Counter-Ideological War
plan of attack
We should take the advice of Abu Yahya al-Libi, a senior al-Qaeda leader, scholar, and strategist – plus, add six additional ideas:
Start a social epidemic of rejection. Create a social epidemic of personal revulsion against terrorist “cults.”
Identify the criminality of terrorism to the terrorist’s target audience. Appeal to the universal value placed on stability, law and order, and justice.
Make terrorist groups answer publicly for killing innocents, particularly children.
Make the terrorists’ community and families fear for the spiritual safety of recruits.
Make people remember they can’t depend on terrorists.
Reframe terrorist groups as political opportunists.
Encourage positive ideological fitna (civil war). Support and amplify former militants who recant terror and speak out against it.
Demand that terrorist groups pay blood debts (i.e., wrongful deaths they have caused) to Muslims and non-Muslims, as proscribed in the Qur’an.
Use the same viral media techniques they do.
Organize counter-extremist message “swarming,” where an online location is struck by thousands of like-minded posts at once.
Help stand up and support de-radicalization programs and plans.
Be more responsive and sympathetic to foreign civilian deaths after air strikes and other terrorist attacks.