KUWAIT – The Shake Shack at Kuwait International Airport felt like a tasty farewell to western culture as Darrell Holden and Mo Deaver awaited their connecting flights to join the ongoing conflict in Syria. What started out as a friendly conversation, however, turned painfully awkward after the realization that they might cross paths in the near future.

"I mean, here's this lad, with a beard, and he's speaking English," said Deaver, a British citizen who plans to join ISIS when he gets to Syria. "I thought, maybe we could enjoy some friendly conversation. It'd be nice to know somebody when I get to Damascus."

"Beard, check. Oakleys, check. G-Shock, check," said Holden, a U.S. defense contractor and former Army Green Beret. "I mean, hell, maybe this guy's on our team."

Darrell couldn't confirm that he was contracted by the infamous firm, Blackwater. Not because their mission was classified, but because they had changed their name so many times that even he lost track.