It’s no secret that many Americans have begun questioning President Obama’s response to the escalating threat of the Islamic State (ISIS), particularly after the deadly terrorist attacks in Paris less than two weeks ago. Speaking at the G-20 Summit in Turkey last week, the president faced a barrage of questions from the media over his military tactics against the terrorist group over the past year, with CNN’s Jim Acosta going so far as to simply ask, “Why can’t we take out these bastards?” Even some prominent Democrats have publicly voiced their concerns.
And it looks like others are wondering the exact same thing – and have decided to do something about it.
Dissatisfied with the federal government’s handling of the terrorist group, here are five unlikely allies who have all vowed to take on the Islamic State:
Anonymous
According to the alliance of unknown hackers, Anonymous has already hacked into and dismantled over 5,000 ISIS social media accounts. The hactivists have also published an online “how-to” guide telling common internet users how they, too, can hack ISIS.
But it gets even better.
According to Bloomberg News, Anonymous has now started "rickrolling" as many of ISIS’s accounts that the group can get its virtual hands on. The online prank involves spamming links and posts with a video of the incredibly annoying 1987 Rick Astley song, “Never Gonna Give You Up.”
Anonymous isn’t shy about openly targeting ISIS accounts, either. From the report:
“You should expect a massive reaction from Anonymous, you should know that we will find you and we won’t let go,” Anonymous said of Islamic State in a video posted online on Saturday. “We are going to launch the biggest operation ever against you. Expect numerous cyberattacks. The war is on. Get ready.”
Here’s to hoping they’re not gonna let us down, run around or desert us.
Some Dutch and German bikers
In case you missed it, members large and pretty ticked-off group of bikers known as “No Surrender” actually traveled to Iraq and Syria last year – with the official blessing of the Netherlands – to fight alongside Kurdish forces against ISIS.
Soon after, some members of Median Empire, a German biker gang, also joined in the fray.
These American military vets
From former Army Rangers to ex-Marines, some American military veterans have traveled – on their own dime – to the Middle East to join with Kurdish forces in the fight against ISIS. They may not be large in number (the FBI estimates fewer than 100), but according to one report from the Wall Street Journal, they’ve already been joined by ex-military fighters from England, Greece, Australia, Israel and Iran.
The WSJ reports Lu Lobello, a former Marine who traveled to Syria to help fight against ISIS, explained simply, “America is not fighting the Islamic State, but Americans are.”
The Mafia
If ISIS ever decides to mess with New York City, they may find themselves looking down more than a few barrels pointed by members of the mob.
According to Giovanni Gambino, son of notorious crime boss John Gambino, the American Italian Mafia is prepared to take on ISIS to “make sure our friends and families are protected from extremists and terrorists.”
Linda
A completely random and unknown woman Linda Clarke took to Twitter last week to declare simply, “I will destroy ISIS.” Her post ignited a firestorm of photoshopped graphics showing the 43-year-old mother of two preparing to engage the terrorist organization. Someone even created this brilliant parody Twitter account showing Linda threatening ISIS left, right and sideways.
Hey, we’ve got her back.