WASHINGTON, May 22 (RIA Novosti), Lyudmila Chernova – Many American citizens who are fighting on the side of extremists in Syria are driven not only by jihadist ideology but by a mere desire to fight, Richard Lachmann, professor of sociology at the University at Albany told RIA Novosti.
“There are those who are attracted to the jihadist ideology, and there are others who just like to fight,” he stated. “The US has been involved in any war, and this is a chance for them to fight in that war,” Lachmann said.
Recent reports surfacing in US media outlets have suggested that there are more American extremists fighting in Syria than previously thought. According to the latest US intelligence estimates, over 100 Americans have joined the jihad in Syria to side with the Sunni terrorists in the country.
The issue raises serious concerns among FBI officials, who fear that having joined with the extremists these people could come back to the US to carry out terrorist attacks.
According to Lachmann, it is also unclear what kind of punishment these individuals could face, as they did not just fight for another country’s army, but for a rebel army.
“In theory, the US government could revoke their citizenship if they fought for another army, which is not the case,” Lachmann said, adding that “legally, the US government is not able to do anything to an American citizen outside the country, but within the country there are many more legal restraints.”
The expert emphasized that American citizens do have the right to come back no matter where they’ve been, though the government is keeping a wary eye on every person it knows was engaged in fighting in Syria.
“However, when the US government is made aware that the people have fought in these places, they keep track of them so they are not just wandering around the United States on their own,” he asserted. “Letting them back is also a way to gather more intelligence, because by watching them they can find out if any plans for attacks are being made in the United States.”
The expert also warned of the possible post-traumatic disorders due to their war experience.
“Some of the consequences might include these men being violent to themselves or the people immediately around them,” he explained.
Lachmann also speculates that there are presently no al-Qaeda cells in America, as there have been no attacks for over 12 years.
“Most likely when the fighters return they will be isolated, because there are no established groups in the US they can work with. And assuming there are no Al-Qaeda groups within the US, these individuals can’t really do anything.”
