Does media coverage contribute to terrorists’ cause?

The recent terrorism in Paris and now Manchester is appalling. They strike to the hearts of humanity. One more act by cowards!

I have a question? Are these acts designed to create fear, disruption and disillusionment, amongst other reactions only, or is their purpose also to obtain world media coverage? Was the press outrage justified?

Yes, it most certainly was! But, is there another justification? Have the terrorist masterminds created a very shrewd secondary ruse with these terrorist acts to gain world press coverage? Do our reactions fuel their purpose? Will our outcry aid in their recruitment? (The more despicable the act, the larger the outcry is, and quite rightly so). Is this their direction? That is scary. But what if it is true? Think about it! Their soldiers kill themselves or are killed during these ops. To continue their campaign, constant recruitment is necessary. How do they achieve this?

To radicalize a disenfranchised youth who feels he has no future, they sell him a purpose, a solution, and what better than martyrdom? They offer him a cause, a propose in life, with heroism, honour, respect and an eternity in some exotic location with his own harem of 73 virgins — with the greatest honour being self-sacrifice. I believe this is their big recruitment sale — with the greater, the most damaging, the more horrendous the deed, the grander the martyrdom, and the higher the esteem!

This is why the stronger the outcry conveyed by the world’s press, the more successful the act and the recruitment (something to achieve, something to train for, something earning peak rewards).

If this is true, would censorship of terrorist identities be considered? If the terrorists’ identities were not revealed, would their act have the desired impact? Would non-disclosure negate their recruitment drive? Without publication of identity the act is just another insanity case. I am not against news coverage, but are we inadvertently feeding these evil monsters’ cause?

Your views? Please?

Daniel Nyberg

Lethbridge