Islamic State turns radical Islam on Syria Muslims

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <br /> <div class="column2 gridPanel grid4" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: left; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 10px; orphans: auto; overflow: hidden; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; width: 300px; word-spacing: 0px;"> </div> <br /> <div class="column1 gridPanel grid8" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: left; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 10px; orphans: auto; overflow: hidden; padding-right: 10px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; width: 610px; word-spacing: 0px;"> <h1 style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 35px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.1; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"> <img alt="Militant Islamist fighters take part in a military parade along the streets of northern Raqqa province June 30, 2014. REUTERS/Stringer" border="0" src="http://s3.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20140826&t=2&i=967128751&w=580&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=LYNXMPEA7P0QM" style="display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; width: 580px;" /></h1> <div class="relatedPhoto landscape" id="articleImage" style="clear: left !important; margin: 0px 0px 10px; position: relative; width: 580px;"> <div class="rolloverCaption" id="captionContent" style="bottom: 0px; clear: both; display: block !important; float: left; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: -10px; padding-right: 20px; position: relative; width: 590px; z-index: 2;"> <div class="rolloverBg" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255) !important; background-image: none; clear: both; display: block; float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; width: 610px !important;"> <div class="captionText" style="color: #494949; font-size: 11px; height: 60px; padding: 10px; position: relative;"> <div style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> Militant Islamist fighters take part in a military parade along the streets of northern Raqqa province, 2014.</div> <div class="credit" style="color: #a1a1a1; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 13px; margin: 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;"> CREDIT: REUTERS/STRINGER</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="relatedRai" id="relatedInlineVideo"> </div> <div class="columnLeft" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; margin-right: 35px;"> <div class="relatedRail gridPanel grid2" style="display: inline; float: left; font-size: 0px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; width: 140px;"> </div> </div> <div class="columnLeft" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; margin-right: 35px;"> <div class="relatedRail gridPanel grid2" style="display: inline; float: left; font-size: 0px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; width: 140px;"> </div> </div> <div class="columnLeft" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; margin-right: 35px;"> <div class="relatedRail gridPanel grid2" style="display: inline; float: left; font-size: 0px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; width: 140px;"> </div> </div> <div class="columnLeft" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; margin-right: 35px;"> <div class="relatedRail gridPanel grid2" style="display: inline; float: left; font-size: 0px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; width: 140px;"> </div> </div> <div class="columnLeft" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; margin-right: 35px;"> <div class="relatedRail gridPanel grid2" style="display: inline; float: left; font-size: 0px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; width: 140px;"> <div class="module" id="relatedTopics" style="float: left; margin: 0px 0px 20px; width: 140px;"> <div class="moduleHeader" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat repeat; border: medium none; float: left; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; width: 140px;"> <h3 style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; color: #333333; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-transform: uppercase;"> RELATED TOPICS</h3> </div> <div class="moduleBody" style="float: left; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 140px;"> <ul style="clear: both; float: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; width: 140px;"> <li style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat repeat; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; color: #999999; font-size: 11px !important; font-weight: normal; line-height: 14px; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 0px;"><a href="http://www.reuters.com/news/world" style="color: #006e97; cursor: pointer; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 13px; outline: none; text-decoration: none;">World »</a></li> <li style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat repeat; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; color: #999999; font-size: 11px !important; font-weight: normal; line-height: 14px; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 0px;"><a href="http://www.reuters.com/places/syria" style="color: #006e97; cursor: pointer; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 13px; outline: none; text-decoration: none;">Syria »</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="columnLeft" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; margin-right: 35px;"> <div class="relatedRail gridPanel grid2" style="display: inline; float: left; font-size: 0px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; width: 140px;"> <div id="thirdPartyLinkbackNews"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="columnLeft" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; margin-right: 35px;"> <div class="relatedRail gridPanel grid2" id="relatedInteractive" style="display: inline; float: left; font-size: 0px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; width: 140px;"> </div> </div> <div class="columnLeft" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; margin-right: 35px;"> <div class="relatedRail gridPanel grid2" style="display: inline; float: left; font-size: 0px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; width: 140px;"> </div> </div> <span id="articleText"><span id="midArticle_start"></span><span class="focusParagraph"><div style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"> (Reuters) - As Islamic State militants advanced in the Syrian province of Deir al-Zor last month, those who had held out against them faced a simple choice: beg for mercy or face certain death.</div> </span><span id="midArticle_0"></span><div style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"> Their options were laid out in stark religious terms by the militant Islamists who are trying to carve out their own state in <span class="mandelbrot_refrag"><a class="mandelbrot_refrag" data-ls-seen="1" href="http://www.reuters.com/places/syria?lc=int_mb_1001" style="color: #006e97; cursor: pointer; outline: none; text-decoration: none;">Syria</a></span> and <span class="mandelbrot_refrag"><a class="mandelbrot_refrag" data-ls-seen="1" href="http://www.reuters.com/places/iraq?lc=int_mb_1001" style="color: #006e97; cursor: pointer; outline: none; text-decoration: none;">Iraq</a></span>. Defeated fighters were required to "atone" or die, a choice set out in Islamic terms and implying that resisting Islamic State rule amounted to a sin against God.</div> <span id="midArticle_1"></span><div style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"> "I surrendered my weapons," said a rebel fighter who capitulated to Islamic State on July 2 and has been living in fear for his life ever since. He still believes Islamic State could execute him at any moment. "Everyone is subject to this. Everyone is afraid," he said, speaking via internet link.</div> <span id="midArticle_2"></span><div style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"> In cementing its control over the oil-producing province of Deir al-Zor, Islamic State has unleashed one of its bloodiest waves of repression to date, employing mass executions, threats and house demolitions as the attention of Western states has focused on rolling back the group in neighboring <span class="mandelbrot_refrag"><a class="mandelbrot_refrag" data-ls-seen="1" href="http://www.reuters.com/places/iraq?lc=int_mb_1001" style="color: #006e97; cursor: pointer; outline: none; text-decoration: none;">Iraq</a></span>.</div> <span id="midArticle_3"></span><div style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"> While some have been granted a pardon on Islamic State's terms that require complete allegiance, others have been shown no mercy. One tribe in particular has been singled out for persecution.</div> <span id="midArticle_4"></span><div style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"> Hundreds of members of the Sheitaat clan have been executed after their tribe refused to submit to Islamic State. The entire tribe have been deemed "hostile apostates" by the group, an offshoot of al Qaeda that has declared a "caliphate" in the territory it holds.</div> <span id="midArticle_5"></span><div style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"> Their killings are a reminder, say locals, that many of Islamic State's victims are not minority Shi'ites, Yazidis or Christians, but Sunnis who - nominally at least - follow the same denomination of Islam.</div> <span id="midArticle_6"></span><div style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"> As Islamic State's advances in Iraq have sent minorities fleeing for fear of execution or forced conversion to Islam, the group's radical interpretation of the religion has, in the case of the Sheitaat, laid grounds for mass persecution of Sunnis.</div> <span id="midArticle_7"></span><div style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"> </div> <span id="midArticle_8"></span><div style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"> INFIDELS</div> <span id="midArticle_9"></span><div style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"> Islamic State has declared the Sheitaat tribe "an unbelieving sect" that should be fought as if they were infidels, according to a report from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which tracks violence in the Syrian war.</div> <span id="midArticle_10"></span><div style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"> At least 700 hundred members of the tribe have already been executed, the Observatory reported on Aug. 16.</div> <span id="midArticle_11"></span><div style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"> Another 1,800 are still missing after being detained by Islamic State, according to the Observatory, which gathers information from all sides in the Syrian war. Its efforts to pledge allegiance to Islamic State have been rebuffed.</div> <span id="midArticle_12"></span><div style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"> Pictures of the bodies of men apparently slain by Islamic State fighters in Sheitaat areas are surfacing every day, said Rami Abdelrahman, founder of the Observatory. "We have repeatedly expressed concerns about extermination," he said.</div> <span id="midArticle_13"></span><div style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"> "It is the first time that the Islamic State has used these (religious) concepts against an entire tribe," he said.</div> <span id="midArticle_14"></span><div style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"> It has provided a convenient religious tool for crushing a tribe that until recently controlled several oil fields in Deir al-Zor, according to a source familiar with the conflict. That revenue stream is now fully in the hands of Islamic State.</div> <span id="midArticle_15"></span><div style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"> The treatment of the Sheitaat has served as a powerful deterrent to further rebellion in Deir al-Zor, a province bordering Iraq in the east mostly inhabited by Sunni Arabs many of whom are members of tribes that span the border into Iraq.</div> <span id="midArticle_0"></span><div style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"> Besides the Sheitaat tribe, thought to number about 150,000 people, the Islamic State has accepted the surrender of other influential clans in the area which have publicly capitulated to the group.</div> <span id="midArticle_1"></span><div style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"> It was in early July that Islamic State, boosted by territorial gains in Iraq, staged a rapid advance in the province, securing a corridor of Syrian territory along the Euphrates river all the way to the Iraqi border.</div> <span id="midArticle_2"></span><div style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"> </div> <span id="midArticle_3"></span><div style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"> RAMADAN</div> <span id="midArticle_4"></span><div style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"> "I will never forget that day," said the rebel, describing how Islamic State fighters seized the town of Shuhail, 40 km (25 miles) southeast of Deir al-Zor city, during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, when Muslims fast from dawn to dusk.</div> <span id="midArticle_5"></span><div style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"> "People were about to break their fast when Islamic State launched its attack," said the rebel, who has spoken to Reuters regularly over the past year or so.</div> <span id="midArticle_6"></span><div style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"> He spoke to Reuters via online link from inside his car, which he had parked in front of an internet cafe to connect to the Wifi signal. The Islamic State had confiscated his personal modem.</div> <span id="midArticle_7"></span><div style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"> "Islamic State is carrying out a detailed survey of all the men. They are recording full names, and marking the ones who fought them, like me, with detailed information about which weapons I used and which battles I fought.</div> <span id="midArticle_8"></span><div style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"> "We don't know the purpose of this survey. Are they going to forcefully enlist us in their ranks? Are they going to keep an eye on us for their security? Are they going to seize our property like they’re already doing?" he asked.</div> <span id="midArticle_9"></span><div style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;">     The rebel, whose name was withheld for security reasons, was a fighter in a group linked to the Free Syrian Army, an umbrella organization for Western-backed rebels who have largely faded from the scene as better armed Islamist groups have prevailed.</div> <span id="midArticle_10"></span><div style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"> The Nusra Front, al Qaeda's affiliate in the Syrian civil war, also took part in the effort to repel Islamic State's advance in Deir al-Zor. It has now abandoned an area that was once a stronghold, having refused to capitulate.</div> <span id="midArticle_11"></span><div style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;">     Sensing defeat was at hand, weaker rebel battalions called in a mediator to tell Islamic State they were ready for a truce and were even prepared to pledge allegiance to the group.</div> <span id="midArticle_12"></span><div style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"> "We all knew that if this battle continued all night, it would be the end of us all - our town, our families," said the rebel, speaking of the night during Ramadan.</div> <span id="midArticle_13"></span><div style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"> Islamic State spared rebel fighters and local clan elders who surrendered in Shuhail. But they also made the town's 35,000 residents leave for eight days with the stated aim of searching homes and securing the area.</div> <span id="midArticle_14"></span><div style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;">     "We had no choice. All of us, we left the city: elderly, babies, civilians, fighters, everyone," the rebel fighter said.</div> <span id="midArticle_15"></span><div style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;">     Some stayed with relatives in nearby villages, while others slept in the desert for a week, enduring the harsh summer heat.</div> <span id="midArticle_0"></span><div style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"> "I've atoned, but I don't support them," added the rebel.</div> <span id="midArticle_1"></span><div style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"> </div> <span id="midArticle_2"></span><div style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"> ABANDONED HOMES</div> <span id="midArticle_3"></span><div style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"> But for the Sheitaat clan, there has been no mercy.</div> <span id="midArticle_4"></span><div style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"> Three Sheitaat villages seized by Islamic State have been designated as a military zone, the rebel and another activist from the area said. The clan's property and <span class="mandelbrot_refrag"><a class="mandelbrot_refrag" data-ls-seen="1" href="http://www.reuters.com/finance/commodities/livestock?lc=int_mb_1001" style="color: #006e97; cursor: pointer; outline: none; text-decoration: none;">livestock</a></span> have also been seized, another person from the area said.</div> <span id="midArticle_5"></span><div style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"> Islamic State has declared that no truce is possible with the Sheitaat, that its prisoners can be killed, and its women are unfit for marriage, according to the Observatory.</div> <span id="midArticle_6"></span><div style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"> "We're still seeing Islamic State trucks loaded up with furniture and rugs from Sheitaat homes in those villages, which are now totally abandoned," said one person from the area contacted by internet link, speaking on condition of anonymity.</div> <span id="midArticle_7"></span><div style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"> Islamic State has started to use house demolitions as a punishment. A video posted over the weekend shows what appears to be the detonation of a rural home as the narrator, who identifies himself as from Islamic State, explains that the home belongs to Sheitaat "apostates". </div> <span id="midArticle_8"></span><div style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"> "This is a warning to all clans to capitulate and acquiesce into obedience of Islamic State," he says.</div> <span id="midArticle_9"></span><div style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"> Other Deir al-Zor tribes have issued a plea to Islamic State to spare the Sheitaat. Clan and tribal elders from other groups appeared in a video posted on Sunday appealing to Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi to pardon them.</div> <span id="midArticle_10"></span><div style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"> "We ask that you extend forgiveness to the people of Sheitaat, who have pledged allegiance to Islamic State ... and your forgiveness will facilitate a new phase," said one of the leaders, dressed in traditional tribal robes.</div> <span id="midArticle_11"></span><div style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"> Alluding to the possible expansion of U.S. air strikes on Islamic State into <span class="mandelbrot_refrag"><a class="mandelbrot_refrag" data-ls-seen="1" href="http://www.reuters.com/places/syria?lc=int_mb_1001" style="color: #006e97; cursor: pointer; outline: none; text-decoration: none;">Syria</a></span>, he says that "the Crusader enemy is preparing to hit the Sunni areas that fall under the rule of Islamic State".</div> <span id="midArticle_12"></span><div style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"> "So let's be one hand together against those hostile to God’s religion."</div> <span id="midArticle_13"></span><div style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"> </div> <span id="midArticle_14"></span><div style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"> (Reporting by Beirut bureau; Editing by Tom Perry/Sylvia Westall/Giles Elgood)</div> <span id="midArticle_15"></span></span><div class="relatedTopicButtons"> <div class="file_under" style="color: #ff8000; float: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 28px; margin-right: 5px;"> FILED UNDER:</div> <div class="actionButton" style="background-image: none !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; display: inline; float: left; font-size: 11px; height: 21px; list-style-type: none; margin: 3px 0px 20px; overflow: hidden;"> <a href="http://www.reuters.com/news/world" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; color: black; cursor: pointer; display: block; float: left; font-weight: normal; height: 21px; line-height: 10px; margin: 2px 0px 0px 4px; outline: none; overflow: hidden; padding: 4px 5px 1px 1px; text-decoration: underline; text-transform: uppercase;">WORLD</a></div> <div class="actionButton" style="background-image: none !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; display: inline; float: left; font-size: 11px; height: 21px; list-style-type: none; margin: 3px 0px 20px; overflow: hidden;"> <a href="http://www.reuters.com/places/syria" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; color: black; cursor: pointer; display: block; float: left; font-weight: normal; height: 21px; line-height: 10px; margin: 2px 0px 0px 4px; outline: none; overflow: hidden; padding: 4px 5px 1px 1px; text-decoration: underline; text-transform: uppercase;">SYRIA</a></div> </div> <div class="facebookRec" style="clear: both; float: left; margin-top: -12px; padding-top: 5px;" tns="no"> <iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2F2014%2F08%2F26%2Fus-syria-crisis-province-insight-idUSKBN0GQ1G120140826&layout=standard&show_faces=false&width=450&action=recommend&colorscheme=light&height=35" style="border: none; height: 35px; overflow: hidden; width: 450px;"></iframe></div> <div id="relatedStocks2"> <div class="module shareLinks horizontal" style="float: left; margin: -5px 0px 10px; width: 610px;"> <div class="moduleBody" style="float: left; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 610px;"> <ul style="clear: both; float: left; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 5px 0px 0px; width: 610px;"> <li class="twitter " style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat repeat; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: medium !important; color: #999999; float: left; font-size: 11px !important; font-weight: normal; line-height: 14px; list-style-type: none; margin: 2px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; width: 100px;" tns="no"><span class="hrefClone" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://s2.reutersmedia.net/resources_v2/images/sprite-article.gif); background-position: 0px -167px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; color: #666666; cursor: pointer; display: block; font-weight: bold; padding: 2px 10px 2px 24px; text-decoration: none;">Tweet this</span></li> <li class="linkedIn " style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat repeat; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: medium !important; color: #999999; float: left; font-size: 11px !important; font-weight: normal; line-height: 14px; list-style-type: none; margin: 2px 0px 0px; min-width: 65px; padding: 0px;" tns="no"><span class="hrefClone" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://s2.reutersmedia.net/resources_v2/images/sprite-article.gif); background-position: 0px -78px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; color: #666666; cursor: pointer; display: block; font-weight: bold; padding: 2px 10px 2px 24px; text-decoration: none;">Link this</span></li> <li class="facebook" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat repeat; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: medium !important; color: #999999; float: left; font-size: 11px !important; font-weight: normal; line-height: 14px; list-style-type: none; margin: 2px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;" tns="no"><span class="hrefClone" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://s2.reutersmedia.net/resources_v2/images/sprite-article.gif); background-position: 0px -52px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; color: #666666; cursor: pointer; display: block; font-weight: bold; padding: 2px 10px 2px 24px; text-decoration: none;">Share this</span></li> <li class="digg " style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat repeat; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: medium !important; color: #999999; float: left; font-size: 11px !important; font-weight: normal; line-height: 14px; list-style-type: none; margin: 2px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;" tns="no"><span class="hrefClone" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://s2.reutersmedia.net/resources_v2/images/sprite-article.gif); background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; color: #666666; cursor: pointer; display: block; font-weight: bold; padding: 2px 10px 2px 24px; text-decoration: none;">Digg this</span></li> <li class="email" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat repeat; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: medium !important; color: #999999; float: left; font-size: 11px !important; font-weight: normal; line-height: 14px; list-style-type: none; margin: 2px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;" tns="no"><span class="hrefClone" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://s2.reutersmedia.net/resources_v2/images/sprite-article.gif); background-position: 0px -26px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; color: #666666; cursor: pointer; display: block; font-weight: bold; padding: 2px 10px 2px 24px; text-decoration: none;">Email</span></li> <li class="print last" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat repeat; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: medium !important; color: #999999; float: left; font-size: 11px !important; font-weight: normal; line-height: 14px; list-style-type: none; margin: 2px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;" tns="no"><span class="hrefClone" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://s2.reutersmedia.net/resources_v2/images/sprite-article.gif); background-position: 0px -104px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; color: #666666; cursor: pointer; display: block; font-weight: bold; padding: 2px 10px 2px 24px; text-decoration: none;">Print</span></li> <li class="reprints" style="background-attachment: scroll !important; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) !important; background-image: url(http://s2.reutersmedia.net/resources_v2/images/sprite-article.gif) !important; background-position: 0px -130px !important; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-top-width: medium !important; color: #999999; float: left; font-size: 11px !important; font-weight: normal; height: 27px; line-height: 14px; list-style-type: none; margin: 2px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; width: 90px;" tns="no"><a href="http://www.reutersreprints.com/" style="color: #666666; cursor: pointer; display: block; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 13px; outline: none; padding: 6px 0px 4px 20px; text-decoration: none;">Reprints</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="section" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; width: auto;"> <div class="sectionContent" style="clear: both; float: left; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"> <div class="sectionColumns"> <div class="gridPanel grid12" style="display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; width: 960px !important;"> <div> <div class=" trc_related_container trc_spotlight_widget" id="taboola-below-main-column" style="clear: both; width: 610px;"> <div class="trc_rbox_container" style="direction: ltr; display: block; text-align: left;"> <div> <div class="trc_rbox ab_thumbs-2r_thumbs-above-links trc-content-sponsored trc-auto-size" id="trc_wrapper_12003" style="border: 0px none rgb(0, 0, 0); clear: both; display: block; height: 383px; margin-top: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 610px;"> <div class="trc_rbox_header trc_rbox_border_elm" id="trc_header_12003" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-color: rgb(169, 169, 169) rgb(169, 169, 169) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-style: none none solid; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; height: auto; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; position: relative; text-decoration: none;"> <div class="trc_header_ext" style="position: relative; right: auto; top: auto;"> <div class="logoDiv link-disclosure attribution-disclosure-link-sponsored" style="display: block; float: right; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; position: relative; white-space: nowrap;"> <a class="trc_desktop_disclosure_link trc_attribution_position_top" href="http://www.taboola.com/en/popup?template=colorbox&taboola_utm_source=reuters-reuters&taboola_utm_medium=bytaboola&taboola_utm_content=ab_thumbs-2r_thumbs-above-links:below-main-column:" rel="nofollow" style="color: black; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-size: 9px; margin-right: 1px; outline: none; text-decoration: none !important; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; display: inline; font-size: 10px; font-weight: normal;">Sponsored Links by Taboola</span></a></div> </div> <span class="trc_rbox_header_span" style="float: none; margin-left: 0px;"><span class="trc_inner_header trc_header_left_column" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; display: inline; height: auto;">From The Web</span></span></div> <div class="trc_rbox_outer" id="outer_12003" style="overflow: hidden;"> <div class="trc_rbox_div trc_rbox_border_elm" id="rbox-t2v" style="border: 0px solid rgb(169, 169, 169); box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 3px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: auto;"> <div id="internal_trc_12003" style="width: auto;"> <div class="videoCube trc_spotlight_item horizontal origin-default thumbnail_top syndicatedItem trc-first-recommendation trc-spotlight-first-recommendation" data-item-id="~~V1~~-3624403826657871533~~ZE-wWXpz5p2Ja5KkZnhA4pc_ePfMh266VWBwDARliWcczJcq17NICiC6pZnaZ7NeH_xpFNRTS4RknAmMH9bPGA" data-item-syndicated="true" data-item-thumb="http://www.zadtech.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Apple-iWatch-Can-Be-Launching-With-1.7-and-1.3-Variants_thumb1.jpg" data-item-title="Apple iWatch 2 Amazing!!!" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: 1px none rgb(214, 213, 211); box-sizing: border-box; color: black; cursor: pointer; direction: ltr; float: left; font-size: 11px; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 18px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; width: 139px; zoom: 1;"> <a class=" item-thumbnail-href " href="http://www.zadtech.com/apple-iwatch-can-be-launching-with-1-7-1-3-variants.html?utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=referral" rel="nofollow" style="border: 0px; color: #006e97; cursor: pointer; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none !important;" target="_blank" title="Apple iWatch 2 Amazing!!!"><span class="thumbBlock" style="border: 0px solid rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; float: none; height: 95px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden !important; position: relative; width: 139px;"><span class="thumbnail-overlay" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: 5% 5%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; height: 95px; position: absolute; width: 139px; z-index: 50;"></span><img src="http://images.taboola.com/taboola/image/fetch/f_jpg%2Cq_80%2Ch_95%2Cw_139%2Cc_fill%2Cg_face%2Ce_sharpen/http%3A//www.zadtech.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Apple-iWatch-Can-Be-Launching-With-1.7-and-1.3-Variants_thumb1.jpg" style="border: 0px rgb(236, 236, 236); display: block; height: 95px !important; margin: 0px; max-width: none; outline: none; visibility: visible; width: auto;" /></span></a><a class=" item-label-href " href="http://www.zadtech.com/apple-iwatch-can-be-launching-with-1-7-1-3-variants.html?utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=referral" rel="nofollow" style="border: 0px; color: #006e97; cursor: pointer; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none !important;" target="_blank" title="Apple iWatch 2 Amazing!!!"><span class="video-label-box" style="display: block; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; text-align: left;"><span class="video-label video-title" style="color: #006e97; display: block; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; height: auto; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; max-height: 28px; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; white-space: normal; width: auto !important; word-wrap: break-word;">Apple iWatch 2 Amazing!!!</span><span class="branding" style="color: #999999; display: block; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">ZadTech.com</span></span></a></div> <div class="videoCube trc_spotlight_item horizontal origin-default thumbnail_top syndicatedItem" data-item-id="~~V1~~-6304835096592314770~~OTOaVR8xK1LzQlGEFMyNqY_JvS_BiUNMs2HEkwJ07XWlbhCCG9-CN9cSG0xYmmFOH_xpFNRTS4RknAmMH9bPGA" data-item-syndicated="true" data-item-thumb="http://worldobserveronline.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/911-300x300.jpg" data-item-title="Ex-CIA Pilot Gives Sworn Testimony That No Planes Hit The Twin Towers" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: 1px none rgb(214, 213, 211); box-sizing: border-box; color: black; cursor: pointer; direction: ltr; float: left; font-size: 11px; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 18px 18px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; width: 139px; zoom: 1;"> <a class=" item-thumbnail-href " href="http://worldobserveronline.com/2014/03/09/ex-cia-pilot-gives-sworn-testimony-planes-hit-twin-towers/" rel="nofollow" style="border: 0px; color: #006e97; cursor: pointer; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none !important;" target="_blank" title="Ex-CIA Pilot Gives Sworn Testimony That No Planes Hit The Twin Towers"><span class="thumbBlock" style="border: 0px solid rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; float: none; height: 95px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden !important; position: relative; width: 139px;"><span class="thumbnail-overlay" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: 5% 5%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; height: 95px; position: absolute; width: 139px; z-index: 50;"></span><img src="http://images.taboola.com/taboola/image/fetch/f_jpg%2Cq_80%2Ch_95%2Cw_139%2Cc_fill%2Cg_face%2Ce_sharpen/http%3A//worldobserveronline.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/911-300x300.jpg" style="border: 0px rgb(236, 236, 236); display: block; height: 95px !important; margin: 0px; max-width: none; outline: none; visibility: visible; width: auto;" /></span></a><a class=" item-label-href " href="http://worldobserveronline.com/2014/03/09/ex-cia-pilot-gives-sworn-testimony-planes-hit-twin-towers/" rel="nofollow" style="border: 0px; color: #006e97; cursor: pointer; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none !important;" target="_blank" title="Ex-CIA Pilot Gives Sworn Testimony That No Planes Hit The Twin Towers"><span class="video-label-box" style="display: block; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; text-align: left;"><span class="video-label video-title" style="color: #006e97; display: block; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; height: auto; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; max-height: 28px; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; white-space: normal; width: auto !important; word-wrap: break-word;">Ex-CIA Pilot Gives Sworn Testimony Tha<span>…</span></span><span class="branding" style="color: #999999; display: block; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">World Observer</span></span></a></div> <div class="videoCube trc_spotlight_item horizontal origin-default thumbnail_top syndicatedItem" data-item-id="~~V1~~1779312900891592105~~lNKg--OKX8yScA30eiwDEE1r8l1XF4U80YljnFJQJh6yVFUCc2kguIMABgPID4DZH_xpFNRTS4RknAmMH9bPGA" data-item-syndicated="true" data-item-thumb="http://wmnlife.com/media/k2/items/cache/267b1948fa84309bc99f9c0289cabe44_M.jpg" data-item-title="Top 11 Best Celebrity Selfies" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: 1px none rgb(214, 213, 211); box-sizing: border-box; color: black; cursor: pointer; direction: ltr; float: left; font-size: 11px; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 18px 18px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; width: 139px; zoom: 1;"> <a class=" item-thumbnail-href " href="http://wmnlife.com/celebrities/top-11-best-celebrity-selfies?utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=reuters-reuters&utm_campaign=taboola-int&utm_term=Top+11+Best+Celebrity+Selfies&utm_content=http%3A%2F%2Fwmnlife.com%2Fmedia%2Fk2%2Fitems%2Fcache%2F267b1948fa84309bc99f9c0289cabe44_M.jpg" rel="nofollow" style="border: 0px; color: #006e97; cursor: pointer; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none !important;" target="_blank" title="Top 11 Best Celebrity Selfies"><span class="thumbBlock" style="border: 0px solid rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; float: none; height: 95px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden !important; position: relative; width: 139px;"><span class="thumbnail-overlay" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: 5% 5%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; height: 95px; position: absolute; width: 139px; z-index: 50;"></span><img src="http://images.taboola.com/taboola/image/fetch/f_jpg%2Cq_80%2Ch_95%2Cw_139%2Cc_fill%2Cg_face%2Ce_sharpen/http%3A//wmnlife.com/media/k2/items/cache/267b1948fa84309bc99f9c0289cabe44_M.jpg" style="border: 0px rgb(236, 236, 236); display: block; height: 95px !important; margin: 0px; max-width: none; outline: none; visibility: visible; width: auto;" /></span></a><a class=" item-label-href " href="http://wmnlife.com/celebrities/top-11-best-celebrity-selfies?utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=reuters-reuters&utm_campaign=taboola-int&utm_term=Top+11+Best+Celebrity+Selfies&utm_content=http%3A%2F%2Fwmnlife.com%2Fmedia%2Fk2%2Fitems%2Fcache%2F267b1948fa84309bc99f9c0289cabe44_M.jpg" rel="nofollow" style="border: 0px; color: #006e97; cursor: pointer; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none !important;" target="_blank" title="Top 11 Best Celebrity Selfies"><span class="video-label-box" style="display: block; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; text-align: left;"><span class="video-label video-title" style="color: #006e97; display: block; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; height: auto; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; max-height: 28px; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; white-space: normal; width: auto !important; word-wrap: break-word;">Top 11 Best Celebrity Selfies</span><span class="branding" style="color: #999999; display: block; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">WmnLife.com</span></span></a></div> <div class="videoCube trc_spotlight_item horizontal origin-default thumbnail_top syndicatedItem" data-item-id="~~V1~~6728136399377573285~~rG7aJ9jpsS9bJf7-COgspATG3Kq7Macrr1SCyY_flTn8ECzTLIUE9Uf4YgpWLedTH_xpFNRTS4RknAmMH9bPGA" data-item-syndicated="true" data-item-thumb="http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/image_content_width/hash/77/23/7723313914018dfa54dbf2f694bc79d8.jpg?itok=iefvjGFX" data-item-title="Brick And Mortar Get Nimble, Here’s How" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: 1px none rgb(214, 213, 211); box-sizing: border-box; color: black; cursor: pointer; direction: ltr; float: left; font-size: 11px; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 18px 18px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; width: 139px; zoom: 1;"> <a class=" item-thumbnail-href " href="http://www.examiner.com/article/dreamchrono-and-informed-shopping-why-e-commerce-needs-experts?utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=referral" rel="nofollow" style="border: 0px; color: #006e97; cursor: pointer; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none !important;" target="_blank" title="Brick And Mortar Get Nimble, Here’s How"><span class="thumbBlock" style="border: 0px solid rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; float: none; height: 95px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden !important; position: relative; width: 139px;"><span class="thumbnail-overlay" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: 5% 5%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; height: 95px; position: absolute; width: 139px; z-index: 50;"></span><img src="http://images.taboola.com/taboola/image/fetch/f_jpg%2Cq_80%2Ch_95%2Cw_139%2Cc_fill%2Cg_face%2Ce_sharpen/http%3A//cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/image_content_width/hash/77/23/7723313914018dfa54dbf2f694bc79d8.jpg%3Fitok%3DiefvjGFX" style="border: 0px rgb(236, 236, 236); display: block; height: 95px !important; margin: 0px; max-width: none; outline: none; visibility: visible; width: auto;" /></span></a><a class=" item-label-href " href="http://www.examiner.com/article/dreamchrono-and-informed-shopping-why-e-commerce-needs-experts?utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=referral" rel="nofollow" style="border: 0px; color: #006e97; cursor: pointer; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none !important;" target="_blank" title="Brick And Mortar Get Nimble, Here’s How"><span class="video-label-box" style="display: block; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; text-align: left;"><span class="video-label video-title" style="color: #006e97; display: block; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; height: auto; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; max-height: 28px; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; white-space: normal; width: auto !important; word-wrap: break-word;">Brick And Mortar Get Nimble, Here’s How</span><span class="branding" style="color: #999999; display: block; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">Examiner.com</span></span></a></div> <div style="clear: both; width: 610px;"> </div> <div class="videoCube trc_spotlight_item horizontal origin-default thumbnail_top syndicatedItem" data-item-id="~~V1~~-7266593727627246452~~xQX_cUCPBG2aacZgzQKPjP1nWzphxvttblrmiJAamGYFgeuJYncOy_S2rBabxW3wH_xpFNRTS4RknAmMH9bPGA" data-item-syndicated="true" data-item-thumb="http://likey.today/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/iglucruise3.jpg" data-item-title="Here Are Some Of The Biggest Cruise Ships in World !!!" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: 1px none rgb(214, 213, 211); box-sizing: border-box; color: black; cursor: pointer; direction: ltr; float: left; font-size: 11px; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 18px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; width: 139px; zoom: 1;"> <a class=" item-thumbnail-href " href="http://trc.taboola.com/reuters-reuters/log/3/click?pi=%2Farticle%2F2014%2F08%2F26%2Fus-syria-crisis-province-insight-iduskbn0gq1g120140826&ri=5fb4bb4c954386eaff709a60e751c499&sd=v2_99f29af8e94eb06ae98e746b01809165_fc6c4ec8-ac21-4610-96ef-8f5677abd202_1409162591_1409163222_CAI&ui=fc6c4ec8-ac21-4610-96ef-8f5677abd202&it=video&ii=~~V1~~-7266593727627246452~~xQX_cUCPBG2aacZgzQKPjP1nWzphxvttblrmiJAamGYFgeuJYncOy_S2rBabxW3wH_xpFNRTS4RknAmMH9bPGA&pt=text&li=rbox-t2v&redir=http%3A%2F%2Flikey.today%2Ftop-10-biggest-cruise-ships-world%2F%3Futm_source%3Dtaboola%26utm_medium%3Dreferral&p=masteritlikeytoday-sc&vi=1409163222871&r=5" rel="nofollow" style="border: 0px; color: #006e97; cursor: pointer; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none !important;" target="_blank" title="Here Are Some Of The Biggest Cruise Ships in World !!!"><span class="thumbBlock" style="border: 0px solid rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; float: none; height: 95px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden !important; position: relative; width: 139px;"><span class="thumbnail-overlay" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: 5% 5%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; height: 95px; position: absolute; width: 139px; z-index: 50;"></span><img src="http://images.taboola.com/taboola/image/fetch/f_jpg%2Cq_80%2Ch_95%2Cw_139%2Cc_fill%2Cg_face%2Ce_sharpen/http%3A//likey.today/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/iglucruise3.jpg" style="border: 0px rgb(236, 236, 236); display: block; height: 95px !important; margin: 0px; max-width: none; outline: none; visibility: visible; width: auto;" /></span></a><a class=" item-label-href " href="http://likey.today/top-10-biggest-cruise-ships-world/?utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=referral" rel="nofollow" style="border: 0px; color: #006e97; cursor: pointer; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none !important;" target="_blank" title="Here Are Some Of The Biggest Cruise Ships in World !!!"><span class="video-label-box" style="display: block; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; text-align: left;"><span class="video-label video-title" style="color: #006e97; display: block; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; height: auto; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; max-height: 28px; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; white-space: normal; width: auto !important; word-wrap: break-word;">Here Are Some Of The Biggest Cruise Ships <span>…</span></span><span class="branding" style="color: #999999; display: block; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">Likey.today</span></span></a></div> <div class="videoCube trc_spotlight_item horizontal origin-default thumbnail_top syndicatedItem" data-item-id="~~V1~~-4998816103544569833~~y8phQAP0Sq2DsM24-QsjyUGmRbfS0WIZ7aGQZTFkvhBIutXn8ozhrDVQOFb4cTWQH_xpFNRTS4RknAmMH9bPGA" data-item-syndicated="true" data-item-thumb="http://drprem.drpremandassocia.netdna-cdn.com/travel/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2013/03/136636751.jpg" data-item-title="Costa Rica " style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: 1px none rgb(214, 213, 211); box-sizing: border-box; color: black; cursor: pointer; direction: ltr; float: left; font-size: 11px; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 18px 18px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; width: 139px; zoom: 1;"> <a class=" item-thumbnail-href " href="http://drprem.com/travel/costa-rica/?utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=referral" rel="nofollow" style="border: 0px; color: #006e97; cursor: pointer; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none !important;" target="_blank" title="Costa Rica "><span class="thumbBlock" style="border: 0px solid rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; float: none; height: 95px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden !important; position: relative; width: 139px;"><span class="thumbnail-overlay" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: 5% 5%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; height: 95px; position: absolute; width: 139px; z-index: 50;"></span><img src="http://images.taboola.com/taboola/image/fetch/f_jpg%2Cq_80%2Ch_95%2Cw_139%2Cc_fill%2Cg_face%2Ce_sharpen/http%3A//drprem.drpremandassocia.netdna-cdn.com/travel/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2013/03/136636751.jpg" style="border: 0px rgb(236, 236, 236); display: block; height: 95px !important; margin: 0px; max-width: none; outline: none; visibility: visible; width: auto;" /></span></a><a class=" item-label-href " href="http://drprem.com/travel/costa-rica/?utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=referral" rel="nofollow" style="border: 0px; color: #006e97; cursor: pointer; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none !important;" target="_blank" title="Costa Rica "><span class="video-label-box" style="display: block; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; text-align: left;"><span class="video-label video-title" style="color: #006e97; display: block; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; height: auto; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; max-height: 28px; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; white-space: normal; width: auto !important; word-wrap: break-word;">Costa Rica</span><span class="branding" style="color: #999999; display: block; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">DrPrem.com</span></span></a></div> <div class="videoCube trc_spotlight_item horizontal origin-default thumbnail_top syndicatedItem" data-item-id="~~V1~~4156245759012443127~~GeFFx99wViMNx1gaZ3PhDOGj5zaMbtYSsUewL8bIbO6p7LFwJpnIZamwOwO-qh7JH_xpFNRTS4RknAmMH9bPGA" data-item-syndicated="true" data-item-thumb="http://cdn.taboolasyndication.com/libtrc/static/thumbnails/e9f99470d4d12f87858dc2e43ec1d52c.png" data-item-title="10 Scariest Movies Based On True Stories" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: 1px none rgb(214, 213, 211); box-sizing: border-box; color: black; cursor: pointer; direction: ltr; float: left; font-size: 11px; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 18px 18px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; width: 139px; zoom: 1;"> <a class=" item-thumbnail-href " href="http://www.monstermoviereviews.com/genres/the-scariest-movies-based-on-true-stories/?utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=referral" rel="nofollow" style="border: 0px; color: #006e97; cursor: pointer; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none !important;" target="_blank" title="10 Scariest Movies Based On True Stories"><span class="thumbBlock" style="border: 0px solid rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; float: none; height: 95px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden !important; position: relative; width: 139px;"><span class="thumbnail-overlay" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: 5% 5%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; height: 95px; position: absolute; width: 139px; z-index: 50;"></span><img src="http://images.taboola.com/taboola/image/fetch/f_jpg%2Cq_80%2Ch_95%2Cw_139%2Cc_fill%2Cg_face%2Ce_sharpen/http%3A//cdn.taboolasyndication.com/libtrc/static/thumbnails/e9f99470d4d12f87858dc2e43ec1d52c.png" style="border: 0px rgb(236, 236, 236); display: block; height: 95px !important; margin: 0px; max-width: none; outline: none; visibility: visible; width: auto;" /></span></a><a class=" item-label-href " href="http://www.monstermoviereviews.com/genres/the-scariest-movies-based-on-true-stories/?utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=referral" rel="nofollow" style="border: 0px; color: #006e97; cursor: pointer; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none !important;" target="_blank" title="10 Scariest Movies Based On True Stories"><span class="video-label-box" style="display: block; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; text-align: left;"><span class="video-label video-title" style="color: #006e97; display: block; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; height: auto; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; max-height: 28px; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; white-space: normal; width: auto !important; word-wrap: break-word;">10 Scariest Movies Based On True Stories</span><span class="branding" style="color: #999999; display: block; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">Monster Movie Reviews</span></span></a></div> <div class="videoCube trc_spotlight_item horizontal origin-default thumbnail_top syndicatedItem" data-item-id="~~V1~~8047106733758777273~~fNYS_fa6ubW_BjiRs3FUDyQDXA2f-Sh1WvrAFb5Azw9O00tylxST9sKTapGHVojYH_xpFNRTS4RknAmMH9bPGA" data-item-syndicated="true" data-item-thumb="http://cdn.womanitely.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Brazil-nuts.jpg" data-item-title="10 Foods That Help Burn Calories and Lose Weight" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: 1px none rgb(214, 213, 211); box-sizing: border-box; color: black; cursor: pointer; direction: ltr; float: left; font-size: 11px; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 18px 18px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; width: 139px; zoom: 1;"> <a class=" item-thumbnail-href " href="http://womanitely.com/foods-eat-burn-more-calories/?utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=taboola-food" rel="nofollow" style="border: 0px; color: #006e97; cursor: pointer; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none !important;" target="_blank" title="10 Foods That Help Burn Calories and Lose Weight"><span class="thumbBlock" style="border: 0px solid rgb(169, 169, 169); display: block; float: none; height: 95px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden !important; position: relative; width: 139px;"><span class="thumbnail-overlay" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: 5% 5%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; height: 95px; position: absolute; width: 139px; z-index: 50;"></span><img src="http://images.taboola.com/taboola/image/fetch/f_jpg%2Cq_80%2Ch_95%2Cw_139%2Cc_fill%2Cg_face%2Ce_sharpen/http%3A//cdn.womanitely.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Brazil-nuts.jpg" style="border: 0px rgb(236, 236, 236); display: block; height: 95px !important; margin: 0px; max-width: none; outline: none; visibility: visible; width: auto;" /></span></a><a class=" item-label-href " href="http://womanitely.com/foods-eat-burn-more-calories/?utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=taboola-food" rel="nofollow" style="border: 0px; color: #006e97; cursor: pointer; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none !important;" target="_blank" title="10 Foods That Help Burn Calories and Lose Weight"><span class="video-label-box" style="display: block; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; text-align: left;"><span class="video-label video-title" style="color: #006e97; display: block; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; height: auto; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; max-height: 28px; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; white-space: normal; width: auto !important; word-wrap: break-word;">10 Foods That Help Burn Calories and Lo<span>…</span></span><span class="branding" style="color: #999999; display: block; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">Womanitely</span></span></a></div> <div style="clear: both;"> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="trc_clearer" style="clear: both; font-size: 0px; height: 0px; line-height: 0; overflow: hidden; visibility: hidden;"> </div> <a class="whatsThisSyndicated a-bottom-right trc_desktop_attribution_link" href="http://www.taboola.com/popup?template=colorbox&taboola_utm_source=reuters-reuters&taboola_utm_medium=bytaboola&taboola_utm_content=ab_thumbs-2r_thumbs-above-links:below-main-column:" rel="nofollow" style="bottom: 0px; color: black; cursor: pointer; display: block; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9px; font-weight: normal; outline: none; padding: 0px; position: absolute; right: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title=""></a><a class="whatsThisSyndicated a-bottom-right trc_mobile_attribution_link" href="http://www.taboola.com/popup?template=colorbox&taboola_utm_source=reuters-reuters&taboola_utm_medium=bytaboola&taboola_utm_content=ab_thumbs-2r_thumbs-above-links:below-main-column:" rel="nofollow" style="bottom: 0px; color: black; cursor: pointer; display: block; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9px; font-weight: normal; outline: none; padding: 0px; position: absolute; right: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title=""></a></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class=" trc_related_container trc_spotlight_widget trc_tl_responsive trc_tl_responsive_trc_23682 " id="taboola-bmc" style="clear: both; float: left; width: 295px;"> <div class="trc_rbox_container trc_safari" style="direction: ltr; display: block; text-align: left;"> <div> <div class="trc_rbox ab_organic-text-links-2c_thumbs-above-links trc-content-organic " id="trc_wrapper_23682" style="border: 0px none rgb(0, 0, 0); display: block; margin-top: 9px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; width: auto;"> <div class="trc_rbox_header trc_rbox_border_elm" id="trc_header_23682" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-color: rgb(169, 169, 169) rgb(169, 169, 169) rgb(204, 204, 204); border-style: none none solid; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; height: auto; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 5px; padding: 0px 0px 5px; position: relative; text-decoration: none;"> <div class="trc_header_ext" style="position: relative; right: auto; top: auto;"> </div> <span class="trc_rbox_header_span" style="float: none; margin-left: 0px;"><span class="trc_inner_header trc_header_left_column" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; display: inline; height: auto; width: auto;">More From Reuters</span></span></div> <div class="trc_rbox_outer" id="outer_23682" style="overflow: hidden;"> <div class="trc_rbox_div trc_rbox_border_elm" id="rbox-t2m" style="border: 0px solid rgb(169, 169, 169); box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 3px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: auto;"> <div id="internal_trc_23682" style="width: auto;"> <div class="videoCube trc_spotlight_item horizontal origin-default thumbnail_none trc-first-recommendation trc-spotlight-first-recommendation" data-item-id="-330557552327557860" data-item-syndicated="false" data-item-thumb="http://yospace-cds1.reuters.com/u/resize~ad1~250/0/f/~image_jpeg~9999-1/1/m/d/s/j/x/ib2y/reuters04?videoId=92781685" data-item-title="Syrian rebels introduce the &#34;hell cannon&#34;" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: rgb(214, 213, 211); border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(214, 213, 211); border-style: none; border-top-color: rgb(214, 213, 211); border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clear: left; color: black; cursor: pointer; direction: ltr; float: left; font-size: 11px; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 3px 8px 0px; width: 295px; zoom: 1;"> <a class=" item-label-href " href="http://www.reuters.com/video/2014/08/22/syrian-rebels-introduce-the-hell-cannon?videoId=340746339" style="border: 0px; color: #006e97; cursor: pointer; display: list-item; list-style: disc outside none; margin-left: 15px; outline: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none !important; vertical-align: top;" target="_parent" title="Syrian rebels introduce the "hell cannon""><span class="video-label-box" style="display: inline-block !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 277px;"><span class="video-label video-title" style="color: #006e97; display: inline; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; height: auto; line-height: 15.6px; margin-bottom: 3px; max-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; white-space: normal; width: auto !important; word-wrap: break-word;">Syrian rebels introduce the "hell cannon"<span class="trc_inline_detail_spacer" style="display: inline-block; white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="video-label video-published-date" id="published-date-for-measure" style="color: black; display: inline-block; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="trc_pipe" style="color: #cccccc; margin-left: 4px; margin-right: 4px;">|</span>22 Aug</span></span></span></a></div> <div class="videoCube trc_spotlight_item horizontal origin-default thumbnail_none textItem" data-item-id="-3502726569477934086" data-item-syndicated="false" data-item-thumb="http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20140821&t=2&i=965959563&w=130&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=LYNXMPEA7K0QY" data-item-title="&#39;Terrorists&#39; help U.S. in battle against Islamic State in Iraq " style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: 1px none rgb(214, 213, 211); box-sizing: border-box; clear: left; color: black; cursor: pointer; direction: ltr; float: left; font-size: 11px; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 3px 8px 0px; width: 295px; zoom: 1;"> <a class=" item-label-href " href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/21/us-iraq-security-pkk-insight-idUSKBN0GL1H420140821" style="border: 0px; color: #006e97; cursor: pointer; display: list-item; list-style: disc outside none; margin-left: 15px; outline: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none !important; vertical-align: top;" target="_parent" title="'Terrorists' help U.S. in battle against Islamic State in Iraq "><span class="video-label-box" style="display: inline-block !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 277px;"><span class="video-label video-title" style="color: #006e97; display: inline; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; height: auto; line-height: 15.6px; margin-bottom: 3px; max-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; white-space: normal; width: auto !important; word-wrap: break-word;">'Terrorists' help U.S. in battle against Islamic State in Iraq <span class="trc_inline_detail_spacer" style="display: inline-block; white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="video-label video-published-date" id="published-date-for-measure" style="color: black; display: inline-block; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="trc_pipe" style="color: #cccccc; margin-left: 4px; margin-right: 4px;">|</span>21 Aug</span></span></span></a></div> <div class="videoCube trc_spotlight_item horizontal origin-default thumbnail_none textItem" data-item-id="-4167565831754538097" data-item-syndicated="false" data-item-thumb="http://s4.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20140824&t=2&i=966658049&w=130&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=LYNXMPEA7N0CR" data-item-title="Hundreds dead as Islamic State seizes Syrian air base: monitor " style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: 1px none rgb(214, 213, 211); box-sizing: border-box; clear: left; color: black; cursor: pointer; direction: ltr; float: left; font-size: 11px; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 3px 8px 0px; width: 295px; zoom: 1;"> <a class=" item-label-href " href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/24/us-syria-crisis-idUSKBN0GO0C520140824" style="border: 0px; color: #006e97; cursor: pointer; display: list-item; list-style: disc outside none; margin-left: 15px; outline: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none !important; vertical-align: top;" target="_parent" title="Hundreds dead as Islamic State seizes Syrian air base: monitor "><span class="video-label-box" style="display: inline-block !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 277px;"><span class="video-label video-title" style="color: #006e97; display: inline; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; height: auto; line-height: 15.6px; margin-bottom: 3px; max-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; white-space: normal; width: auto !important; word-wrap: break-word;">Hundreds dead as Islamic State seizes Syrian air base: monitor <span class="trc_inline_detail_spacer" style="display: inline-block; white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="video-label video-published-date" id="published-date-for-measure" style="color: black; display: inline-block; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="trc_pipe" style="color: #cccccc; margin-left: 4px; margin-right: 4px;">|</span>24 Aug</span></span></span></a></div> <div class="videoCube trc_spotlight_item horizontal origin-default thumbnail_none textItem " data-item-id="-8115665673629806852" data-item-syndicated="false" data-item-thumb="" data-item-title="U.S. hostage rescuers dropped from night sky: Syria activist " style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: 1px none rgb(214, 213, 211); box-sizing: border-box; clear: left; color: black; cursor: pointer; direction: ltr; float: left; font-size: 11px; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 3px 8px 0px; width: 295px; zoom: 1;"> <a class=" item-label-href " href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/23/us-syria-usa-raid-idUSKBN0GM26620140823" style="border: 0px; color: #006e97; cursor: pointer; display: list-item; list-style: disc outside none; margin-left: 15px; outline: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none !important; vertical-align: top;" target="_parent" title="U.S. hostage rescuers dropped from night sky: Syria activist "><span class="video-label-box" style="display: inline-block !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 277px;"><span class="video-label video-title" style="color: #006e97; display: inline; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; height: auto; line-height: 15.6px; margin-bottom: 3px; max-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; white-space: normal; width: auto !important; word-wrap: break-word;">U.S. hostage rescuers dropped from night sky: Syria activist <span class="trc_inline_detail_spacer" style="display: inline-block; white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="video-label video-published-date" id="published-date-for-measure" style="color: black; display: inline-block; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="trc_pipe" style="color: #cccccc; margin-left: 4px; margin-right: 4px;">|</span>23 Aug</span></span></span></a></div> <div class="videoCube trc_spotlight_item horizontal origin-default thumbnail_none textItem " data-item-id="-138827055140485200" data-item-syndicated="false" data-item-thumb="http://s1.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20140826&t=2&i=967124000&w=130&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=LYNXMPEA7P0Q0" data-item-title="Exclusive: In Ukraine, an armored column appears out of nowhere " style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border: 1px none rgb(214, 213, 211); box-sizing: border-box; clear: left; color: black; cursor: pointer; direction: ltr; float: left; font-size: 11px; height: auto; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 3px 8px 0px; width: 295px; zoom: 1;"> <a class=" item-label-href " href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/26/us-ukraine-crisis-novoazovsk-exclusive-idUSKBN0GQ19U20140826" style="border: 0px; color: #006e97; cursor: pointer; display: list-item; list-style: disc outside none; margin-left: 15px; outline: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none !important; vertical-align: top;" target="_parent" title="Exclusive: In Ukraine, an armored column appears out of nowhere "><span class="video-label-box" style="display: inline-block !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 277px;"><span class="video-label video-title" style="color: #006e97; display: inline; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; height: auto; line-height: 15.6px; margin-bottom: 3px; max-height: 32px; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; white-space: normal; width: auto !important; word-wrap: break-word;">Exclusive: In Ukraine, an armored column appears out of nowhere <span class="trc_inline_detail_spacer" style="display: inline-block; white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="video-label video-published-date" id="published-date-for-measure" style="color: black; display: inline-block; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="trc_pipe" style="color: #cccccc; margin-left: 4px; margin-right: 4px;">|</span>26 Aug</span></span></span></a></div> <div style="clear: both;"> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="trc-widget-footer"> <div class="logoDiv link-attribution " style="float: right; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9px; white-space: nowrap;"> <a class="trc_desktop_attribution_link trc_attribution_position_bottom" href="http://www.taboola.com/en/popup?template=colorbox&taboola_utm_source=reuters-reuters&taboola_utm_medium=bytaboola&taboola_utm_content=ab_organic-text-links-2c_thumbs-above-links:bmc:" rel="nofollow" style="color: black; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-size: 9px; margin-right: 1px; outline: none; text-decoration: none !important; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; font-size: 10px; font-weight: normal;"></span></a></div> </div> <div class="trc_clearer" style="clear: both; font-size: 0px; height: 0px; line-height: 0; overflow: hidden; visibility: hidden;"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div style="float: left; margin-left: 10px; width: 300px;"> <iframe frameborder="0" height="295" hspace="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="NO" src="http://www.smartlinks.dianomi.com/smartads.epl?id=1734" valign="middle" vspace="0" width="305"></iframe></div> </div> <div class="linebreak" style="clear: both; float: none; font-size: 1px; height: 1px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; width: 960px;"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div> </div> <div id="commentForm" style="overflow: hidden;"> <a href="" name="post" style="color: #006e97; cursor: pointer; outline: none; text-decoration: none;"> </a><div> <iframe frameborder="0" height="290" id="commentFrame" name="commentFrame" scrolling="no" src="http://www.reuters.com/assets/commentsChild?canonical_article_id=/article/2014/08/26/us-syria-crisis-province-insight-idUSKBN0GQ1G120140826&articleId=USKBN0GQ1G120140826&headline=Islamic+State+turns+radical+Islam+on+Syria+Muslims&channel=worldNews&edition=BETAUS&view=base" style="overflow: hidden;" width="640"></iframe></div> </div> <div class="commentDisclaimer" style="clear: both; color: #999999; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; margin: 6px 0px 10px;"> We welcome comments that advance the story through relevant opinion, anecdotes, links and data. If you see a comment that you believe is irrelevant or inappropriate, you can flag it to our editors by using the report abuse links. Views expressed in the comments do not represent those of Reuters. For more information on our comment policy, see<a href="http://blogs.reuters.com/fulldisclosure/2010/09/27/toward-a-more-thoughtful-conversation-on-stories/" style="color: #006e97; cursor: pointer; outline: none; text-decoration: none;">http://blogs.reuters.com/fulldisclosure/2010/09/27/toward-a-more-thoughtful-conversation-on-stories/</a></div> <div class="articleComments" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <a href="" name="comments" style="color: #006e97; cursor: pointer; outline: none; text-decoration: none;"></a><div class="commentsHeader" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; clear: left; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 10px 0px 18px; padding: 10px 7px; text-transform: none !important; width: 610px;"> Comments (16)</div> <div class="singleComment" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://s2.reutersmedia.net/resources_v2/images/dotsHorizontal.gif); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat; margin: 8px 0px 0px;"> <div class="commentAuthor" style="font-size: 13px; padding: 0px 0px 10px;"> <a href="http://www.reuters.com/profile/DavidPun" style="color: black; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; outline: none; text-decoration: none;">DavidPun</a> wrote:</div> <div class="commentsBody" p="" style="color: black; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2;"> I am disgusted at the naivete of our US leaders, both militarily and politically. We should have learned by now that the concept of extending Western Democracy into countries like Iraq and Libya is a complete and total joke. The people in these countries have demonstrated no ability to exist in a democratic society. These countries require a “strong man” leader to keep them stable and under control and more importantly to keep control over radical groups like ISIS. This is essentially true in Syria. We don’t like Assad. I understand that. But we didn’t like Stalin in WWII, but Hitler was by far the greater threat at the time. The ourageously inept foreign policy of the US has done nothing in Syria other than weaken Assad and make it more difficult for him to eradicate the ISIS threat. At this point in time we need to implement the policy that “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” and team with Assad and allow him to deal with ISIS. There is no doubt that he would exterminate ISIS totally. Assad is not our enemy. He may differ from us ideologically, but Syria cannot exist as a democracy….it is simply not possible. We need to support the leader who can impose the most effective control over the country and then pressure him to moderate how he deals with dissent among his own citizens.<br />The only alternative is that ISIS will establish an Islamic Caliphate.<div style="color: black; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"> </div> </div> <div class="timestamp" style="color: #999999; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px 0px 10px;"> Aug 26, 2014 11:21am EDT  --  <a href="" style="color: #006e97; cursor: pointer; outline: none; text-decoration: none;">Report as abuse</a></div> </div> <div class="singleComment" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://s2.reutersmedia.net/resources_v2/images/dotsHorizontal.gif); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat; margin: 8px 0px 0px;"> <div class="commentAuthor" style="font-size: 13px; padding: 0px 0px 10px;"> <a href="http://www.reuters.com/profile/TexPatriot" style="color: black; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; outline: none; text-decoration: none;">TexPatriot</a> wrote:</div> <div class="commentsBody" p="" style="color: black; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2;"> First they came for the Sheitaats, and I did not speak out<br />Because I was not a Sheitaat.<div style="color: black; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"> </div> </div> <div class="timestamp" style="color: #999999; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px 0px 10px;"> Aug 26, 2014 11:35am EDT  --  <a href="" style="color: #006e97; cursor: pointer; outline: none; text-decoration: none;">Report as abuse</a></div> </div> <div class="singleComment" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://s2.reutersmedia.net/resources_v2/images/dotsHorizontal.gif); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat; margin: 8px 0px 0px;"> <div class="commentAuthor" style="font-size: 13px; padding: 0px 0px 10px;"> <a href="http://www.reuters.com/profile/Pllc15" style="color: black; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; outline: none; text-decoration: none;">Pllc15</a> wrote:</div> <div class="commentsBody" p="" style="color: black; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2;"> In the long term, I believe ISIS will self-destruct into multiple sects when Arab and Muslim cultures have the tendency to engage in internecine warfare before they even attempt at establishing some semblance of unity which has been a pipe dream of theirs since the 7th Century. They won’t have time to sustain their holy war against the West when they are fighting each other.</div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="linebreak" style="clear: both; float: none; font-size: 1px; height: 1px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; width: 610px;"> </div> </div> </div> </div>

Islamic State turns radical Islam on Syria Muslims

Militant Islamist fighters take part in a military parade along the streets of northern Raqqa province, 2014. CREDIT: REUTERS...

Read more »

Video: The Blast after the blast was stopped!

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="pvm" id="fbPhotoPageHeader" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-top: 10px;"> <div class="clearfix" style="zoom: 1;"> <span style="color: black; line-height: normal;">A suicide bomber was shot dead by Israeli forces, Muslims took up his body and started protesting and they did not know that the suicide belt was still tied to the bomber's body they were carrying. What happened next is in the video.</span></div> </div> <span id="fbPhotoPageSpecificAudience" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;"></span><br /> <div id="fbxPhotoContentContainer" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px; position: relative;"> <div class="_47po clearfix" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.14902) 0px 0px 0px 1px inset, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 0px 1px 4px; padding: 0px; position: relative; z-index: 0; zoom: 1;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="uiGrid _51mz fbPhotoImageStage" style="-webkit-user-select: none; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; width: 720px;"><tbody> <tr class="_51mx"><td class="_51m- vMid hCent stageContainer _51mw" style="background-color: #f6f6f6; font-size: 12px; height: 453px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; width: 720px;"><div class="stageWrapper" id="photoborder" style="display: inline-block; position: relative;"> <div class="imageStage" data-ft="{"tn":"E"}" id="imagestage" style="overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 720px;"> <img alt="" class="fbPhotoImage img" height="1" id="fbPhotoImage" src="https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/y4/r/-PAXP-deijE.gif" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; height: auto; max-height: 720px; max-width: 720px; vertical-align: middle; width: auto;" width="1" /></div> <div class="videoStage" data-ft="{"tn":"F"}"> <div id="u_jsonp_9_2"> <div class="swfObject" data-swfid="swf_id_53e35a53692b46444223283" id="id_53e35a53692b46444223283" style="height: 540px; width: 720px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="photoError fbPhotoPageError" id="fbPhotoPageError" style="text-align: left;"> </div> <div class="fbPhotosPhotoTagboxes" id="fbPhotoPageTagBoxes" style="height: 555px; left: 0px; pointer-events: none; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 720px;"> </div> <div class="stageActions" data-ft="{"tn":"+\u0040"}" id="fbPhotoPageStageActions" style="cursor: pointer; height: 0px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 0px;"> </div> </div> <div class="stageTagApproval" style="cursor: auto; height: 0px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 720px;"> </div> </td></tr> <tr class="_51mx"><td class="_51m- buttonsContainer _51mw" style="font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; width: 720px;"><div class="stageButtons" style="position: relative; text-align: center;"> <div class="fbPhotosPhotoButtons" id="fbPhotoPageButtons" style="-webkit-user-select: none; bottom: 0px; color: #333333; cursor: default; left: 0px; position: absolute; right: 0px; z-index: 2;"> </div> </div> </td></tr> </tbody></table> </div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="uiGrid _51mz fbPhotoPageInfo" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px;"><tbody> <tr class="_51mx"><td class="_51m- vTop fbPhotoUfiCol" style="font-size: 12px; padding: 0px 10px 0px 0px; vertical-align: top; width: 474px;"><div class="photoUfiContainer"> <div class="clearfix fbPhotoContributor" style="min-height: 32px; padding: 12px 0px 5px; width: 448px; zoom: 1;"> <div aria-hidden="true" class="_29h _303" id="fbPhotoPageAuthorPic" style="float: left; margin-right: 8px;" tabindex="-1"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bazoka.kabavin?fref=photo" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="_s0 _54ru img" src="https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-xap1/t1.0-1/c0.0.32.32/p32x32/1013806_667179886678499_62106040_n.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: block; height: 32px; width: 32px;" /></a></div> <div class="_3dp _29k" style="display: table-cell; vertical-align: top; width: 10000px;"> <b>These days, a little restrain over issues that bother on religion and ethnic, racial, political and economic interests, is no more a virtue. Many carry on as though other people have no right to live. We have many more people and groups advancing the course of trees and animals than for human beings who are being killed daily for reasons bothering on religion, cultural differences and economic and political ideology. Who is speaking up for the minority Christian community in Iraq, who have been forced to leave their ancestral land and heritage, just for being Christians. The World listened and heard about their predicament but that was all the World did, no more.<br /><br />The world is heading somewhere and many are denying or pretending about the fact that things are no longer the same and that this world is giving signs of something...coming!</b><div class="fbPhotosPhotoFeedback" id="fbPhotoPageFeedback" style="margin-top: 3px;"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </td></tr> </tbody></table> </div> </div>

Video: The Blast after the blast was stopped!

A suicide bomber was shot dead by Israeli forces, Muslims took up his body and started protesting and they did not know that the suicide ...

Read more »

A Letter to that Nigerian-Palestinian, By Gimba Kakanda

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="post-content" style="border: 0px; float: left; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 1.25em 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 662px; word-wrap: break-word; zoom: 1;"> <div class="entry-content" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;">My participation in #BringBackOurGirls shows me the hypocrisy of our Muslim brothers and sisters who, dismissing our hashtags as a gimmick, are now loud champions of #FreePalestine.</strong><span id="more-165208" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"></span></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">——————————–</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Dear Friend,</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Before you accuse me of finding nothing worth praising about you and yours, let me quickly empathise with you, and of course myself, over the killings in Gaza. You, as a humanist, one whose empathy has no border, are a citizen of the world, one of the reasons the earth is still habitable by the sane. It would be morally irresponsible for anyone to frown at your frantic advocacy which seeks an end to the killings in Gaza, only that common sense demands a man whose house is on fire to rush for the extinguisher for his own dwelling first, before attending to a similar fire elsewhere.</span></div> <div class="widget slideshow default widget-editable viziwyg-section-1024 inpage-widget-7804719" style="clear: both; margin: 0px 0px 6px; outline: none; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; z-index: 1;"> <div class="indLoading" id="galleriaLoadId-7804719" style="height: 465px !important; left: 0px; outline: none; overflow: hidden; position: relative; top: 0px; width: 620px; z-index: 10000;"> <div id="slideshow-7804719" style="outline: none;"> <div class="galleria-container touch" style="clear: both; height: 465px; margin: 0px auto; outline: none; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 620px;"> <div class="galleria-stage" style="bottom: 60px; height: 505px; left: 0px; outline: none; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: 0px; top: 0px;"> <div class="galleria-images" style="height: 505px; left: 0px; outline: none; position: relative; top: 0px; width: 620px;"> <div class="galleria-image" style="-webkit-transform: translate3d(0px, 0px, 0px); height: 505px; left: 0px; opacity: 1; outline: none; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 620px; z-index: 1;"> <img height="465" src="http://www.independent.co.uk/incoming/article9632096.ece/alternates/w620/gaza-jerusalem-protestv2.jpg" style="border: 0px none !important; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 465px; left: 0px; max-height: none; max-width: none; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; opacity: 1; outline: none; position: absolute; top: 0px !important; width: 620px;" width="620" /></div> </div> </div> <div class="galleria-info" style="left: 10px; outline: none; position: absolute; top: 10px; z-index: 1;"> <div class="galleria-info-link" style="background-image: url(http://www.independent.co.uk/skins/ind/gfx/slideshow/classic-map.png); background-position: -669px -5px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; cursor: pointer; height: 20px; opacity: 1; outline: none; position: relative; width: 20px;"> </div> </div> <div class="galleria-tooltip" style="opacity: 0; outline: none;"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="widget storyContent article widget-editable viziwyg-section-1024 inpage-widget-6138721" style="margin-bottom: 6px; outline: none;"> <div class="starRating" style="outline: none;"> </div> </div> <div class="widget storyContent article widget-editable viziwyg-section-1024 inpage-widget-6138720" style="margin-bottom: 6px; outline: none;"> <h3 class="subtitle" style="font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0px; outline: none;"> <div style="outline: none;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Reports of 'relative lull' in missile and rocket strikes since weekend of failed truces</span></span></div> </h3> </div> <div class="x620 articleByTimeLocation" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: none; overflow: visible !important; width: 620px;"> <div class="column-1" style="outline: none; width: 620px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="widget storyContent article widget-editable viziwyg-section-1024 inpage-widget-6138719" style="display: inline-block; margin: 4px 0px 2px; outline: none;"> </div> </span></div> </div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">London stands up for Gaza, because London is not bereaved. New York stands up for Gaza because New York isn’t being threatened by hurricane-at least now. Palestine would not stand up for Chibok girls because they also have a strip of misery in which they are just as worthless: Gaza. And the young Malala Yousafzai who came and roused the conscience of her fathers in Nigeria, was not here as a Pakistani as you have announced in defending your geographically insensitive activism from my “secular advocacy”. She was here as a Birmingham, England-based NGO owner, to stand with the girls of Nigeria in whose education Malala Fund has invested thousands of dollars. She has, as the news says, even “offered to partner with the UN efforts to mitigate the impacts of the abduction and help the girls (whose welfare is a responsibility of her NGO) return to school.”</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">You see, it’s not the way you internationalise your empathies that disturbs me, it’s this seeming pretence that all is well in your backyard while you weep over the blazing fire in faraway Gaza. If you, and others like you, had been half as passionate and emotional in your reaction to local tragedies as you are over the killings in Palestine, the troubles in the northeastern Nigeria wouldn’t have escalated to its present extent. The Palestinians, and their global solidarity soldiers, have gone berserk over the burning of 16-year-old Mohammed Abu Khudair, their citizen, and you, amnesiac activist of a burning nation, have also been losing sleep over Khudair, ignoring the tens of Khudairs who die in your backyard every day!</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It’s not the internationalisation of your empathies that disturbs me, it’s your lack of wisdom to understand that Khudair has his fighters — and he’s fully named, his age too revealed –while all the killed and abducted Dantalas and Asma’us and Johns and Naomis of Yobe and Borno are seen as mere statistics, unworthy of collective advocacy by you.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ours is not a criticism of the northern establishment, but that of its hypocritical allegiance to “brotherhood of faith”, which is what you say in your solidarity with the Palestinians, ignoring that we’re just as bereaved here, and unknowing that Palestine is also a home for non-Muslims. But, wait, what sort of a human being is responsive to the tragedies that fall upon just the people of his faith?</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ours is a criticism of the collective, not of a specific group. This is a reminder that we have not done enough, not a declaration that we have not done anything at all. It’s a criticism of me and you who, safe from the bullets of Boko Haram, have not done anything comparable to the emotions shown in the sensitivity of our countrymen to the happening in Gaza. Are you, my dear global citizen, trying to say that we, especially resident northerners, need CNN and Aljazeera to remind us that there are carnages going on in our backyard before we acknowledge them?</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Haven’t we all lost friends and friends of friends and relatives and relatives of relatives in this madness? What media is more effective than being actually bereaved? The most effective media is our emotions, and on this I dare say that we haven’t shown and done enough. My participation in #BringBackOurGirls shows me the hypocrisy of our Muslim brothers and sisters who, dismissing our hashtags as a gimmick, are now loud champions of #FreePalestine.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">See, we are as bereaved as the people of Palestine and it’s quite ironic that, instead of gathering our lots to empathise with ourselves first and demand solutions and justice, we pretend as though all’s well in our house. Why are the people of Palestine not empathising with the people of Borno if our “brotherhood of faith” is actually reciprocal? Why? I repeat: why aren’t the people of Palestine extending their “brotherhood of faith” to us in the hours of our bereavements? The Palestinians have never stopped fighting. They have their men up and running against oppression. Who’s up fighting for us, especially for Chibok and the larger northeast? Why leaving these campaigns against Boko Haram’s terrors to just the members of Civilian JTF and #BringBackOurGirls campaigners?</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">You even said that no atrocity is more than that going on in Gaza, and I ask: is there an experience worse than having minors abducted, savagely raped and impregnated by terrorists? Saying that no atrocity is as bad as that in Gaza means that the sanctity of a Palestinian’s life is higher than that of a Nigerian’s. And that, fellow countryman, is an unfortunate and disturbing utterance.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Similarly, you have to be really careful in your advocacy. At least get relevant history books to properly understand the religious and political complexity of the territorial conflicts that have turned Gaza into a prison-mortuary. Your alignment with the Palestinians, your brothers-in-faith, may lead you into something called anti-Semitism. And you also need to understand that it’s the peak of such misguided hatred that resulted into the formation of a racist ideology that once sought to promote the “Aryan” German race as the best of humans. Nazism, consequently, championed the killings of the innocent Jews, who were considered threats to proposed German nationalism.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In your analyses of the happenings in Gaza, you have, quite sadly, pandered to a way of the Hitler-led Aryan racists who considered the Jewish race abolishable pests.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Do have restraint in understanding that the happenings in Israel is not a crime perpetrated, and supported, by the whole of Jews. It’s a crime perpetrated by a monstrous ideology championed by a people of Jewish identity, just the way Nazism was not supported by the whole of Germans, but by a small but powerful National Socialist party clique. If you’re to adopt this form of flawed thinking in portraying ethnic or religious groups, obviously the whole of Muslims should be similarly persecuted for the crimes of Al-Qaeda, Al-Shabbab, the Taliban and even Boko Haram who all pretend to be advocates of rights for the Muslim!</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Hate the Israelis who, under Zionism, did to Palestinians what the Nazis did to the Jews, but do not go close to hating the whole of Jews. Saying I hate the Jews means I hate some significant figures that shaped me, mine and the larger world. Saying I hate the Jews means I hate Jesus, who in my theology is Isah (AS), needed to authenticate my belief; saying I hate the Jews means I hate Moses (AS), similarly needed; saying I hate the Jews is an ingratitude to Albert Einstein’s contribution to science; saying I hate the Jews is an ingratitude to Sergey Brin, the founder of Google, whose invention has redeemed me in ways I’m incapable of repaying; saying I hate the Jews is also an ingratitude to Mark Zuckerberg whose innovation is the reason you and I are “friends” – even though we’ve never met – sharing thoughts on the ways of the world.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As long as you’re on Facebook, and employ Google to aid your quests for knowledge, both creations of inventors of Jewish identity, declaring that you hate the Jews is a contradiction, a joke clearly on you. And, as Muslims, your faith is threatened the moment you withhold your love for Jesus and Moses.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Don’t let a criminal be a representative of his race, religion and nationality. This approach, this dangerous stereotyping, has been the reason for these many conflicts we are still unable to resolve in this damned world. We must embrace our humanity, the only thing we all have in common, if we’re indeed interested in resolving our racial, religious, political, regional, territorial and ethnic conflicts!</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Unlike you, whenever I see a group of people, the first identity that strikes me is the human, not the religious, not the political, not the racial, and obviously not the ethnic. Aside from my immediate family, my next closest family are the righteous people, people always in pursuit of Justice without discrimination, and of their other identities I’m unmindful.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I’ve long overcome the naiveté of hating a people based on the crimes of a group of which they are non-compliant members, just the way I don’t owe any non-Muslim and southerner apology for the atrocities of the Boko Haram. I only owe them explanation, defence, solidarity and empathy. My seeming silence over the killings in Gaza is simply because I’ve also been mourning, and also holed up in a mess of immeasurable depth. The Palestinians, I know, have global solidarity soldiers fighting for them. But, beyond hashtags, who are actually fighting for the redemptions of this place in which we don’t need a visa to reside?</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This week, at our Abuja’s #BringBackOurGirls sit-in, as I listened to Oby Ezekwesili, a woman whose public service records never really attracted my curiosity, but I’ve come to like as a humanist and patriot of impressive resilience, lament on the fate and conditions of the abducted girls and the dysfunctionality of the system in charge of our safety, something within me collapsed. So I withdrew from the crowd, hoping that could stem it, but I still couldn’t fight the tears. And that was how I left the sit-in, broken. This is because, in the cruel politics of migrations in this century, I have no home other than Nigeria, and the tragedy that befalls a fellow countryman, irrespective of his/her religious and ethnic and regional affiliations, is a shared grief.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I’m not inconsiderate to your reference to “brotherhood of faith” in standing for the people of Gaza, but I will never ever stand for them simply because we’re of the same religion. My own version of that excuse of yours is: “faith in the universal brotherhood of Man.” I only empathise with them because of a shared humanity. As for those who rightly explain that humanity has no border, which I also endorse, my belief in yours may only be confirmed if you also recognise the conditions of the Iraqi Christians who’re now fleeing Mosul, for they have been told by the ISIS animals to convert to Islam or lose their lives. Many of you are in Abuja, but participating in #BringBackOurGirls is seen as a “waste of time”, insulting those who defy the tasks of their 9-to-5 daily to be a part of the campaign, ignorant of the impending dangers, the danger of becoming refugees in your own city!</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Yet, some of you have sought to typify my refusal to label corpses in order to know which deserves my empathy as simply a bid to earn a medal from the non-Muslims I’ve been struggling so hard, according to you, to impress; some of the same non-Muslims who, in a spark of mischief, have in their turn called me an “Islamic propagandist”, whatever that is, for condemning the profiling of northerners in the East, for endorsing a Muslim as presidential candidate… But I’m indifferent to their malicious labeling just as I’ve been to yours because you’re both incapable of denying me the rights to such expressions.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Humanity is still a joke because of this army of cerebrally malfunctioned brothers and sisters to whom we’re seen as hypocrites merely trying to impress the non-members of our group, for exposing a form of oppressive hypocrisy. Well, my dear friend, I don’t write to influence or change you; my writing is a sport that seeks to prove that I don’t think the way you do, and that the way I think is independent of yours. I hope this would be taken in good faith. May God save us from us!</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.625em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"> <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"><strong style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;">Follow Gimba Kakanda on Twitter using @gimbakakanda</strong></em></div> <div class="sharedaddy sd-sharing-enabled" style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"> <div class="robots-nocontent sd-block sd-social sd-social-icon-text sd-sharing" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"> <h3 class="sd-title" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"> <span style="font-size: small;">Share this:</span></h3> <div class="sd-content" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"> <ul style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; list-style: none !important; margin: 0px 0px 0.7em !important; outline: 0px; padding: 0px !important; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> <li class="share-facebook" style="border: 0px; display: inline; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px !important; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"><a class="share-facebook sd-button share-icon" href="http://blogs.premiumtimesng.com/2014/07/25/a-letter-to-that-nigerian-palestinian-by-gimba-kakanda/?share=facebook&nb=1" id="sharing-facebook-165208" rel="nofollow" style="border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0784314) 0px 1px 0px; display: inline-block; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 1px 8px 0px 5px; text-decoration: none !important; text-shadow: none; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;" title="Share on Facebook"><span style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;">Facebook<span class="share-count" style="border-bottom-left-radius: 10px; border-bottom-right-radius: 10px; border-top-left-radius: 10px; border-top-right-radius: 10px; border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 1px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;">317</span></span></a></li> <li class="share-twitter" style="border: 0px; display: inline; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px !important; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"><a class="share-twitter sd-button share-icon" href="http://blogs.premiumtimesng.com/2014/07/25/a-letter-to-that-nigerian-palestinian-by-gimba-kakanda/?share=twitter&nb=1" id="sharing-twitter-165208" rel="nofollow" style="border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0784314) 0px 1px 0px; display: inline-block; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 1px 8px 0px 5px; text-decoration: none !important; text-shadow: none; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;" title="Click to share on Twitter"><span style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;">Twitter<span class="share-count" style="border-bottom-left-radius: 10px; border-bottom-right-radius: 10px; border-top-left-radius: 10px; border-top-right-radius: 10px; border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 1px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;">27</span></span></a></li> <li class="share-google-plus-1" style="border: 0px; display: inline; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px !important; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"><a class="share-google-plus-1 sd-button share-icon" href="http://blogs.premiumtimesng.com/2014/07/25/a-letter-to-that-nigerian-palestinian-by-gimba-kakanda/?share=google-plus-1&nb=1" id="sharing-google-165208" rel="nofollow" style="border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0784314) 0px 1px 0px; display: inline-block; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 1px 8px 0px 5px; text-decoration: none !important; text-shadow: none; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;" title="Click to share on Google+"><span style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;">Google</span></a></li> <li class="share-email share-service-visible" style="border: 0px; display: inline; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px !important; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"><a class="share-email sd-button share-icon" href="http://blogs.premiumtimesng.com/2014/07/25/a-letter-to-that-nigerian-palestinian-by-gimba-kakanda/?share=email&nb=1" rel="nofollow" style="border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0784314) 0px 1px 0px; display: inline-block; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 1px 8px 0px 5px; text-decoration: none !important; text-shadow: none; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;" title="Click to email this to a friend"><span style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;">Email</span></a></li> <li class="share-print" style="border: 0px; display: inline; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px !important; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"><a class="share-print sd-button share-icon" href="http://blogs.premiumtimesng.com/2014/07/25/a-letter-to-that-nigerian-palestinian-by-gimba-kakanda/#print" rel="nofollow" style="border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0784314) 0px 1px 0px; display: inline-block; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 1px 8px 0px 5px; text-decoration: none !important; text-shadow: none; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;" title="Click to print"><span style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;">Print</span></a></li> <li class="share-linkedin" style="border: 0px; display: inline; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px !important; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"><a class="share-linkedin sd-button share-icon" href="http://blogs.premiumtimesng.com/2014/07/25/a-letter-to-that-nigerian-palestinian-by-gimba-kakanda/?share=linkedin&nb=1" id="sharing-linkedin-165208" rel="nofollow" style="border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0784314) 0px 1px 0px; display: inline-block; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 1px 8px 0px 5px; text-decoration: none !important; text-shadow: none; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;" title="Click to share on LinkedIn"><span style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;">LinkedIn<span class="share-count" style="border-bottom-left-radius: 10px; border-bottom-right-radius: 10px; border-top-left-radius: 10px; border-top-right-radius: 10px; border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 1px 3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;">2</span></span></a></li> <li style="border: 0px; display: inline; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px !important; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"><a class="sharing-anchor sd-button share-more" href="http://blogs.premiumtimesng.com/2014/07/25/a-letter-to-that-nigerian-palestinian-by-gimba-kakanda/#" style="border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0784314) 0px 1px 0px; display: inline-block; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 1px 8px 0px 5px; text-decoration: none !important; text-shadow: none; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"><span style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;">More</span></a></li> <li class="share-end" style="border: 0px; display: inline; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px !important; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"></li> </span></ul> <div class="sharing-hidden" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="jp-relatedposts" id="jp-relatedposts" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 1em 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 1em 0px 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"> <h3 class="jp-relatedposts-headline" style="border: 0px; display: inline-block; float: left; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"><span style="font-size: small;">Related</span></span></h3> <div class="jp-relatedposts-items jp-relatedposts-items-visual" style="border: 0px; clear: left; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px -20px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"> <div class="jp-relatedposts-post jp-relatedposts-post0 jp-relatedposts-post-nothumbs" data-post-format="false" data-post-id="152811" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; opacity: 0.8; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 20px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 225px; zoom: 1;"> <h4 class="jp-relatedposts-post-title" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"> <a class="jp-relatedposts-post-a" data-origin="165208" data-position="0" href="http://blogs.premiumtimesng.com/2014/01/07/will-nigeria-next-100-years-muhammad-jameel-yushau/" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; opacity: 1; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;" title="Will there be Nigeria in the next 100 years? By Muhammad Jameel Yusha’u Finally the third negative and the worst is the failure of leadership. Unless the question of leadership is resolved, and purposeful and right minded individuals lead the country, it is&hellip;"><span style="color: black;">Will there be Nigeria in the next 100 years? By Muhammad Jameel Yusha’u</span></a></h4> <div class="jp-relatedposts-post-excerpt" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Finally the third negative and the worst is the failure of leadership. Unless the question of leadership is resolved, and purposeful and right minded individuals lead the country, it is…</span></div> <div class="jp-relatedposts-post-context" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; opacity: 0.6; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In "Opinion"</span></div> </div> <div class="jp-relatedposts-post jp-relatedposts-post1 jp-relatedposts-post-nothumbs" data-post-format="false" data-post-id="153287" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; opacity: 0.8; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 20px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 225px; zoom: 1;"> <h4 class="jp-relatedposts-post-title" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"> <a class="jp-relatedposts-post-a" data-origin="165208" data-position="1" href="http://blogs.premiumtimesng.com/2014/01/13/mint-reality-digression-muhammad-jameel-yushau/" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; opacity: 1; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;" title="MINT: Reality or digression? By Muhammad Jameel Yusha’u “Watch out, MINT will feature as an achievement during the 2015 electioneering campaign…” In mid-July 2008, the late President Umaru Yar‘Adua went to London on an official visit; just about&hellip;"><span style="color: black;">MINT: Reality or digression? By Muhammad Jameel Yusha’u</span></a></h4> <div class="jp-relatedposts-post-excerpt" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Watch out, MINT will feature as an achievement during the 2015 electioneering campaign…” In mid-July 2008, the late President Umaru Yar‘Adua went to London on an official visit; just about…</span></div> <div class="jp-relatedposts-post-context" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; opacity: 0.6; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In "Opinion"</span></div> </div> <div class="jp-relatedposts-post jp-relatedposts-post2 jp-relatedposts-post-nothumbs" data-post-format="false" data-post-id="161458" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; opacity: 0.8; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 20px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 225px; zoom: 1;"> <h4 class="jp-relatedposts-post-title" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"> <a class="jp-relatedposts-post-a" data-origin="165208" data-position="2" href="http://blogs.premiumtimesng.com/2014/05/27/boko-haram-northern-nigerians-femi-aribisala/" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; opacity: 1; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;" title="The Boko Haram are not Northern Nigerians, By Femi Aribisala True Northerners are the most upright, most accommodating and most humane of Nigerians.  In the late 1980’s, I was appointed Special Adviser to Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, then Nigeria’s Minister of&hellip;"><span style="color: black;">The Boko Haram are not Northern Nigerians, By Femi Aribisala</span></a></h4> <div class="jp-relatedposts-post-excerpt" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">True Northerners are the most upright, most accommodating and most humane of Nigerians.  In the late 1980’s, I was appointed Special Adviser to Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, then Nigeria’s Minister of…</span></div> <div class="jp-relatedposts-post-context" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; opacity: 0.6; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In "Aribisala on Tuesday"</span></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="adsense-single" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; border: 0px none; clear: both; color: #555555; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 662px; zoom: 1;"> <a href="http://www.homevida.org/" style="border: 0px; color: #ad0002; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;" target="_blank"><img alt="Home Vida" scale="0" src="http://blogs.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/sites/2/2014/07/dummyad-728x90-color123456.jpg" style="border: 0px none; height: auto; max-width: 100%; zoom: 1;" /></a></div> </div> <div class="post-meta the-icons pm-bottom" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #999999; float: left; font-family: ABeeZee; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0.4em 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 662px; zoom: 1;"> <span class="post-tags" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"><span class="fa fa-tags" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; display: inline-block; font-family: FontAwesome; font-size: 1.025em !important; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; zoom: 1;"></span></span></div> </div>

A Letter to that Nigerian-Palestinian, By Gimba Kakanda

My participation in #BringBackOurGirls shows me the hypocrisy of our Muslim brothers and sisters who, dismissing our hashtags as a gimmi...

Read more »