Countering ISIS' Message

ISIS has stood out among other terrorist organizations for, among other factors, its deftness at strategic communication. Using propaganda to increase followership is certainly not new among terrorist organizations, nor among state aggressors.  At al-Qaeda’s peak, they were exploiting satellite television, the Internet, DVD technology, and cellular communications to intimidate enemies and recruit supporters.  But the extent to which ISIS has effectively used social media and cyber technology to recruit and inspire attacks has surpassed expectations and is the reason that the group is winning the War of Words. 

ISIS message is straightforward: It is every Muslim’s responsibility to help build a caliphate governed under sharia law.  Killing those that stand in the way of creating this caliphate and anyone that does not meet ISIS’ definition of a Muslim is, therefore, the cost of doing business.

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