Think for Yourself

Commenter Shahar alerted me to this article on Fourth Generation Warfare (4GW). It looks at how the jihadis have evolved their strategy and organizational methods.

Among the primary elements of 4GW that al-Suri has developed, none have evolved to the extent that commander's intent has. In Lind's description of 4GW, the notion of commander's intent is an integral feature in the dispersal of the battlefield. As Lind succinctly states, the dispersion of the battlefield "will require even the lowest level [of strategic leadership] to operate flexibly on the basis of the commander's intent." In Lind's model, individuals operate with only a semblance of a command-and-control apparatus.

Comparatively, in al-Suri's system of individualized jihad, the onus of command and control falls upon each operative or cell leader. There is, in essence, no organizational hierarchy from which to derive any discernable operational instruction. Therefore, as an inherent element of a dispersed or non-existent organizational structure, individuals function autonomously under the notion of commander's intent.

In a further evolved aspect, because there is no organizational hierarchy, the traditional notion of a commander is slightly altered. Unlike in a military or conventional terrorist group where there exists at least a modicum of organizational tier structure, in al-Suri's system this will ideally be eradicated altogether. Instead, what will replace it is an ideological leadership, not directly linked to individual operatives.

The flaw in this for the jihadis is that it requires not only soldiers dedicated to the mission, but also soldiers who can think for themselves and maintain their own equipment. It requires individualism.

In fact such individualism is the very trait we would most wish to teach the jihadis. It requires intellegence (brains) and education. Knowledge of how the world works. Adaptability.

The very traits that we would like the tribalists to learn. It contains within in it the seeds of destruction for for the Islamic Fascist cause because it opens the cause to individual thought. When Moslems begin thinking for themselves it leads to phenmenon like Walid Shoebat.

When I finally realized the lies and myths I was taught, it is my duty as a righteous person to speak out.

The Israeli Arab Conflict is not about geography but about Jew hatred; Throughout the Islamic as well as Christendom's history Jews have been persecuted, the persecution of Israel is just the same as the old antisemitism.

The Arab refugees are being used as pawns' to create a terror breeding ground, as a form of aggression against Israel.

The Arab refugee problem was caused by Arab aggression and not Israel. Why should Israel be responsible for their fate?

Once people begin thinking for themselves Submission (Islam) as defined by the jihadis is not so attractive.

The more they have to fragment their organization to practice IVth generation warfare the more they open their operatives to new ways of thinking. They will be destroyed by their own internal contradictions.