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http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35327313

I sort of understand and respect the Dutch position on this: legally it's very difficult to distinguish between someone who goes to Syria and fights for the Kurds vs someone who fights for ISIS, but I think if all he's done is fight against ISIS they should be lenient with him. He was only trying to make the world (and the Netherlands) safer. I don't think charging him with murder would be at all called for if all he did was kill dangerous terrorists.

Complete and utter bullshit..

Prosecuting a freedom fighter for fighting the war on ISIS?

I hope nothing bad happens to this man. That said, you never know what someone could be up to if they go to Syria to fight. Even if the Kurds are more pro-Western and progressive than most of the other parties to the Civil War, they're not angels, and there's always the chance that this guy could have done some wrong. I would say investigate what he did while in Syria, but if all they can turn up is that he fought ISIS then no harm should come to him.

Seems like they're treating him similar to being a vigilante.

Weird since we are at war with Isis and he is fighting in another country for the freedom of others.

The US probably has similar laws though. eg when Bush Jr used the terrible travesty of 9/11 to then wage a fraudulent war on Iraq; could a US citizen have travelled to Iraq and fought alongside the Kurds against Saddam's Iraqi army? From a US legal standpoint. I'm asking, as I don't know.

If Trump or Cruz was in office, no one would be prosecuted.

I kinda agree with the Dutch authorities but only because hopefully this will stop others from potentially committing war crimes.

Originally posted by Robtard
The US probably has similar laws though. eg when Bush Jr used the terrible travesty of 9/11 to then wage a fraudulent war on Iraq; could a US citizen have travelled to Iraq and fought alongside the Kurds against Saddam's Iraqi army? From a US legal standpoint. I'm asking, as I don't know.


Wouldn't make sense to me. Why not just join the Army or Marines if you want to fight. You get guaranteed pay and benefits...and the chance to fight Iraqi Army.

It says the law says it doesn't allow the use of force except for special circumstances. Well, if their lives were in danger doesn't that count? Or is it because he willingly put himself in that situation?

If he only killed terrorists then honestly give him a medal or something and send him on his way.

Originally posted by Tattoos N Scars
Wouldn't make sense to me. Why not just join the Army or Marines if you want to fight. You get guaranteed pay and benefits...and the chance to fight Iraqi Army. Unless he had ulterior motives for doing so.

Originally posted by Surtur
It says the law says it doesn't allow the use of force except for special circumstances. Well, if their lives were in danger doesn't that count? Or is it because he willingly put himself in that situation?

If he only killed terrorists then honestly give him a medal or something and send him on his way.
I think the fact that he traveled there willingly with the intent to fight might make any kind of "self-defense" legal argument really muddy.

While I don't want someone with good intentions to be punished, more and more I'm seeing why it's probably a good idea for nations to discourage their citizens from taking it upon themselves to fight terrorism.

I mean we can all agree that traveling to Syria to fight ISIS is a noble cause, but what about if someone decided to travel to Ukraine to fight with the rebels there against the Ukrainians? What if someone traveled to Kashmir to fight with Marxists against the Indians? What if someone traveled to Colombia to fight with FARC?

I think we--meaning the international community--might want to create some basic principles for how we deal with mercenaries and foreign volunteers.

I feel like it should be standard policy to celebrate a person who kills a member of ISIS. Like, if you have a chance to kill a member of ISIS, go ahead and take it. You can only make the world a better place. Not since the political organization that shall not be named, has there been a group so completely and utterly evil.

Well said

To me at this point..it's like killing a nazi. Your only regret is that you didn't kill more.

Originally posted by Surtur
To me at this point..it's like killing a nazi. Your only regret is that you didn't kill more.
I agree. National Socialists were among the worst scum that ever inhabited the Earth and ISIS is trying really hard to rival them.

On the other note, someone raised a question of mercenaries. I wonder how their involvement is regulated when they go to other countries to fight and kill for their cause.

Originally posted by Robtard
The US probably has similar laws though. eg when Bush Jr used the terrible travesty of 9/11 to then wage a fraudulent war on Iraq; could a US citizen have travelled to Iraq and fought alongside the Kurds against Saddam's Iraqi army? From a US legal standpoint. I'm asking, as I don't know.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_VanDyke

Nothing happened to him, he eventually started his own private security firm. I think he's fighting against ISIS now too.

God bless America.

This is strange to say the least. A few years ago a Dutch court ruled that it was not illegal for three motorcycle gang members to go to Syria to fight with the Kurds against IS. It determined that joining a foreign army in battle was legal as long as they weren't fighting against the Netherlands. I'm hoping the court will rule the same in this case as well.
http://www.nu.nl/buitenland/3902681/strijdende-leden-motorclub-surrender-niet-strafbaar.html

It's most likely this guy that's been arrested:
http://www.trouw.nl/tr/nl/4496/Buitenland/article/detail/3823091/2015/01/05/Hij-vecht-in-Syrie-mee-tegen-IS-want-dit-is-ook-zijn-oorlog.dhtml

The article is in Dutch but it states that he's the only Dutchman currently engaged in battle against ISIS. Or at least the only one that is fighting with the Kurds. It has an English-language video.

It's actually this guy:
http://www.volkskrant.nl/buitenland/-de-koerden-zeiden-daar-is-de-vijand-ga-je-gang~a4174743/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_content=free&utm_campaign=shared+content&hash=5822f3dad714959303ba56b7fcc6c3d399588e70

Originally posted by Time-Immemorial
Complete and utter bullshit..

Prosecuting a freedom fighter for fighting the war on ISIS?
Technically ISIS are freedom fighters too. It's just that their freedom intrudes on ours, according to the media.

Originally posted by Astner
Technically ISIS are freedom fighters too. It's just that their freedom intrudes on ours, according to the media.
Not really, unless you go by a very accommodating definition of freedom fighter. Technically they think of themselves as already having a country, and they're not focused on toppling any one particular regime--they believe all governments in the world not founded on their interpretation of Islam are illegitimate.

Omega be fair, they do totally want freedom. The freedom to explode themselves for their non-existent deity and to not have to eat pork. USUALLY in that order, but not always(see the big bacon buster of 99)

They are also fighters who enjoy fighting against freedom so there is some aspect of freedom and fighting being done. That counts, right?

Originally posted by Slay
This is strange to say the least. A few years ago a Dutch court ruled that it was not illegal for three motorcycle gang members to go to Syria to fight with the Kurds against IS. It determined that joining a foreign army in battle was legal as long as they weren't fighting against the Netherlands. I'm hoping the court will rule the same in this case as well.
http://www.nu.nl/buitenland/3902681/strijdende-leden-motorclub-surrender-niet-strafbaar.html

It's most likely this guy that's been arrested:
http://www.trouw.nl/tr/nl/4496/Buitenland/article/detail/3823091/2015/01/05/Hij-vecht-in-Syrie-mee-tegen-IS-want-dit-is-ook-zijn-oorlog.dhtml

The article is in Dutch but it states that he's the only Dutchman currently engaged in battle against ISIS. Or at least the only one that is fighting with the Kurds. It has an English-language video.

Motorcycle gang? Well shit where is Jax Teller to shoot all these people in the face right before willingly violently ending his own life when you need him? He's just busy being a terrible father and injecting the mother of his child with heroin, total slacker. Doesn't he know there are plenty of terrorists he could inject with heroin or bacon grease or some kind of new heroin with bacon grease added? I call the concoction "Hog Heaven".