Refugees

NfkDumpling
ISIS and Al Qaeda were spawned from the Wahabi sect in Saudi Arabia which is a part of the Sunni Muslim sect. There are millions of Sunni Muslims within Syria. One of the main objectives of Sunni Muslims is to eradicate the Shiite Muslims who they consider as non believers due to a difference in belief of who legitimately succeeded the prophet Mohammed. Therefore there are millions of Sunni Muslims within Syria who align with ISIS and Al Qaeda, maybe without the extreme intent, but they also aspire to a Shiite free Syria.
There are millions of Shiite Muslims in Syria. Iran is a Shiite Muslim country so has been supporting the Shi'ites and their sub sects in their desire to exist in Syria, most would prefer the Sunnis to go to Saudi, however ISIS have now taken the game to another level which even Saudia Arabia is not fully in agreement with as this would mean Saudi losing some of its influence. ISIS want to recreate the caliphate, similar to the Ottoman Empire and this caliphate would consis of only Sunni Muslims. Sunni Muslims want a caliphate, but the Saudis want control to be from Saudi Arabia whereas ISIS are trying to control from within Iraq, so Saudi, along with other Arabian countries are now also trying to eradicate ISIS.
The nature of Islam means that you believe what you are told with your entire existence so each sect of Islam totally believes that their truth is the only truth and those who don't believe should not exist and eventually the largest group will prevail. I suppose we have this within the Christian faith with Catholics and Protestants.
Rosequartz
As the population of Syria is not one single mass, the Sunnis will be happy with Al Qaeda as their belief system is the same. We can see from those UK Sunni Muslims of Pakistani descent who have gone to or strive to reach Syria, that although not openly expressed, the desire for a caliphate is embedded within every practicing Muslim.
I am going to try and stop waffling now!

Have you done a PhD on it joelsnan?

No please don't, it is all very interesting Joelsnan

We meddle in what we don't understand, don't we.

Doesn't that mean, though that is all the Shiites populate more and more of Europe they will want to eradicate Protestants and Catholics; this is my big fear even though I do want these people to be helped . It really scares me.

Joelsnan. Don't stop waffling. I love it.
I try to read as much as I can take in on this subject, but it does get a bit heavy and wanders off into all different areas. You simplify it for my ignorant brain.

Yes; I agree. It's actually the opposite of waffle [whatever that is!].

What I never understand is why Saudi Arabia can never do wrong in the eyes of the West no matter how awful their human rights record is.

Tegan. Could it be that they are the biggest oil producer in the world and buy an awful lot of arms from the west. Just an idea.

Oh yes; that is possibly correct ...

No Jinglebellfrocks I have not, however until May I lived in the region for quite a number of years, mixed with every nationality and religious persuasion and asked questions. My Masters thesis did include understanding the culture and sensitivities of the regional population.

Remember if you can, GWB , and his sidekick TB, GW had not much been out of US and TB, less said the better.

They did not understand Islam and were just warmongerers, and look where we are now.

The Ismailis, a sect of Shiiaism, treat men and women equally, and are led by the Aga Khan, send the girls to school, and both work the fields together.

J'snan living in, or visiting other countries, gives a different perspective.

Long time back when I was travelling in NWFP , Pakistan, a lady with her kids took pity on me as I was travelling alone and gave me bags of fruit.
I had the sense to take pix of my O/H, Kids, and they were passed all round the bus.

Modern day problem is smartphones, and social media where the trafficers
prey.

And silly posters

Yes, oil, oil and more oil.

Unlike oil-less Zimbabweans, who no-one seemed to want to rescue.

Thank you Joelsnan. You do not waffle. You explain things very well.

And let's not forget Rwanda. Where were we then?

I thought that the Taliban and Al Qaeda sprang from the Mujaheddin in Afghanistan at the time when they were fighting the Russian invasion - the Mujaheddin - including Osama Bin Laden- were trained by the West.

I don't know what the was there for. I was only asking.

I'd heard that Welshwife. I heard as well that members of his family were flown out of the US very quickly after 9/11 [back to Saudi] but that could be a memory lapse on my part.

Where are we going as human beings? Just watched a baby being tear gassed

Terrible scenes on the News tonight. Those poor children

What, where?
Oh no

OMG!!! (*whitewave*)

I think this is becoming a real test for the EU and its treaties relating to the Human Rights Act and all the other treaties relating to this. How will it be remembered when we come to vote?
So much for a Union (should be underlined)

I've just seen on Channel 4 News men, women and young children being attacked and sprayed at close quarters with tear gas in Hungary. What is the EU going to do about this disgraceful, and increasingly racist, behaviour?

If it stands by and does nothing it doesn't deserve to exist in my opinion. Nothing can excuse a child/ baby being harmed in this way. We should have learned this much 70odd years ago. I cannot express how disgusted and horror struck I am.

secure.38degrees.org.uk/page/m/74c0790f/2d1c5aab/705075e4/463ebb71/2417656006/VEsF/

For those who think petitions do not work.