German journalist meets with ISIS and reports that ISIS is determined to win and in control. Washington Times.

ISIS supporters in Mosul after the fall of the city. Washington Times/AP.

Juergen Todenhoefer, a German journalist, traveled to Iraq and Syria to interview the Islamic State. Washington Post. While there he found a determined and brutal enemy for the United States and the rest of the world. New ISIS fighters, as many as 50 a day, showed up with a "glow in their eyes" and dedicated to their cause. He also described child soldiers fighting for ISIS as young as 13. A German ISIS fighter spoke to Todenhoefer and claimed that it was only a matter of time before ISIS conquered all of Europe. ISIS spokesmen also defended slavery and beheadings as "part of their religion". Todenhoefer also warned that ISIS is far more dangerous then people think and that they are preparing a campaign of organized religious slaughter unparalleled in history. 

My Comment:

CNN also has a detailed account from Todenhoefer here. What's my take on it? Todenhoefer is spot on. ISIS is incredibly dangerous to the entire world and if they get what they want then there won't be anyone but them left. Fortunately they aren't nearly that powerful yet. The most disturbing part of his reports is that Mosul is a functional, semi-normal city. ISIS is an actual state. And they are one of the most depraved and evil states to ever exist. 

The atrocities Todenhoefer describes aren't particularly new. We have known about the beheadings, slavery and child soldiers for quite some time. But it is interesting that a western journalist was able to secure an interviews and free travel with ISIS. They have a very poor track record with journalists, and it is amazing to me that Todenhoefer was allowed to come home. Todenhoefer has a blog that said negotiations were conducted via Skype but other then that I have no idea how he pulled this off. 

Here is hoping that the world takes Todenhoefer's warning seriously...