France admits former French Foreign Legionaires are defecting to ISIS

[orangesunset]

The article is unclear what the motive for members of the French Foreign Legion defecting to ISIS. The Legion is one of the elite units of the French army, and there is the possibility these defectors could supply ISIS with valuable information. Even more concerning is former members of other elite French units are joining ISIS.

Possibly the motive might be financial, ISIS somehow is getting money to pay fighters and experts.

France admits soldiers have deserted to ISIS, including ex-elite special forces and French foreign legionnaires

Several French former soldiers have joined the ranks of jihadists fighting in Syria and Iraq, the country’s government confirmed on Wednesday, as it outlined a series of new anti-terrorism measures following the Islamist attacks in Paris.

French, German and Belgian police arrested more than two dozen suspects in anti-terrorism raids Friday, as European authorities rushed to thwart more attacks by people with links to Islamic extremists in the Mideast.

Rob Wainwright, head of the police agency Europol, told The Associated Press that foiling terror attacks has become “extremely difficult” because Europe’s 2,500-5,000 radicalized Muslim extremists have little command structure and are increasingly sophisticated.

Most of the ex-soldiers, reportedly numbering around 10 and including former paratroopers and French foreign legionnaires, are said to be fighting on behalf of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

Most worrying is the reported presence of an ex-member of France’s elite First Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment, considered one of Europe’s most experienced special forces units and which shares the “Who Dares Wins” motto of the SAS.


France admits soldiers have deserted to ISIS, including ex-elite special forces and French foreign legionnaires | National Post

 

[Redheart]

Loyalties can easily be swayed when money is thrust into the picture. Or maybe it could be more than just money. Some people join ISIS because their ideals, goals, etc resonate with them. But it's an alarming fact nonetheless. These defectors could instead of going to the front-lines, be used to train ISIS fighters molding them into something entirely different that will be much harder to destroy.

 

[tournique]

It's incredible what mercenaries can do for money. Is there no reasoning after you fought in a foreign legion?

 

[orangesunset]

It's incredible what mercenaries can do for money. Is there no reasoning after you fought in a foreign legion?

Money plays a part in it, but it is for the sense of adventure. People who join these types of organizations are probably not the most mentally stable. It is like people who do extreme sports like sky diving.

 

[JulianWilliams]

Money plays a part in it, but it is for the sense of adventure. People who join these types of organizations are probably not the most mentally stable. It is like people who do extreme sports like sky diving.

It's probably also religious. You don't have that many Europeans joining ISIS and out of those who do they're mostly immigrants or their descendants or Bosniacs or Albanians.

 

[xHysteria]

Money plays a part in it, but it is for the sense of adventure. People who join these types of organizations are probably not the most mentally stable. It is like people who do extreme sports like sky diving.

I completely agree with you.

I sense that the money plays a much more bigger role than that sense of adventure. Most of the time mercenarieres are unstable..