The artistic music video "Wrecking Ball" featuring former Disney star Miley Cyrus has accumulated hundreds of millions of views on Youtube. This provocative clip features an almost naked Cyrus suggestively cavorting on a simulated wrecking ball and nearly licking a metal phallic symbol.
From some conservative religious perspectives, the popularity of this popular video may be a perfect example of so-called "moral corruption" which may partially fuel the anti-Western hatred and jihadi rage of extreme terrorist organization such as the Islamic State. These groups view Western culture as evil, immoral, overly sexual, and destructive.
While the American media consistently broadcasts scenes of torture, murder, and violence attributed to ISIS, almost no news outlet discusses the moral and religious issues that shape the Islamic State's ideology.
Foreign fighters from around the world are joining ISIS because these fighters are morally outraged by several factors including: excessive nudity and sex in the Western media, the perceived corruption of some Islamic leaders, and a profound desire to coerce the Islamization of the world.
ISIS is not only a religious-based movement and a violence-based movement, it is also a moral calling for millions of young Muslim fighters who are willing to become martyrs by sacrificing their lives in battle.
Unfortunately, the leading Western leaders have not yet developed an effective and comprehensive strategy nor employed successful tactics that would be reasonably calculated to bring about the destruction of ISIS. Therefore, I offer a three part strategy which I call "The Triangulation of ISIS".
This strategy is based upon my highly personal experiences as an anti-terror fighter in the Middle East. When I was a soldier in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), I came face-to-face with the fanatical forces of the Shiite army known as Hezbollah (Party of God). Led by Hassan Nasrallah and supported by the Islamic Republic of Iran, Hezbollah is a constant threat to Israel and a source of political chaos in Lebanon. These intimate encounters with terrorism while in the IDF informs my perspective on handling the dangerous threat posed by ISIS.
Mark Hardie, as an anti-terror commando in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), on the Israel-Syrian border.
The Triangulation of ISIS
The first part of the strategy is calls for the isolation of the ISIS leader. The commander of the Islamic State (ISIS) is Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, an extreme and mysterious Islamist who is dedicated to world domination and holy war. He is the new strategist for total war who promotes an Islamic world revolution.
After an exhaustive psycho-social analysis, I opine that al-Baghdadi views himself as the reincarnation of Abu Bakr, who was the first successor and the father-in-law of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). I believe al-Baghdadi's followers also view him as Abu Bakr reborn; a divinely inspired leader who will lead the Islamic Caliphate to victory over perceived inferior and corrupt non-believers. It is critical that Western policymakers realize that the demise of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi would cripple and demoralize ISIS.
The second part of the triangulation strategy calls for the formation of the "Islamic Corps" (IC). The Obama Administration and America's allies can recruit millions of Arab fighters to join this new military institution. Defeating ISIS will require "boots on the ground"; however, it would be tactically advantageous for the infantry soldiers to be drawn from Arab and Muslim states. America must not be drawn into another Iraq War. This "Islamic Corps" guided by Western specialists and intelligence officers could defeat ISIS with the proper military training and the utilization of superior weaponry.
The final part of triangulation involves the aggressive use of both education and pro-Western propaganda. First, an "Islam is Peaceful" television campaign must be broadcast, in Arabic, throughout the Muslim world. Such a media effort might influence some young people to embrace a peaceful version of Islam.
Second, the Central Intelligence Agency and State Department could commission the publication of a series of Arabic-language books which pontificate on a moderate, pro-Western, and modern version of Islam. These "books of peace" should be distributed free of cost to youth in Arabic-speaking countries.
Finally, so-called moderate Muslim regimes such as Egypt and Jordan must be provided with improved military and economic support. ISIS must not be allowed to dominate Egypt, Jordan, and threaten Israel.
As a former Israeli soldier who has lived in the Middle East for over five years, I know what it takes to confront Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and bring about the defeat of ISIS. Western leaders must adopt the policy of "victory through strength" and adopt this triangulation strategy in order to defeat the Islamic State and save the world from the violent tyranny of jihad.
An attorney-at-law, Mr. Mark Charles Hardie is a veteran of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the United States Army. He is a member of the World Jewish Congress.