Islamist Website Instructs Mujahideen in Using Popular U.S. Web Forums to Foster

[Linux07]

Islamist Website Instructs Mujahideen in Using Popular U.S. Web Forums to Foster Anti-War Sentiment among Americans

In the past few months, Islamists engaged in "media jihad" have increased their efforts to expose as broad a Western audience as possible to their jihad films, which purport to document the growing success of the mujahideen in Iraq and Afghanistan. As part of this endeavor, they have posted jihad films on popular free video-sharing websites such as YouTube, LiveLeak, and Google Video, hoping that such films will tip public opinion in the West against the war in Iraq and Afghanistan - thus pressuring Western governments to withdraw their troops from these countries.

As part of the campaign to foster anti-war sentiment among Westerners, and more specifically among Americans, a member of the Al-Mohajroon Islamist website with the username Al-Wathiq Billah instructed mujahideen in how to infiltrate popular American forums and to use them to distribute jihad films and spread disinformation about the war.

The following are excerpts: [1]

"Raiding American Forums is Among the Most Important Means of Obtaining Victory in the Fierce Media War… and of Influencing the Views of the Weak-Minded American"

"There is no doubt, my brothers, that raiding American forums is among the most important means of obtaining victory in the fierce media war... and of influencing the views of the weak-minded American who pays his taxes so they will go to the infidel American army. This American is an idiot and does not [even] know where Iraq is... [It is therefore] mandatory for every electronic mujahid [to engage in this raiding]."

"It is better that you raid non-political forums such as music forums and trivia forums... which American people... favor... Define your target[ed forum]... and get to know it well... Post your contribution and do not get into... futile arguments..."

Indicate You Are an American

"Obviously, you have to register yourself using a purely American name... Choose an icon that indicates that you are an American, and place it next to your nickname [in the forum]."

"In my experience, the areas most visited in American forums... [are titled] 'Random Thoughts' and 'What's going on in your mind?'... [The former] takes priority in the American forums, and is highly popular. You should post your contribution there... This should include films of the mujahideen in Iraq, mujahideen publications in English, and images and films of the Americans' crimes, [such as] killing unarmed civilians in Iraq... etc."

"Invent Stories About American Soldiers You Have [Allegedly] Personally Known"

"Obviously, you should post your contribution... as an American... You should correspond with visitors to this forum, [bringing to their attention] the frustrating situation of their troops in Iraq... You should invent stories about American soldiers you have [allegedly] personally known (as classmates... or members in a club who played baseball and tennis with you) who were drafted to Iraq and then committed suicide while in service by hanging or shooting themselves..."

"Also, write using a sad tone, and tell them that you feel sorry for your [female] neighbor or co-worker who became addicted to alcohol or drugs... because her poor fiancé, a former soldier in Iraq, was paralyzed or [because] his legs were amputated... [Use any story] which will break their spirits, oh brave fighter for the sake of God..."

How to Make Americans Feel Frustrated With Their Government

"You should enter into debate or respond only if it is extremely necessary... Your concern should [only] be introducing topics which... will cause [them to feel] frustration and anger towards their government..., which will... render them hostile to Bush... and his Republican Party and make them feel they must vote ton bring the troops back from Iraq as soon as possible."
"Do not... discuss issues pertaining to Arabs or Muslims at all, whether negatively or positively... because this could be a trap for you... In addition, do not ask people to circulate the material [you have posted] in other forums... as these types of requests will expose you..."

MEMRI:

 

[The Dude]

There's always the "disinformation" of why we went in the first place.

We have lost 3500 soilders and 650 contractors. I don't think a video or a series of videos is going to sway someones view of the war. If someone went on LiveLeak, lets say, and only watched the vids filmed by our troops, I wouldn't say that helps sway the American opinion, in any way. People can tell the producer(s) of these tapes, so the film makers frame of reference is known up front.

 

[therealUT]

There's always the "disinformation" of why we went in the first place.

We have lost 3500 soilders and 650 contractors. I don't think a video or a series of videos is going to sway someones view of the war. If someone went on LiveLeak, lets say, and only watched the vids filmed by our troops, I wouldn't say that helps sway the American opinion, in any way. People can tell the producer(s) of these tapes, so the film makers frame of reference is known up front.

We have lost over 160,000 Americans due to traffic accidents in the same time span. I have a feeling that you and your loved ones are on public roads more than what is simply "necessary" to your survival.

 

[OWB]

We have lost over 160,000 Americans due to traffic accidents in the same time span. I have a feeling that you and your loved ones are on public roads more than what is simply "necessary" to your survival.

Death from cars are mostly accidental while deaths through war are mostly intentional. There's no comparing the two.

 

[therealUT]

Death from cars are mostly accidental while deaths through war are mostly intentional. There's no comparing the two.

Transportation by car is by no means a life necessity. Therefore, deaths due to car accident are a complete waste. So, to those who believe that our actions in Iraq and Afghanistan are simple wastes of life, car fatality statistics are certainly relative.

 

[OWB]

Transportation by car is by no means a life necessity. Therefore, deaths due to car accident are a complete waste. So, to those who believe that our actions in Iraq and Afghanistan are simple wastes of life, car fatality statistics are certainly relative.

Well, I don't think that lives lost in Iraq and Afghanistan are a total waste, so car fatalities aren't relative to me.

 

[therealUT]

Well, I don't think that lives lost in Iraq and Afghanistan are a total waste, so car fatalities aren't relative to me.

In that case, you should be overjoyed that we have only lost 3,500 soldiers in Iraq...since their deaths are actually accomplishing something, as opposed to those 160,000 that accomplished absolutely nothing.

 

[VolunteerHillbilly]

In that case, you should be overjoyed that we have only lost 3,500 soldiers in Iraq...since their deaths are actually accomplishing something, as opposed to those 160,000 that accomplished absolutely nothing.

Other than create a talking point for relative comparison with Iraq war deaths, you mean?

 

[therealUT]

I mean that by giving your life away in a car accident, your actions pretty much accomplish nothing (unless you are jumping in front of a vehicle in order to push someone else out of harm's way.) So, the worst thing you can say about the deaths so far in Iraq is that they are as wasted as the deaths from car accidents (which number greater than 50 times the deaths in Iraq).

People throw out the 3,500 number for shock value. However, when compared to other fatality figures over the same period, which mostly result from carelessness, they are not at all shocking.

 

[Lexvol]

I mean that by giving your life away in a car accident, your actions pretty much accomplish nothing (unless you are jumping in front of a vehicle in order to push someone else out of harm's way.) So, the worst thing you can say about the deaths so far in Iraq is that they are as wasted as the deaths from car accidents (which number greater than 50 times the deaths in Iraq).

People throw out the 3,500 number for shock value. However, when compared to other fatality figures over the same period, which mostly result from carelessness, they are not at all shocking.

The Iraq body count is really what bothers me the most because it is always "reported" as senseless. This is war. If we had executed it as such to begin with, we would not have half the problems we have now.

Historically, if you would have told any military commander that he would lose 3500 lives in four years, they would be very pleased with their odds.

 

[volinbham]

There's always the "disinformation" of why we went in the first place.

And there's plenty of disinformation about that disinformation.

Unfortunately, too many people DO believe what they read on fiercly partisan websites and blogs.