Three Vice News Documentary on ISIS from the last two years

It has been over two years that the Islamic State has been around.

News about what’s going on down on the ground is hard to come back.  Which is what makes these three documentaries produced by Vice Documentary on ISIS quite amazing.  I think they are quite insightful.

As a Christian it has led me to pray for the people under ISIS control and for the Christians and the various minorities in the area of Syria and Iraq.  My prayers are also for the Sunnis and Shiites too.  Including for them to come to know the Lord and Jesus’ saving power.

Here’s the three documentary in chronological order.

Note on first video: I remember watching this first documentary two years ago and I still can’t believe how the journalists were able to get the perspective of ISIS.  Its frightening to think of the evil that they have caused then and also since then.  Sobering.

 

Note on Second Video:  Insightful perspective of Iraq’s special forces brigade that’s often called the “Golden Division.”  This was loaded up earlier in the summer of 2016.  Captures the advance of the Iraqi army.  You get to feel a little bit of some of the various soldiers’ personalities and the toll of their ongoing two years war.

 

Note on Third Video: This is the most recent video, made public in August 2016.  This also is the most informed in my opinion of the three of the larger geopolitical and historical contexts.  This particular documentary goes to the three fronts against ISIS and also note the problem of a post-ISIS world between the three warring factions, if that day ever comes when ISIS is wiped out.  Whom the producers and directors were able to interview alone is incredible, from the former Russian president, captured ISIS insurgents, and leaders from the Shiites Militias, the Kurds and anti-ISIS Sunni insurgents.  The host is well-versed with the history and I agree quite heavily their interpretation of the US mistakes and success.

 

The saddest part of watching all of this for me has been thinking about the innocent people caught in the crossfire.

As it has been for me when I was a young man in Iraq in 2003, my thoughts are also heavy thinking about the young children that’s visible in all three documentaries.

I pray for peace and justice.  I pray for peace and stability in the region.  But more importantly I pray for people to know Jesus.