Douglas McAuthur McCain, an American recently killed in Syria fighting on behalf of ISIS, is not the first U.S. citizen to join a militant Islamist organization. Here are some ways that such groups recruit Americans:
- Preying on the weak by targeting naive, uneducated members of society, such as Americans
- Flattering candidates by praising their lust for violence, hate-fueled worldview, and other standout qualities
- Downplaying the part about dying and being globally reviled as a coward
- Wooing young people with the rare chance to have a job
- Internet
- Offering an even larger selection of weapons than are available in America
- Playing into young people’s fears of being left out of the next big thing
- Giving away free ISIS lanyards, ISIS thumb drives, and other ISIS swag at job fair
- Stressing that any time commitment could be over just a few short weeks after arriving in the Middle East
- Letting U.S. continue current foreign policy strategy