Extended Family of British Labour Politician (Including Two Women and Four Children!) Nabbed at Turkish Border Attempting to Join ISIS

"Hey, kids, let's all hop in the station wagon and join ISIS!"

What is WRONG with these people?

Okay, just for the sake of argument, let's stipulate that Islam is a "religion of peace" and that the Muslim community while perhaps containing a small percentage of "extremists" (like any religious community, we are told), is fundamentally peaceful.

I don't believe that for a moment, but again, let's stipulate it. The Muslim community is no different than, say, the Christian community or the Jewish community.

Well, in that case, there is a madness sweeping it.

The arrested women above is carrying a one year old in her arms. That's right, a one year old.

What would cause an extended family of three men, two women and four children--either British citizens or permanent residents--to pick up everything and leave their market town in the Midlands to fly 1,000 miles to join up with a ferocious terrorist army in the scrabbly dessert?

What?

One of the men, Waheed Ahmed, was the son of a Rochdale council member, and was studying at university. His father, Wakil Ahmed expressed "shock" and said his son was "a good Muslim." The captured group included the senior Mr. Ahmed's aunt, two male cousins, the wife of one of them and at least two of her children.

"I don’t believe my son was on his way to join Islamic State. I was shocked, worried and extremely upset," said Mr. Ahmed, who recognized his son's photo in the newspaper.

Ah, wayward kids. It could happen to anyone.

A few weeks ago, also in Britain, three teen-age girls--straight-A students, according to some reports--also picked up everything and headed to join ISIS in Syria. Cameras show them walking together through the airport, like they're going on a school trip.

This isn't the Spanish Civil War. It's a reality show on the Disney Channel.

Speaking of the Spanish Civil War, the same Daily Mail article reports that it is now estimated that 2,000 Britons have journeyed to Syria or Iraq to fight with ISIS. That's at or close to the number that joined the Spanish Republicans in 1936-39.

I don't know whether that includes the one year olds.

For more on this story, read today's article in the Daily Mail.