Phil25

You're welcome man.

We are humans and humane

Likewise

I know it's easy to get upset as we both have roots in that that region originally and get riled up, but remember thousands of Muslim Iraqi, Syrian and Kurdish soldiers are dying to protect religious minorities.

Shakabs are another religion, they're similar to the Yezidis but more Islamic.

The West will not join Assad:

UK rules out alliance with Bashar al-Assad in fight against Isis | World news | theguardian.com

Assad Policies Aided Rise of Islamic State Militant Group - WSJ

Really cool documentary:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntOAW9DLBTE

Yes, the middle east has a history of secular governments. The Kurds are pretty secular. It won't be an atheistic secularism like the West though, but robust secular states are possibilities. There will always be God in the ME, people need to find commonalties in their faiths rather than differences.

In the end what would solve these problems is good governance, education and economic prosperity.

Wars are temporary solutions only.

ISIS won't advance in Iraq for now. They're being pushed back by Iraqi forces and Peshmerga (heavily supported by U.S. airstrikes). As long as the U.S. is hitting ISIS, it will actually move into Syria more.

ISIS could push more against Assad. It's too unpredictable for me to say otherwise.

A lot of Christians are fighting with the Kurds and Assad's army. They are starting to form their own militias.
The Christians need their own state.

Would Christian Militias Help In Iraq and Syria? | Acton PowerBlog

You posted on your wall Phil.

I don't know to be honest. I thought once the U.S. bombings started they would weaken, but they're getting more recruits. I think it pretty much falls on the shoulders of the Kurds, the Iraqi army and Assad's troops. If they keep on losing then ISIS will keep on expanding.

Watch for signs of battle wins/losses, the more wins ISIS gets the more likely they are to infiltrate into Lebanon and Jordan. Also if Iran or Turkey attacks the Kurds then ISIS will get more powerful. And if America sends in troops then ISIS will become bigger than anything we have seen in a long time.

The Yezidis are forming their militias as well:

Yazidi 'King Peacock' Militia 'Kills 22 Isis Militants in Sinjar'

Yeah, Islamists. Kurds give me a hope for ME, their actions and identity are not based on Islamism but Kurdish culture and a desire to protect it. They are willing to protect Christians and Yezidis(who themselves are mostly Kurds)
I am little bit more optimistic. After all who thought that Britain and USSR could be allies during WW2 in 1920s and 30s. The "enemy of my enemy is my friend" could work here.

And anyway, do you think that ISIS could conquer anymore territory or are their glory days over?

Remember that it's not muslims, but Islamists. The Peshmerga are the bravest fighters in the Middle East, and are protecting Christians and Yezidis, and they're mostly made up of muslims. So it's best not to generalize.

When it comes to geopolitics allies are often enemies. Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the other nations are the biggest financiers of Islamist insurgencies. The interests of the ruling party of Saudi Arabia, the Saud family are not the interests of the clergy in Saudi Arabia.

The U.S. will never become allies with Iran and Assad. They will continue arming the Kurds. If the U.S. really wanted to they could basically make the Peshmerga into a heavily armed world class army, and destabilize Iran. That might be a strong possibility of what will happen.

Actually now that I think about it, an Iranian push would pretty much deepen the sectarian conflicts and legitimize ISIS as much as an American invasion would.

I think an Islamist land is here to stay. The only thing we can do is try to contain it.

ISIS has way too much support in the middle east for the bombs to finish them off. ISIS has support in Europe and Asia as well.

If the US just started bombing the region, 5,000 ISIS fighters would die but they would just go into hiding and another 50,000 would join.

The Kurds can only do so much. The U.S. has to back Assad and make peace with Iran. Iran has to make peace with Israel. If the U.S. backed Assad, then his army would easily push back the rebels and especially if they worked with the Iranian army. The only real solution to this is if Iran joins the fight with the Kurds and sends in its army to destroy ISIS. Assad, Iran and the Kurds working together can defeat ISIS.

Since that will never happen as it conflicts with Saudi and Israeli interests, I think an Islamist state is here to stay.

Ever since the air strikes have started ISIS recruitment and numbers have sky rocketed, they're close to 100,000 now. They were like 7,000 when this whole thing started.

I don't think an invasion would be smart, they want a holy war. They want to fight American Christian soldiers. Unless the U.S. is prepared to have one, it would be smarter to arm the Kurds and Iraqi govt.

If the U.S. invaded an 'Islamic State' millions of people would join ISIS. It would truly become a holy war.

Take a look at this http://www.religiousforums.com/forum/european-politics/167216-poll-finds-some-europeans-support-isis.html

So ISIS is 70,000 now...=/

Well I am 32 for starters, so not exactly young. I grew up in a liturgical Protestant tradition, so the feel of order has always been helpful to me. I exposed in the 'far East' practices for about decade and found the mystic side of faith.... And some time later, via Anglicanism was free to talk about it more. Actually an Anglican Priest is who helped me venture more sharply in Orthodoxy. And it is not hard to imagine why, because of the mystic/contemplative Way of Orthodox, that it tied together my roots and my journey.

The. Monastery I went to was in Eastern Ohio ,but would not like to say in public visitor messages.

Bless!

Is 'unofficially' an okay answer?

Inquirer for sure.

Last August I spent a !month at an Orthodox monastery and have been alternating between Anglican and Orthodox parishes since.

Thanks for the frubal, my Friend.