#stop daesh

I hate to say this, but Da'esh is obviously practicing up-to-date management methods (agile project management, management by objectives) and, as we know for longer, intelligent usage of social media. Whereas our governments and bureaucracies do not. And thus fail to recognize and combat the strategy of their enemy:

"Experts now believe that the Islamic State was actually adopting a strategy first put forward by an earlier operations leader for Al Qaeda, who argued that the group would become obsolete if it worked only on 9/11-size plots that took months or years to mount. He instead called for Al Qaeda to also carry out a pattern of small- and medium-sized plots, and to use propaganda to inspire self-directed attacks by supporters overseas." (…) "The same article says the group’s method for carrying out jihad in Europe involves an adaptation of Auftragstaktik, a combat doctrine within the German Army in the 19th century. Those tactical guidelines call for commanders to give subordinates a goal and a time frame in which to accomplish it, but otherwise to give them the freedom to execute it."

As the news of attacks in Jakarta and Istanbul reaches us, we are taking the opportunity to look back on 2015, a year that featured atrocious Daesh violence across Europe. Their barbaric nature, lack of regard for human life or freedom is a reminder for us all to unite against their foul ideology.

The end of 2015 brought good news of Daesh’s defeats in Iraq. The latest military setbacks extend the list of failures of the terrorist group.  They have now lost over 40% of their territory in Iraq and 20% in Syria as their so-called ‘state’ continues to diminish.

This new episode of a long series of losses for Daesh has seen its web of lies unravelling for the whole world to see. Portraying themselves as representatives and protectors of Islam has exposed them for the fraudsters they are.

In its desperation, Daesh are warning Syrian refugees that by fleeing to other countries they are committing a ‘major sin,’ one that they will be punished for as denouncers of their religion. The twisted messages they have produced show a desperate attempt at regaining some support after recent significant losses. The charisma of the so-called Islamic is state dwindling.

Keeping the fight against the contradictions and hypocrisies of Daesh alive online and off is vital. Their disgusting media campaign is certainly in decline. Increasingly, the stories of defectors shatter the image of unity that the terrorists seek to present. In 2015 alone, over 40 defectors have spoken out. One defector told the BBC of Daesh’s indoctrinations: "Not the principles of Islam, the principles of the Islamic State," the man said. "So they teach you the Islam they want."

Their “leader” Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is rarely heard from; he hasn't made a public appearance since his July 2014 sermon in a Mosul mosque. And his latest recording which surfaced online on 26 December 2015 clearly carried an unhinged message from an increasingly fragile group.

The New Year is a time to reflect on the previous twelve months and to make resolutions. One big resolution for us this year is to continue our fight against the evil of Daesh and to show the world that the twisted liars do not represent the peaceful religion of Islam. It only takes 30 seconds to send a powerful message to Daesh, tweet, update your Facebook status or post a photo on your Instagram and show them that we will not give up until they are destroyed. And make sure to spread the word to friends and family.

I keep seeing people writing "Pray for Paris" on their dorm room doors. Praying is all fine and dandy as is changing your profile picture, but in the end both do little to help the situation.

Instead of or in addition to praying consider doing one or more of the following:

-Donating to relief organizations (money or goods) -Organizing a fundraiser -Helping in a fundraiser -Joining a relief organization -Educating those around you about what they can do -Anything that provides actual help to the people suffering