In an article titled: “In northeast Syria, Islamic State builds a government”, by Mariam Karouny writing for Reuters September 4, 2014, she reports, “In the cities and towns across the desert plains of northeast Syria, the ultra-hardline al Qaeda offshoot Islamic State has insinuated itself into nearly every aspect of daily life.
“The group famous for its beheadings, crucifixions and mass executions provides electricity and water, pays salaries, controls traffic, and runs nearly everything from bakeries and banks to schools, courts and mosques.
“While its merciless battlefield tactics and its imposition of its austere vision of Islamic law have won the group headlines, residents say much of its power lies in its efficient and often deeply pragmatic ability to govern.”
Ms Karouny continues to say that Syria’s eastern province of Raqqa provides the best illustration of their methods where IS members hold up the province as an example of life under the Islamic “caliphate” they hope will one day stretch from China to Europe.
“In the provincial capital, a dust-blown city that was home to about a quarter of a million people before Syria’s three-year-old war began, the group leaves almost no institution or public service outside of its control. “Let us be honest, she reports one activist from Raqqa as saayaing, “they are doing massive institutional work. It is impressive,”
In interviews conducted remotely, residents, Islamic State fighters and even activists opposed to the group described how it had built up a structure similar to a modern government in less than a year under its chief, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
Reuters journalists were unable to visit the area for security reasons.
The full article throws a different light on IS while not giving any reason for overlooking or forgiving their too obvious violent ways at lerast anaogther view is presented. For the detailed and original report it is worth going to:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/04/us-syria-crisis-raqqa-insight-idUSKBN0GZ0D120140904
