Posted on 09/07/2014 3:11:40 PM PDT by NYer
The UK, however, is (not surprisingly) a close second with 600 — up from the 400 reported here. “Hundreds Of Westerners Have Joined ISIS Here’s Where They Came From,” by Ben Winsor, Business Insider, August 27, 2014:
U.S. and European security services estimate that more than 1,000 of jihadist militants fighting in Iraq and Syria were drawn to the conflict from Western nations with some estimates putting the number as high as 3,000.
Business Insider compiled the graph below, which illustrates best estimates of where just some of those Western fighters originate.
Business Insider sought to use only official statements and credible reports in compiling the estimates.
The chart shows 700 recruits from France, 400 from the U.K., 320 from Germany, 250 from Belgium, 200 from Australia, 130 from the Netherlands, 100 from Canada, 100 from the U.S., and 51 from Spain.
The figures demonstrate alarming numbers from the U.K. and France in particular. In both countries, the integration of immigrant communities and Islamic communities in particular remains a hot-button political issue.
Per capita, Belgium is the biggest source of western ISIS recruits.
Joining ISIS
Given the chaotic nature of the fighting, people who have left their home countries to join the conflict are hard to track. Further, there are multiple militant groups on the ground in Iraq and Syria that could attract Western fighters.
But from the studies Business Insider analyzed, it appears the majority of those who join the conflict end up fighting for ISIS. Some experts, such as professor Peter Neumann of King’s College London, estimate the number could be as high as 80%.
ISIS has been targeting Western recruits with social-media campaigns, slickly produced videos, and English-language publications.
The phenomena poses a special challenge to security services because the Western passports used by the fighters are not subject to the restrictions and visa requirements placed on many non-Western citizens.
Western Response
Countries such as the U.K. and Australia are dealing with the growing threat posed by their citizens leaving to join ISIS by seeking to integrate divided communities and empower mainstream Muslims. They’re also beefing up surveillance and canceling passports of suspected militants.
The Westerners joining the conflict are predominantly young men, though there are increasing reports of women and even children traveling to the region.
Innes Bowen, author of “Inside British Islam,” told Business Insider there was no single type of person who becomes a radical in the U.K., and no single pathway to their ideology.
“There must be a range of motivations a sense of adventure, a misplaced sense of duty or idealism some of those recruited are well versed in ideology and the politics of their radical cause others are surprisingly ignorant,” Bowen said.
The New Republic reports that two young men who joined the conflict from the U.K. this May purchased “Islam for Dummies” and “The Koran for Dummies” before leaving.
As I explained here, that doesn’t necessarily mean what Business Insider and the New Republic think it means.
An observation: Notice that Obama ALWAYS refers to this group as ISIL. The media interchange ISIS and ISIL but Obama never uses ISIS. Your thoughts?
We need to get on the stick and send more. One way free tickets?
ISIL: the “L” means the Levant, which includes Israel and murdering all the Jews who live there.
700 or 12, it is a sign we in the West have failed in our duties to our young men. And that failure is not providing our sons with a foundation in faith. Perhaps more than women, men need to believe in a just, moral belief system with an idea that there is punishment for evil behavior and a reward for good behavior - in this world or the next.
It’s got to be some kind of code or sending some kind of message of solidarity with the radicals imo.
Or, when he fails to reign isis in, he can claim he never said he would do such and such to isis, only isil. And the msm will gladly go along. Bank on it.
You may be on to something. Notice, as well, that Obama approved 2 rescue missions - one for the Yazidis and the other for the Iraqi Turkmen. Meanwhile, the christians are still on top of that mountain waiting for assistance.
"Young Muslim warriors....a great adventure awaits you....free transport to the mideast where fun and excitement beheading infidels and raping and enslaving women awaits you. Enroll now for your free tickets!!!" Then when they leave, revoke their passports. Problem solved.
Wait until the ones that don’t get killed return to France. The “youths” that torch cars by the hundreds at the end of the year could really spice up the party.
And within the USA, Minnesota, the state that elected Al Franken, is on top or close to it.
They also need to be grounded by commitment to a family and a community that depend on them. Our excuse for a civilization ignores human nature. Men without duty will look for conquest to develop a sense of worth.
The only thing to do with rabid dogs is kill them.
These volunteer jihadis are no different. They need killing.
I would not call them Westerners.....
Maybe ISIS wants someone to wave the white flags when they lose? /s
Yes, indeed.
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