© 2015 by Raymond Alexander Kukkee   [caption id="attachment_3213" align="aligncenter" width="624"] Artifact  in the ancient City of Nimrud in Iraq[/caption]  

A Sense of Humanity is Required to Pass a Test of Statehood

  It should not come as a surprise to anyone in the modern world that a sense of humanity is an essential requirement to pass a test of statehood.  Here at Incoming Bytes we would guess that in espousing brutality, terrorism and murder almost unequaled in modern history,  ISIS,  a militarized, aggressive rogue 'entity' in Iraq declaring itself an 'Islamic State' ' —could not pass an impartial test of statehood using any interpretation of international law. Civilized nations and nation-states build constitutions to preserve life and humanity, respect foreign borders, practice diplomacy, establish Charters of Rights for citizens, incorporate a modern system of justice into a society ruled by civilized law,  and protect minorities within their borders.  Yes, established borders, legally defined borders encompassing territory lawfully gained.  ISIS, or "ISIL"  and it's black ninja mini-army of AK-47-carrying Jihadi-John - look-a-likes labels itself an "Islamic State" in spite of frowns and  muted disapproval of  modern Islam because of its aggressive and murderous agenda.  Let's understand that.  ISIS 'leaders' who are murderers,  pretend to be Jihadi ' learned persons', arrogantly point their fingers in the air, dictating, preaching and poking the world in the eye in calculated defiance. It seems they believe the religious beliefs and practices of all of the other billions of Muslims in the world are not quite Islamic enough. Not quite suitable. Or wrong. Or something. Non-conformists will simply be executed.  Go figure. Genuine  leaders usually attempt decorum and 'Statehood'. Perhaps with the contemporary exception of Vladimir Putin, world leaders, at the very least,  attempt to act within the realm of responsible states. Putin is excluded because of his territorial grab in Crimea, and involvement in Ukraine. Shooting down international passenger planes, and  military interference in Ukraine  is agreeable only  in Vladimir's  collection of ancient USSR apparatchik-approved comic books.  Wait...Putin the super hero, Saviour of the old Soviet guard. Big 'V' on Red tights, no pun intended, but don't you just love that?     See how easy it is to get distracted with asides and trivia? No matter...Somehow there must be a parallel or correlation with ISIS' magic dead-or-alive -"volcanoes of  Jihad" Jihadist leader  Abu Bakr-al-Baghdadi.  Lunacy. Arrogance. Delusions of grandeur. All common factors, —but the bottom line is, getting back to reality, it is a given that  "States" and their  world leaders —should at the very least attempt to act in a sane and responsible manner. ISIS arbitrarily declared itself a caliphate  (the Levant)   and offers its program of cleansing as proof of passing a test of statehood.  In someone's warped mind, slaughter of innocents  is a qualifier for authenticity. Public executions of hundreds, if not thousands of innocent people including women and children take place for such heinous crimes as being Christian, refusing to 'convert' to Islam, being a foreign journalist, being a foreign aid worker feeding the starving, or simply being the 'wrong' nationality in the wrong place and the wrong time. The list of qualifiers goes on and gets uglier. Their ultimate and  authentic  'proof of statehood' includes broadcasting video records  of executions using their all-time favourite execution method of  beheading victims,  guilty or not.  Subsequent parading of victim's severed heads in front of cameras by children of "Jihadist fighters" is encouraged and has been recorded. Disgusting.  Train children to grow up thinking lunacy is normal. That ought to do it.  In the civilized world, the brainwashing of children itself is a heinous crime. That reminds me, brain-washing of children is a very state-like occupation, isn't it;  grooming and training children to hate others for a lifetime. We wonder if there is a parallel to be drawn to the Ferguson Syndrome back home in the good old U.S. of A.   Maybe it's ISIL's  own unique Johnny-Jihadi Syndrome.  Does that remind you of  Brown shirts?  Recruitment  and brainwashing of  idealist, weak-minded wanna-join-somethings  with guns and black pajamas with hoodies and masks  to enable the  anonymous and mindless daily tasks of, brutalizing, rape, killing and plunder. You get the idea. Think. If they are a "State" why would it be necessary to hide their faces and identities?

Destruction of Nimrud: Why?

Don't forget ISIS's  "ongoing accomplishments" and other  'state-like activities'. Such "ongoing accomplishments" now include the destruction of rare, priceless historical statues, carvings and other artifacts in museums as well as looting and pilfering villages,  raping and murdering and beheading of thousands  of 'enemies', theft of women and children, who are sold into forced marriages with ISIS fighters and de facto slavery. Terrorism, bullying, murder, blood and  fear are the only identifying characteristics of ISIS. The latest "great accomplishment" and 'test of statehood' of ISIS was the unbelievable looting and bulldozing of the ancient Assyrian city of Nimrud —and destruction of it's statuary and artifacts. Nimrud is considered to be perhaps the oldest known civilization known to mankind.  Yes, we know nothing lasts forever, but... This vicious, mindless destruction has been called a war crime by the international community, but ISIS lunatics romantically consider ridiculous extremism necessary to pass the test of Statehood.  In the minds of the obsessed, declaring dominance over, and claiming destruction of,  all evidence of a long-dead civilization, city, or state, ISIS "validates" their power and undoubtedly "justifies"  their existence. Shall we repeat:  In the minds of lunatics.  Here at Incoming Bytes it is easily observed that the greatest accomplishment of ISIS to date —the ONLY accomplishment to date—has been to unfailingly generate hate against itself  —worldwide—and consolidate  international resolve to expunge the  murderous self-declared "caliphate" and its poison from the modern world.

The Facts Remain Sobering

To the astute observer,  ISIS simply appears to be a  collection of  impotent misfits, traitors,  rabble,  and brutal, extremist religious fanatics who have outrageously chosen  to use murder,  vicious tactics, and  terrorism  to achieve their " religious, domestic and foreign policies".  Combined with a narrow, brutal and ancient interpretation and 'version' of Islam as the strict and only basis for Islam, those facts remain sobering if only because they consider innocent human beings and life itself to be of little worth. The  primitive and misdirected understanding of  the requirements for success as a 'state'  has backfired. Countries around the world including Arab nations representing modern  Islam are necessarily uniting against them--perhaps to bomb the crap out of them for revenge, or put them out of their misery,  save themselves from collective madness and make a declaration of their own humanity and test of statehood. As a follow-up, here at Incoming Bytes  we will continue to wonder why this ugly cancer of criminals  has not yet been totally excised from what is fast becoming the corpse of civilization.  Opposition to ISIS must remain  resolved, united and not intimidated by the task ahead.   Perhaps standing tall when required is another of our own tests of Statehood.   What do you think? Stay tuned.

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