KUWAIT CITY (AP) – Oct 27– The United States is pressing Arab nations and other allies to do more to counter the Islamic State group’s slick propaganda campaign, with a top American envoy on Monday describing efforts to combat the extremist messages as a vital pillar in the fight to defeat the group.
Speaking at a gathering of anti-IS coalition partners in the oil-rich Gulf nation of Kuwait, retired U.S. Gen. John Allen said it is up to all members of the alliance to “clearly, forcefully and consistently” reject the group’s ideology and offer alternatives to it.
Gen. Allen, who is tasked with coordinating the U.S.-led coalition, characterized the fight in the communications sphere as a crucial element of an overall strategy that also includes confronting the group militarily and attempting to cut off its finances.
“It is only when we contest ISIL’s presence online, deny the legitimacy of the message it sends to vulnerable young people and expose ISIL for the un-Islamic cult of violence it really is … that ISIL will truly be defeated,” he said, using an alternate acronym for the group.
Allen was joined in Kuwait by Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Richard Stengel, who told reporters that an “information coalition” is needed to complement the military campaign.
Sulaiman al-Jarallah, undersecretary at the Kuwati Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Monday his country is fighting terrorist financing and has created a special task force to combat the problem.
“We will not be able win this war against IS and terrorism and lose the battle of public opinion,” Anwar Gargash, the Emirati minister of state for foreign affairs, told delegates. “We have to win on all fronts: on the ground and also by winning hearts and minds against terrorism.”