Does He Face Years In Prison When He Comes Home From Syria?

[sandyRoe]

http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/543921/Former-British-soldier-fighting-against-Islamic-State-in-Syria

[BlackadderV]

We might as well ask the same thing about the British who went to fight for the republicans during the Spanish civil war. Far too complicated an issue for my simple mind.

[jno]

good question. I assume those lads who have been jailed for going to fight the Syrian regime were punished for engaging in terrorist acts. And yet it seems not so very long ago that Cameron himself was planning military action against the Syrian regime, only to lose a parliamentary vote

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/10275158/Syria-crisis-No-to-war-blow-to-Cameron.html

And of course Syria's arms suppliers are welcome at our money-spinning trade fairs

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/14/david-cameron-under-fire-assad-syria-arms-supplier-uk-airshow

The fog of war is a wonderful thing.

So it depends not just whom you are fighting, but when. Before going off to Syria, best phone Cameron to see whose side he's on today.

[sandyRoe]

Eric Blair/George Orwell was shot in the throat while he served in Spain with the anti-fascist forces. I don't think the Republicans who served in Spain were considered the good guys by the UK government until the war with Germany started.
We've seen people sentenced today to long periods of imprisonment because they went to fight in Syria. Is there a good side where volunteers can go and support with impunity?

[BlackadderV]

The short answer is no. One man's freedom fighter is another man's terrorist. As I say above, far too complicated for me.

[Gromit]

No.

He is fighting on the side of our mate Assad.

[sandyRoe]

Yes, indeed, Gromit. In my darker moments I see how big a mistake it was to depose Saddam. When the tyrants ran the roost things were remarkably quiet.

[ChillDoubt]

No.

He is fighting on the side of our mate Assad.
--------------------
I'm guessing he doesn't give a flying f*** about Assad, he just wants to stop IS.

Either way, I doubt he's beheading the locals nor will he be a threat to the UK once he returns.
The early choice of Best Answer tends to give away the bilious leftism of this thread......

[BlackadderV]

When has Assad ever been a threat to Britain? Or, for that matter, when was Saddam a threat to us?

[Orderlimit]

He deserves a couple of medals

[Gromit]

// tends to give away the bilious leftism of this thread... //

Really. You can tell that from one answer? It was only a year ago that the Government were trying to drag us into another war, this time to remove Assad. So you reckon it is billious leftism not to support mercenaries fighting on the same side as Assad?

[ChillDoubt]

Nice try Gromit.
So you seriously believe he's out there because he is 100% full square behind the Assad regime?
Or(as any normal, rational third party would surmise) he's gone out there purely to try and halt the rising tide that is IS?
Most would have worked it out in a millisecond, you chose to waste that time.
I'm pretty certain this lad has gone out there more in a Spanish Civil War type scenario than any endorsement of a murderous despot, but I'm sure deep down you already knew that.

[pinkerton]

We on AB are never going to find an answer to this type of discussion. We are, I hopefully believe, only ordinary individuals who want to us this forum to help others, and enter into informed discussion on issues. Unfortunately, on a subject such as the Middle East's various conflicts, we never receive information in the media that we can either believe or disbelieve, so we end up making a subjective decision on questions posted based on our own prejudices, rather than informed fact. Let's leave the politicians to make the wrong decisions on world matters, and get back to helping each other, and having interesting discussions.

[Svejk]

Well personally, I'm heartily sick of the AB left-whingers giving tacit support to Islamofascists. That would be an objective view based on facts.

[Gromit]

Chill,
Mercenaries just like killing people. They will kill for anyone if they are being paid. I doubt they are too bothered about the political dimension to their involvement. They are not there to to keep IS out, they are there to earn money killing people.

[Gromit]

Svejk
// I'm heartily sick of the AB left-whingers giving tacit support to Islamofascists. //

So by not supporting murderous mercenaries, we are by default supporting IS? If you have read any of my previous posts, you may remember I have been in favour of boots on the ground interventions by the UK to eradicate IS. I object to their total disreguard for human life, which is why I find mercenaries no better.

[ChillDoubt]

So how much do you reckon they're being paid by the peshmerga then Gromit?
I'll wager it's peanuts. If the pay was that good, everybody and his dog would be flocking there.
But don't let the fact that these 2 are there for vastly differing reasons than the vermin on the other side who travel with the intention of beheading the locals, aid workers or anyone else who does not kowtow.

Thankfully for these 2 Brits, they're not alone:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/german-motorcycle-club-members-join-dutch-bikers-in-fight-against-isis-9804525.html

[ChillDoubt]

So by not supporting murderous mercenaries, we are by default supporting IS? If you have read any of my previous posts, you may remember I have been in favour of boots on the ground interventions by the UK to eradicate IS.
-----------------
Ha ha ha ha, strange how I always here similar from people who generally couldn't summon the courage to even walk through a Recruiting Office doorway.

[Gromit]

Chill,
// Ha ha ha ha, strange how I always here similar from people who generally couldn't summon the courage to even walk through a Recruiting Office doorway. //

Funny how the personal insults come out when people know their argument is lost.
If we really regard IS as our enemy we should not leave it to mercenaries to fight our cause. I suppose we will have to wait until IS commit some atrocity of British soil before people like you realise we must stop them.

[ChillDoubt]

Personal insult? That's just an observation of your character and that of the collective left!
If you consider that personal you're more 'precious' than I'd reasoned.

[ChillDoubt]

I suppose we will have to wait until IS commit some atrocity of British soil before people like you realise we must stop them.
---------------
So the 'people like me' (the ex Servicemen) who realise that IS must be stopped are getting a slagging from you for having the courage to put themselves in harms way and do EXACTLY what you said must be done.
And you say MY argument is lost? Spoken like a true armchair warrior, Gromit.