Precision in the Global War on Terror: Inciting Muslims Through the War of Ideas
Abstract
This monograph questions the messages conveyed to Muslims about their religion and extremism in the war of ideas. Why do American strategic messages on this issue play so badly in the region? Why, despite broad Muslim disapproval of extremism as shown in surveys and official utterances by key Muslim leaders, has support for bin Ladin actually increased in Jordan and in Pakistan since some potting suggests bin Ladin's approval in Jordan suffered a great deal after the hotel bombings? A reason that the United States is winning so few "hearts and minds" in the broader Islamic world is confusion and imprecision in American strategic messages. The grand strategy of defining, isolating, and destroying Islam or radical Islam may not be possible if America does not proceed more carefully, and listen to what its allies think, know, and feel about their faith. This monograph will not revisit the origins of Islamic violence. It is instead concerned with conceptual failure that wrongly constructs the War on Terror and discourages Muslims from supporting it. They are unable to identify with the proposed transformative countermeasures because they discern some of their core beliefs and institutions as targets in this endeavor.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA480159
Entities
People
- Sherifa Zuhur
Organizations
- United States Army War College