From KCRW in Santa Monica and PRI, Public Radio International, this is To the Point.

The Islamic State is transforming Syria's civil war.

Hello again, I'm on an Al-Ne, and this is To the Point from Public Radio International,

the daily look at the issues Americans care about most.

The ultra-extremist Islamic State now controls 30% of Syria refining and selling oil to finance its expanding caliphate.

Its video propaganda features beheadings and other means of subduing civilians.

That's said to attract holy warriors from all over the world.

Syria's President Assad now claims he really is under attack by terrorists.

Does he look like the lesser of two evils?

What's the U.S. doing to arm so-called moderate forces against both a murderous government

and the Islamic State?

Today's talking point, the NSA's former director, goes corporate. First, here's the news.

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International Program Fund. Hello again, Warren Alney, back with To the Poet. The Islamic State controls so much of Iraq and Syria, it's able to finance its self-styled caliphate by selling oil.

It's a real threat to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad complicating U.S. efforts to help so-called moderate rebels.

What is the Islamic State? Does it pose a threat beyond Syria and its civil war?

Today's talking point, as head of the NSA, General Keith Alexander, used that bully pulpit to warn the nation about cyber security.

Is he worth a million dollars a month as a civilian cyber warrior?

First is news update.

The UN's High Commissioner for Refugees said today that both sides have violated international humanitarian law during the fighting in Gaza.

Meanwhile, Israel today has called up another 16,000 reservists.

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