Posted on Feb 4, 2015
Marine Corps Times
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635585874584357263 mar isis pilot 1
From: Marine Corps Times

In a new execution video released by the Islamic State group on Tuesday, the militants are clad in matching uniforms bearing some similarity to those worn by U.S. Marines — a development that raises questions about their logistics and the image they want to convey.

The video, which appears to show the death of Jordanian air force pilot Muath al-Kaseasbeh, includes imagery of several men standing near a cage containing the captive. The lieutenant was captured in December after his plane crashed during a bombing run against Islamic State targets in Syria.

The digital desert camouflage the militants are wearing resembles the pattern licensed to the U.S. Marine Corps. It's known as MARPAT, which is short for "Marine Pattern." But over the past decade, similar patterns have become widely available, according to private intelligence and policy analysts.

"That pattern has been replicated all around the world," said Ben Connable, a retired Marine intelligence officer and international policy analyst for Rand Corp. "It is easy to come by and replicate without a license just about anywhere."

While the pattern is close to a Western design, the cut of militants' blouses — which fall near the knee — is anything but. It is more similar to nonmilitary garb worn by insurgents in Iraq. That raises the possibility that the uniforms were made to order for the Islamic State, rather than purchased from a general manufacturer or pilfered from a conventional military force.

"They could get them from a manufacturer in Pakistan," Connable suggested.

Beyond that, determining specifically where the uniforms came from is nearly impossible, Connable said. A private intelligence analyst with expertise in geopolitics — to include the conflicts in Iraq and Syria — agreed.

"Even if you were able to determine what specific camouflage pattern is represented, you wouldn't necessarily be able to determine with certainty where it came from," said another analyst who spoke with Military Times on the condition of anonymity. "The proliferation of the Internet has made it such that anyone can essentially go online and order whatever digital camouflage pattern they want. That makes it really difficult to draw any conclusions on how or where the ISIS members may have secured such gear with this pattern."

Connable said the ISIS militants seem to be trying to portray themselves as a cohesive, disciplined, well-funded force to be reckoned with.

The move is likely meant to fit into the theatrics of the shocking and grisly, while professionally produced, video. The group is careful in its selection of location and how they stage executions for maximum shock value. So it is no surprise that they want to appear as organized as possible on camera, Connable said.

The intel analyst echoed that sentiment.

"The ISIS members seem to be trying to portray a level of professionalism that comes from a group having standardized uniforms," the analyst said. "In this case, consider the overall propaganda value at play -— that this is a cohesive, well-trained group of soldiers ... an image that a standardized uniform can help convey."

Still, Connable said it's unlikely that that will extend beyond video as it would be impractical for ISIS to adopt a standard uniform for use on the battlefield.

"Their guys in the field are wearing 'mix-and-match,'" he said. "They are recruiting them locally, smuggling them across the border, so that makes it difficult. Any Marine will tell you keeping uniforms on people in field for extended periods of time takes a real supply chain."

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/story/military/2015/02/03/islamic-state-uniforms-digital-camo-execution-video/22816459/
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SSgt Kevin Chavez
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Absolutely hideous! I believe this was a strategic mistake on their part and I hope it will back fire to embolden the fight against Islamic Extremism.
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SPC Sql/Business Intelligence Consultant
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>1 y
If they want to wear Marine garb, they must become more like Marines! There better be a high ranking NCO which berates these guys for uniform violations.
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Capt Richard I P.
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Reminds me of why we learn near/far recognition signals and proper challenge and password procedures. In TBS some Lts would crack wise about how 'no enemy looks like we do.' But everyone wants to look like the best, be they soldiers in the US, other countries or stateless militants.
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TSgt Command & Control Battle Management Ops
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Best way to tell the difference between ours and theirs is is the sheer fact that our Marines aren't wearing balaclavas everywhere in a damn desert. Plus the fact that I've never meet/seen a Marine with a uniform that clean/new.
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Cpl Kevin Brown
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They could wear dress blues but they'll never be mistaken for Marines. You can't hide and you can't run.
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SSgt Utilities Chief
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Why are they wearing the uniforms? Simple; they are making an attempt to legitimize themselves. You know the phrase "...If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, looks like a duck..." then it must be a marine? No:

Terrorism is a CRIME- not a legitimate organization of any kind- if it were, it would be called a government. Despite what many may think- if it were military, then we would be fighting a recognized de-facto/de-jure Nation-State (Which, ISIS is clearly NOT and probably never will be)- these are not militants, these are criminals no different than Al Capone was serving in an organized crime ring that damn-near ran the US for a time, it's the same thing (this is also why I personally believe any individual accused and arrested for terrorism should be tried in CRIMINAL court, not in a military tribunal; they don't deserve the recognition/illusion of serving a legitimate country, but the Guantanamo Bay situation is a topic for another day).

They put these images out there in an effort to attain the same goals of any terrorist organization- Legitimacy. If they are recognized as a legitimate military unit, then they represent a legitimate governing body, which is what they want.

That is the answer to the question as to why they appear to be wearing those uniforms. I just hoped they cut the little EGAs out of them before they put them on.
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CPT Army Reserve Unit Administrator
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They got computers and credit cards.... I gues they can buy uniforms like the rest of us. I think though that they are trying to be seen as a legit political entity. They say they are a country (Caliphate). They claim to have a capital. Stands to reason they would have matching uniforms.

Now, will they keep them on when its time to do real military shit? Probably not.
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Cpl Del Martinez
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well this can mean many things but honestly either they order material from one of the same supplier that the united states uses or they want to assume a position of equal stature with marines who have fought in that part of the world. i just wont entertain the conspiracy buffs with this one.
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SGT Lawrence Holsworth
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It looks an awful lot like a China-made copy of Arid MARPAT that has also been used as the official camouflage pattern of the Kuwait Army.
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SPC Computer/Detection Systems Repairer
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There's no telling, they could be buying them surplus through a cover buyer, or actually making them. I hope they've figured that out as possible intel....
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SSgt Eucom Production Nco
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If they did, it wouldn't be posted for everyone to see that's for sure.
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SPC Johnny Velazquez, PhD
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They might look dumb, but in reality, are quite creative. However, their tactics will give them away. One way or another, they'll revert to their crude training, which can easily be spotted by seasoned military personnel.
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PO2 Thomas J.
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Just an attempt to convey uniformity and to promote themselves as a professional military which has beheaded, burned alive, buried alive and murdered thousands. It's public relations and a recruiting video calling for anyone who is on the fence to join them.
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COL Ted Mc
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Amongst other things, ISIS is waging "MediaWar" and (in general) doing it better than anyone else.

The leadership of ISIS (bent and sociopathic as it may be) is NOT stupid.

ISIS is fighting THEIR form of war, and that is a form of war specifically intended to negate the strengths and benefits of "our" form of war. "Their" form of war cannot (realistically) expect to DEFEAT "our" form of war - however, "our" form of war cannot (realistically) expect to defeat "their" form of war and that means that (absent any productive change in strategy or tactics) the first one to stop fighting is going to be the one that loses.

Conceptually the solution is simply. You can either [a] settle for an incredibly long struggle where you are constantly being bled by small cuts, or [b] you can change the way you are doing things to increase your effectiveness against "them". "Option C" spend millions of dollars to kill "them" one at a time - but at a slower rate than "they" are recruiting new personnel until you go broke isn't really an option - other than the fact that it does "lower the casualty rate" and "provides really keen photo-ops" and "encourages employment in areas where people want to get re-elected".
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SFC Instructor
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Our intelligence community doesn't need me to tell them this, but I will anyway...follow the money.
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SPC Larry Buck
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Question.... How long ago was they bought or sewed together??? Awful goddamn clean to be fucking around in the desert all day long!!! Not to mention every bit of bii is immaculate...
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MAJ Terry LaFrance
MAJ Terry LaFrance
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Standard dog an pony show, probably all they had on hand.
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SSG John Bacon
SSG John Bacon
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Good Eye SPC.
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SSG Platoon Sergeant
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Ok sorry that was suppose to post to another post... Not this one... Sometimes touch screens really suck...
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