[7] The United States' Neutrality Act prohibits American citizens from enlisting with foreign militaries or working as mercenaries for other governments.

There is evidence that the Departments of Justice and State tacitly encouraged Americans to volunteer for Rhodesia as part of efforts to prevent the country's collapse prior to a negotiated solution to the war.

[10] Many of the American volunteers wrongly believed that their government opposed their presence in the country, with articles in Soldier of Fortune and works by Robin Moore also claiming this.

[11] In 1976 Moore established what he called the "Unofficial US Embassy" in Salisbury, and began hosting events for the American volunteers as well as doctoral students.

He also sold t-shirts, sew-on patches and other merchandise using the 'Crippled Eagle' motif and wrote a book that argued that Rhodesia was not racist which included profiles of foreign volunteers.