Most described their upbringing as religious but not extremist, Smith said. Many said their fathers were harsh and often abusive. Most reported little or no previous military experience. Before they were recruited, many worked as taxi drivers, construction workers and in other low-paying jobs. Others were students.
Their recruiters preyed on their desire for recognition, acceptance and friendship, Smith said. Many told their interrogators that they were first approached at their local mosques. Others were approached at work and invited to attend discussions at the mosque.
These conversations would begin as a harmless discussion about Islam that over the weeks would shift to discussing the war against U.S.-led forces in Iraq, he said.
Once they agreed to join the fight, most of the young men were flown to Syria and then smuggled into Iraq by road, he said. The facilitators who met them in Syria often entertained them at nightclubs and bars during the months it sometimes took to get them to Iraq, Smith said.
But when they reached Iraq, those destined for suicide missions were sequestered in safe houses with a copy of the Quran and few other amenities. They complained that their Iraqi handlers looked down on foreigners, did not give them enough food and treated them harshly, Smith said.
Some spoke of their disillusionment when they learned that most of the attacks carried out by insurgents were directed against the Iraqi people rather than U.S. forces.
Alexandra Zavis writes for the Los Angeles Times.
