I watch a lot of television news. Lately there has been a lot of coverage about the deteriorating situation in Iraq. This morning the story broke about the beheading of American journalist James Foley. I find the situation terribly depressing for many reasons. But, I get quite irritated when I hear someone on television refer to the IS fighters in Iraq as "mindless fanatics."
Yes, they operate under a very different set of rules. Clearly a different set of values. They don't seem to be adhering to tactics or techniques considered to be conventional or legal by any standard. I understand this. I would never defend what they do. I find their actions abhorrent and against my own personal ethics.
But they are not mindless fanatics.
I know this because I fought against men like them in al Anbar in 2004-05. I found the Sunni insurgents in Fallujah to be resilient, tough men. Their bravery was quite extraordinary at times. They were a shrewd adversary. They were - and are - very committed to their cause. They are not "devils with horns and a forked tail."
To call this "mindless fanaticism" is just lazy in my opinion. Those who use this term simply don't know any better or - probably the case - haven't taken the time or effort to learn about these people.
If an American soldier or Marine - armed only with a rifle, pistol, or grenade - rushed an enemy position without regard to his own life, we would give him a medal.
We wouldn't flippantly dismiss it as the act of a mindless fanatic.
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