Has the media helped the rise and growth of ISIS?

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 10:33:52 -0500

Sometimes, it is better to crush the snake if we know where to find it instead of telling people how venomous and dangerous it is. ISIS is a snake that needed media attention to exist and especially when it was given the opportunity to display its venomosity through the ruthless killing of innocent people.
It uses the media to instigate fear and confusion, to reach out to discontent lone wolves grudging against the U.S and to grow its bloodthirsty organization.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 4 at 2014 11:17 AM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 11:17:23 -0500

Good question 1LT Private RallyPoint Member

Military operations often rely on information operations and terrorists are almost completely dependent on them. Why? Because terrorist are trying to instill fear to accomplish political objectives - if their target audience has no information that leads that group to fear the terrorists, then the terrorists have failed. You can't frighten people who don't know about your threats. Most terrorist groups do commit a fair amount of their effort to information operations.

That said, the news media has a problem - should they censor coverage based on their perceptions of a group? OTH, those of us on social media can elect to not spread the beheading videos, etc... I have also been interested that the beheading videos are apparently making recruiting in Europe more difficult - although that may have been a temporary blip.

Response by MAJ Dallas D. made Nov 4 at 2014 11:15 AM

MAJ Dallas D. — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 11:15:44 -0500

Not sure I would say the media has helped but I would say they haven't hurt either. Showing all of their recruiting videos etc but not showing the ones where they rape and kills girls and young kids.

Response by CW2 Joseph Evans made Nov 4 at 2014 11:18 AM

CW2 Joseph Evans — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 11:18:50 -0500

This isn't the first time an organization has reached out and grown quickly because of the media attention.
Although, admittedly, it is one of the most violent to do so. Also, the particular gruesome approach they use for their propaganda and the ease they have in getting it out, as much the fault of Main Stream Media as any of the smaller news organizations like Al Jazeera. There is also the issue of YouTube, despite the fact the videos in most cases are a violation of the ToS.

Response by SSG Tim Everett made Nov 4 at 2014 11:35 AM

SSG Tim Everett — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 11:35:53 -0500

I think social media, particularly Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, were particularly instrumental in helping ISIL grow -- by allowing them to continue being utter shit-lords who posted their disgusting imagery and hate. Had that been a generic American, it would have been taken down immediately, and the account probably suspended. Facebook in particular is more quick to deal with spam-bot accounts than it does an a-hole zealot posting pictures of a severed head. YouTube is more concerned over copyright violations than it is beheading videos. Instagram is more concerned about a woman's boob than it is the images we've seen.

I also think the proverbial shaft has gone soft with regards to ISIL (I refuse to call it ISIS). Aside from trying to get other Middle Eastern countries to join the fight, the world has done what, exactly? Put some advisors on the ground and run some bombing sorties. Oh, hey I know. Let's use political rhetoric like "we condemn this in the strongest possible terms." Yeah that will show them. Let me bust into your house and have my way with your family, you stand there and say "I condemn this in the strongest possible terms" and let's see who wins.

We have western-world veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq who are violating federal law to go over there and join Kurdish militia groups so that they can help directly combat the threat. We have a UN/NATO nation -- Turkey -- funding and supplying ISIL because the Turks are a bunch of bigots who don't want Kurds to do anything but die or suffer. What are we as an international community going to do with a bunch of sell-out traitors that fund the enemy? Condemn them in the strongest possible terms?

This is unreal.

Response by MSG Scott McBride made Jan 24 at 2015 3:55 AM

MSG Scott McBride — Sat, 24 Jan 2015 03:55:02 -0500

F**k ISIS

Response by CPT Zachary Brooks made Mar 24 at 2015 3:29 PM

CPT Zachary Brooks — Tue, 24 Mar 2015 15:29:34 -0400

I think they would. Many of the people seeing the acts and aggression of ISIS world wide have decided to jump on the bandwagon to assist.

I feel like the media will be the downfall of all countries the world over.

Response by CW4 Larry Curtis made Mar 25 at 2015 8:56 AM

CW4 Larry Curtis — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 08:56:39 -0400

Joe, I don't think the media is particularly interested in helping anyone but themselves. They don't do anything unless it will bolster their ratings or effect public opinion in such a way as to support whatever agenda they are trying to promote. I wouldn't expect them to be too cooperative about much pertaining to any military strategies anymore because I think they are still angry over how General Schwartzkopf so cleverly used them to pull a ruse on the Iraqis during Operation Desert Storm. Of course this is only MY opinion, and we know how opinions go. ;)