In a major development regarding the international fight against the Islamic State (IS, formally ISIS) terror militia, the Turkish parliament voted on Thursday to authorize the use of military force against IS in both Iraq and Syria, as well as to allow other countries to use Turkish military facilities to strike IS. However, Defense Minister Ismet Yilmaz told journalists “Don’t expect any immediate steps” while analysts cautioned that the move merely lays the legal groundwork for military intervention by Turkish forces, without necessarily directing that they do so. Meanwhile, reports have emerged from several countries around the world of the growing popularity of IS among young Moslems, including Pakistan, Mali and the Arab countries but also China, Australia and the US. Read More