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2006-05-24 Home Front: WoT

Defang terrorists by ridiculing them as buffoons

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Posted by ryuge 2006-05-24 08:38|| || Front Page|| [7 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 To access this article requires signing in. From Bug Me Not:
Username mercurial@nospam.com
Password mercury

Posted by ryuge 2006-05-24 08:47|| 2006-05-24 08:47|| Front Page Top

#2 Excellent point.
To ridicule them successfully, we'd need a compliant mass media system, like in WWII as noted in the article... but it doesn't suit their agenda anymore. In fact, they're on the other side, not only on the WOT, but in the whole culture war thing.

Perhaps the "red scare" sci fi movies and the likes were made possible by the earlier purge of Hollywood's commies (didn't last too long, though), so the logical step would be to change the power structure there again, one way or an another, don't know. Could it even be done?

Posted by anonymous5089 2006-05-24 09:22|| 2006-05-24 09:22|| Front Page Top

#3 That worked well in Denmark.

Posted by ed 2006-05-24 09:27|| 2006-05-24 09:27|| Front Page Top

#4 This should be done professionally. Islamists all over wanted an "insult to Islam" from the west so much that they fabricated one, the "cartoon rage".

What in the west we would consider ridicule is too blunt for the target audience--potential jihadi recruits.

What is needed is to set up a chain of axioms among them, a series of "facts" that nobody even notices, but when put together are just enough to undermine their whole philosophy.

This is not emotionally gratifying on our side, but it works.

A good comparison for subtlety is why Rush Limbaugh is so popular. His secret is to tell jokes and anecdotes with the second or third best punchline. Most of his audience can figure out the best punchline, and it really makes them feel good.

It takes a great deal of intestinal steel to do this, as you want to tell the joke yourself. But in the long run, it really pays off. You will become very popular by not trying to tell the joke the "best" way. But it is very, very hard to do.

In the final analysis, we want to set up a situation so that in much of the world, in a near spontaneous manner, large numbers of jihadist supporters just say "Blecch!", and quit forever, in disgust.

Posted by Anonymoose 2006-05-24 09:50|| 2006-05-24 09:50|| Front Page Top

#5 Heck, I've been telling my peers this about the arabs for years. Reduce the terrorists to the 'nerds' that they really are and people will get a new take on them. That's their biggest fear - being thought of as nerds, clowns, or impotent blow hards. It should be easy enough to do since in reality that's what these misguided jerk-off's are.

If we were to run "SNL" style skits on t.v. about Zarki fumbling w/that weapon ala what Chevy Chase used to do the Gerald Ford routine people would laugh their ass off. Cater that to middle eastern media via Al Jiz or whatever and they would get it; that would be very effective propaganda in my book.

Posted by Broadhead6 2006-05-24 10:34|| 2006-05-24 10:34|| Front Page Top

#6 We need to do things like "Blazing Camels" with Osama in the bathtub with the rubber duckie.
I'll let youse comedy geniuses fill in the rest ;^)

Posted by AlanC">AlanC 2006-05-24 10:59|| 2006-05-24 10:59|| Front Page Top

#7 I like the idea, but I think a5089 has a good point here about the media. And we should remember that this "humiliation" tactic was in place when we first went into Iraq, which is why some soldiers got traction to do such things as the "pyramid of nude prisoners" idea. The old axiom of using 'what your enemy values most' against him is true, but once the media gets a hold of how you did it, be prepared for it to backfire in unanticipated ways. It comes down to: are we prepared to do what it takes to win, including things the international community will outraged about, and have we thought through ways to counter that outrage deftly?

Posted by Jules 2006-05-24 11:09|| 2006-05-24 11:09|| Front Page Top

#8 get Mel Brooks

Posted by bk 2006-05-24 11:20|| 2006-05-24 11:20|| Front Page Top

#9 Brownshirts with clown shoes.

Posted by Deacon Blues">Deacon Blues 2006-05-24 11:25|| 2006-05-24 11:25|| Front Page Top

#10 To most Americans, ridiculing terrorists might seem trivial, even sophomoric, as a weapon of war.

Historically, humiliation as an endgame for motivation is counterproductive. That has been especially true in the Muslim World. Ridicule fuels self-loathing. The leaders that manipulate collective guilt understand this to be the foundation for recruitment to their violent ideologies. And when the leaders themselves are the targets, it only strengthens their resolve to change that perception. Exposing truths that result in humiliation, as a by-product, is a much more effective deterrent. I doubt that portraying Zarqawi as a bumbler had any real net effect on his persona one-way or the other. However, the news of the Talibans desire to execute a convert from Islam did open the eyes of many that otherwise have taken a more neutral stance. And it seems to me, the people that intentionally target school children repulse most humans. Motivation for change rarely occurs when people are told they are wrong. Persuasion is most effective when people believe they have reached conclusions on their own.

Posted by DepotGuy 2006-05-24 11:37|| 2006-05-24 11:37|| Front Page Top

#11 a5089, et al: The word coming out from Hollywood is that a significant number of the young generation of writers, producers and actors view themselves (and vote!!!) Conservative Republican. Mostly they are biding their time quietly as they do the bidding of the Hollywood Establishment, waiting their turn to replace those currently in power, although they've managed to quietly make themselves known to one another. Ten to fifteen years out, the messages coming out of the film industry should be very different than what the world sees and hears now.

Posted by trailing wife 2006-05-24 12:07|| 2006-05-24 12:07|| Front Page Top

#12 Me, I prefer ameliorating their lead deficiency.

Posted by gromgoru 2006-05-24 12:58|| 2006-05-24 12:58|| Front Page Top

#13 DITTO to that Gromgoru. Can never have enough lead in their diet. Ridicule them AFTER they lie rotting and stinking.

Posted by mcsegeek1 2006-05-24 14:22|| 2006-05-24 14:22|| Front Page Top

#14 The Middle East is said to have a shame culture.

Good thing, too.

They have PLENTY to be ashamed of.

Here in the 'Burg, we ~~ridicule the terroridiots relentlessly~~ do our part for the war effort. ;-p

Posted by Barbara Skolaut">Barbara Skolaut 2006-05-24 14:51|| http://ariellestjohndesigns.com/page/15bk1/Home_Page.html]">[http://ariellestjohndesigns.com/page/15bk1/Home_Page.html] 2006-05-24 14:51|| Front Page Top

#15 Here's a good start:

Video Link (Safe For Work)

Posted by Chinter Flarong9283 2006-05-24 17:51|| 2006-05-24 17:51|| Front Page Top

#16 #6 We need to do things like "Blazing Camels" with Osama in the bathtub with the rubber duckie.
I'll let youse comedy geniuses fill in the rest ;^)

I get a mental image of a foam of accumulated filth trying to crawl out of the tub over the sides just to get away from OBL...

Posted by FOTSGreg">FOTSGreg 2006-05-24 18:43|| www.fire-on-the-suns.com]">[www.fire-on-the-suns.com] 2006-05-24 18:43|| Front Page Top

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