Understanding terrorism

[Hobbs]

One thing I have come to realize is that terrorism it not only fought with guns and bombs and violence, but with propaganda as well. These groups are big on this. From the videos of "executions," internet postings, all those videos and audio tapes put out by bin laden and al qaeda, even the claiming responsibility for attacks. They even use news agencies, both foreign and our own domestic outlets. I just read a news report that said insrugents handed out flyers in Haditha claiming they had killed 10 Marines and taken all their weapons. It's all propaganda whether it's true or not and they use it to bolster support for their cause and recuritment numbers. They use it for bragging rights. It gets everyone pumping their fists and chanting in the streets. I used to think that all we had to do is launch a propaganda war of our own, but I've come to realize that the everyday person over there is willing to listen any news as long as it's not from the U.S.