This is not unique in the annals of war, particularly those fueled by sectarian/religious hatred. But if one was going to compile a checklist of savagery and regression (not to say sociocultural recidivism), it is difficult to see this and the other videos and not conclude that we are dealing with a movement that cannot be reached by rationality or any language (literally and figuratively) that we speak. The sheer callous savagery--and yet, monstrous pettiness, as the same time--of not only murdering captives but desecrating the dead, is steering away from anything that any culture has labelled civilized behavior in the last several centuries. There are always exceptions: there are always extreme incidents, isolated horrors. But this video, taken in sum with the less well-publicized beheading videos (e.g.; the one of decapitating a pinned opponent in a captured town, where the ISIS fighters despair of cutting through the uppermost spine of their victim and give up) constitutes an all boxes checked verdict in re: to the checklist of savagery and regression I mentioned above. I do not agree with the headline shriek that was the necessary attachment to sharing this video (which has since been removed from offsite direct link and so could only be shared). That kind of vituperative ranting achieves nothing. But if only half of the videos relayed to date, and 1/4 of the states accounts are true, then all the boxes on that sad and onerous checklist are still checked. This is not an appeal for boots on the ground. I do not know that that will achieve anything except for a new round of futile engagement in a region, among groups, that do not wish our engagement--or if they do, have as unrealistic (albeit different) view of it as our own policy makers do. But we must call this what it is to address the issue accurately: this is creed-validated (in their minds) savagery of the most base and dangerous nature. And however we deal with it (or not), we will be deluding ourselves if we adorn it with any suppositions of simply being a different viewpoint. It is most assuredly different--but so too is a madmans. That doesnt mean one expects to be able to reach that viewpoint--any more than we will here, I suspect.
Posted on: Tue, 30 Sep 2014 16:54:50 +0000
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