Excerpts: "WASHINGTON — Nearly 30,000 foreign recruits have now poured into Syria, many to join the Islamic State, a doubling of volunteers in just the past 12 months and stark evidence that an international effort to tighten borders, share intelligence and enforce antiterrorism laws is not diminishing the ranks of new militant fighters." and "Despite Pentagon reports that coalition strikes have killed about 10,000 Islamic State fighters, the group continues to replenish its ranks, drawing an average of about 1,000 fighters a month. The government several months ago last publicly assessed the flow at “more than 25,000,” including at least 4,500 from the West."

Cornelis Hulsman: The article mentions nothing of the motivations of these young recruits. It mentions military 'answers' but we should ask ourselves what has motivated these young recruits to fight for the so-called Islamic State and be almost certain that they will not survive. At a recent Conference at Future University, Cairo, the Western dismantling of the Ottoman Empire 100 years ago and the drawing of rather artificial border are injustices that grief many Muslims. Westerners should also be aware of many other grievances that make young Muslim activists turn to IS. Days ago I spoke with Egyptian Salafi Sheikh and preacher Mohammed Salah who opposes IS and calls for counselling young Muslims in order not to fall into ideological traps that bring them to IS. Opinions of how to address the IS are very diverse but using only military means only strengthens feelings of injustice which may bring in many more recruits.