆炸裝置 bàozhà zhuāngzhì - explosive device 聖彼得堡 shèngbǐdébǎo - St. Petersburg 炸彈 zhàdàn - bomb 激進伊斯蘭主義者 jījìn Yīsīlán zhǔyì zhě - radical Islamic fundamentalist 批評 pīpíng - criticize; critique 普丁 pǔdīng - Putin 痛斥 tòngchì - denounce; castigate 克里姆林宮 kèlǐmǔnlín gōng - Kremlin 車臣 chēchén - Chechnya 敘利亞 xùlìyà - Syria 軍事行動 jūnshì xíngdòng - military action 痛恨 tònghèn - detest; loathe 蘇聯時期 sūlián shíqī - Soviet period 入侵 rùqīn - invade; invasion 阿富汗 āfùhàn - Afghanistan 穆斯林 mùsīlín - Muslim 暴行 bàoxíng - atrocity; brutality 掌權者 zhǎngquán zhě - ruler; authority 無辜 wúgū - innocent 平民 píngmín - civilians; common people ----- Want Taiwanese friends to understand your Chinese instantly?  Ready to effortlessly communicate and blend into Taiwan's vibrant culture?  Join my Chinese Speaking Course!

Ahead of the federal carbon price rise in April, ‘The West Block' host Mercedes Stephenson speaks with Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault about the push by some provincial premiers and Conservative MPs to scrap the levy, the role of large emitters in reducing emissions and more. Plus, Stephenson is joined by retired U.S. general David Petraeus, a former CIA director, to discuss concerns over terror attacks from the Islamic State (ISIS), the Israel-Hamas conflict and the situation in Ukraine. Petraeus also addresses Canada's capabilities to respond to global threats.

This week on Hold Your Fire! Richard talks with Crisis Group experts Jerome Drevon, Ibraheem Bahiss and Olga Oliker about the attack on Crocus City Hall in a Moscow suburb claimed by the Islamic State (ISIS), how the group and its affiliates have evolved in recent years and the potential implications of the strike for Russian politics and the war in Ukraine. Richard first talks with Jerome and Ibraheem about what we know about the attack and the involvement of ISIS and the group's affiliate in Afghanistan, Islamic State-Khorasan Province (IS-KP). They discuss how ISIS's structure has evolved after losing its territory in Iraq and Syria and how much of a global threat it and its affiliates now pose. They also discuss the Taliban's fight against IS-KP and its relations with outside powers worried about threats emanating from Afghanistan. Richard then talks with Olga about the attacks' implications for Russia, Moscow's attempts to link responsibility to Kyiv and what that might mean for the war in Ukraine.For more in-depth analysis of topics discussed in this episode, check out our recent Q&A ISIS Strikes Moscow, our 2016 report Exploiting Disorder: al-Qaeda and the Islamic State and our Jihad in Modern Conflict page. For more reading on the topic, check out The Exile: The Stunning Inside Story of Osama Bin Laden and Al Qaeda in Flight by Adrian Levy and Catherine Scott-Clark. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new wave of deadly attacks in the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado by an armed group linked to the Islamic State (ISIS) is forcing thousands of people to flee. According to UNICEF at least 60,000 children have been displaced within a period of a month. More than 100 schools in Cabo Delgado and Nampula provinces have had to close due to insecurity, affecting the learning of over 50,000 children. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Nick Wasunna, UNICEF's Chief of Field Office in Cabo Delgado.....

Director Zayne Akyol's even handed and insightful documentary ROJEK places the viewer face-to-face with incarcerated members of the Islamic State from all over the world, as well as their wives detained in prison-camps, who all share a common dream: establishing a caliphate. Confronted with the fundamentalist beliefs of the jihadists, the ROJEK attempts to trace the beginning, the rise and fall of the Islamic State (ISIS) through their personal stories. These conversations are the threads along which the documentary evolves, as it is intertwined with various sequences depicting current, post-war Syrian Kurdistan. ROJEK offers an intimate gaze at an unknown reality, testifying of pivotal moments experienced by the actors of this conflict. Director Zayne Akyol yeoman's work in ROJEK brings us into the center of a dangerous and vexing question facing much of the world right now… is the ideological warfare we have all witnessed in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries, an historic anomaly or the beginning of a terrifying threat to our collective security? For more go to: icarusfilms.com/if-rojek

Donald Trump's sharing of alleged classified intelligence with Russian officials in the White House has come under scrutiny amid a large-scale attack by the Hamas Islamist military group against Israel. In May 2017, the former president defended his actions after he was found to have discussed sensitive details about an alleged Islamic State (ISIS) plot with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Ambassador Sergey Kislyak in the Oval Office. Trump said he had an absolute right to do so. The intel was said to have been provided to the U.S. from Israel. It was suggested at the time that the former president's handing over sensitive information from Israel could have damaged the relationship between the two countries. It also could have raised the possibility that the details could be passed from Russia to Iran, the Gulf nation that is a fierce adversary of Israel and has long supported Hamas.

What are the links between the assassination of HAWKS Lieutenant-Colonel Frans Mathipa on 6 August this year (2023); the kidnapping of alleged Islamic State (Isis) leader Abdella Abadiga and his bodyguard Kadir Jemal Abotese from the Mall of Africa on 29 December last year (2022) allegedly by members the SANDF Special Forces; and military front company vehicle photographed at the scene of the kidnappings as well as next the Lady R vessel that docked in Simonstown in December last year (2022) when weapons were loaded off. BizNews speaks to Hennie van Vuuren, the Director of Open Secrets, about its investigation into the murder of the Crimes Against States Unit officer who was “somebody committed to holding the powerful to account”. Van Vuuren warns that “the power of the people with guns will only grow” if those responsible for his murder are not held to account.

We talk with the representatives of two Yazidi organizations about the plight of the Yazidis, a religious minority targeted for genocide by the Islamic State (ISIS) in 2014. Natia Navrouzov from Yazda and Pari Ibrahim from the Free Yezidi Foundation discuss the efforts to bring accountability since 2014.Support here the Free Yezidi Foundation and Yazda. Further reading: the UN report that concluded ISIS had committed genocide against the Yazidi people.This episode is supported by Indiana University's Presidential Arts and Humanities Program, the Tobias Center, the African Studies Program, the Center for the Study of the Middle East, and the Huh Jum Ok Human Rights Foundation.Sound editing by Emily Leisz Carr, mixing by Seth Olansky, music "Souffle Nocturne" by Ben Cohen.Production by Shilla Kim and Clémence Pinaud.

This episode contains graphic references of violence and tortureThe rise of Islamic State (ISIS) stands as one of the darkest legacies of the Iraq War. Founded as Al-Qaeda in Iraq, the organisation joined the conflict in 2003 by attacking not only Coalition troops but Saddam Hussein's Iraqi government, the United Nations and Shia muslims alike. Their tactics were so brutal that even Al-Qaeda disavowed itself of them. A decade on from that conflict, IS gained global infamy when it conquered huge swathes of Iraq and Syria between 2013 and 2015, establishing its unrecognised Caliphate quasi-state and murdering anyone who stood in its way.In this episode, James is joined by Joby Warwick, the US journalist who won a Pulitzer Prize for his work investigating Islamic State's origins. Together, they explore the surprising beginnings of one of the most abhorrent terror organisations the world has seen, how its fighters managed to establish a Caliphate governing by terror millions of people, and what is left of it today.Senior Producer was Elena Guthrie. The Assistant Producer was Annie Coloe. Edited by Aidan Lonergan.For more Warfare content, subscribe to our Warfare newsletter here. If you'd like to learn even more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad free podcasts and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe today! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - A group of Catholic bishops will visit San Quentin Prison's death row inmates on Tuesday as inmates await transfer to other facilities in light of California's moratorium on executions. In 2019, Governor Gavin Newsom imposed a moratorium on executions and ordered the closure of the execution chamber at San Quentin Prison, the Marin County facility near San Francisco that dates back to the 19th century. The state of California aims to move 671 death row inmates, 21 of whom are women, to high-security units at other prisons. After Newsom announced the death penalty moratorium, Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco issued a statement on behalf of the California Catholic Conference encouraging the governor to “use well the time of the moratorium to promote civil dialogue on alternatives to the death penalty, including giving more needed attention and care to the victims of violence and their families.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253806/california-bishops-to-visit-death-row-inmates-at-san-quentin Father Jacques Mourad, a Syrian Catholic monk who was kidnapped in Syria by Islamic State (ISIS) terrorists in 2015 and managed to escape after five months in captivity, was consecrated as the new archbishop of Homs, Syria. At the March 3 Mass for the episcopal consecration, Bishop Flavien Rami Al-Kabalan, procurator of the Syrian Patriarchate of Antioch to the Holy See, noted that the new archbishop “has placed his life in the hands of the Lord.” Al-Kabalan stressed that God chose the new archbishop “to be the spiritual father who sanctifies souls with the sacraments of salvation and guides everyone in prayer and fasting, the patient and loving brother, the wise and understanding teacher.” In May 2015, masked Islamic State militants broke into the Mar Elian Monastery in Syria and kidnapped Mourad. On several occasions during his captivity, a masked man threatened him with a knife to his throat. During the more than five months that he was held captive, Mourad could have easily been set free; all he had to do was renounce Christianity. However, in each and every one of the days of captivity, he chose to remain steadfastly faithful to Christ. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253803/syrian-catholic-monk-once-kidnapped-by-isis-consecrated-archbishop Vandals smashed the windows of a pro-life pregnancy center in Minneapolis and spray-painted it with graffiti in the middle of the night March 3, in the latest incident in a wave of attacks against crisis pregnancy centers. Video surveillance shows two masked individuals at about 1 am tagging the clinic with graffiti and breaking the windows with a hammer. A group called Jane's Revenge has claimed responsibility for similar attacks on pro-life pregnancy centers in a wave of attacks since Roe v. Wade was overturned. A group called Jane's Revenge has claimed responsibility for similar attacks on pro-life pregnancy centers in a wave of attacks since Roe v Wade was overturned. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253802/abortion-activists-smash-windows-at-minnesota-pregnancy-clinic-that-provides-free-diapers Today, the Church celebrates Saints Perpetua and Felicity, young martyrs who died for the faith around the year 203. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/sts-perpetua-and-felicity-and-their-companions-169

How does religious violence end? When God Stops Fighting: How Religious Violence Ends (U California Press, 2022) probes for answers through case studies and personal interviews with militants associated with the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq, the Sikh Khalistan movement in India's Punjab, and the Moro movement for a Muslim Mindanao in the Philippines. Even the most violent of movements, consumed by grand religious visions of holy warfare, eventually come to an end. In order to understand what led to these drastic changes in the attitudes of men and women once devoted to all-out ideological war, Juergensmeyer takes readers on an intimate journey into the minds of religiously motivated militants. Readers will travel with Juergensmeyer to the affected regions, examine compelling stories of devotion and reflection, and meet with people related to the movements and impacted by them to understand how their worldviews can, and do, change. Building on the author's lifetime of fieldwork interviewing religious combatants around the world, When God Stops Fighting reveals how the transformation of religious violence appears to those who once promoted it as the only answer. Tiatemsu Longkumer is a Ph.D. scholar working on ‘Anthropology of Religion' at North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong: India. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

How does religious violence end? When God Stops Fighting: How Religious Violence Ends (U California Press, 2022) probes for answers through case studies and personal interviews with militants associated with the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq, the Sikh Khalistan movement in India's Punjab, and the Moro movement for a Muslim Mindanao in the Philippines. Even the most violent of movements, consumed by grand religious visions of holy warfare, eventually come to an end. In order to understand what led to these drastic changes in the attitudes of men and women once devoted to all-out ideological war, Juergensmeyer takes readers on an intimate journey into the minds of religiously motivated militants. Readers will travel with Juergensmeyer to the affected regions, examine compelling stories of devotion and reflection, and meet with people related to the movements and impacted by them to understand how their worldviews can, and do, change. Building on the author's lifetime of fieldwork interviewing religious combatants around the world, When God Stops Fighting reveals how the transformation of religious violence appears to those who once promoted it as the only answer. Tiatemsu Longkumer is a Ph.D. scholar working on ‘Anthropology of Religion' at North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong: India. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/military-history

How does religious violence end? When God Stops Fighting: How Religious Violence Ends (U California Press, 2022) probes for answers through case studies and personal interviews with militants associated with the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq, the Sikh Khalistan movement in India's Punjab, and the Moro movement for a Muslim Mindanao in the Philippines. Even the most violent of movements, consumed by grand religious visions of holy warfare, eventually come to an end. In order to understand what led to these drastic changes in the attitudes of men and women once devoted to all-out ideological war, Juergensmeyer takes readers on an intimate journey into the minds of religiously motivated militants. Readers will travel with Juergensmeyer to the affected regions, examine compelling stories of devotion and reflection, and meet with people related to the movements and impacted by them to understand how their worldviews can, and do, change. Building on the author's lifetime of fieldwork interviewing religious combatants around the world, When God Stops Fighting reveals how the transformation of religious violence appears to those who once promoted it as the only answer. Tiatemsu Longkumer is a Ph.D. scholar working on ‘Anthropology of Religion' at North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong: India. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/political-science

How does religious violence end? When God Stops Fighting: How Religious Violence Ends (U California Press, 2022) probes for answers through case studies and personal interviews with militants associated with the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq, the Sikh Khalistan movement in India's Punjab, and the Moro movement for a Muslim Mindanao in the Philippines. Even the most violent of movements, consumed by grand religious visions of holy warfare, eventually come to an end. In order to understand what led to these drastic changes in the attitudes of men and women once devoted to all-out ideological war, Juergensmeyer takes readers on an intimate journey into the minds of religiously motivated militants. Readers will travel with Juergensmeyer to the affected regions, examine compelling stories of devotion and reflection, and meet with people related to the movements and impacted by them to understand how their worldviews can, and do, change. Building on the author's lifetime of fieldwork interviewing religious combatants around the world, When God Stops Fighting reveals how the transformation of religious violence appears to those who once promoted it as the only answer. Tiatemsu Longkumer is a Ph.D. scholar working on ‘Anthropology of Religion' at North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong: India. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/sociology

How does religious violence end? When God Stops Fighting: How Religious Violence Ends (U California Press, 2022) probes for answers through case studies and personal interviews with militants associated with the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq, the Sikh Khalistan movement in India's Punjab, and the Moro movement for a Muslim Mindanao in the Philippines. Even the most violent of movements, consumed by grand religious visions of holy warfare, eventually come to an end. In order to understand what led to these drastic changes in the attitudes of men and women once devoted to all-out ideological war, Juergensmeyer takes readers on an intimate journey into the minds of religiously motivated militants. Readers will travel with Juergensmeyer to the affected regions, examine compelling stories of devotion and reflection, and meet with people related to the movements and impacted by them to understand how their worldviews can, and do, change. Building on the author's lifetime of fieldwork interviewing religious combatants around the world, When God Stops Fighting reveals how the transformation of religious violence appears to those who once promoted it as the only answer. Tiatemsu Longkumer is a Ph.D. scholar working on ‘Anthropology of Religion' at North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong: India. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/national-security

How does religious violence end? When God Stops Fighting: How Religious Violence Ends (U California Press, 2022) probes for answers through case studies and personal interviews with militants associated with the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq, the Sikh Khalistan movement in India's Punjab, and the Moro movement for a Muslim Mindanao in the Philippines. Even the most violent of movements, consumed by grand religious visions of holy warfare, eventually come to an end. In order to understand what led to these drastic changes in the attitudes of men and women once devoted to all-out ideological war, Juergensmeyer takes readers on an intimate journey into the minds of religiously motivated militants. Readers will travel with Juergensmeyer to the affected regions, examine compelling stories of devotion and reflection, and meet with people related to the movements and impacted by them to understand how their worldviews can, and do, change. Building on the author's lifetime of fieldwork interviewing religious combatants around the world, When God Stops Fighting reveals how the transformation of religious violence appears to those who once promoted it as the only answer. Tiatemsu Longkumer is a Ph.D. scholar working on ‘Anthropology of Religion' at North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong: India. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/religion

Leorah is native Sudanese but was born and raised in Saudi Arabia where, along with her brother, started to learn Quran and Islamic Studies as soon as she could speak.  From there, their lives took very different paths- After enduring many years of abuse, as well as being buried under a niqab and being subjugated under Islamic laws, Leorah is now married to the man of her dreams. She is married to a Canadian Buddhist man who supports her in living the free life she was deprived of growing up. By stark contrast, however; her brother ended up joining the Islamic State (ISIS). Join me in speaking with Leorah about the two drastically different paths she and her brother took and how their choices have impacted themselves, each other, and all the people around them. 

On 3 February, U.S. President Joe Biden announced that American special forces had killed the leader of the Islamic State (ISIS), Abdullah Qardash, in a house where he was hiding out in Idlib province, in north west Syria. Idlib is held by another militant group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a former al-Qaeda affiliate and supposedly a sworn enemy of ISIS. Qardash's killing came just after ISIS's largest attack in the country for years on a prison holding many ISIS prisoners in the north east, and a two-week long pitched battle between ISIS and the mostly Kurdish forces, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), that control that area. Other ISIS attacks over recent years in the north east and the desert in central Syria suggest that despite having lost the territory it controlled for some years, ISIS remains a resilient insurgency. Moreover, its enemies are largely antagonistic toward each other and new fighting among them could open more space for jihadists. This week on Hold Your Fire! Richard Atwood talks to Crisis Group experts Dareen Khalifa, Senior Analyst on Syria, and Jerome Drevon, Senior Analyst on Jihad and Modern Conflict, about ISIS in Syria, its global footprint and the evolution of HTS. They assess the strength of ISIS, the nature of its insurgency and Qardash's role before his death. They look at links between ISIS in Syria and affiliates in other parts of the world, notably Africa, where more local militants now fight under ISIS's banner. They talk about the challenges faced by the largely Kurdish SDF, which leads the ISIS fight in the north east, their relations with Arabs in areas they control, their enmity with Turkey and their reliance on U.S. protection. They also discuss HTS and its rule in Idlib, where Qardash was killed, drawing on frequent visits to that area. They discuss the state of play in Syria more broadly – the U.S.'s presence in the north east, the uneasy ceasefire brokered by Turkey and Russia in the north west and the precarious calm that prevails after years of brutal war. For more on Syria, check out Crisis Group's extensive analysis on our Syria country page. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Human Rights Watch stated that an armed group affiliated to the Islamic State (ISIS) has kidnapped and enslaved more than 600 women and girls in Mozambique's northern Cabo Delgado region since 2018. Some of them have been rescued by Mozambican and regional authorities, but many more are still missing.

Traveling for tourism paints an incomplete (and sometimes wildly inaccurate) picture of the places we visit. Cengiz Yar is an international photojournalist who's traveled the world telling stories that are often right in front of our eyes, but which aren't exactly comfortable for us to digest. He specializes in conflict reporting, mass displacement, and civilian casualties of war, and his work has been featured in Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair, and The New York Times.Cengiz is here to help us explore the complicated intersection of traditional journalism and social media, the importance of media literacy, and the global consequences of disinformation. That includes ground-level insights about life under the Islamic State (ISIS), the experience of Syrian refugees, and introducing Iraqi children to photography. We also dive into a question that has plagued Cengiz throughout his career: does photojournalism -- and journalism in general -- actually improve the lives of those it covers?In Hot Takes, Eben and Melanie wonder why people decide to live in areas prone to frequent natural disasters, and ask the question that's been on your mind since 2018: does investing in Bitcoin make you a douche?News of the Week: Where to travel in 2021 if you're a Scorpio The most common second languages spoken around the world  BONUS -- Up your underwater photography game with these tips from pro photographers Related links: Cengiz' Instagram Cengiz' Website Matador Network Eben's Instagram Melanie's Instagram

Human Rights Watch says the Mozambican government should immediately assist civilians trapped by fighting in Cabo Delgado province to move to safer areas. According to Human Rights Watch, more than 88,000 people have been displaced from the embattled Palma district following the March attack by Ansar al-Sunna, an armed group linked to the Islamic State (ISIS).

In this episode, Nadine Maenza talks about religious freedom issues in the Middle East, especially in Iraq and Syria where the Yazidis suffered genocide starting six years ago. First, she explains the role of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), of which she is vice-chairman, and how its operations differ from the US State Department. Then she reviews what the Islamic State (ISIS) did to the Yazidis during the genocide and how this group and other religious minorities, including Iraqi Christians, suffer. Maenza explains how the Iraqi central government in Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Erbil treat these religious minorities differently and how those groups feel about the authorities. She also discusses problems other religious minorities there face and how the Iranian-backed Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) causes problems. USCIRF recommended the US place Iraq on a special watch list, Maenza reviews what the US government and her organization can do. Then Nadine Maenza and Mark Melton talk about the situation in northeast Syria and some good news in that region for religious minorities. They close out their conversation by talking about other countries that have problems with religious liberty, but they also talk about success stories, specifically in Uzbekistan, whose government came to USCIRF and tried to improve their laws for religious groups. From this, Maenza and Melton conclude by talking about how some countries, like China, have nefarious motivations for why they persecute religious minorities, whereas other countries are either incompetent or don’t know how to use their laws to improve the situation for those groups. To continue learning about the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, please visit their website here: https://www.uscirf.gov/ Or follow them on Twitter: https://twitter.com/USCIRF Those who want to learn more about Iraq can read USCIRF’s annual report for the country here: https://www.uscirf.gov/sites/default/files/Iraq.pdf And can read about Syria here: https://www.uscirf.gov/sites/default/files/Syria.pdf Listeners can read Maenza’s op-ed about Yazidis in Iraq here: https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/op-eds/agony-of-yazidis-extends-to-sixth-anniversary-of-their-genocide And can follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/nadinemaenza

    “They have set up kings, but not by Me (the Lord): they have made princes, and I knew it not” (Hosea 8:4a NASB). The idea that all government officials are always in authority because God put them there is contrary to what the Lord spoke to the prophet Hosea. Some leaders were put in power by people outside the will and plan of God, and not by His direction or authority. The prophet Hosea recorded what God said about it, something that literally goes against traditional interpretations of Romans 13. Most commentators believe Romans 13 teaches that all government leaders and institutions are ordained of God, or else they would not be in authority because all authority is from God. I disagree with most commentators on this subject, but I did not reach my conclusions out of thin air. One must ignore many other Scriptures that oppose the idea that God authorizes all leaders. The truth is that God anoints some to lead, but that does not include ALL. The biggest mistake has been to isolate Romans 13 without looking at numerous other Scriptures that can lead to right interpretation on governmental authority. Most Christian circles have accepted Paul’s teaching as a blanket statement about all government and officials. Paul carefully outlines the subject by including some necessary limitations. Let’s read Paul’s statement objectively: Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except by Godʼs appointment, and the authorities that exist have been instituted by God. So the person who resists such authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will incur judgment. (Romans 13:1, 2 NET) Notice the following statements in these verses, and let’s unravel it some: 1. Authority… by God’s appointment.2. Authorities… instituted by God.3. Resists such authority. (That is, those appointed and instituted by God.)4. Resists the ordinance of God. (When God appoints and institutes an authority, to resist that kind of authority is to resist the ordinance of God!) Paul was teaching about government officials that God puts into places of authority by His appointment. Read that the previous statement slowly and purposely to get it. I did not come up with that on my own. I believe that Lord gave me this truth from the phrases I excerpted from the verses, and the explanations given in parenthesis. I believe these clearly highlight the fact that Paul was referring to those leaders in government that were a force for good. Paul was not referring to government alone as a separate entity from the ruler. He was not referring to evil individuals that sit in government offices that want to bend the rules and slant them for evil purposes. If a government official is a force for good, then God had something to do with their ordination or appointment. We should respect them and obey them. We should submit to that kind of authority. Paul is correcting and rebuking those that rebel against good authorities ordained and appointed by God. Look at the verses that follow. Paul qualifies whom he was referring to. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil (Romans 13:3, 4 NASB). What kind of rulers were these? What was the criteria? • Rulers that cause fear for those practicing evil behavior.• Rulers that are ministers (servants) of God for doing what is good.• Rulers that are ministers (servants) of God to bring wrathful vengeance by the sword on those that practice evil. How could we have missed the qualifications Paul gives for government officials? Paul’s lead-in to this entire subject of government officials ordained to praise the good and destroy evil was Romans 12:21, the last verse of the previous chapter. The chapter division between chapters twelve and thirteen was arbitrarily injected into Paul’s consecutive train of thought. This last verse (12:21) qualifies our subject matter in chapter thirteen. Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21 NASB). Paul was speaking about government officials that take a stand for good and overcome evil with it. Paul was not telling us to submit to evil rulers that want to impose their ungodly way of life on the people under their rule. He was telling us to obey and respect those God ordained into a position of government authority because they are doing what they are doing to reward the good and punish the evildoer. That means that if some ruler, like Obama and his administration did (and state government officials), told us to make same-sex marriage themed cakes to honor the homosexual lifestyle, that we should do that? Absolutely not! Why? That governmental leader and his administration were in opposition to the Word of God. We do not obey that contrary to Scripture and carry out Satan’s wishes! I’ll bring it home in a minute, because the church has disobeyed God and His Word in order to obey government.  To maintain order in the land, certain speed limits are placed to control the speed of vehicles on different roads. Should we obey that? Yes, because they do not violate the Scripture but are put in place to protect the populace. What about paying taxes? Who loves to pay taxes? Probably none of us. Should we do it? Yes, it does not violate Scripture, and we are told to do it by Jesus and Paul. (Matthew 22:17-21; Romans 13:7) I am pointing out that there are many parts of law and order we must comply with, BUT there are some parts we should never obey because they violate the Word of God. (Acts 4:19, 5:21) We should be law-abiding citizens and honor leaders in government, but we must NEVER compromise the Scripture. (See 1 Peter 2:13-17.) Get that straight once and for all! If the government forbids the preaching of the gospel, and orders us to shut our doors, should we obey? Absolutely not! If they commanded us to stop making altar calls, casting out demons, and praying for the sick, should we obey? What about if they tell us it is forbidden to have church services? Again, we must not obey IF we are believers and followers of Jesus! We have the great commission and the example of the Church in the book of Acts. That is our authority. Religious or governmental leaders do not have greater authority than the Scripture. We will do the Word regardless of their rules and regulations to the contrary. (See Matthew 16:15-19; Matthew 28:16-20; Acts chapters 2 through 5.) The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” 29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! (Acts 5:27-29 NIV) (Dan’s NOTE: This article was originally written and published in 2012 but has gone through a few corrections of grammar or sentence structure. It can still use work but here it is. The message has remained unchanged. It was published under the title, “Does God ordain all Human Government.” Was this prophetic? You judge it. How many churches disobeyed the Word by shutting their doors when ordered by local government to do so during the Coronavirus pandemic?) Having the qualifications as presented by Paul How many of our government officials in America can qualify based on Paul’s criteria above? There are not many. How many American government officials sit in opposition to God’s moral commandments and what He calls as good? How many have rejected God’s standards for marriage, sex, human life, child rearing, money, education, and business? How many oppose prayer, Bible teaching, and Christianity? How many are pushing to remove all mention of God and Jesus from the government, schools, monuments, and everywhere they can spread their evil influence? What about people in government that are not a force for good but are evil rulers or governors? What about government officials placed by popular vote that support laws and agendas that favor evil in society? We desperately need them voted out and replaced by good government and godly people. WOE TO those [judges] who issue unrighteous decrees, and to the magistrates who keep causing unjust and oppressive decisions to be recorded (Isaiah 10:1 Amplified Bible). The prophet Isaiah pronounced a woe on judges because they opposed God and His commandments. Were they placed in a position of authority with God’s approval and blessing? Hosea teaches that this is not always the case. There are some kings and princes (including judges, governors, mayors, etc.) that God did not appoint or approve. They are usurpers of authority that God neither knew nor anointed for office. Just because someone wins the presidency or becomes prime minister by popular vote does not mean that God set them into a place of authority. Just because someone wins a Senate seat or governorship (or some local government official) does not mean that God set him or her there. The same can be said for all government appointees everywhere. Again, my foundation for stating this is Hosea 8:4, but there is much more evidence in the Scripture. A divided kingdom cannot stand What happens when a kingdom is divided by enforcing some righteous laws, but it then establishes and promotes evil laws that clearly violate God's commandments? Do you know? What did Jesus say about this? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom will not be able to stand (Mark 3:24 NET). What happens to a divided kingdom? It cannot stand and will eventually be judged. It will be given over to two opposing governments. Do you need an example? As for peres- your kingdom is divided and given over to the Medes and Persians (Daniel 5:28 NET). A divided kingdom that doesn't get its act together will eventually get split apart. There must be some form of agreement between the parties, because a divided kingdom will fall or be destroyed, and at times, it can be split into separate countries. World history gives us numerous examples. Can two walk together unless they are agreed? (Amos 3:3 KJV) I know that this is an appalling thought for our great nation of America. Right now, America is, basically, split down the middle between those that love God or His moral principles, and those that hate anything related to God. I trust that America comes to repentance and this nation turns back to God and the Lord Jesus. Let me show you by another prophetic example what we are seeing, and what we could witness in the future in America unless there is drastic spiritual change and renewal. I am not being pessimistic, and I am far from being a doomsday proponent. America can turn around, and I believe 2016 started bringing some godly changes into leadership and our government, though it is certainly not perfect. It never will be perfect until Jesus comes to rule and reign! What if we fail to vote in leaders that care about Christianity and God’s idea of morality? What if things continue with bad leaders and evil judges? What could happen if America does not repent and come back to God? Here is the terrible truth: In that you were seeing feet and toes a partly of wet clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom. Some of the strength of iron will be in it, for you saw iron mixed with wet clay. In that the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, the latter stages of this kingdom will be partly strong and partly fragile. And in that you saw iron mixed with wet clay, so people will be mixed with one another without adhering to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay. In the days of those kings the God of heaven will raise up an everlasting kingdom that will not be destroyed and a kingdom that will not be left to another people. It will break in pieces and bring about the demise of all these kingdoms. But it will stand forever… (Daniel 2:41-44 NET) I am using this for prophetic instruction. I understand the implications of this text for Babylon, Assyria, Medes-Persians, and ancient Rome with its historic division into the Eastern and Western Roman empires. I believe we can gain prophetic insight into how God sees things because He is always the same. He never changes. Right now, our country is divided. It is partly strong because of righteousness, and partly fragile because of sin. Everybody can see it today. It is not something mysterious “revelation.” You don’t need prophetic insight to get it. America today is like iron and wet clay that can never mix. The people of God are in a mixed society of righteousness and sinfulness, and one cannot agree with the other (see 2 Corinthians 6:14-17). They are opposed to each other along strict lines of division, and if it continues that way, the nation cannot stand or endure in its present state. I am praying (as many thousands of others are) that the country continues to lean towards righteousness and away from immorality, if not, our country will be in BIG trouble. In the case of Daniel's vision, he begins to see the kingdom of God that cannot be destroyed because it is eternal. It is the only eternal kingdom. All others are temporary and will fail eventually. Babylon, Assyria, Medes-Persians, Greece, and Rome were all destroyed. God's kingdom breaks in pieces the other (ungodly) kingdoms and brings about their demise. That is why we must have a spiritual awakening in America. Read this closely because I am approaching this prophetically. God's people are praying and trusting God for revival, repentance, and godly change in the land. It’s happening slowly but surely from sea to shining sea. God's kingdom is a force in our nation that will bring about judgment. America gets with the program, coming to repentance, and serving the Lord, or it could be broken into pieces. It's unavoidable prophetically and scripturally. I vote for America getting with the program, coming to repentance, serving the Lord. How about you? That is what I am praying for, and I trust that you are too! Once again, let me remind you that God said: “They have set up kings, but not by Me (the Lord): they have made princes, and I knew it not” (Hosea 8:4a NASB). Without a question, we have seen that God only appoints good leaders. Men have elected corrupt leaders, and God had nothing to do with it. My statements are correct but too sweeping because it gets much more complicated than that on certain occasions. Sometimes God will do very unusual things to get a task done. He may use very unlikely people. You will see what I mean. There have been many demon-inspired and evil rulers throughout history. Take for example Caligula, Genghis Kahn, Henry VIII, Ivan IV (the Terrible), Maximilien Robespierre, Joseph Stalin, Hitler, Mao Zedong, Pol Pot (of Khmer Rouge infamy), etc. Did God ordain them to stand in their positions of authority? Did they have divine, God-given authority, or was their authority coming from demonic power? To all these evil rulers we have to add the terrorist organizations that have taken over cities and countries, such as, Islamic State (ISIS, ISIL), Boko Haram (Islamic State’s West Africa Province), Al Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah, and many others. Did God put those evil organizations in power and ordain them to kill, steal, and destroy (see John 10:10)? Of course not! Many, because they take Paul’s words in Romans 13:1-7 as a blanket statement, would not know how to answer my question. Spiritual battles in the unseen realm The book of Daniel chapter ten shows us a spiritual battle in the unseen realm. There were spiritual forces (the prince and kings of Persia) aligned against God’s angelic messenger that came to bring the answer to Daniel’s prayer. These demonic forces opposed the heavenly messenger for twenty-one days. Michael the archangel came to help the angelic messenger fight and open the way so he could reach Daniel. After the divine messenger had finished delivering his message, he was going to return to combat the spirit princes and kings of Persia, and then another demonic “prince” was coming, the wicked spirit, and prince of Greece. There are authorities, powers, and wicked spirits in high places arrayed against God’s people and His plans on earth (Ephesians 6:12). These demon forces work to set up Satan’s kingdom on the earth. They stand behind the evil governments, rulers, and people on our planet. Believers have authority in the Name of Jesus over the wiles of the devil as they submit to God (Mark 16:17, James 4:7). As the Lord leads, and by His power, we can exercise influence against these wicked spirits in high places (Ephesians 6:10-18). We do not have authority over every situation on the planet, or over other people, but as the Holy Spirit leads us in prayer, we can have a powerful impact over demonic activity. There are many things to say here about this, and I address it later in this article. In the end, at the coming of the Lord Jesus to rule and reign upon the earth, the people of God win it all. NOBODY will resist His rule and reign for a thousand years! He will rule with a rod of iron, and He will be King of kings. It will not be a democracy, but all will serve and obey Him willingly for a thousand years. For the interim, there are demonic influences in the earth that stand behind certain people, governments, and rulers. Believe it because it is true whether we like it or not! The ultimate “government official” that will have demonic power behind him will be what many have called the antichrist! Paul called him the man of lawlessness whose coming will be “in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish” (2 Thessalonians 2:3-10). Deception, wickedness, false signs and wonders, with full Satanic backing, will earmark the government of the man of sin. It will be evil government to the maximum degree! We have the first fruits of this antichrist spirit already operating in many of the politicians governing the world today, and some are right here in America! As far as the world is concerned, the worst is yet to come for them! Here is another point on this subject of rulers that complicates matters further. Some rulers began with an anointing and ordination of God. They started good and right but messed up their rule through rebellion and the practice of sin. Some examples in Scripture are Kings Saul and Solomon. Saul lost his anointing and rule over Israel when he disobeyed and rebelled against the Lord. He went so far as to persecute God’s next choice for king, the sheepherder David. Saul ended up following soothsayers, committed suicide, and did not repent. Solomon was anointed to be king after his father David died. He was, possibly, the richest and wisest king to ever live. In old age, Solomon allowed foreign wives to turn away his heart from the Lord and to idolatry. He came to a sad end and evidently died in sin because there is no record of his repentance. These leaders started right before the Lord, with a special anointing on their lives but ended up wrongly. (See Ezekiel 18:24, 26.) It’s not how you start your race that counts at the end of your life. How you finish at the end of your life is what counts before the Lord! (See Ezekiel 18:19-31.) Why is “how you finish at the end of your life is what counts before the Lord” so hard for many to believe? Not only was this taught in Ezekiel 18:19-31, but Jesus taught this same truth in the Gospels. I am aware of how tragic that can be, especially if there was a family member or friend that left this life unrepentant. I have lost some former friends that departed this life after refusing repentance and some even denying Jesus. I’ve known some preachers like that. It is an extremely harsh and painful truth, but a very real one. It is inescapable. Read it from the lips of Jesus. Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? ’And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness (Matthew 7:21-23). Do we know anybody in the ministry of Jesus that started out right with an anointing to heal the sick and cast out demons, and later abandoned the Lord and even was a traitor against Him? Yes, and his name was Judas Iscariot! Judas began with the commission given to the twelve disciples (later called apostles) to go in the authority and power of Jesus to do miraculous works. (Matthew 10:1-4) Initially, Judas sat at the feet of Jesus and followed Him. Judas became a part of the “inner circle” of disciples and was a recipient of a glorious ministry. Judas was among the disciples that received a powerful anointing to go and represent Jesus. He went with supernatural power to heal every sickness and disease and cast out demons just as the other 11 did. Judas Iscariot was one of them, but he betrayed the Master, committed suicide, and died in his sin. Judas Iscariot was a classic example of starting out in righteousness, but ending in lawlessness or unrighteousness, as we see in the words of the prophet Ezekiel (18:19-31) and the Lord Jesus (Matthew 7:21-23). Judas will be among those that use the excuse of past supernatural exploits they did for the Lord, but the Lord will reject them because when they died they were rejecting Him. They will be dismissed from His presence because they were practicing lawlessness up until the moment they died. That is the wrong way to be caught dead! Another type of leader is the one called upon by people to lead them back to bondage. That happens in the political realm as well as in the religious realm. We could give you many modern examples, but I am sure you can come up with some on your own. They refused to obey, and they were not mindful of Your wonders that You did among them. But they hardened their necks, and in their rebellion, they appointed a leader to return to their bondage (Nehemiah 9:17 NKJV). Government officials that God calls and ordains to serve in office: Kings like David, Josiah, Hezekiah, and others were examples of anointed leaders in Israel. They were by no means perfect, but they were humble and would repent of their sin (as did David in the Bathsheba incident), and these (and some others) did their best to follow the Lord. Oddballs in Bible history Nebuchadnezzar found out that God would ordain people for leadership in government, sometimes to everybody’s surprise (Daniel 4:17). Sometimes, they were the most unlikely candidates. Judgment came to Nebuchadnezzar for refusing to do what God ordained. For seven years, he ran around like a wild goat, completely out of his mind. After he had repented for his pride and refusal to obey, he was restored to a sound mind and recognized the God of heaven and His rule over the realm of mankind. There are certain occasions when the hammer of divine judgment falls because God has given His Word. His must fulfill His promises to His people, via one way or another. Sometimes, when God’s Word is on the line, severe punishments, great miracles, or adverse judgments happen when people refuse to comply. The Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar found out through a very harsh judgment! Pharaoh found out in the book of Exodus that terror comes upon those who want to restrain God’s promised outcome! When God gives His Word, He will have His way, and nothing will be able to stop Him. Cyrus received a special anointing from the Lord to help the people of Israel, and he did not even know God (Isaiah 45:1-5). Cyrus was an oddball! That goes against all conventional understanding of the anointing, but God can do as He pleases, if He does not violate His principles and laws. God’s sovereignty That last phrase is very controversial for those that believe God can do as He always pleases, and no matter what because He is sovereign, and nothing can withstand His will. I strongly disagree in the sense that God cannot violate His own Word! God’s real power as a “sovereign” or ruler is not the usual definition of “sovereignty”! Let us settle this issue of sovereignty in our minds. To many the word sovereignty means that your will is immaterial because when it’s God will, it will be done no matter what. Let’s go to the Word to answer that VERY wrong assumption on God’s sovereignty. God’s sovereign will is that not one human being perish and go to a devil’s hell (2 Peter 3:9, Matthew 25:41). How many have died and gone to hell because they refused to line up with God’s will? How many have perished because they refused God’s gift in His Son? (See John 3:16.) God wants to save all men (1 Timothy 2:4), but those that refuse to repent will perish! (Luke 13:3, 5) Daily, people disobey God’s plan and will upon the earth. Many are disobedient and do not cooperate with the Lord. That means that God is not “sovereign” as people think. God is not controlling everything. If He was, then He would make everybody receive salvation right now and we would enter the millennial reign before nightfall. Yet, some things are non-negotiable. God will have His “sovereign” way in some matters. Some things, like the coming of the Lord to rule and reign upon the earth will happen. Nothing will stop it. The book of Revelation declares many end-time events that will be unstoppable. That is “sovereignty,” but we must qualify this further. God is not sovereign like the mythical gods of Rome or Greece that could do anything they wanted to do, even if it was immoral or evil. The heathen gods could commit adultery, fornication, murder, treachery, and lie, steal, covet, etc. Regardless of what these “gods” said, they could twist their words at will because they were sovereign and in control of all human actions and activities. People were like puppets on a string or chess pieces on a playing board. Our God is not like that! Never believe that He is! Firstly, our God gave us the right to choose between life and death, blessing and cursing (Deuteronomy 30:19, 20). We get to choose whom we will serve and obey (Joshua 24:14, 15). We get to choose between two masters. Either we will choose to serve, love, and be devoted to the Lord Jesus, or we will serve, love, and be devoted to mammon (Matthew 6:24). To believe or disobey the gospel means that we have a choice (Romans 10:9-16). Secondly, Jehovah God cannot violate the Word that has come out of His mouth. He will never violate His moral commandments, judgments, or ordinances. If He did renege on His Word and did as He pleased in violation of it, then it would make Him a liar like men. The truth is this: • God is not a man that He should tell a lie (Numbers 23:19).• It is impossible for God to lie (Hebrews 6:18).• Nothing can nullify the faithfulness of God (Romans 3:3).• His Word of promise will never return to Him without accomplishing His desired result (Isaiah 55:10).• Not one of His promises have ever failed (Joshua 23:14, 1Kings 8:56). That is why we can always trust Him! God’s sovereignty cannot include the unscriptural idea that He can violate His Word or promises. He will not fulfill His plan by violating His principles. Get that straight! Recap Here is a summary of the five scenarios concerning rulers in Scripture. 1. Ungodly rulers put in place by people without God’s approval. (Hosea 8:4, Neh. 9:17)2. Rulers that through murder, war, conquest, or by some other way usurped a seat of authority. Examples are Absalom, Tibni, Athaliah, man of lawlessness-sin-antichrist.3. Godly rulers operating with God’s authority called and anointed to carry out His will and plan. Examples are David, Josiah, Hezekiah, and others.4. Rulers that received the anointing to rule but messed it up through rebellion, sin, idolatry, etc. as did Saul, Solomon, and other kings of Judah and Israel.5. People anointed to rule for a special task ordained by God even though they are not technically followers of God and did not even know Him. Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus, Hiram (2 Chron. 2:3). All these facts prove that Romans 13:1-7 has been grossly misinterpreted for centuries. We need to see rulers in government according to all the Scriptures on the subject and not attempt an isolated interpretation.  I pray this teaching sets you free from the lies of the enemy! Not all government is good, and not all government agrees with the Scripture. We MUST obey God and take a stand against government WHEN (and only when) they want to impose something contrary to Scripture on us. At all other times, we should obey rulers. That is the bottom line to all this, but now you are armed Scripturally to take a stand. Church it is time to repent! Let the Repentance Revolution Begin! Be blessed with the following podcast- Repentance Part 6!

With the demise of the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria, is Islamic terrorism becoming a thing of the past? Is the terror wave that began in the 1990s and crested on September 11, 2001 now drawing to a close? Robert Spencer will discuss this topic from the standpoint of the history of Islam as well as the contemporary situation.

We are inside al-Hasakah prison in northeast Syria. There are hundreds of men here from several countries suspected of being affiliated with the terrorist organisation Islamic State (ISIS).

A hero of the Left has passed away. One of the most famous undead people in the world, the Islamic State (ISIS) caliph Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has been reported dead yet again, and this time it actually appears to be true. The Washington Post headlined its story about the killing as if Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was one of their favored anti-Trump intellectuals, dead at a tragically young age: “Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, austere religious scholar at helm of Islamic State, dies at 48.” Bloomberg wrote that “Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi transformed himself from a little-known teacher of Koranic recitation into the self-proclaimed ruler of an entity that covered swaths of Syria and Iraq.” The respect! The deference! The admiration! Isn't it touching? 

A hero of the Left has passed away. One of the most famous undead people in the world, the Islamic State (ISIS) caliph Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has been reported dead yet again, and this time it actually appears to be true. The Washington Post headlined its story about the killing as if Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was one of their favored anti-Trump intellectuals, dead at a tragically young age: “Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, austere religious scholar at helm of Islamic State, dies at 48.” Bloomberg wrote that “Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi transformed himself from a little-known teacher of Koranic recitation into the self-proclaimed ruler of an entity that covered swaths of Syria and Iraq.” The respect! The deference! The admiration! Isn't it touching? 

On this week's episode of the POMEPS Conversation Podcast, Marc Lynch speaks with Thomas Hegghammer, an expert on violent Islamism. Hegghammer talks about current status of the Islamic State (ISIS), as well as future of violent extremism. "The way I see the the the Islamic State terrorism campaign in Europe in 2015, 2016, and 2017 happened because there was a new generation of leaders in place who hadn't quite realized or internalized the repercussions of [their] strategy," Hegghammer says. "But I think that now— even in the Islamic State family— there is a growing realization that if you want to stay alive, or if you want to keep some kind of operation locally, you want to be careful about what you what you do. So I suspect that at least the medium-term effect of this will be a certain type of some kind of taming of the Islamic State animal." Hegghammer is currently a senior research fellow at the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI) and adjunct professor of political science at the University of Oslo. He is the author of numerous books, including Jihadi Culture: The Art and Social Practices of Militant Islamists and The Meccan Rebellion: The Story of Juhayman al-'Utaybi Revisited.

What should we make of the Middle East’s upheavals? In recent weeks, the Islamic State (ISIS) “caliphate” collapsed. Syria’s Assad regime all but won the six-year war, thus consolidating Iranian and Russian influence. Saudi Arabia purged parts of its royal family. Lebanon’s prime minister abruptly resigned. Iraq’s Kurds voted for independence, triggering confrontation with Baghdad. Years of U.S. and international engagement has failed to rebuild fractured countries, and the very viability of states like Iraq and Syria has been challenged. At USIP, distinguished Middle East analysts explored where the region is headed, and the U.S. roles amid this tumult.

Ambassador Ryan Crocker is a career ambassador within the U.S. Foreign Service. Ambassador Crocker was in the Foreign Service for 37 years and, after retiring, was recalled to active duty by President Obama in 2011 to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan. His previous appointments included service as the U.S. Ambassador to Syria, Iraq, Pakistan, Kuwait, Afghanistan and Lebanon. Crocker became dean of Texas A&M University’s George Bush School of Government and Public Service in 2010. In this podcast Ambassador Crocker and the host engage in a discussion about one of the most concerning events in recent international affairs, the rise of the Islamic State (ISIS). A few days ago, up to 235 people were killed in a terrorist attack in Egypt, one of many that have occurred in the region, Europe and the United States. While no group has claimed responsibility until now, witnesses report that the assailants carried ISIS flags. In recent years ISIS has turned into a global threat, supplanting almost completely the danger posed by Al Qaeda decades earlier. ISIS has become infamous for its brutal and ruthless style of terror, with images that are still vividly haunting. Is the Islamic State a symptom or a cause of bad governance? What will ISIS do after it has lost its physical hold on territories around the Middle East? What are the implications for US foreign policy in the region and beyond? Is America retreating from its policing role in the international arena? References: For a recent analysis of President Trump’s policy towards the State Department written by Ambassador Crocker for the New York Times follow the link here: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/27/opinion/dismantling-foreign-service-budget.html For a full bio of Ambassador Crocker at the Wilson Center follow the link. here: https://www.wilsoncenter.org/person/ryan-crocker To watch the documentary Losing Iraq follow the link here: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/losing-iraq/

With the self-proclaimed Islamic State’s hold on Syrian territory vastly diminished, the campaign to defeat the Islamic State (ISIS) enters a new phase. The fall of Raqqa—the capital of ISIS’ self-proclaimed caliphate—marked a powerful strategic and symbolic loss for the extremist group. Yet the success of the counter-ISIS campaign will ultimately be determined not by battlefield wins, but instead by what follows. On November 29, the U.S. Institute of Peace held a discussion on the complex governance challenges in Raqqa and how the United States and the international community can constructively address them.

Iraqi security forces have released videos showing foreign Islamic State (ISIS) fighters surrendering in Mosul's Old City area on Wednesday (July 12), with some using crutches to walk. One video showed a group of bare-chested IS fighters sitting on rubble. Another video, said to be shot on Tuesday (July 11) showed others taking off their shirts before surrendering. James Valles reports. (BNO News)

As Iraqi forces, Kurdish fighters and Shia militias close in on the Islamic State (Isis) stronghold of Mosul, civilians fleeing the city have told of the increasingly desperate tactics used by the jihadi army to hold their ground as coalition air strikes and artillery rain down on the outskirts. In the first instalment of IBTimesUK's podcast - IN THE FIELD - we speak to journalist Campbell MacDiarmid, who has reported on the conflict since it began. Drawing on his experience on the front lines over the past three weeks, he describes the difficulties the Iraqi coalition faces in its campaign to rid Iraq of IS after two-and-a-half years of their bloody occupation of Mosul. In our second interview, we speak to Razaw Salihy, Iraq campaigner for Amnesty International, about the human toll of the conflict. Salihy has been visiting refugee camps just outside Mosul and hearing stories of life under IS-rule as well as the dangerous conditions for civilians. Both Campbell and Razaw also discuss the difficulties... See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

http://stateofthenation2012.com/?p=51948 Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, is a controversial character. But thereâ??s no denying the emails he has picked up from inside the Democrat Party are real, and heâ??s willing to expose Hillary Clinton. Now, heâ??s announcing that Hillary Clinton and her State Department were actively arming Islamic jihadists, which includes the Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria. Clinton has repeatedly denied these claims, including during multiple statements while under oath in front of the United States Senate. WikiLeaks is about to prove Hillary Clinton deserves to be arrested

http://stateofthenation2012.com/?p=51948 Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, is a controversial character. But thereâ??s no denying the emails he has picked up from inside the Democrat Party are real, and heâ??s willing to expose Hillary Clinton. Now, heâ??s announcing that Hillary Clinton and her State Department were actively arming Islamic jihadists, which includes the Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria. Clinton has repeatedly denied these claims, including during multiple statements while under oath in front of the United States Senate. WikiLeaks is about to prove Hillary Clinton deserves to be arrested

Paul Ryan is not going to defend or campaign with Trump, but he will still vote for him. Maybe. Weak leadership on display. How on earth is the moral, ethical choice to vote for Hillary? A litany of reasons Hillary & the Democrats should lose if this campaign was about morality & ethics. Wikileaks exposes: Facebook collusion with Hillary; Saudi Arabia & Qatar funding the Islamic State (Isis); and more Democrat leaders conspiring against Bernie Sanders. Baby showers or vasectomy parties?

Paul Ryan is not going to defend or campaign with Trump, but he will still vote for him. Maybe. Weak leadership on display. How on earth is the moral, ethical choice to vote for Hillary? A litany of reasons Hillary & the Democrats should lose if this campaign was about morality & ethics. Wikileaks exposes: Facebook collusion with Hillary; Saudi Arabia & Qatar funding the Islamic State (Isis); and more Democrat leaders conspiring against Bernie Sanders. Baby showers or vasectomy parties?

Hussein Kesvani and Baroness Shaista Ahmad Sheehan joins host Josh Lowe to discuss the rise of Islamophobia in the U.S. and Europe and how we can combat it? On Saturday, Imam Maulama Akonjee and his assistant Thara Uddin were shot and killed as they walked through Queens, New York, after prayers. The incident, at the time of recording, was not formally classified as a "hate crime," and many in New York's Muslim community have argued strongly that it should be, it highlights the growing threat to Muslims living amid rising Islamaphobia in the United States. In Europe, Muslims are being subjected to mounting Islamophobia, particularly in the wake of a spate of terrorist attacks carried out by people allied with the Islamic State (ISIS). Hussein Kesvani is a consultant at Theos, a religion and public affairs think tank, and Baroness Shaista Ahmad Sheehan is a Liberal Democrat Member of the House of Lords. Newsweek's Foreign Service is recorded & edited by Jordan Saville. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

One of the defining narratives of the twenty-first century is the threat of global terrorism. It dominates the news cycle and is one of our society's greatest fears. According to a recent Pew study, Australians consider the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) as the global threat they are most concerned about – 69 per cent of people responded that they were “very concerned” about ISIS, ahead of climate change and the economy. This response means that for most Australians, terrorism isn't a vague global threat that we perceive from afar – it's real, frightening and near. In this episode, we look at how terrorism affects people in our everyday lives.  Richard Shumack talks about what it's like to live alongside Muslim people and being a part of their community. “Some people told me they hated me,” Richard says. Some of the people he worked with were grateful for his friendship, while others were bitter about their circumstances. Nevertheless, Richard says his first response is always compassion. Professor Greg Barton explains what's involved in the work that's happening on the ground to counter violent extremism. “Almost invariably, radicalisation happens through peer networks,” he says. “Friendship tends to be the first thing that moves people to the ideas.” Professor Barton talks about society as a whole having a ‘duty of care' to steer young Australians away from a pathway towards radicalisation and violent extremism. To round off our conversation on terror, clinical psychologist Leisa Aitken explores our greatest fear and suggests ways we can counter our collective and individual anxiety around terrorism. “Work out a way not to avoid what you're anxious of,” Leisa says. “Every time you avoid it, you send a message to yourself – I'm safe because I avoided it.” With terror attacks happening in places that we visit every day – a coffee shop, the airport, on a bus or train – it's important and helpful to keep doing life normally. --- SUBSCRIBE to our podcast: http://bit.ly/lifeandfaithpodcast READ MORE from Richard Shumack: http://bit.ly/1nhMQfB FIND OUT MORE about Professor Greg Barton's work: http://bit.ly/1S6Q43P CONNECT with Leisa Aitken: www.eaglepsychology.com.au

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently (RBSS) is a Syrian citizen journalist group, one of the few independent news sources reporting from inside the Islamic State (ISIS). Newseum Institute COO Gene Policinski spoke with Abdalaziz Alhamza, one of 18 co-founders of the group, and with Courtney Radisch and Sherif Mansour of the Committee to Protect Journalists, about the group’s work. CPJ will present RBSS with its International Press Freedom Award Nov. 24 in New York. Alhamza and colleagues live under constant threat of death from ISIS. This interview was conducted Nov. 20 in the Newseum’s Knight Studio, just days after the ISIS attacks in Paris, without an audience for security reasons. Though other members of RBSS were present, only Alhamza was available to speak publicly about his group’s work, out of concern for their personal safety.

support this podcast, donate today This week, CounterPunch Radio host Eric Draitser sits down with two important guests to discuss all things Syria. The first part of the show is an in depth discussion with Beirut-based political analyst and commentator Sharmine Narwani. Eric and Sharmine examine the latest developments in the war in Syria with particular attention to the battles along the Syria-Lebanon border, as well as the role of Turkey and other regional players. They also touch on the ongoing conflict in Iraq and the way in which the US continues to play a double-game when it comes to Baghdad and the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS). The second part of the show features an oddly congested Eric Draitser in conversation with Syrian-Australian political activist Reme Sakr speaking from Syria. Sakr provides her insight into the collective psyche and daily life of ordinary Syrians after more than four years of war. She explains some of the hardships they face, as well as the nuances of how Syrians actually view this conflict, their country, and its institutions. Don't miss this important episode, which also include intro and outtro music provided by the Dr. of the Blues, the man with a PhD in Boogie Woogie, David Vest, and interlude by The Mekons. More The post Sharmine Narwani & Reme Sakr – Ep. 9 appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

support this podcast, donate todayThis week, CounterPunch Radio host Eric Draitser sits down with two important guests to discuss all things Syria. The first part of the show is an in depth discussion with Beirut-based political analyst and commentator Sharmine Narwani. Eric and Sharmine examine the latest developments in the war in Syria with particular attention to the battles along the Syria-Lebanon border, as well as the role of Turkey and other regional players. They also touch on the ongoing conflict in Iraq and the way in which the US continues to play a double-game when it comes to Baghdad and the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS). The second part of the show features an oddly congested Eric Draitser in conversation with Syrian-Australian political activist Reme Sakr speaking from Syria. Sakr provides her insight into the collective psyche and daily life of ordinary Syrians after more than four years of war. She explains some of the hardships they face, as well as the nuances of how Syrians actually view this conflict, their country, and its institutions. Don't miss this important episode, which also include intro and outtro music provided by the Dr. of the Blues, the man with a PhD in Boogie Woogie, David Vest, and interlude by The Mekons.

Patrick Cockburn, regular contributor to the LRB and Middle East correspondent for the Independent, is, according to Seymour Hersh, 'Quite simply, the best Western journalist at work in Iraq today'. His latest book The Rise of Islamic State: ISIS and the New Sunni Revolution (Verso) describes the origins of the new rebel state in Iraq and Syria, setting it in the context of the region's turbulent recent history, and reflecting on its possible futures. Cockburn joined us at the Bookshop to discuss his book, and its implications, with Lindsey Hilsum, Channel 4 News international editor and author of Sandstorm: Libya in the Time of Revolution. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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More Propaganda To Trick Us Into War! Carla B.'s '5 Minute Rant' A former CIA officer said Thursday he has no doubt Islamic State (ISIS) sleeper cells are already planted on U.S. soil. According to CNN, "There’s already an indication of ISIS sleeper cells in Europe that could target U.S. embassies and other American interests." But former CIA officer Bob Baer told the network ISIS is already on this side of the Atlantic. “I have been told with no uncertainty there are ISIS sleeper cells in this country,” he said. Though CNN said 2 U.S. officials had refuted the claim, they’re worried ISIS militants with passports might travel to the US to launch attacks on American soil, CNN reported. One ISIS fighter already has hinted as much. In several telephone conversations with a Reuters reporter over the past few months, Islamic State fighters suggest their leader, Iraqi Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, is planning something for the West – and that attacks could take place through sleeper cells in both Europe and the United States. “The West are idiots and fools,” one fighter taunted, according to Reuters. “They think we are waiting for them to give us visas to go and attack them or that we will attack with our beards or even Islamic outfits. The Islamic State, formerly ISIS, has abducted more Westerners. The Obama administration announced Friday it plans to conduct military operations inside Syria. Benjamin J. Rhodes, a top Obama national security adviser, said the United States will “do what is necessary” in Syria following the unverified murder of freelance photojournalist James Foley. During a CNN interview last night in Ferguson, Missouri a protester held up a sign declaring “ISIS is here.”