The reasons for so many Americans to leave the safety of their homes and travel thousands of miles to fight ISIS in the desert vary, but the report notes that for many, they are similar to those that motivated so many young men and women to fight for ISIS: the search for a sense of belonging and meaning in their lives, or a dissatisfaction with the way the international community has responded to strife in the Middle East.
“The primary grievance relates to atrocities being committed against civilians, with many accusing world leaders of turning a blind eye to the ongoing suffering of those caught up in the conflict,” the report says. While the report in that section is referring to anti-ISIS foreign fighters, a similar refrain is common in pro-ISIS propaganda, which accuses the U.S.-led coalition of routinely killing women and children and calls on recruits to join the fight to protect the “caliphate.”
A 28-year-old former U.S. Army soldier, identified only as Brett, told ABC News’ “Nightline” last year that he joined an anti-ISIS Christian group to help defend the defenseless.
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