The article discusses the story of Louis, a former U.S. Marine, who joined the Iraqi-Christian paramilitary force Dwekh Nawsha to fight against ISIS in Iraq after feeling dissatisfied with the U.S. military's withdrawal from active conflict zones. Louis, along with other Western volunteers, has turned to online platforms like Facebook to find militias to join and to crowdfund for weapons and equipment due to the lack of support and funding for these groups. The article highlights the challenges and frustrations faced by foreign fighters in the region, including the dangers of inexperienced volunteers and the restrictions placed on them by Kurdish authorities. It also touches on the broader issue of Westerners seeking to join the fight against ISIS and the varying motivations behind their decisions.

The Mosul dam, built by Saddam Hussein, is now a focal point in the conflict between Iraqi and Kurdish forces, the U.S., and ISIS, which seized the dam on August 7. Kurdish forces, with U.S. and Iraqi air support, have begun to retake parts of the dam. The dam's control allows ISIS to potentially cut off water supplies or destroy the dam, which would have catastrophic consequences. The dam, described as the most dangerous in the world by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is built on an unstable foundation and requires constant maintenance. The international community's help is sought as the dam's condition is precarious under ISIS control, and its failure could result in a massive loss of life.