A masked man speaking in what is believed to be a North American accent in a video that Islamic State militants released in September 2014 is pictured in this still frame from video obtained by Reuters October 7, 2014.
In Battle to Defang ISIS, U.S. Targets Its Psychology -- New York Times
WASHINGTON — Maj. Gen. Michael K. Nagata, commander of American Special Operations forces in the Middle East, sought help this summer in solving an urgent problem for the American military: What makes the Islamic State so dangerous?
Trying to decipher this complex enemy — a hybrid terrorist organization and a conventional army — is such a conundrum that General Nagata assembled an unofficial brain trust outside the traditional realms of expertise within the Pentagon, State Department and intelligence agencies, in search of fresh ideas and inspiration. Business professors, for example, are examining the Islamic State’s marketing and branding strategies.
“We do not understand the movement, and until we do, we are not going to defeat it,” he said, according to the confidential minutes of a conference call he held with the experts. “We have not defeated the idea. We do not even understand the idea.”
Read more ....
My Comment: Since the founding of Islam 1300 years ago .... it's grip on this part of the world has resulted in centuries of war and bloodshed. Understanding this history will help to understand what makes the Islamic State tick .... and more to the point .... a realization that unless the U.S. wants to be actively involved on a massive level to change the culture in this region for the next century or two .... any hope to deter it with minimal U.S. involvement will probably result in failure.
No comments:
Post a Comment