Hypothetical: What if ISIS makes a successful Caliphate?

[Doncorelone]

Playing devils advocate, what's wrong with a Caliphate within the present Middle East (up to say Libya) they wish to create? It's not like the Western world hasn't dealt with one before, and it's not like they'd be any less anti Israeli.

[eynon81]

As it claims to be the (real) Caliphate and also claims the Levant (most of the Western Mid-east) it's inherently hyper-aggressive. Its policy would largely consist of waging jihad as opposed to building a stable nation state.


That would mean constant war with its Neighbors.

[Doncorelone]

But the Caliphate historically hasn't been a nation state, it would be something akin to an empire.

[eynon81]

[Doncorelone]

Ok, still not seeing how them having a Caliphate is a big deal. They're expansionist, so what? So's every other 'major' power. Doesn't mean they'll be able to do it successfully.

[Saz]

Lol don is insane. You can't see why an expansionist caliphate run by religious zealots who like to crucify people is a bad idea?

I'd be concerned you might be the type to run off to Syria and fight...but then I think a bit more and realize that's more of a solution than a concern.

[Doncorelone]

Oh Saz, such is the charmer you are

[eynon81]

[Doncorelone]

[eynon81]

Zangi was not a Caliph, he wasn't Arab, and not really an Islamist. He was a hard-drinking Turkish warlord bent on carving out a domain for himself and his allies. He waged aggressive war against the Christian populations of Armenia as well as the Kingdom of Jerusalem (Israel) and Byzantium (Turkey), which sorta prompted the 2nd Crusade.


So a modern day Zangi would start a war with the 2 largest military powers of the region.