US official to allies: Combat IS ideology

Associated Press

KUWAIT CITY

The United States is pressing Arab nations and other allies to do more to counter the Islamic State group’s slick propaganda campaign, with a top American envoy Monday describing efforts to combat the extremist messages as a vital pillar in the fight to defeat the group.

The Islamic State group that has seized large parts of Iraq and Syria and declared a self-styled caliphate, or Islamic empire, in areas under its control embraces social media platforms such as Twitter and YouTube.

Hollywood-style film clips and other elements of its media campaign boost the group’s credibility among disaffected but plugged-in young Muslims and helps it promote its conquests, inspire sympathizers and attract new recruits.

Speaking at a gathering of anti-IS coalition partners in the oil-rich Gulf nation of Kuwait, retired U.S. Gen. John Allen said it is up to all members of the alliance to “clearly, forcefully and consistently” reject the group’s ideology and offer alternatives to it.

Allen, who is tasked with coordinating the U.S.-led coalition, characterized the fight in the communications sphere as a crucial element of an overall strategy that also includes confronting the group militarily and attempting to cut off its finances.

“It is only when we contest ISIL’s presence online, deny the legitimacy of the message it sends to vulnerable young people and expose ISIL for the un-Islamic cult of violence it really is ... that ISIL will truly be defeated,” he said, using an alternate acronym for the group.