Why is Al-Qaeda so much better than the US military in Psychological Warfare?

Question

Uncomplementary name-calling and vicious pointing out of each other's faults and misdeeds is how the Cold War with the Soviets was mostly fought. And the West won this war because the truth US and its allies could say about the Soviets was more vicious and more compelling than what the Soviets could say about the West.

It seems that Osama Bin Laden and his followers still remember the lessons they've learned during the Cold War, while the US and its allies have forgotten and lost their competence in this kind of verbal fighting.

With Al-Qaeda indiscriminately killing civilians, why doesn't the US government say the truth in a vicious way, they way they used to do it with the Soviets?

Why don't they call terrorists animals, savages, murderers of children, bandits and all kinds of other emotional names? This is the truth said in an emotional way, which is how it should be in Psychological Warfare.

Answer 1

Al-Qaeda, henceforth referred to as "The Crazies", are just that, CRAZY. And crazy people tend to have more outlandish, emotional, and out-there thoughts, ideas and actions. Not saying "The Crazies" are smarter, but have you ever been in a room with a psych patient? They start to make you think you are crazy! Not to mention, most Americans want to take a "more dignified approach" and not "stoop to their level", WHATEVER PEOPLE! This is WAR, and ALL IS FAIR IN LOVE AND WAR! Whatever happened to killing them all and letting God sort them out? Just a thought. Not saying its appropriate, just a thought. I think we should "stoop to their level" if thats what works.

Answer 2

Psychological warfare all comes down to one thing...control.

Al-Qaeda has control because the west have to respond to what they do. The language used by Al-Qaeda is designed to sound chilling to western ears. It is reminiscent of the Kamikaze pilots of the second world war.

Ultimately, terrorism is well named. The fear of what has yet to happen is constant and invasive. There has in history been no war that was won directly by using terror...but many have been won by using terror to bring the large and powerful to the same table as the small and determined.

If the terrorists hear themselves described in base terms, they know they are winning the psychological battle. Human beings express fear through many means, including insult.

Answer 3

They believe. We the US used to believe like when england attempted to invade us with their advanced technology of warfare at that time. It was said at that time the English used to say, if you killed Paul revere and his kinsman a thousand more of each would rise.
Does this sound familiar? Is this not what they now say about sadam, and osoma bin ladin.
We the collonies were being oppressed by a super nation tring to impose there ways on our world (the colonies). Does this not sound familiar? The news is always quoting the mid east as rejecting western influence . They call us the great satan, and say we have killed millions of their women, and babies through influence, war, and sanctions, depriving them of medicine and milk.
To them that is oppression. Is that oppression? Our troops are paid to be over there. They will die for free .....who do you think will win that scenerio....They will not quit...
Then their is , who is more on the side of truth. Well both regions are doing terrible things, but i guess the question is who oppressed who? They pray that strengthens their mind through prayer....do we pray???? do we strengthen our minds???? or are we so damn busy with gadgets and cars and new inventive ways of paying for all that **** that we abondon our families to the same forces they hate.
Our kids don't know us and we don't know our kids... Why because we have traded them for the things that matter not and are rusting away and rotting in our closets, and breaking the same day we get them...... They are going to die for their children right way or the wrong way.....................................................................To bad we lost that loving feeling................;

Answer 4

B/c our government doesn't give a S***. I'm sure they don't even pay attention to what's going on until the day of a press conference where someone goes over some info, etc. Total indifference. They couldn't care less. All they want is oil. Al-Qaeda is much more passionate about their cause.Our government is only passionate about their money.

Answer 5

I have often wondered the same thing. I have always assumed that they (military and US gov't) felt that once the war in Iraq is won and everything is working fine then it will be its own example of positive ideals of freedom in action defeating evil. However, this is very far sighted and has led to the US gov't effectively losing support for the war effort. I don't think it is the military's job to justify the action in Iraq, that is the job of the US gov't state dep't, president, etc.

Answer 6

Y'all are forgetting one considerable certainty! Our critiques are consistent with what the information MEDIA delivers to us. Sensationalism is the considerable function of the nightly information. I found out that some years decrease back. at school and interior the information in the process the chilly conflict, I had the effect that each and all and sundry the folk in Russia wore dark gray clothing and lived in poverty, used Mules to farm , and lived in primitive farm homes. It wasn't until the chilly conflict develop into over and pictures of the real Russia got here out that I observed enormous city's and automobiles and vans shifting approximately. Blew my innovations! look previous the video clips and you gets an entire distinctive perspective. in no way have self belief what you hear, and in basic terms 0.5 of what you notice!

Answer 7

You can always tell the folks who never served in their Armed Forces. The U.S. has the best trained, and equipped force in the world. Our Intel and Psy-Ops have tremendous restrictions placed on them because the front is in the middle of a city filled with civilians. We are also further restrained by the Geneva Convention. There are things we have the capability of doing that would boggle your mind but just because you can doesn't mean you should. Emotion doesn't win wars -- logic, strategic vision and fine tuned tactics do...................

Answer 8

The media covers their projected side of war. they get their message across because they give a tape to the media and they play it back here in the states unedited and unmonitored. personaly if there was a conflict there shouldnt be civian media involved because hummanity cannot see that sometimes fighting is the only outcome and people value life too much for if we didnt have death we would starve to death because theres so many people to feed

Answer 9

because of america being infested with left wing liberals who are afraid of offending the murderous baby killers. remember these are the same people who fight to get these imprisoned criminals luxuries in jail. yet these same left wing liberals will kill their own unborn children. we as americans need to grow some intestinal fortitude and do whats right regardless of who it offends, after all these crazed baby killing muslim extremists obviously do not care if they offend the masses or not. that is why they are better at the media war than us, and our libeal media eats it up like a bunch of starving kids in a candy store.

Answer 10

Because they resort to terror tactics and follow no conventional ethics of war. The US Military, from which I'm a veteran, follows rules laid forth by the Geneva Conventions and other laws of war.