Do we need psychological warfare against terrorists?

SPC Greg Carr — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 22:24:12 -0400

I think America finally needs to put a team together to wage ideological warfare against terrorists.

The idea is fairly simple: Gather some classical Muslim scholars and have them design leaflets to airdrop, social media, etc to make terrorists think they're on the wrong side and they're going to hell if they continue. I personally know people who would be excellent at it.

What do you think?

Response by SPC Greg Carr made Aug 8 at 2017 10:31 PM

SPC Greg Carr — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 22:31:28 -0400

My friend works for a private contractor, reading Arabic ISIS stuff literally all day. On one end, everything they do is totally wrong and could easily be refuted with Islamic sources. Entire books have been written refuting them (http://amzn.to/2vk6qzo). Dropping leaflets over their cities denouncing their activities as horrendous sins, making them second-guess their leaders as a bunch of corrupt, sinful Ba'athists, and alluding them to Kharijites could potentially divide them and shake their will to continue.

On the other hand, my friend says they're so barbaric and wacky it's like Lord of the Rings. It's all about blood and sex and pure id with these people, it may literally be impossible to appeal to their higher senses.

Personally I think it is worth a try, but they need to assemble the right team. I could definitely recommend some people. They need to be classical scholars not following the more recent Salafi ideologies and hardcore narrow mindedness, but very educated and well-versed in refutation.

This could also be used against the Taliban in Afghanistan and various other enemies.

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Response by SSG Diane R. made Aug 8 at 2017 11:19 PM

SSG Diane R. — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 23:19:43 -0400

This has been done with great success in Chechnya, and we could learn a lot from the Russians and president Ramzan Kadyrov (Рамзан Кадыров).

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Aug 9 at 2017 1:53 AM

CAPT Kevin B. — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 01:53:05 -0400

Saw two great responses that together says "Results will vary". It's all dependant on how far off the deep end various factions are. Between the extremes of PSY persuasion and hot lead for all is one we haven't used/discussed because it's considered too "barbaric" in today's norm, but was greatly effective. Just look up how GEN Pershing dealt with it in the Philippines back in the day. From a pure analytics (non moral) perspective, it works with far fewer dead. But, you then have to live with the results and repeat the wash/spin cycle periodically long term. A majority of our citizens don't have the stomach for it. Good thing? Bad thing? Blue Pill? Red Pill? Who knows?

Response by Cpl Mark A. Morris made Aug 9 at 2017 2:29 AM

Cpl Mark A. Morris — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 02:29:48 -0400

I do not think the propaganda would work. Because, the core of the issue is Muhammad. Did he rape, take slaves and murder? What did he command the Ummah to do? A huge majority of Muslims are not following their perfect man. But, 3 to 6% of 1.5 billion that are is a lot of bodies. If the Madrassas and Mosques taught live and let live, the next gereration of Islamic terrorists wouild be a smaller number. There is nothing wrong with trying and I hope it works.
It will come down to is Muhammad's first half of his life worthy of following? The second half he is a war lord and brings Islam by the sword. Very mush like ISIS.
M. Morris RVT

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 9 at 2017 10:53 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 10:53:36 -0400

We need a lot better propaganda and utilize social media better than they are doing. They're killing us in the propaganda arena.

I really don't think that passing out leaflets that state terrorist groups are "on the wrong side" and "are going to hell" is going to work. They will label those Muslim scholars or clergy as "infidels" and go after them. These groups believe - or at least get their recruits to believe - that they are true Muslims. That they are on the winning side and that they have to commit these acts in order to get to heaven and so on. I don't think the leadership actually believes what they spout but their followers sure as hell believe it. I don't think you can change that ideology and it doesn't change until these groups kill that person's family or attack their town and then they wake up and go "oh shit."

Response by AA Joseph Moody made Aug 9 at 2017 1:12 PM

AA Joseph Moody — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 13:12:34 -0400

I'll tell you what, if you have an idea and need a 3d character artist of dubious mental health who is a federal employee out of disability...drop me a line. I miss being productive.