A Foreign Legion for Losers: Westerners flocking to the Islamic State are middle-class misfits

National Review ^ | 09/05/2014 | Jonah Goldberg

[SeekAndFind]

On the Internet, you’re never really alone. Name any fad, any cause, any hobby or passion — Shaker furniture? Dungeons and Dragons, Bolivian tree frogs? — and you’re only a few clicks away from someone who shares your obsession.

That’s great. It’s also horrible. Because while there’s no harm in tree-frog fans sharing pictures and stories that inspire others to fly to the Andes to take pictures of exotic creatures, the Internet also lets evil people share stories and pictures that inspire others to cut off the heads of various infidels and apostates.

Though I’m perfectly comfortable with YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and similar platforms doing what they can to undermine the PR campaigns of fanatical murderers, my point here isn’t necessarily that such things should be banned or censored (even if that were technologically feasible). I weary of reflexive responses to barbarism that involve curtailing the freedoms of Americans in order to avoid offending savages.

Rather, my point is that to a considerable extent, the Islamic State — and groups like it — is a modern Foreign Legion for losers. When discussing people who openly boast of rape, murder, and torture, “loser” is hardly too harsh. But invective is not my intent when I call them losers. These men — and a few women, too — are losers in a more significant sense. They are losers at Western civilization.

Recently the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) posted transcripts from Facebook and Twitter conversations among various French and British supporters of the Islamic State. They enthusiastically chatted about the exciting news that you can buy slave women in areas controlled by the Islamic State. The terrorist group reportedly captured an unknown number of women from the ethnic minority called Yazidis. They aren’t Muslims, so they can be used as chattel.

[Tulane]

One point- we often hear that poverty breeds terrorism. Mohammad Atta and many off the 911 tools were middle class misfits. In short, poverty may contribute— but something else (Islam) is also a major factor.

[skeeter]

When they’re done with their perverted crusade is there any doubt this administration will welcome these ‘misfits’ home with open arms.

[Jack Hammer]

They may be middle class misfits, but they will soon be dead middle class misfits.

And if they wanted to die with a violent finish - without doing immeasurable harm to freedom and civilized values around the world - they should just take up skydiving without a parachute or one-handed rock climbing or swimming with sharks.

Sending society the bill for their destruction is wasteful and anti-social in the extreme.

[Jumper]

Could we use a program that promises’ increased EBT Card benefits for two consecutive 6-month tour’s if you complete the verification requirements with Homeland Security?

[PapaBear3625]

One point- we often hear that poverty breeds terrorism. Mohammad Atta and many off the 911 tools were middle class misfits. In short, poverty may contribute— but something else (Islam) is also a major factor.

It's not poverty that does it -- it is envy and excessive self-esteem. It is the lust for status and other rewards, in excess of what the person is able to fairly earn.

These people, like Atta, Osama, and the rest -- they were not happy with being relative nobodies. Osama could have made a good living working as a manager at his father's construction company. His overgrown ego wanted more.

These terrorists are in it for glory and power, especially including power over any infidel women who come into their possession.

[onedoug]

islamist entomology.

[detective]

They are leftists, homosexuals and/or Obama supporters.

Major Hassan, the Fort Hood shooter, was a member of the Obama transition team.

Bergdahl, who deserted his unit to help the Taliban kill American soldiers, was an Obama supporter. And a homosexual.

[DJ Taylor]

"They are losers at Western civilization."

Proving once again that Humans aren't that long "out of the trees" and the veneer of civilization is very thin to non existent upon us all. Also, this suggests that the degree of separation between your typical Islamist and a Hyena is very small.

[Altura Ct.]

Would like to see a breakdown of the race/ethnicity of these so called ‘Westerners’.

[defconw]

I known more than a few Arabs, they generally have a very high opinion of themselves and are often not very industrious.

[Eccl 10:2]

“They may be middle class misfits, but they will soon be dead middle class misfits.”

##################

Agreed, good to get them all in one place. Makes the next step that much easier.

[SeekAndFind]

I believe 3 of the Americans killed fighting for ISIS were black.

John Walker Lindh on the other hand, who was captured as an enemy combatant fighting for Al Qaeda during the United States’ 2001 invasion of Afghanistan, is white, who grew up in Marin County, California, one of the richest counties in the USA.

[Sherman Logan]

Too bad Elliot Rodgers, the misogynist who stabbed, shot and ran over a number of people in Santa Barbara, didn’t hang on for a few months.

He could have traveled to Syria and indulged his fantasies of murder and rape to the full with the acclaim of a large group of fellow believers.