But they are indulging in pure wishful thinking, according to Graeme Wood, correspondent for The Atlantic magazine, Yale lecturer and author of the new book, Way of the Strangers: Encounters with the Islamic State. Wood, an Arabic-speaking scholar of Islamic history, has spent years immersed in extended relationships with Islamic State (ISIL) jihadis in their “diaspora” — places like Egypt, Australia, America, England and Norway. Wood writes: “The reality is that the Islamic State (IS) is Islamic. Musa claims to intend to join Islamic State in Syria, but always finds an excuse to stay far from the fray. Wood’s book is informed, objective and educational.

Source: National Post March 14, 2017 14:48 UTC