Countering radicalization and recruitment to Al-Qaeda : fighting the war of deeds / Paul Kamolnick.

Format:

Book

Government document

Author/Creator:

Kamolnick, Paul, author.

Contributor:

Army War College (U.S.). Strategic Studies Institute, publisher.

Army War College (U.S.). Press, publisher.

Series:

Letort papers

The Letort papers

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Qaida (Organization).

Terrorism--Prevention--Government policy--United States.

Terrorism.

Radicalism--Prevention--Government policy--United States.

Radicalism.

Propaganda, Arab.

Influence (Psychology).

Terrorists--Recruiting.

Terrorists.

Terrorists--Recruiting--Prevention.

United States--Foreign relations--Arab countries.

United States.

Arab countries--Foreign relations--United States.

Arab countries.

Diplomatic relations.

Terrorism--Prevention--Government policy.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xii, 156 pages) : illustrations.

Place of Publication:

Carlisle Barracks, PA : Strategic Studies Institute and U.S. Army War College Press, 2014.

System Details:

text file PDF

Summary:

This Letort Paper proposes that actions, policies, and deeds -- those of the U.S. Government and al-Qaeda -- be leveraged as a means of delegitimizing al-Qaeda terrorist propaganda. Two chief fronts -- changing deeds and challenging deeds -- is proposed. Changing deeds requires that the United States carefully and systematically examine its own foreign and military policies and their specific consequences for the Arab and Muslim world. Challenging deeds comprises systematically countering with evidence and fact al-Qaeda's two greatest propagandistic fabrications: that the United States is a crusader at war with Islam, and that al-Qaeda is the vanguard defender of a besieged and oppressed Muslim Umma. Provocative at times, and even controversial in its willingness to reconsider long-standing U.S. Government policies, this Letort Paper is adamant that it is not spin, empty platitudes, and "lipstick on pigs," but actual deeds, that are our surest bet for defeating this ignoble adversary.

Contents:

Introduction

Al Qaeda : an evolving threat, policy, and strategy

Three strategic objectives. Attacking terrorists and their organizations

Protection against and preparation for terrorist attacks

Preventing the continued growth of Islamist terrorism

Message resonance and U.S. credibility in the Muslim world : USG deeds, actions, and policies as communication

Changing deeds and enhancing message resonance. The limits of public diplomacy and strategic communication : or, the "lipstick on pigs" problem

Concluding thoughts : formidable challenges, formidable opportunities

Challenging deeds : countering Al-Qaeda's terrorist propaganda. The vital function of propaganda in AQ's anti-American terrorism

The terrorist quadrangle : the role and function of terrorist propaganda as communication

The critical function of counterpropaganda in countering insurgent terrorism

How counterpropaganda differs from propaganda or PSYOP

Elements of a comprehensive USG counterpropaganda offensive. Influence operations, contemporary war, and warfare

From M, to diplomatic, informational military, and economic (DIME), to DIMEFIL, to DICEFILM : on the eight instruments of national power

Countering AQ propaganda : the primacy of the war of deeds

Implications for strategy. Ways, means, and ends

Conclusion.

Notes:

"June 2014."

Paper version available for sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 91-156).

Online resource; title from PDF title page (SSI, viewed June 19, 2014).

Other Format:

Print version: Kamolnick, Paul. Countering radicalization and recruitment to Al-Qaeda

OCLC:

881497789