I Don't Get It

Last summer David Cameron was planning to intervene militarily on the side of the Syrian rebels. (Parliament stopped him, thank heavens.) Now- less than a year later- we're arresting young British citizens who- in a private capacity- went and did exactly what Cameron wanted.

Is there a precedent for criminalizing citizens who fight in foreign wars? I can't think of any.  It was never illegal to join the Foreign Legion- or any other mercenary outfit. And did any of the young men who went to Spain in the 30s- many of whom held "extremist" political views- get locked up on their return? I don't think so.