After ISIS: Dealing with Foreign Fighters

I've been reading through the testimony of Gen. Votel, Commander of Central Command, before the Senate Armed Forces Committee. Lots of things on his plate. Amazing success fighting ISIS. As a consequence, we need to deal with foreign fighters being captured.

According to Gen. Votel's written statement (page 21):

A significant challenge we face as we complete the defeat of ISIS is the repatriation of hundreds of foreign fighters to their home countries. The SDF and ISF are both holding several hundred fighters from a number of different countries in prisons or temporary detention facilities, with no clear process for prosecution or repatriation. The longer these fighters remain in detention together, the greater danger they pose as they form new connections, share lessons learned, and prepare to re-establish networks upon their release or escape. This urgent problem requires a concerted international effort involving law enforcement, intelligence sharing, and diplomatic agreements.

A little while ago, Rory Stewart, a junior minister in Britain, said that the best solution was to give no quarter, to do our utmost to kill them on the battlefield. He said that in October. He received a lot of flak for his remark.

Gavin Williamson, the British defence secretary, has also expressed similar views. As I mentioned in a previous post, according to the Spectator, more Muslim Britons have flocked to ISIS's standard than serve in the British Armed Forces.

What are we going to do about this? The longer we wait, the more dangerous these foreign fighters become.