April 14

Last night the US government, along with allies, struck research facilities associated with the manufacture of poison gas in Damascus, Syria.  Will this ancient city, where the apostle Paul was headed when he met Jesus (Acts 9:1-18), be the focus of a major war?  I hope and pray that will not happen.  But our hearts surely go out to the people of Syria who have suffered so much in recent years.   The following report appeared as a special section in last Sunday's (April 8th) New York Times, and examines the mechanics of the Islamic State though a series of documents.  While the author focused on Iraq, we realize both Iraq and Syria have been particularly targeted by ISIS.  I have not yet read the entire report, but listened to an interview with its author and my review below is based mostly on her interview.  The Times report can be accessed via the link below.

The ISIS Files
New York Times Special Report
By Rukmini Callimachi

As IS militants fled Mosul in recent years, they left behinds records documenting the setting up and carrying out of their caliphate.  Journalist Callimachi made 5 trips to Iraq over the last 4 years.  She unearthed thousands of documents covering a range of transactions.  Many Syrians and Iranians, especially Christians and Shia Muslims, had their homes and property confiscated; Callimachi tells of documents that record the confiscations and resale of these properties.  Other records relate to sanitary and civic issues.  She tells of an efficient garbage service during the caliphate; while the same garbagemen worked prior to the ISIS takeover, they were notably more efficient during the caliphate when their lives were on the line.  The document at right records the arrest of a 14-year-old boy on charges of "laughing during prayer."  Reason for arrest is "the propagation of virtue and prevention of vice."

The file also contains a link to Callimachi's podcast "Caliphate", which is currently available to NYT subscribers, but will be free to the public a week from today.

While this story is a departure from the usual more upbeat postings on this blog, it seemed like an important story to tell.