https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfpPrq7rc5U
The State Department’s program that attempts to turn would-be terrorists away from a life of jihad opened the floor up for questions this week.
Think Again Turn Away is trying to counter ISIS’ slick social-media recruitment and PR campaign with its own videos showing how destructive jihad can be, as well as photoshopping its own anti-terror memes. Last month the program stoked ire in some corners for tweeting then deleting photos of dead jihadis.
This week Think Again Turn Away hopped on ask.fm, a Latvia-based global social networking site that terrorists have used to conduct Q&A with would-be followers.
“Why don’t you care about the people Assad killed?” asks one poster of the State Department unit.
“The United States cares immensely about those who have been killed under the Assad administration and the terrible atrocities that have been committed. We are working hard to degrade the terrorists, including ISIS and the Khorasan group, as well as to support the Syrian Opposition Coalition. The U.S. Government has no plans to work with Assad in accomplishing these missions. We recognize that there is no solution for a stable Syria as long as Assad is in power,” the U.S. government responds.
“You are the greatest terrorist on the planet!” another posts in the question box.
“This isn’t actually a question, but we’ll take this opportunity to correct your statement. Some of the greatest terrorist organizations currently operating in the world include: ISIS, al-Shabaab, Boko Haram, the Taliban, AQAP, and Jabhat al-Nusra amongst others. The monsters that comprise these groups kill innocent individuals indiscriminately, rape and sell women and children as sex slaves, and destroy culture and heritage. Is it any wonder that Muslims everywhere condemn the terrorists and their actions?” Think Again Turn Away responds.
Asked whether pie or cake is better, the State Department posted a photo of an American-flag pie.
“Your freedom is fake! Your bravery is faker then fake. Send some boots and clean the mess!” asks another.
“What is fake is the idyllic and peaceful existence that ISIS purports to give those who support it,” the government responds. “ISIS rules with barbarity and ultra-violence, killing and raping innocent individuals of all religions, including Muslims.”
“Mr.Obama used this sentence a few times ‘…american interests…’, what exactly are your interests in middle east/north africa? Does it mean that someone like assad can still kill if the american interests are safe/untouched?”
“The United States cares about the Middle East because of the economic, political, and security interests we have, the many friendships we have forged, and the rich spiritual and ethnic traditions we have inherited. The region is home to many of our allies and important partners in the Gulf,” Think Again Turn Away replies. “American interests are also reliant upon global security and a future without terrorists organizations like ISIS, al-Qaeda, and its affiliates, who persecute, torture, rape, and murder innocent individuals. The United States is dedicated to helping all of those persecuted by ISIS, including the people of Syria, and safeguarding their future – a future we know is not possible with the Assad regime in power.”
#ISIS educational curriculum in Iraq bans evolution, patriotism, “faithless” literature http://t.co/92uswa3Mfz pic.twitter.com/RnCcn4ScyL
— Think AgainTurn Away (@ThinkAgain_DOS) October 7, 2014
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