ISLAMIC STATE - Combating the extremists' PUBLICITY MACHINE

[webfact]

EDITORIAL
Combating the extremists' PUBLICITY MACHINE

THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS LOSING THIS BATTLE, WITH THOUSANDS OF FOREIGN FIGHTERS HEEDING THE CALL OF ISLAMIC STATE

BANGKOK: -- Countering violent extremism has always been a tough nut to crack. In combating its proliferation in countries across the globe, there remains no one-size-fits-all solution.

Over the past year the international community has come together to seek ways to tackle this sticky issue. Earlier this year US President Barack Obama hosted a summit in Washington where world leaders gathered to share their experiences, exchange views and develop a common understanding about the challenges of countering extremist violence.

This week Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbot followed Obama's cue by inviting leaders from 25 Asia-Pacific countries along with civic activists for a two-day summit on the same topic in Sydney.

Understandably, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) dominated discussions yesterday. More than 15,000 foreign fighters are estimated to have travelled to Iraq and Syria to join the jihadist group.

For many summit delegates, the issue had become personal.

Among them was an American Muslim business leader who had quit her job so she could work on countering the "terrorist narrative".

Also participating in the event was an Australian Muslim woman who works on combating Islamophobia, a growing problem in countries where Muslims are in the minority.

A community leader from London pointed out that it was misleading to paint ISIS fighters as irrational and mindlessly barbaric. In fact, a closer look reveals that the horrific acts carried out by ISIS are anything but irrational.

Video-recording brutal murders, spreading these images through the social media, and employing a sophisticated recruitment strategy are hallmarks of a high degree of planning.

ISIS has twisted the teachings of Islam to suit its own violent agenda, but moves to counter its interpretation have had little apparent success.

Governments often rely on senior Muslim clerics issuing fatwas condemning the vicious acts carried out by ISIS. But while we might agree with the declarations of these friendly imams, we shouldn't be fooled into thinking that their messages are registering with the ISIS' followers.

Delegates at the Sydney summit were in agreement that an effective counter-narrative could only come from persons who carry legitimacy in the eyes of the extremists. This necessitates working with community leaders at the grass-roots level. In his opening remarks, Abbot said: "The only really effective defence against terrorism is persuading people that it's pointless, persuading people that God does not demand 'death to the infidel'. Above all, we need idealistic young people to understand that joining this death cult is an ugly, misguided and wrongheaded way to express their desire to sacrifice."

In other words, the international community's task is not just to come up with counter-narrative, but to develop an effective communication strategy so that we can deliver our own narrative, one that reflects the views of the vast majority of Muslims around the world.

While public efforts to combat terrorism have enjoyed a measure of success, they require help from another, more private, source.

"Families can be a frontline of defence," Abbot said. "Those who are closest to us are often the very first to see early or subtle changes in attitude, in behaviour, in social networks, and this means we really need to see some new ways to educate families on how to read and how to act on such early warning signs."

For a genuinely effective shield against extremism and radicalisation, the family, the community, civic organisations and the government all must play their roles in a coordinated effort.

The desired outcome would be a counter-narrative to extremism that evolves into a social movement, one that brings together all walks of society, regardless of religious, political and ideological leanings.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Combating-the-extremists-PUBLICITY-MACHINE-30262169.html


-- The Nation 2015-06-12

[ezzra]

There are hundreds of thousand, if not millions of misguided, delusional and lost young people in the

the world that are sick and tired in living under a government rules, they're mostly unemployed,

uneducated living on the fringe of society acceptance and conforming, they yearn for life of chaos

and unaccountability to no one, what they misconstrued to be ' freedom '

in most case it has nothing to do with following Islam, Allah or a caliphate, if Attila the Hun

would form a similar outfit tomorrow they will join him too...

so how do you deter them from joining? you can't really, only seeing their friends dying

by the thousands and the harsh living conditions will give them a wake up call to go back

home....

[ABCer]

No! Not going back home, please!

On the other hand, I never saw IS officers legally persecuted for, say, using a blunt knife, or killing a wrong or too young a Christian...

On the yet another hand, in the West far too often one arm of Justice is turning against another for reasons of PC.

Maybe, just maybe this is because 'we' are better than 'them'? I am not sure...

But my opinion is of no importance since I am not going to join IS. What about those susceptible to extremists publicity, what do they think?

[Tchooptip]

There are hundreds of thousand, if not millions of misguided, delusional and lost young people in the

the world that are sick and tired in living under a government rules, they're mostly unemployed,

uneducated living on the fringe of society acceptance and conforming, they yearn for life of chaos

and unaccountability to no one, what they misconstrued to be ' freedom '

in most case it has nothing to do with following Islam, Allah or a caliphate, if Attila the Hun

would form a similar outfit tomorrow they will join him too...

so how do you deter them from joining? you can't really, only seeing their friends dying

by the thousands and the harsh living conditions will give them a wake up call to go back

home....

Why no more people understand that ? I totally agree with every single words.

[rijb]

I think the 'misguided, delusional and lost young people in the the world that are sick and tired in living under a government rules' should join the ISIS animals.

That'll cure those poor young people, of what ails them, in a hurry!

[arjunadawn]

No! Not going back home, please!

On the other hand, I never saw IS officers legally persecuted for, say, using a blunt knife, or killing a wrong or too young a Christian...

On the yet another hand, in the West far too often one arm of Justice is turning against another for reasons of PC.

Maybe, just maybe this is because 'we' are better than 'them'? I am not sure...

But my opinion is of no importance since I am not going to join IS. What about those susceptible to extremists publicity, what do they think?

It is not because we are better than them, though in a manner of judgement we surely are. It is because political correctness has as its aim no less than the destruction of all boundaries that define, measure, judge, and enable a society of values, moral compass, and certainty. PC seeks relativity in all things.

[arjunadawn]

There are hundreds of thousand, if not millions of misguided, delusional and lost young people in the

the world that are sick and tired in living under a government rules, they're mostly unemployed,

uneducated living on the fringe of society acceptance and conforming, they yearn for life of chaos

and unaccountability to no one, what they misconstrued to be ' freedom '

in most case it has nothing to do with following Islam, Allah or a caliphate, if Attila the Hun

would form a similar outfit tomorrow they will join him too...

so how do you deter them from joining? you can't really, only seeing their friends dying

by the thousands and the harsh living conditions will give them a wake up call to go back

home....

Great post. Lets see it twice!

[Robby nz]

When the Bosnia thing was going on, folk from all over were heading there for the chance to kill someone......

To be able to kill someone 'with no repercussions'

I have long suspected that this may have happened in Thailand where some people with no ideology have joined violent groups just to be able to do violence or kill and be able to get away with it.

Sort of like joining gangs because of their violent reputation.

[JingerBen]

The most effective way for western countries to fight terrorism is not to participate in it themselves.

[BKKBobby]

The most effective way for western countries to fight terrorism is not to participate in it themselves.

Then don't take these folk into western countries..

You know a lot of these ISIS guys started out as "freedom fighters" fighting Assad in Syria with the help of "confiscated weapons" and help from western countries.

Al Qaida, Afghanistan, similar story...

[Steely Dan]

There are many nuggets of truth in the o.p which are significant if considered. It correctly observes the lack of success any Imams have had discrediting ISIS through theological debate. This suggests to me that far from being a perversion of Islam ISIS are following religious texts to the letter.

Returning to the publicity aspect, it is easier to convince someone of what is true rather than what is not, unless you have a virtual monopoly on means of communication. Imams can state ISIS are unislamic and Western governments can state that ISIS are in retreat, but these messages are not getting through because they are being effectively countered. I think the premise that you can even negotiate with a death cult of pure evil is also naive in the extreme.

If those fighting ISIS got their act together and liberated Mosul to be greeted by grateful civilians whilst panning to a David Koresh style conflagration of IsIs followers that would work as publicity. As might interviews with people who have had to live under Isis. The bottom line is that Islam needs to be reformed to the degree it can no longer metastasize into it's most virulent form, failing that it needs to be isolated until the contagion dies out.

[bendejo]

I wonder how many recruits are like these guys

[roo860]

The most effective way for western countries to fight terrorism is not to participate in it themselves.

Then don't take these folk into western countries..

Don't talk <deleted>!

[roo860]

Time to get boots on the ground

Edited June 13, 2015 by roo860

[roo860]

There are many nuggets of truth in the o.p which are significant if considered. It correctly observes the lack of success any Imams have had discrediting ISIS through theological debate. This suggests to me that far from being a perversion of Islam ISIS are following religious texts to the letter.

Returning to the publicity aspect, it is easier to convince someone of what is true rather than what is not, unless you have a virtual monopoly on means of communication. Imams can state ISIS are unislamic and Western governments can state that ISIS are in retreat, but these messages are not getting through because they are being effectively countered. I think the premise that you can even negotiate with a death cult of pure evil is also naive in the extreme.

If those fighting ISIS got their act together and liberated Mosul to be greeted by grateful civilians whilst panning to a David Koresh style conflagration of IsIs followers that would work as publicity. As might interviews with people who have had to live under Isis. The bottom line is that Islam needs to be reformed to the degree it can no longer metastasize into it's most virulent form, failing that it needs to be isolated until the contagion dies out.

They need to be wiped off the face of the earth.

[slerickson]

I don't watch tv anymore so I've missed their advertisements. Does ISIS offer a good retirement package ,healthcare, see the world or anything like that? Of course I'm probably too old now anyway.