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Fighting ISIS
In February 2015, Tim Locks headed to Kurdistan to fight ISIS. After watching images of the Yazidi people being slaughtered, he couldn't sit back and do nothing. Having worked as a prison officer and a bouncer, he knew how to handle himself - and had a huge protective streak. He sold his house to raise money, put himself through arms training and bought his equipment on eBay.
In this gripping book he reveals what it is like to fight alongside the Kurds as well as British and American ex-military. He has cleared the enemy from occupied villages, come under mortar and small-arms fire, and witnessed the horrific atrocities committed by ISIS. He also describes how WiFi on the front line allows today's soldiers to communicate, how they always find time for selfies, even when under attack, and how the Kurds are so used to this way of life they stop mid-firefight to have a cup of chai and play Candy Crush while manning the mortars. As cultures clash, and the bullets start flying, Tim shares his adventures with honesty and black humour.
In this gripping book he reveals what it is like to fight alongside the Kurds as well as British and American ex-military. He has cleared the enemy from occupied villages, come under mortar and small-arms fire, and witnessed the horrific atrocities committed by ISIS. He also describes how WiFi on the front line allows today's soldiers to communicate, how they always find time for selfies, even when under attack, and how the Kurds are so used to this way of life they stop mid-firefight to have a cup of chai and play Candy Crush while manning the mortars. As cultures clash, and the bullets start flying, Tim shares his adventures with honesty and black humour.
- GenresNonfiction
320 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 14, 2016
7 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 11, 2017
Absolute garbage. Alpha male nonsense coupled with downright lies. Appallingly written - “to my mind” is used eight times in the first chapter alone. An apparent addiction to exclamation marks, which are used seemingly at random, whereas commas are barely used at all. Basic information is so badly wrong (the Peshmerga is referred to twice as “the Kurdish government”) and several paragraphs are repeated for no apparent reason. I would suggest this book was not proof read.
In brief, some privileged tosser decides to sacrifice holidays in Dubai for fighting in Iraq. So he goes to Erbil and within a week is an expert in Iraqi geopolitics and weaponry. Inside two days, he’s in a position to judge both the locals (he conflates Kurds and Kurdish for Arabs and Arabic) in a racist position of white privilege, as well as his fellow alpha male “combatants”, most of whom are contractors. Then not much happens. Then he goes home, and, laughably, he writes a list of items any so-minded reader should bring if they want to take up arms against Islamic State (or Daesh, as he insists on calling them because he’s down with the Kurds, kids). And then he thanks people without mentioning their names, again with no stemming reason, That’s it. There’s actually very little evidence to suggest the author was ever in Kurdistan, let alone taking up arms, other than a series of bad photos (complete with typos).
To be blunt, Tim Locks is a fraud and a liar. His white privilege probably set back the fight against Islamic State, if he was even ever on the front line. This book is dreadfully written, with no evidence of editing. Self-serving, alpha male rubbish. I read it all (the font is huge) in an hour and a half. Offensive twaddle. Avoid.
In brief, some privileged tosser decides to sacrifice holidays in Dubai for fighting in Iraq. So he goes to Erbil and within a week is an expert in Iraqi geopolitics and weaponry. Inside two days, he’s in a position to judge both the locals (he conflates Kurds and Kurdish for Arabs and Arabic) in a racist position of white privilege, as well as his fellow alpha male “combatants”, most of whom are contractors. Then not much happens. Then he goes home, and, laughably, he writes a list of items any so-minded reader should bring if they want to take up arms against Islamic State (or Daesh, as he insists on calling them because he’s down with the Kurds, kids). And then he thanks people without mentioning their names, again with no stemming reason, That’s it. There’s actually very little evidence to suggest the author was ever in Kurdistan, let alone taking up arms, other than a series of bad photos (complete with typos).
To be blunt, Tim Locks is a fraud and a liar. His white privilege probably set back the fight against Islamic State, if he was even ever on the front line. This book is dreadfully written, with no evidence of editing. Self-serving, alpha male rubbish. I read it all (the font is huge) in an hour and a half. Offensive twaddle. Avoid.
October 18, 2016
Very misleading title, there was very little fighting IS. Rating this low because the constant disappointments made me feel like I was just being tricked. Historically accurate and very interesting and humorous characters though. I appreciate tim's honesty at times and his dedication to the fight for sure, I would've just simply appreciated a different title because it says 'hey take my money' to people who are more interested with constant battles and action. Read this if you want to hear the noble story of tim going to Kurdistan and his detailed experience becoming disappointed with the little fight going on.
September 5, 2017
An honest account from a perspective of a foreign volunteer in Iraq. Tim Locks describes inactivity of the fight against Daesh, as it is: Frustrating, boring and monotonous. Much of what he written about Dwekh Nawsha and IDET is somewhat accurate and consistent with the other sources found on the internet.
What I did not like about this book is that is it full of contradictions and unwarranted criticism. Tim Locks appears to be a contemptible, incredibly naive and short sighted at times. Locks joins a Christian militia on his own accord only to criticize a fellow foreign volunteer for being deeply religious and devoted, in a Muslim majority country where Christians are marginalize for their faith (Chapter 2. Pg 37-38). Locks also mentions in several chapters he is "generous with his cash" as a way to contribute for the cause/group, but gets flustered when a list of items is handed to him to purchase. Other examples include questioning orders and methods from other volunteers and superiors with military experience. Though Mr Locks has expressed he have no problem abiding by the Peshmerga's rules and customs ("When in Rome...") his actions and thoughts, expressed the contrary to what he had stated. Feeling disillusioned Locks changed groups from Dwekh to IDET only to be met with the same fate, with a different group of people.
If potential readers are looking for action, this is not the book for you! All of Locks' personal experiences and engagements with Daesh are from a distance of 2000 meters.
I feel this book would have fared better if it was renamed along the lines of: "A cautionary tale of volunteering as a fighter in Iraq" as I felt it would be more appropriate granted much of the book's subject matter is about the internal conflicts with other foreign fighters, members and locals within Locks' rank or organization.
What I did not like about this book is that is it full of contradictions and unwarranted criticism. Tim Locks appears to be a contemptible, incredibly naive and short sighted at times. Locks joins a Christian militia on his own accord only to criticize a fellow foreign volunteer for being deeply religious and devoted, in a Muslim majority country where Christians are marginalize for their faith (Chapter 2. Pg 37-38). Locks also mentions in several chapters he is "generous with his cash" as a way to contribute for the cause/group, but gets flustered when a list of items is handed to him to purchase. Other examples include questioning orders and methods from other volunteers and superiors with military experience. Though Mr Locks has expressed he have no problem abiding by the Peshmerga's rules and customs ("When in Rome...") his actions and thoughts, expressed the contrary to what he had stated. Feeling disillusioned Locks changed groups from Dwekh to IDET only to be met with the same fate, with a different group of people.
If potential readers are looking for action, this is not the book for you! All of Locks' personal experiences and engagements with Daesh are from a distance of 2000 meters.
I feel this book would have fared better if it was renamed along the lines of: "A cautionary tale of volunteering as a fighter in Iraq" as I felt it would be more appropriate granted much of the book's subject matter is about the internal conflicts with other foreign fighters, members and locals within Locks' rank or organization.
August 4, 2022
A really enjoyable read. Made me a laugh near the beginning though where he makes a big song and dance about not calling them ISIS, that by doing so gives credence to (or recognises) an "Islamic State"... They must ALWAYS be called Daesh, he says.
Then goes and names his book "Fighting ISIS" :D
Apart from that, it's golden.
Then goes and names his book "Fighting ISIS" :D
Apart from that, it's golden.
January 29, 2020
A story about someone going somewhere and doing bigger all,
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 8, 2016
I was very disappointed with this book.I am a kurd born in the UK and have been in Kurdistan the past 18 months with the Peshmerga.I have met many western volunteers and they are all wonderful men so i was really looking forward to reading a book about them.It seems a lot of this book is made up.Believe me if you have ever been under mortar fire you would not be making chai or playing candy crush or singing songs,you would be hiding and praying.The unit that the author was with Dwekh is well known for being a defensive unit so they were never on the attack at any time.I noticed there are hardly any descriptions of firefights in the book and there are no pictures of dead daesh.This is obviously because Mister Locks was never actually in any combat.So i don't see how he can call his book fighting isis?There is a reason men like him are not allowed to the front line and that is because he has no military training or experience so would be a danger to himself or others.I admire his bravery and willingness to sacrifice himself by coming to help the Kurdish people.He should be very proud of himself but he should not be claiming to have fought daesh when he obviously did not.Also he is not the first British man without experience to volunteer to fight daesh as several went to fight with the YPG in syria before Mister Locks went to Kurdistan and they should be given the recognition they deserve
September 17, 2016
Although a bit of a slow burner and also not a lot of action I can't help but imagine how horrible it would be to actually be fighting a threat who don't think life has the same meaning that we do.
But it was interesting on seeing a perspective on someone who has been out facing them instead of what we see on the news.
Interesting read, a nice easy to follow and simple language book which appeals to the wider audience.
But it was interesting on seeing a perspective on someone who has been out facing them instead of what we see on the news.
Interesting read, a nice easy to follow and simple language book which appeals to the wider audience.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews