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| Iraqi Insurgent Media: The War Of Images And Ideas |
| 2007-09-24 |
| From Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty A new report ... by RFE/RL highlights the scope of the Iraqi Sunni-based insurgency's media network. The report suggests that the insurgent strategy's apparent strengths -- decentralization and flexibility -- are also its greatest weaknesses. The book-length report, Iraqi Insurgent Media: The War Of Images And Ideas by RFE/RL regional analysts Daniel Kimmage and Kathleen Ridolfo, provides an in-depth analysis of the media efforts of Sunni insurgents, who are responsible for the majority of U.S. combat deaths in Iraq. The popularity of online Iraqi Sunni insurgent media, the authors contend, reflects a genuine demand for their message in the Arab world. Kimmage and Ridolfo argue that the loss of coordination and message control that results from decentralization has revealed fundamental disagreements about Iraq's present and future between nationalist and global jihadist groups in Iraq and that these disagreements are ripe for exploitation by those interested in a liberal and democratic Iraq. The report also finds that anti-Shi'ite hate speech is an increasingly prominent part of the insurgent message. With sectarian killings on the rise in Iraq, the tenor of invective points to the possibility of even greater bloodshed. .... The popularity of online Iraqi Sunni insurgent media, the authors contend, reflects a genuine demand for their message in the Arab world. A response, no matter how lavishly funded and cleverly produced, will not eliminate this demand. The authors argue that efforts to counter insurgent media should not focus on producing better propaganda than the insurgents, or trying to eliminate the demand for the insurgent message, but rather on exploiting the vulnerabilities of the insurgent media network. The entire report can be read or downloaded as a pdf at the link. |
| Posted by:Mike Sylwester |
| #1 The report also finds that anti-Shi'ite hate speech is an increasingly prominent part of the insurgent message. With sectarian killings on the rise in Iraq, the tenor of invective points to the possibility of even greater bloodshed. .... This, coupled with their takfiri (holier-than-thou enforced with guns) antics, is going to lose Al Qaeda and all the takfiri jihad groups their fan base at an accelerating rate. It's good to know others are noticing and spreading the good word. I hope those responsible for such things on our side have noticed, too. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2007-09-24 10:45 |