Meet the Peshmerga's International Brigade: The men from the West in Syria to fight ISIS

A legion of foreign fighters who bravely joined the Kurdish forces battling militants loyal to the Islamic State have posed for photographs in Syria. Showing off their tattoos, play fighting with one another and relaxing in a camp, the international fighting force appear incredibly relaxed - despite fighting on the frontline against the terror group.

Dozens of fighters - many of them ex-soldiers in the British and America armies - have volunteered to join Kurdish troops battling ISIS in Iraq and Syria in recent months. As many of the Kurdish fighters do not speak English, the foreign soldiers usually form new English-language regiments.

Read a story about a veteran who went over to fight with the Kurds and recently returned. His assessment was not kind to most of the other Westerners. He said that very few of them have any military experience. Most really do not know what they are doing since they lack basic military training. He described them as a mixed lot of death seekers, psychos looking to kill for killings sake, biker types, etc. I know the story satisfies the comic book fantasies of some of us, but I believe the assessment of a real military veteran is probably spot on.

I hate to burst a deserved veteran looking down the nose at laymen bubble

But I imagine in a war where the enemy is willing to roast you and your wife and children to death on a spit to make their point that you would be grateful to whoever is willing to give money or food or shelter or arms or fight and lay down their life where the stakes are so high

I doubt few insist on recon Rangers and trident wearers need only apply

Even though those would be great

See Boar war and Yugoslavia civil war war

I don’t think Arkans Tigers were all former Spetznatz but they scared the beejeezuss outta Muzzies and errant Croats

The risk is for the green volunteer

Baring politics and public relations consideration they will be least well armed fodder put up front as most expendable historically have been

Sadly it will require brutal discipline for those who go rabbit although on that battlefield not easy to run off and go where?

If Matt or another Sneaky Pete sort wish to refute me I’ll be humble

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.