June 5, 2015
Former al Qaeda Fighter Turned MI6 Spy Urges Effort To ‘Confuse’ Islamic State; “Problem Is Deep….And Difficult…Sowing Doubt Is The Key.”
Ian Black, writing on the June 5, 2015 website, The Guardian, discuss what a former jihadi and member of al Qaeda thinks would work in undermining and defeating the Islamic State. Aimen Dean [not his real name], a Bahraini and former al Qaeda operative, “discussed strategies for countering violent extremism at a conference this week in Qatar,” Mr. Black writes. Joined by “academics and security policy wonks,” Mr. Black noted that Dean’s “years in the jihadi world, and his extraordinary journey out of it,” make him uniquely qualified to discuss what really goes on in these groups; and, more importantly, what might negatively impact their movement and ideology.
“The first thing, is to realize the magnitude of the problem,” Mr. Dean urges. “It is deep, and difficult,” he contends. “The idea that there is a magic solution to convince these people just to turn around and come back and be good citizens is impossible. It is ludicrous. Sowing doubt is the key.”
“al Qaeda and the Islamic State — say on Twitter and YouTube [and other social media], that “the shortest path to heaven is jihad; and, martyrdom,” Mr. Black writes. “New recruits to the Islamic State went to nightclubs, took drugs, were members of gangs, and had sexual relations out of wedlock. They want absolution, forgiveness. The thirst for redemption is there. And, the Islamic State is catering to this need,” Mr. Dean observes. “The motivation is religious, even if the recruits are ignorant. They think they will end up in heaven, even if they blow themselves up for the Islamic State. The Islamic State is offering simple answers to all questions — so, you need to encourage complexity: 100 percent certainty means a committed militant; 95 percent certainty means a confused militant; a confused militant is a disarmed militant. That is what is needed. To confuse them, not convince them.”
“Countering the Islamic State narrative that “there is a war on Islam,” waged by a “conspiracy of Crusaders and Zionists,’ — rather than a Western pursuit of its economic interests and global stability — is another important strand of an effective counter-extremism strategy,” Dean argued. “But the Islamic State,” he cautions — “is a more coherent cause than al Qaeda ever was. Establishing a jihadi society in the area it controls in Syria and Iraq has been effective. New recruits “will not have to spend their lives on the run like al Qaeda. They will stand their ground, because it is the Islamic State — and, they will fight to defend it — to the death,” he said.
“Dean, 37, grew up in Saudi Arabia, fought with Serbs in Bosnia, and ended up in Afghanistan — swearing loyalty to Osama bin Laden; and, meeting Khaled Sheikh Mohammad, the architect of the 9/11 attacks,” Mr. Black wrote. “But, his [Mr. Dean’s] own doubts surfaced, when 240 African civilians were killed in suicide [homicide] bombings of the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998. He questioned a 13th century fatwa that justified the deaths of innocents in a jihad — directly challenging al Qaeda doctrine on human shields. He saw a “slippery slope” and decided to get off it.”
“This led to Qatari Intelligence, to working eight years undercover with MI5 and Mi6,” the Guardian noted. Mr. Dean “passed on information that foiled attacks and led to the arrest and deaths of former al Qaeda comrades. His cover was inadvertently blown in 2006, by a book that drew on CIA sources, and he [Dean] went public for the first time three months ago in a BBC interview,” which I posted on this blog. Mr. Dean “has been pardoned in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, and now runs a consultancy in Dubai. The al Qaeda commander leader who issued a fatwa against him for treachery — was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Afghanistan.”
“Dean remains a devout Muslim, and sees the Islamic State as part of the Arab Sunni fight-back against the perceived reverses at the hands of Iran; and, Shia groups it supports, or exploits — In Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and most recently Yemen, where Houthi rebels are now facing Saudi-led air strikes of Operation Decisive Storm.” “The Saudis have stolen some of the Islamic State’s thunder, by countering Iran’s weight,”: Dean said. “The Saudis have stolen some of the Islamic State’s thunder, by countering Iran’s weight,” he added. “In his [Dean’s] assessment, this has significantly cut jihadi recruiting in the kingdom — and, encouraged the Islamic State to mount sectarian bombings of Shia mosques.”
“Other terrorism experts argue that while Dean’s insights are valuable, his experience is outdated; and, he focuses too narrowly on the role of religion in jihadi recruitment — while paying insufficient attention to social background, and individual psychology. But, he [Dean] warns, in turn of the “easy dismissal,’ of the effects of Islamic theology as a motivating factor. Anti-radicalization campaigns — “led by Downing Street imams, or Elysee preachers,” — can never succeed — because their official nature means they will be discredited, he [Dean] insists. It may be a legacy of his MI6 years, that he believes clandestine propaganda, and psychological warfare methods work better.”
“The last thing I want to do, is to do what many security professionals do, which is to contemplate the simple, and simplify the complex,” Dean said. “If I have learnt anything — it is not to take anything at face value. Do not accept the Islamic State as the truth; and, the only truth. The books are out there. Do not rent out your brain to the Islamic State — so, they can think on your behalf.”
It was Victor Hugo who once said that “there is one thing stronger than all the armies in the world, and that is an idea whose time has come.” The Islamic State is using social media and the Internet in a masterful way; and, selling their particular sick and evil brand of ideology — by making their cause seem just, romantic, intoxicating, adventurous. Mr. Dean is correct in arguing that the West must find a way to punch holes in the Islamic State’s rhetoric. The great Hollywood movie Director, Frank Capra, was commissioned by the U.S. government during WWII — to direct a series of films — “Why We Fight.” The films purpose was twofold: Inspire and convince American soldiers and those fighting alongside us — that the war we were fighting was just; and we were engaged in a noble and epic battle of good vs. evil. The second purpose, was to serve as a counterpunch to Leni Rifensthal’s masterful and powerful film –Triumph Of Will,” which was inspiring German youth to join the Nazi’s in their fight against the West. The United States and the West, needs a 21st century version of Why We Fight,” that would destroy the Islamic State’s intellectual underpinning for its beliefs; and, use the Koran, and statements from Muhammad to do so.
The Islamic State is not ten feet tall. They can, and will be beaten. But, the longer the West dithers in leading from behind; and, gives this evil group time to inculcate their idea and movement — the longer it is going to take to defeat them. And, they will surely try and bring their holy war here to the U.S. homeland. We have a weak, feckless POTUS, who believes that if we close Guantanamo and show the Islamists an outstretched hand, and an apology — that we will be respected and attitudes and perceptions will change. They have. The U.S. is no longer trusted by allies; and, is not feared by the adversary. Tepid airstrikes, and long-distance, targeted killing, is not winning hearts and minds on the ground; nor, is it instilling fear and respect. I am worried about what may unfold in the next twenty one months or so, with a U.S. national security team and POTUS — who believe climate change, and strategic patience are strategic guideposts that we should follow.
Unless and until we really get serious about killing off all of these malcontents, we are inviting this particular brand of evil philosophy to nurture and grow — much as Hitler and Nazism flourished in the 1930s — and, we all know what transpired. The world had an opportunity to stop Hitler early on. We seem to be making the same strategic mistake — all over again.
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