Countering Radicalization and Recruitment to Al-Qaeda: Fighting the War of Deeds

This monograph proposes that actions, policies, and deeds-those of the U.S. Government and al-Qaeda-be leveraged as a means of delegitimizing al-Qaeda terrorist propaganda. Two chief fronts-changing deeds and challenging deeds-is proposed. Changing deeds requires that the United States carefully and systematically examine its own foreign and military policies and their specific consequences for the Arab and Muslim world. Challenging deeds comprises systematically countering with evidence and fact al-Qaeda's two greatest propagandistic fabrications: that the United States is a crusader at war with Islam, and that al-Qaeda is the vanguard defender of a besieged and oppressed Muslim Umma. Provocative at times, and even controversial in its willingness to reconsider long-standing U.S. Government policies, this monograph is adamant that it is not spin, empty platitudes, and "lipstick on pigs," but actual deeds, that are our surest bet for defeating this ignoble adversary. U.S. Government lawmakers, policy analysts, intelligence community, including military leaders, U.S. diplomats and foreign officers may benefit from the insights from the author. Students and political scientists interested in historical research relating to the U.S. response to radical terrorism led by Al-Qaeda from 9/11/2001 forward may find some theoretical analysis and insights relating to the modern Arab and Muslim world. Enlisted active duty soldiers, military leaders and strategists, plus foreign policy and intelligence community advocates may be interested in this volume.Additionally, international relations, national security, and military science students pursuing coursework relating to terrorism and radicalized groups may be interested in this resource.