Jihadist Strategic Communication: As Practiced by Usama Bin Laden and Ayman Al-Zawahiri

The first book ever written on the new topic of strategic communication and how Usama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri are attempting to win the hearts and minds of the world-through fear, religion or admiration. "A chilling but insightful analysis of the words and ideas of the most determined - and dangerous -- ideologues of our times. Important reading for anyone trying to understand what we are up against in the movement of Usama bin Laden." Ashton B. Carter, Chair of the International and Global Affairs faculty, Harvard Kennedy School, and former Assistant Secretary of Defense "William Parker and Heidi Bridges force observers and analysts alike to step outside of their innate prejudices and visceral response to the words and ideas of the perpetrators of 9/11, and innumerable ongoing atrocities, to think strategically and to develop a clear real-time picture of the evolution of a hostile political movement. Parker & Bridges have successfully embedded the writings and statements of Usama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri within the theory, practice, and tradition of strategic communication to yield an invaluable contribution to the intellectual tool kit so critical to the development of the situational awareness vital to recognize and combat the current Jihadist threat. This book is a must read for analysts, policymakers and students in the intelligence, counterterrorism, and homeland security fields." Peter Leitner, President, Higgins Counterterrorism Research Center