How big is ISIS? No one really knows, but US officials issue estimates on their foreign contingent on a fairly regular basis, with the latest report poised to show that foreign recruitment continues to increase at an alarming rate.
From 19,000 foreign fighters in Iraq and Syria as of mid-January, officials are now revising the estimate up to well over 20,000, with both the overall number in ISIS and the rate of growth on the rise.
That’s a huge problem, with the war’s continued escalation seemingly making it even easier for ISIS to recruit from abroad, and more than 90 countries now believed to be represented.
This figure intends to cover not just ISIS but other Islamist factions, and they don’t necessarily have a good count on who is going where. It also doesn’t include internal recruitment, and exactly how many Syrians and Iraqis have joined such groups is totally unclear.
Abou Ben Adhem
By Leigh Hunt
Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase!)
Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace,
And saw, within the moonlight in his room,
Making it rich, and like a lily in bloom,
An angel writing in a book of gold:—
Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold,
And to the presence in the room he said,
"What writest thou?"—The vision raised its head,
And with a look made of all sweet accord,
Answered, "The names of those who love the Lord."
"And is mine one?" said Abou. "Nay, not so,"
Replied the angel. Abou spoke more low,
But cheerly still; and said, "I pray thee, then,
Write me as one that loves his fellow men."
The angel wrote, and vanished. The next night
It came again with a great wakening light,
And showed the names whom love of God had blest,
And lo! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest.
These figures sound very similar toe highly inflated strength and numbers of the Iraqi army in the run to Gulf War I.Exaggerate the numbers and capabilities to get the American people line for another war.