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BY AMBASSADOR BAYANI V. MANGIBIN (Ret.)
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Thursday, October 26, 2017
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HALLOWEEN starts five days from now. As it is rooted into the pagan’s distant past, Halloween creates superstition that evil forces gather together and break the barriers between the supernatural and human worlds during this time. Otherworldly entities (such as souls of the dead) are deemed to roam around and visit places/houses used to be known by them. Thus, on this occasion, both children and adults wear costumes of devils, monsters, vampires, witches and ghosts to impersonate mystical creatures and avoid an encounter. Some houses transform their yards into make-believe graveyards to appease the spirits.
In my article entitled “9/11 and 7/11: Franchising models”, I have asserted that “terrorism has changed tremendously our way of life.” The world has been transformed into a state of Halloween where evil forces roam around almost every day. These forces foment uncertainty, threat and fear among the population. Graveyards are believed to abound all over the world for fallen victims of the evil called “terrorism.”
Due to this transformation, Halloween is now a 365-day affair and not only observed in three days nor on October 31. This time Halloween is focused only on trick and treating. Even this phrase has been changed. It is now “trick or threat” with the ISIS disguised as the evil that roams the world through social media and its masquerading network of ghost sympathizers, monster allies, and devil affiliates.
Based on paganism that practices polytheism, Halloween is abhorred by Islam as haram (forbidden). It is against tauheed or the belief in the existence and Oneness of Allah. Despite this, ISIS continues to perpetuate a Halloween-like scenarios not only in Syria and Iraq but also in countries where its network of followers create diversionary disturbances , particularly in the West, to camouflage ISIS declining power with a forged invincibility.
It is observed that ISIS power structure is deteriorating. It started at the end of 2015 towards the capture of Mosul in Iraq in July 2017 and later Raqqa, the ISIS capital in Syria, on 17 October 2017. Adapting to this decline of power and influence, ISIS shifted its strategy from state building to more military engagements by its network of followers.
This is an operational strategy of maximizing ISIS presence in the global terror market through franchising of terror business to affiliates-franchisees mandated to spread violence and fear under the name of ISIS in their respective localities. This matter was expounded in my article “9/11 and 7/11: Franchising Models.”
The franchised trademark of ISIS violence is deliberately used with diabolical savagery. Through its Media Council and media’s eagerness to announce / print anything ISIS, the ISIS violence is sensationalized worldwide as a “trauma weaponizing” scheme. This violence intentionally inflects emotional trauma not only to instil fear, anger, and hopelessness among a population under its control, but also to implant consciousness of ISIS invincibility among the larger public viewing despite its waning power.
This terror franchising strategy applies, among other things, the tactic of trick or threat. In a typical Halloween trick or treating, the “trick” is usually an idle threat to perform mischief on the homeowners or their properties if no treat is given. In the case of ISIS, the “trick” of its core group and its terror network does not need to make an idle threat as the name of ISIS alone can immediately evoke fear. The treat demanded by ISIS is to accede to ISIS occupation under its authority. The trademark of ISIS violence, which is brutal savagery, is the threat.
This popular threat perception of fear and violence associated with ISIS has made this terror group a household name in the media. It is quite unfortunate to note that the competitive, market-oriented media will rush the broadcast / publication of breaking news that ISIS has claimed responsibility without proper vetting. This media’s enthusiasm has been exploited by the ISIS to form part of its tactic of trick or threat.
The trick is to claim all terror incidents as inspired, enabled or directed by ISIS to enhance the projection of its invincibility. These claims of responsibility used to be credible in the past. However, with its power decline, ISIS has made recently a number of false claims of responsibility to maintain a space in the media. Unfortunately, fake news is difficult to correct once disseminated in the social media.
The best example to this ISIS trick was the case of the financially distraught gambler who attacked the Resorts World Manila on June 2, 2017. SITE Intelligence Group confided that a Marawi-based Filipino operative alleged to be connected with ISIS reported via Telegram that “lone wolf soldiers” linked with ISIS were responsible. This claim was immediately confirmed by the core ISIS in the Amaq News Agency the following day.
Despite the best intelligence apparatus of the United States, the Islamic State succeeded in tricking President Donald Trump into believing that ISIS terrorists had attacked the Philippines.
The latest case of ISIS false claim of credit was the Las Vegas shooting on Oct. 2, 2017. ISIS stated twice in the Amaq News Agency that the deceased Las Vegas shooter was a “soldier” of the group who recently converted to Islam with a nom de guerre of Abu Abdidel Bal al-Amriki. This is a classic case where truth can be easily manipulated or concealed as “dead men tell no tale.”
The fake news concerning ISIS claims for responsibility that spread around social media and internet is still publicity. It can be slanted to project the perception that ISIS continues to be a big threat. This is the implication of this ISIS trick or threat, especially in Halloween-like scenario where perception is viewed as the reality.
This creates a strategic dilemma. Dismissing outright an ISIS claim as a trick might underestimate the threat assessment on particular situation/development. It is imperative to know whether ISIS and its terror groups are only making a trick or threat that is real. This is an effective tactical tool to effect diversion or confusion. This is ISIS trick or threat. (ambaniman@gmail.com/PN)
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