EDHS Contemporary World Affairs

kristiestoermer · Veteran Member

2 Amigos: 'They would torture you': ISIS prisoners reveal life inside terror group

Sami_THECREATOR · Veteran Member

Perhaps, these are the pawns that they send into the front lines, but the ones calling the shots seem to believe that the ends justify the means, establishing an Islamic State even if it means, killing, drugging, trafficking, and torturing your way to getting it. I don't think ISIS gains most of its fighters with intimidation, but rather with other incentives. ISIS and a street gang have much in common, you wan't money, power, a life beyond the poverty in Iraq, these sound attractive to a teenager living in a war torn country with no real future, so they join. Most ISIS fighter's I'd think believe in the cause after a couple of weeks of drugs, killing, and warfare, the Islamic State becomes their dream.

Banddude · Senior Member

I don't see why ISIS wouldn't use these tactics to provide for their fighting force. The only issue they could possibly run into is lack of persuasion. I do believe ISIS would use tactics such as drugs, money, and threats in order to form their army. It isn't anything lower than what they have already done. As for the morals and mind-sets of the soldiers used in ISIS, I believe a lot of them are being forced to fight. If not a majority, a sizable amount of their armed forces must be under some extreme form of persuasion.

Amy Nguyen · Veteran Member

I think the core of ISIS are made up of devoted members who full-heartedly believe in its cause and are willing to do whatever is necessary. In my opinion, ISIS draws in many of its members with incentives, and maybe resort to using fear to the members who want to defect or speak out against it. I believe that ISIS members are willing to be a part of the cause for the most part, whether it is because of the ideology behind ISIS or because of the incentives promised.

Amber Kennedy · Veteran Member

A lot of the members of ISIS are completely devoted to it on their own. To draw in more members however, ISIS can very well be using fear and incentives. People will think they're safe or their families are safe if ISIS promises protection in return for being devoted to the group. I think that most of the members of ISIS do believe in what their organization is fighting for, but at the same time I think that some members are afraid to speak out because they were coerced into joining with threats and incentives.

Zachary Francine · Veteran Member

I agree with Sami. I feel that it is hard for most of us, as westerners, to totally and truly understand their mentality. I do get the sense, however that they would kill me if I were to find myself there. Regardless of if they believe it or were drugged or intimidated many are willing to fight and die.

zach nash · Veteran Member

I think that their may be many forced to join ISIS, but I think the majority are willingly following ISIS's ideals

Foley · Veteran Member

I believe that this can be an easy way to persuade people into joining ISIS and the way that they went about drugging their soldiers seems a little too real for me. After hearing about how soldiers are used in third world countries, it doesn't seem all too unlikely that this is how they are developing their army.

elliskim · Veteran Member

i think how they are getting the people for isis is wrong by scaring them into it.

Kayli Perry · Veteran Member

I don't think this is how ISIS gains most of its followers. I think their followers are people who geniunely believe in what they are doing and want to establish an Islamic State. However, I do think they give others a choice to follow them who aren't initially going to. And by choice I mean they use methods of 'persuastion' which is probably what the prisoners in the article saw. What they saw was ISIS giving people one last chance before they killed them off. These were probably able bodied men that they didn't want to execute because it would be a waste.