| Tango01 | 23 Feb 2015 10:38 p.m. PST |
"The so-called Islamic State has recruited copious cannon fodder from around the world, along with quite a few ferocious fighters. But its toughest opponents on the ground, the Kurds of Iraq and Syria, are attracting Western ex-soldiers for their ranks who are determined to see the self-proclaimed "caliphate" not only "degraded," as Washington puts it, but destroyed. At a Kurdish Peshmerga base on the fluid battle lines outside the ethnically and religiously mixed Iraqi city of Kirkuk, three American fighters sat down with The Daily Beast. We were less than half a mile from the black flags of ISIS, as the would-be Islamic State is widely known, and the soldiers asked that I not give too many details about their identities. They worry that their families could become special targets for a fanatical fighting force whose battlefields, like its targets, seem limitless. Dressed in a Peshmerga uniform, Jeremy is a compact, affable 28-year-old-guy from Mississippi who fought with U.S. forces in Afghanistan and Iraq. He's been fighting alongside the Pesh for the last six months…"
Full article here
link Amicalement
Armand |
| Maxshadow | 23 Feb 2015 10:56 p.m. PST |
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| Cyrus the Great | 24 Feb 2015 12:03 a.m. PST |
The comments underneath were "priceless" as well! |
| Tango01 | 24 Feb 2015 10:07 a.m. PST |
Happy you enjoyed the article boys!. (smile) Amicalement
Armand |
 Legion 4   | 24 Feb 2015 10:15 a.m. PST |
Good for them !  But some may not like the former US soldiers fighting along side the Kurds … some here may call them … wait for it … MERCENARIES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  |
| Cyrus the Great | 24 Feb 2015 10:41 a.m. PST |
Despite assurances from the U.S. government that they won't suffer any recriminations for fighting with the Kurds, we all know U.S. policy can turn on a dime. All a future administration has to do is say they fought alongside the PKK. International Brigades anyone? |
| Legion 4 | 24 Feb 2015 10:58 a.m. PST |
Now all there needs to be is about 20,000 more US/Western Mercs fighting Deash and we may get somewhere. Surely much of the rest of the region is providing little to the fight overall. Or like the Iraqi Military, which continues to prove to be less effective than armed Boy Scouts … |
| Zargon | 24 Feb 2015 11:22 a.m. PST |
Read somewhere that 50% of the combat duty as well as the 'security' work in Afghanistan were done by 'contractors' so even US uses 'mercs' to conduct her wars too, but agree the powers that be can be fickle and you may be a hero in one situation and a traitor another.
Cheers |
| darthfozzywig | 24 Feb 2015 11:43 a.m. PST |
Surely much of the rest of the region is providing little to the fight overall Oh they are, but just to the wrong side. |
| Legion 4 | 24 Feb 2015 12:01 p.m. PST |
Read somewhere that 50% of the combat duty as well as the 'security' work in Afghanistan were done by 'contractors' That is a pretty large figure … but I'd say that figure could be close for security duty … Oh they are, but just to the wrong side.
Of that I don't doubt … sadly … |
| Lion in the Stars | 24 Feb 2015 2:51 p.m. PST |
I know for a fact that every time I see pictures of Syrian refugees, I get really tempted to make a trip there to shoot however many DAESHbags it takes to keep those kids alive. As the picture-meme goes: The Good Guys are the ones standing between children and harm. |
| Rod I Robertson | 24 Feb 2015 4:50 p.m. PST |
Why is it acceptable for foreign youths to learn deadly skills and hone murderous instincts to a fine edge while fighting IS in Iraq and Syria, when we claim it is wrong for IS inspired youth to go and fight the corrupt and anti-democratic regimes of the Middle East? We should remember that these pro-Peshmerga foreign fighters may very well turn against our global interests like the Mujaheddin in Afghanistan did after the Soviet pull-out in 1989. The lethal skills and battle-hardening these young men (and women?) are mastering today may be turned on us in a decade or so. Their suffering and struggle now might be the labour pains which will birth an organisation worse than Al-Qaeda and IS down the road.
Real warriors and soldiers are not like the lead and plastic analogues we play with on our tables. You can't just box them up or put them up on a shelf when the war is over. They remain "in play" and will cause all sorts of trouble for years afterward.
This policy is stupid, it was stupid in the 1980's and it is stupid now. We need reliable, regular soldiers fighting IS which we control and can stand-down and not irregular warriors and mercenaries who are likely will turn on us when our priorities and interests in the region change. We are setting up ourselves and the people of the Middle East for the next cycle of spasm, war and suffering in the their homeland. Is it any wonder that many there hate us and wish us harm?
Rod Robertson |
| darthfozzywig | 24 Feb 2015 5:17 p.m. PST |
Why is it acceptable for foreign youths to learn deadly skills and hone murderous instincts to a fine edge while fighting IS in Iraq and Syria, when we claim it is wrong for IS inspired youth to go and fight the corrupt and anti-democratic regimes of the Middle East? One might as well ask why is it acceptable for anyone to fight. |
| Sean Kotch | 24 Feb 2015 7:42 p.m. PST |
"We need reliable, regular soldiers fighting IS which we control and can stand-down" Many of these foreign "youths" are former regular soldiers that were stood down and can't stomach to see our government sell out our Kurdish friends yet again. |
| Ironwolf | 24 Feb 2015 11:15 p.m. PST |
"Read somewhere that 50% of the combat duty as well as the 'security' work in Afghanistan were done by 'contractors'" Well since its illegal under international law, UK and US Law for private contractors to conduct offensive operations. I find this very doubtful for combat duty. Now for security work, I'd be surprised if its not higher than 50%. |
| Legion 4 | 25 Feb 2015 9:13 a.m. PST |
When someone shoots at you … you shoot back … Why is it acceptable for [foreign] youths to learn deadly skills and hone murderous instincts to a fine edge … It's been that was for centuries all over the planet … I may even have been considered one of them … Real warriors and soldiers are not like the lead and plastic analogues we play with on our tables. You can't just box them up or put them up on a shelf when the war is over. They remain "in play" and will cause all sorts of trouble for years afterward.
I know … however, SOME MAY cause trouble years afterwards. I got a couple of traffic tickets, but that is as "Badd" as I got … We need reliable, regular soldiers [fighting IS] which we control and can stand-down Again … It's been that way for centuries … and not irregular warriors and mercenaries who are likely will turn on us when our priorities and interests in the region change. I find that occurring very unlikely … Sometimes I think some watch too many movies … We are setting up ourselves and the people of the Middle East for the next cycle of spasm, war and suffering in the their homeland. Is it any wonder that many there hate us and wish us harm? Again, I see that happening at best on a very small level. And if you notice, they seem to have many reasons to hate "the infidels" … us … already … islamic terrorism is not new. It's been going on since the 60's for one reason of another … |
| Rod I Robertson | 25 Feb 2015 4:22 p.m. PST |
Legion 4:
Who has shot at the young man from Louisiana in the article? No one. He has traveled half way around the world to shoot at the locals. With respect to your driving you are no doubt "bad to the bone" but respectfully you would be a pussycat on Quebec roads where the highway code is viewed more as a set of polite suggestions rather than legal requirements! With respect to regular vs. irregular/ contract troops, the West has been relying on these forces more and more and this has caused many complications and difficulties for the West . "I find that occurring very unlikely … Sometimes I think some watch too many movies …" It happened in Afghanistan with the Mujaheddin in the 1980's, it is happening in Iraq where US backed and trained Shi'ite militias are now defacto death squads and it happened in Syria where western backed and Jordanian trained opposition groups joined IS. No need for movies when all you need do is watch the news or read the paper. With regards to the last point I made and which you quoted above, I wonder if these upheavals were happening in America with the complicity of an outside nation would you be so forgiving of the meddling outside power? You might even call them names and resort to violence too! Cheers. Rod Robertson |
| Legion 4 | 25 Feb 2015 4:51 p.m. PST |
Who has shot at the young man from Louisiana in the article? No one. He has traveled half way around the world to shoot at the locals. Those Southern Boys just like to shoot at things. I've said before, one way to stop the Sami Pirates if the law allowed. Hire a bunch of good old boys. Tell to bring all their guns and knifes, etc. … You are going on a hunting and shooting Cruise. And you'll get paid for it ! With respect to your driving you are no doubt "bad to the bone" but respectfully you would be a pussycat on Quebec roads where the highway code is viewed more as a set of polite suggestions rather than legal requirements! It's that way in some parts of the Southern US. Of course nothing is a "challenging" as the AutoBahn. Glad I was in an APC ! It happened in Afghanistan with the Mujaheddin in the 1980's, it is happening in Iraq where US backed and trained Shi'ite militias are now defacto death squads and it happened in Syria where western backed and Jordanian trained opposition groups joined IS. No need for movies when all you need do is watch the news or read the paper
I have CNN or FOX in my home office all day. It depends on what you consider Mercs. The Shi'ite militias, Muj, etc., etc., are basically armed thugs. Now the FFL … those are proper Professional Mercs. With regards to the last point I made and which you quoted above, I wonder if these upheavals were happening in America with the complicity of an outside nation would you be so forgiving of the meddling outside power? You might even call them names and resort to violence too! Yeah … the Yankees called'm Redcoats and Hessians !  |
