The Arab Spring

Just make it a crime to have fought, as silasw said. Nothing against that anywhere.

Really, i'd work with Turkey and Lebanon to make sure these people can't even leave the area. They have to get in and out somehow.

That's what's already happening, I think. I like Silas' idea though.

X-posted to the Military Thread.

The Last Ride of the Prowlers.

The venerable EA-6B Prowler is seeing what will almost certainly be its final combat deployments - scrambling and intercepting the comms of the IS militants in Iraq. Adieu to a fine aircraft.

edited 21st Aug '14 4:01:08 PM by Achaemenid

My idea? Arresting them upon return is the British government's idea, not mine. Despite what I might want I don't yet write foreign policy for the government.

Oh I thought that was a proposal, not something already happening. Mah bad.

For most of them it's a one way trip.

But no doubt once they realize it they will (probably) run back to their own country whatever cause be damned.

• Islamic State militants pose 'biggest threat' to US
• Hammond: UK won't work with Assad in Islamic State battle

Guys, pay close attention to Yemen for the next 24 hours or so. The deadline the Houthis have given the Hadi government to resign is almost over.

We may be seeing another overthrow. Or civil war.

If Yemen does face a takeover/civil war; are any other states likely to intervene?

In possibly brighter news; looks like ISIS is losing more ground.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/22/world/meast/iraq-violence/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

edited 22nd Aug '14 1:49:03 PM by Rationalinsanity

Saudia.

Assuming they don't make a deal with the Houthis themselves, of course. After all, the rebels want the old Imamate back and the Saudis once backed said Imam during the civil war that overthrew him. Would also be nice for Riyadh to get one over Tehran...

The US is now refusing to rule out airstrikes against IS targets in Syrian territory, despite the Obama admin's attempts to keep out of that conflict.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/22/politics/us-isis-syria/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

Some Shia militiamen are accused of committing a massacre at a Sunni mosque

Well, this is certainly not going to piss the Sunnis off even more than they already are.

Yemen's government has offered to resign within the month. If the Houthis accept it, I'd imagine one should be on the lookout for rules lawyering....

Meanwhile, in Libya...

edited 23rd Aug '14 1:52:32 PM by FFShinra

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-28900096

I hate the idea of Assad going full Karma Houdini,but it may be the best option.

Does anyone know the casualty figures?

edit How the hell did Yanacovich justify removing Military Parades?

edited 24th Aug '14 3:26:46 AM by JackOLantern1337

I'd hold off on helping Assad or enlisting his help in any fashion. That dude strikes me as the sort of untrustworthy shifty person which is of no use to any anti-terrorist operation.

Sorry about the Ukraine post, wrong thread.

Personally I would start by sending Special Forces into the Syrian Kurdish region, if we haven't already done that.

Just some news

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-28917609

Some consequences of the war in Syria

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-28870611

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-28250471

Isn't the Houthi Imamate Shia, though? Would Saudi Arabia be so inclined?

The Imamate of Yemen belonged to the Zaidi branch of Shia Islam, unlike Iran which follows the Twelver branch. I don't know much about Zaidis, but I've never heard anything about their sect's beliefs including rampant anti-Sunni hatred.

edited 24th Aug '14 10:34:41 AM by MarqFJA

The Imam was allied to the Saudis during the 50s and 60s. Riyadh backed them during the civil war against the Nasser-backed rebels who eventually became the new government. Having another royal in the neighborhood would probably make Saudia happier. And if they can show up Tehran as uber backer of all Shias, all the better...

As for the Houthis and their stance to Sunnis, they only seem to have it in against Salafists and AQ types.

edited 24th Aug '14 11:28:42 AM by FFShinra

Huh. So is a theocracy the most stable option for Yemen right now?

NY Times op-ed on how Saudi support for Salafism often backfires by translating into extremism. The power of the clerics to defy the monarchy is rather surprising. Also a problem for future theocracies, I'd think: what the clerics want and what the political rulers want are often different.

The TV Tropes page on Saudi Arabia describes the arrangement as such: