Information Operations (IO)
and the Islamic State (IS)
There is no doubt the the Islamic State (IS) has
an effective Information Operations (IO) strategy. The organizations
agile and effective use
of social media is far beyond that of the United States and its allies
in the conflict with the Islamic State. This page will provide links to
information, websites, documents, publications, and news reports about
the Islamic State IO strategy and campaign of the Islamic State as well as the
participants aligned against IS.
To buttress its information operations campaign
the Islamic State has hijacked the legitimate demands of Sunnis who are
persecuted and discrimated against by the Syrian and Iraqi regimes.
While conservative Sunnis do not like the tactics or methods of IS they
do appreciate the protection offered from the Shiite regimes they
oppose.
U.S. Organizations Countering the IS Narrative
Radicalization and Extremist Messaging Group
(REM) of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC).
Center for Strategic Counterterrorism
Communications (CSCC) of the U.S. Department of State.This center is
charged with countering terrorist messaging.
www.state.gov/r/cscc/
Think Again Turn Away Twitter. The CSCC
established a Twitter account named "Think Again Turn Away" at
@ThinkAgain_DOS that attempts to counter the ISIS message.
Think Again Turn Away Facebook. The CSCC has
established a
Facebook account that provides an anti-ISIS message.
Counterterrorism Communicatons Support Office
(CCSO) of the Department of State. A temporary organization that
performs the specific project of supporting agencies in the
Government-wide public communications activities targeted against
violent extremism and terrorist organizations.
Open Source Intelligence
Intelligence analysts can monitor the social
media of an adversary to build a picture of an insurgency, terrorist
group, or enemy force. On one hand, social media helps the Islamic State
spread its message, recruit members, and solicit funds and support; but
on the other hand, it puts information out on the Internet that can be
used by intelligence analysts. For instance, intelligence analysts can
use photos and messages on social media to identify targets that
airstrikes can be employed against. 1.
Papers and Publications about IO and the Islamic State
(listed in chronological order)
Quiggle, Doyle. "The ISIS Beheading Narrative",
Small Wars Journal, February 26, 2015. This article identifies
the plotline of the ISIS beheading narrative - reasoning that if we want
to undermine and neutralize ISIS Internet recruitment propaganda then we
need to understand how and why their symbols appeal to their target
audience.
http://smallwarsjournal.com/jrnl/art/the-isis-beheading-narrative
Bjelopera, Jerome P. Countering Violent
Extremism in the United States, Cogressional Research Service
(CRS), February 19, 2014.
http://fas.org/sgp/crs/homesec/R42553.pdf
The White House, Executive Order 13584 --
Developing an Integrated Strategic Counterterrorism Communications
Initiative, September 9, 2011. This executive order assignes
responsibilities to the Center for Strategic Counterterrorism Center
(CSCC) and establishes the Counterterrorism Communications Support
Office (CCSO).
www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/09/09/executive-order-13584-developing-integrated-strategic-counterterrorism-c
Videos about IO, Social Media and the Islamic State
May 7, 2015. Jihad 2.0: Social Media in the
Next Evolution of Terrorist Recruitment, U.S. Senate Committee on
Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs. Peter Bergen, J.M. Berger,
Mubin Shaikh, and Daveed Gartenstein-Ross testify.
www.hsgac.senate.gov/hearings/jihad-20-social-media-in-the-next-evolution-of-terrorist-recruitment
News Reports about IO and the
Conflict with the Islamic State
June 4, 2015.
"Islamic State has an English-language radio broadcast that sounds
eerily like NPR". By Swait Sharma, The Washington Post.
June 3, 2015.
"Terror on Twitter: How Islamic State uses social media to draw
recruits". The Christian Science Monitor.
June 3, 2015.
"Islamic State's command of social media called unprecendented".
McClatchy DC. The IS is successful in appealing to the underdog and
'lone wolfs'.
June 3, 2015.
"Using Violence and Persuasion, ISIS Makes Political Gains". By Anne
Barnard and Tim Arango, The New York Times. A combinatioin of
persuasio and violence helps ISIS position itself as the sole guardian
of Sunni interests in the Middle East.
May 8, 2015.
"In a propaganda war against ISIS, the U.S. tried to play by the enemy's
rules." By Greg Miller and Scott Higham, The Washington Post.
The writers examine attempts by the Pentagon and State Department
to counter radical Jihadist IO to include operations by the Center for
Strategic Counterterrorism Communications or CSCC.
February 18, 2015.
"How the U.S. plans to dampen ISIS' online message". AOL.com
News.
February 18, 2015.
"Appointment of Rashad Hussain as United States Special Envoy and
Coordinator for Strategic Counterterrorism Communications". U.S.
Department of State Media Note.
December 30, 2014.
"The Pentagon Still Doesn't Know How to Fight Jihadists on the
Battlefield of Ideas". Overt Action. In the fall of 2014 MG
Michael Nagata, SOCENT commander, received some attention after some of
his statements went public about the lack of understanding about the
ISIS movement.
September 5, 2014.
"Defeating the Jihadist Narrative". Overt Action. The
writer explores the IS narrative - a simple plea for Sunni Muslims to
defend innocents from the wolves of President Assad, Hezbolllah, and
Iran. He offers some simple catch phrases that can be used against the
IS message such as "Only Fools Go to Syria", "You'll Kill Fellow Sunnis
- Not Defend Them", "You're Walking Around with a Bulls-Eye on Your
Back", and more.
Endnotes
1. The commander of U.S. Air Combat Command
indicated that some targeting can be attributed to IS IO activities in
"Carlisle: Air Force intel uses ISIS 'moron's' social media posts to
target airstrikes", Air Force Times, June 4, 2015.
www.airforcetimes.com/story/military/tech/2015/06/04/air-force-isis-social-media-target/28473723/
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