Our Secret Weapon in the War on Terror
In recent years, the media has oozed stories of how terror groups have used the internet and other technology to further their goals of attacking us. It’s true, they are very tech savvy. In past years, groups like Al Qaeda and ISIS used the internet to post recruitment videos and propaganda to induce vulnerable persons to radicalize to violent jihadism. These past efforts were static and consisted of non-interactive postings of information. Videos of Anwar Al-Awlaki were historically one of Al Qaeda’s most prominent recruitment tools. These videos were effective at putting the group’s message out, but recruitment ended there. Individuals vulnerable to radicalization were then left on their own to figure out the next step in the radicalization process. In recent years, terror groups have mastered both the creation of slick recruitment videos and the ability to use the internet as a two-way interactive experience which affords individuals an opportunity to communicate with terror recruiters, and allows the recruiters to further indoctrinate vulnerable individuals. The recruiters are crafty in their efforts. The methods they employ in communicating with potential victims on-line have been compared to those used by sexual predators http://www.wewillinspire.com/?s=grooming. They are using social media to identify “weak prey” and are then gaining their trust through lengthy relationships over the internet. One interesting point involves the fact that many young people do not differentiate between personal and social media relationships. This has been recognized by the terror recruiters, and used against them.
In the US there seems to be a lack of trust for Muslims and the opinion that Muslims are not part of the regular society. An analysis of this may lead to some simple preliminary explanations. For example, other countries (such as the UK) have had large Muslim populations for longer periods of time than the US. In all fairness, the UK and other countries still have work to do in the area of successful integration and acceptance of different groups of people, but they do still appear to be ahead of us. The question still remains, if the US is a melting pot which was specifically designed to incorporate all types of persons and cultures, why does the Muslim segment appear to be hesitant or not willing to integrate? I believe that the answer is complex, but some reasons include the time it takes a population to integrate and the focus on this particular portion due to the threat posed by an evil sub-group which claims to be the true representation of the religion. This threat may be creating a situation where non-Muslims are expecting a fast integration or acclimation, where the truth is that it normally takes several generations.
Another factor involves understanding the diversity which exists within the Muslim faith itself. Religiously, there are as many different sects of Islam as there are within the Christian faith. Many of these sects represent different interpretations of the faith, and as a result, may not get along. Additionally, Islam is a faith which is practiced in many different parts of the world. This results in practitioners who are extremely diverse in a cultural sense. I recently attended a function at a mosque in my jurisdiction. I was representing the County government for which I work. I learned that the mosque served worshippers from over 45 different countries (and fifteen different countries in Africa alone). I met people who appeared to trace their ethnic and cultural roots from all around the world.
Many other countries are ahead of the US in their efforts to counter the use of social media by terror groups. The UK, in particular, appears to be several years ahead of us. One approach taken by a British non-profit called Inspire is especially tactful. Inspire recognized that many of the British Muslim women (mothers) were not aware of how social media works, how terror groups were using social media, and how their own children and families were at risk. Inspire has capitalized on one of the strongest forces on earth (a mother’s desire to protect her children) and is currently educating British Muslim women on what terror groups are up to, in general, and how the groups are using social media to spread propaganda and recruit. Inspire has videos on their web site of these women after they have been informed of how the terror groups are targeting their children. In the videos, you can see the determination and fire in the eyes of the mothers who are now armed with the information they need to counter terror narratives, address these issues in their own homes, and monitor what their children are doing on-line (http://www.wewillinspire.com/making-a-stand/mas-wall/).
As a side note, I met one of the founders of the group at a seminar last summer. In her bio I learned that she is a mother and a former teacher. As a non-Muslim, I was very interested in hearing her explain that not only do the true teachings of her faith obviously contradict with the beliefs and actions of terrorists, but that Islam teaches Muslims that it is their duty to integrate into the societies and culture of their home countries, become part of the fabric of that society, and contribute to society in a manner which is in line with the true teachings of the faith.
In speaking with this woman, I learned that many Muslims in the UK were certainly aware of Islamic jihadist terror groups, but that they weren’t truly aware of how they operated, what they claimed to believe, and what their true intentions were. This phenomenon may have occurred previously in the US. For example, Italian-Americans were certainly aware of the American Mafia, but what did the majority of Italian-Americans really know about the organization? Likewise, many Irish-Americans were certainly aware of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and the Sinn Fein, but to what extent were most Irish-Americans truly involved with the groups. Obviously, there were some Italian-Americans involved with the Mafia, and there were some Irish-Americans involved with the IRA and Sinn Fein (especially in the area of providing donations), but do we blame all members of these groups for the actions of a few?
So, how do we protect our homeland and ensure that the true meaning of American freedom flourishes in the face of a threat from violent and evil terror groups? A few recommendations are as follows:
· Always remember the fact that the United States was formed as a melting pot designed for everyone, and which was founded on the basis of religious freedom.
· Work with immigrant communities to expedite their integration, acclimation, and understanding of American values.
· Continue to educate ourselves on the threats posed by extremist groups and counter their narratives/propaganda.
· Work with Muslims communities within the US and overseas to provide them with the ability to take the lead in combating groups within their faith who have bastardized their religion and are using it to justify evil acts.
· Use one of the greatest forces of nature, a mother’s desire to protect her children, as our secret weapon against radicalization to violent jihadism.
· Continue to fund and expand Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) programs in the US (http://www.dhs.gov/topic/countering-violent-extremism).
· Conduct all of the above while continuing to strengthen traditional responses to criminal threats in the homeland (investigation and prosecution).
The author is a third generation Irish-Catholic American police officer who currently works with a Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) program in his jurisdiction.
PS — Watch the below video which was produced by Inspire and ask yourself the following:
· Are the men in the video credible (do they appear to know what they are talking about)?
· Do the men in the video appear to mean what they are saying?
· Are the men in the video the type of people you would hang out with?
If the answers are yes, then why aren’t we in the United States using similar counter-narratives to combat the threats of violent jihad and terrorism?
PPS — God bless the brave men and women who created the United States and who maintain and protect our freedom.
Check out some of our other articles below or on our main page:
Every Day Heroes: The Maryland National Guard
Free Will — Are You the Boss of You?
Soccer Moms Kick Ass at Counter Terrorism
We’re Going to Draft Your Daughter to War: Equality in Selective Service
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