Stupid is as stupid does...

Maybe, but

1.) Not illegal.

2.)Took some knowhow to actually get over there, find a way across the desert and actually meet up with the rebels.

3.)Compare his story of what he did when he was 21 with what you did when you were 21 and decide which one would you rather do. I hope he writes a book about his adventure. I would not recommend doing this (dangerous stuff to be running around where bullets, etc. are flying) but wow, what a story.

I bet this kid doesn't often drink beer, but when he does, he drinks Dos Equise.

I joined the US Navy and faced off with the Soviets, if he wants combat he should join with his own.

dirp101. . .When I was 21 I was finishing college and working two jobs to pay for it so as not to be a burden on my parents. . .sorry that sounds boring and not very "sick."

i'm pretty sure he wasnt in it for the long hall and thoughs rebels are fighting for a purpose now are troops are deployed for bullsh*t

"I bet this kid doesn't often drink beer, but when he does, he drinks Dos Equise."

Stay thirsty my friends...

Good stuff, and I agree with fire-them-all. He should have signed up with the Marines if he wanted to some some combat action.

Bet this tool ends up on the steps of the California Education Department protesting the rising costs of his education next month. Booo hoooo, you could have actually saved money not buying your tickets and found a job (even overseas) and earned the money you need for school. It's not fair my school costs are going up... waaaaaaaa. Dumba$*.

Here's a thought, join the military. Probably couldn't pass the physical and unwilling to commit to anything longer than an xbox game. I wonder what he would be saying if he came back with a massive head wound that was treated with dirty t-shirts over there. Your parents must be proud. Well, they can carry your sorry butt on their insurance and hope you grow up some day. BTW- They'll leave your car keys and allowance at the back door. Very progressive of them.

Hey kid, here's a plan for your next Spring Break- Go hiking in Iran. Thanks!

Dirp101, don't glorify this kid. He didn't go there to have some kind of epiphany about life. He went there because he is a 21 child who thinks being in a war zone is "sick" and "thrilling". War isn't a sport or game for tourist to get their thrill ride at.

fire-them-all - I was kinda thinking the same thing; this guy didn't go halfway 'round the world to take up a cause that he felt passionate about, he just thought it would be kool to play the real live version of his newest combat video game.

I wonder if he knows that the French Foreign Legion is still very much alive and always on the lookout for "a few good men"...

I don't care what you all say, for this kid I say hurray. Yes, its a stupid, dangerous adventure and he could have gotten himself killed. Yes, there are better ways he could have spent his summer vacation. Yes, if he wanted "real adventure" he could do 4 YEARS in the military, having a real fight, killing people for real.

So what. That is not what he wanted. He wanted to actually see and experience being with a rebel group as it finishes off its campaign to oust a dictator. He did not want to join the military. He did not want to become a world class surgeon or doctor or psychiatrist. He did what he wanted to do. What he did was not illegal (as far as I know) just very risky. When he gets back home, he will, FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE, be able to say, even to himself, I did it. I took a risk and I made it. There are not to many who can. I say good luck to him.

Hats off to the kid for knowing how to buy a plane ticket, and knowing how to use a map. Seems a lot of people in here are under the impression this was some huge accomplishment, and given the fact that he is college educated, I guess it is.

Given the fact he is a college student a few other questions come to mind,

1st - Where did he get the money to go vacationing? Perhaps his parents are rich, or he sells drugs. If so I guess it's of no consequence and the kid can do as he pleases until either his parents cut him off, or he is busted for selling drugs. Because I know few college students that can waste time and money on things like this.

2nd - Is this kid or his family collecting any government entitlements such as funding for school, food, books, housing, health care? If so then I would suggest that aid be cut off. Wasting money that should have been saved for the up and coming semester is an example of poor financial planning. If he is getting aid then it's everyone else paying for this "One crazy summer" of his.

3rd - What happens if this kid gets captured and held? I recall some idiots thinking it was a good idea to go hiking near Iran and it ended up costing us all a lot of grief, not to mention time, resorces and money.

It's quite obvious the Rebels or whoever he's shacked up with are realizing this kid is nothing like the oppressed people of Libya who are fighting for their lives. My only hope is that they see him to the nearest airport and ensure he returns home safely so that we dont have another international incident on our hands, which from this article sounds like what they are doing.

While it took some balls to do, I seriously question his intelligence. Seems school is a waste of money for this kid, sounds like the military should have been where this kid went to fulfill his aspirations to kill, although from the looks of him it appears he lacks the discipline and commitment for the military.

no matter how stupid a move it was, i pray this kid gets home safely.

I imagine all of the naysayers on this vine never once took off on an adventure, never once took a dive off the high dive, never road a roller coaster, never took off on spring break, never once asked the pretty girl to dance. Theirs is a life to be pittied.

A life without adventure is likely to be unsatisfying, but a life in which adventure is allowed to take whatever form it will is sure to be short.
Bertrand Russell

Hopefully, this kid will, to the contrary, live a long adventurous life.

Agree, its settled this guy is as smart as they come. I'm not even sure he understands the seriousness of this conflict. " I thought I'd come and check it out"

!!what!! who is this kid. I hope it goes well for him and he returns ok. however a little scare will teach him a lesson in life.

I should also add, the bullet he has tied around his neck with what appears to be a shoelace is an especially nice touch! LOL

Kid thinks he's Rambo! LOL!

Too bad he isn't staying - it would be one less stupid person here.

"Like, dude...it was in the middle of, ya know, the desert. And I was like a little high and a bit of an a$$hole anyway. Well, man, I really f***ed up, ya know? I thought it was Burning Man but I couldn't find no naked b*tches. Bummer!"

I told you guys, this wouldn't last.

Where are the people now that said he had 'big balls'?

When this moron gets in trouble I hope that our government denies any knowledge of him and lets him rot. A war zone is not a place for a tourist. This little adventure of his has got to be one of the stupidest things I have heard of in a long time. The last thing the news media should be doing is glorifying this behavior by portraying it in the positive light that MSNBC has done in this article. When some Gadhafi loyalists get their hands on him and decide to hold him as a hostage the US should just let them keep him. It also would seem to me that a US citizen going overseas and aiding a foreign power in a war without any legal authority would be highly questionable as far as being legal under US law. I hope that if he makes it back to the US in one piece that he is detained for questioning by the government for a while. The fact that he only bought a one way ticket makes this entire thing sound a little suspicious to me.

JS, and on what grounds, exactly would he be detained ?

Do you think that everyone who goes outside of the US should be detained and questioned ?

Do you not believe that the Constitution protects Americans from searches and seizures without probable cause ?

Do you think that there has been a warrant out for this kids arrest on the grounds that he may have been having an adventure that you did not think he should ?

He may have bought a one way ticket because he had no idea when he would return, is that a crime ?

If he is picked up, I hope he tells the investigators to F off. Its none of their business what he did. Good bye, you have no basis to hold me, see you later!!!!

DIRP-I think that your name should be spelled "DRIP". How you could possibly support this stupid kid is beyond reasoning.

He needs to be taken where he can see all of the dead and decomposing bodies of men, women and children that have been KILLED during his "sick" vacation. He needs to see families grieving for their loved ones and maybe captured and a really good time in captivity. He'll be crying for mommy and crapping his pants if he gets a real experience.

The rebels sent him away because they were afraid he might witness the atrocities they're busy committing and actually report them.

MSNBC, CNN, BBC, etc. can be relied upon to point their cameras in the opposite direction while the rebels hang, mutilate, disembowl and decapitate people who look too Black.

But the kid isn't on his government's payroll.

DIRP101 actually it is illegal if he is a US Citizen

He talked to a Crip or a Blood, so he is down with it all?

One big thing that he didn't think out is that many of the "rebels" are actually al quada. What do you suppose that they might do to him just for being an American and in their sites! (literally)

I wish him a safe return but I won't be surprised if we read another article about him tomorrow.

Stesilaus

The rebels sent him away because they were afraid he might witness the atrocities they're busy committing and actually report them.

MSNBC, CNN, BBC, etc. can be relied upon to point their cameras in the opposite direction while the rebels hang, mutilate, disembowl and decapitate people who look too Black.

AlQuieda and the Muslims are looking for you. Better hide.

Another wannabe gang member from Los Angeles...he's probably teaching the rebels how to spray paint vulgar graffiti all over the rubble.

It's kool to have an adventure; but, what this kid has done qualifies as stupid. We're all invulnerable when we're young. I hope he learned some things while he was there that change his idea of "fun".

Why don't you go over there and give them a second chance?

"Better to keep your mouth closed and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt"?

Here is how smart he is, he's fighting and with the rebels, but, he says if a rebel runs toward him he will shoot his head off. Brilliant! Maybe one of Gadaffi's snipers will get him before he returns to America and breeds.

So let me get this straight. He went there to just hold a gun and shoot indiscriminately at whomever was running toward him? I would respect him a bit if he had gone there to support one side or another, but this guy sounds like a psychopath of such epic proportions that he should be tried for murder. "Dudes, I want to kill people and get away with it!" As if there weren't enough deaths in Libya, this turd wants to get his rocks off in what he thinks is a real-life video game. Utter douchebaggery.

I heard he is a stauch tea party member and likes Michelle B..........he even has posters of Michelle and Sarah plastered all over his dorm room.

Any idea what he would be detained for?

Sedition.

Levying war against a government is explicitly not sedition. Besides, the US would only prosecute sedition against the US - not against another country. That would be that other country's problem. It is an incredibly stupid idea for a vacation though.

USA Patriots Act changed much more than most Americans will ever begin to comprehend. Suffice it to say, the lad will face appropriate authorities for some serious questioning when his boots hit American turf, or at least that's what I and several others have been told.

Maybe for a debriefing, but there's not much else there.

What he did is not illegal, but is immoral. He is not fighting against American forces, but is fighting on the side of Al Qaeda, who happens to be killing American forces in Afghanistan. Al Qaeda is USA's enemy in Afghanistan & USA's friend in Libya; only politicians believe that, not the average American.

sorta like Sarah P.

Oh please, ... violence, battles, fighting, is a staple part of our language, if your football team isn't battling it out with a rival, your health is bad, your battling for your life, fighting traffic, and on and on and on.

Easy to see how someone might act out with that constant drone going on in the media.

The kid does not look black to me, he looks Asian

Gotta have something to keep you warm at night. O.o

Perhaps he will be offered a job as a mercenary, I mean employee of a government military contractor.

No way. This kid is a real stupid bozo. I wouldn't want him for dog-catcher.

Would you, really ?

Yeah, well at least he's not sitting on his a** in armchair smugness. He is learning something. He's out there. So, go back to your TV programs and wasting time... and let a young man have his adventure.

Not everyone in the U.S. is a dumba$$.

Dear Lord give me the power to punch Rontron in the face over the internet. "Amen."

yeah, where do you hail from, Rontron? I'm sure wherever it is you're filled with rocket scientists.

...a real idiot. He's lucky they didn't shoot is sorry a$$.

Funnee.

Spoken like a true citizen of a third world country.

what else would you expect from a future tea party candidate, at least he has more foreign experience than Sarah P. or Michelle B.

get over yourself

Bob -- Too funny! You should write for The Onion!!

Ya gotta love it when people take sarcasm literally. Thanks for the laugh Bob.

He's not out yet.

yes, I'm surprised the rebels didn't kick his ass for basically mocking them.

Yes, and how f-ing lucky the rest of us are that he didn't get his head shot off.

Not.

Read a book indeed! Your history lesson does nothing to change the stupidity of what this kid did. And stupid is the right word. Too many video games (I guess) and certainly a warped sense of what's 'sick'. He's very lucky...maybe he'll pull his head out of his butt; I doubt it.

K.Anderson, thank you. Ones life is oft noted as a date's beginning and end separated by but a hyphen; the hyphenated stage provides remarkable remembrances or regrets. Like Magellan and Columbus, this young man's fancies fear not death nor the edge of the world.

In July, 1861 Washingtonians flocked en mass to picnic and witness the Battle of Bull Run (a.k.a. First Manassas), the "final battle " of the Civil War; intrigue with blood and battle are not uncommon. This young man may yet be the next Earnest Hemingway, Ernie Pyle or Joe Galloway reporting the unimaginable.

Detractors, do not so quickly dismiss his actions; regardless of power, prestige or position my friend, death finds us all...some fear not the reaper.

Maybe there are some rebels in Syria he might be interested in visiting as a slight deviation in plans.

My boots go where they want!

That's just a bunch of BS drivel that has nothing to do with this story. So you dislike the President. So you dislike college educated people. So the two must somehow come together in this story? Utter hogwash nonesense. Where would this country or world be without those with a college education? There would be no engineers and therefore no NASCAR. What would you do with yourself, then?

(See, I can make unfounded assumptions based on stereotypes, too. Big whoop.)

he sounds like a tea party member if you are talking about level of intelligence

I think this moron is a third character. "Dumbest"!!

What an insult to balls. A real man would be far more effective than this yutz. A real owner of balls, which I guess are now some sort of international system of measuring the quality of a man, would try to use preventative diplomacy to halt the bloodshed and violence. A real man would try to communicate with the other men and use their oh-so-logical brains to find a lasting solution to the conflict. A real man would use his college education to help civilians get their water and power turned back on.

Join the army or marines. Just be sure to choose combat arms as your MOS. You'll be in Iraq or Afghanistan soon enough and thinking, "damn, that was stupid."

• Active duty Army - 42
• Army Reserves - 42
• Army Natinal Guard - 42
• Active duty Air Force - 27
• Air Force Reserve - 34
• Air National guard - 34
• Active duty Navy - 34
• Navy Reserves - 39
• Active duty Marines - 28
• Marine Corps Reserves - 29
• Active duty Coast Guard - 27
• Coast Guard Reserves - 27

The Army might take him. But not the Marines he said he was 37

• Army - 35 (must ship to basic training prior to 35th birthday. The Army experimented with raising the age limit to age 42 for a brief period of time, but effective April 1st, 2011, the Army has reverted to the lower age limit.
• Air Force - 27
• Navy - 34
• Marines - 28
• Coast Guard - Age 27. Note: up to age 32 for those selected to attend A-school directly upon enlistment (this is mostly for prior service).

I'm 37. Like that's old? Besides the U.S. Military is already kicking a$$ and taking names. They don't need my help. I'd be more than happy to join if I could. The Libyan Rebels though I do believe are going to need the help.

Well, yeah. I don't think he's done anything illegal. I haven't seen any reports where he shot or killed anyone. He's kind of like an unpublished, freelance reporter. Just gathering information for his story.

Plus way back it was the thing to do, if you recall the spanish civil war in the 30's, people were joining the forces fighting Franco from all over the world, there were Americans and tons of Europeans just going there to help, it was duty almost. these days people have an opinion on everything but no willingness to actually fight for them...

That said, the kid is in way over his head but still, can you say movie deal??

Jeong does Tripoli

I reckon his parents are going to kick his ass!

Why not? Did he join a terror group or go after a Dictator? Or just get on the rebels nerves. We live in a so called FREE country where our Freedoms are being lost due to Scared people. Terrorists are just boogymen compared to US.

Bring our troops home and stop playing God to these other countries. Just sell them the arms like guns and let em have at it. That's what China and Russia are doing. AK-47 anyone.

And stop acting like scared babies. Who cares if this kid went over there. It is no different than walking through some USA ghetto's. Wearing that shirt would have got him killed.