Winds of War: Make Love Not Jihad

Dr. Walid Phares, a professor of Middle East studies and senior fellow with the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies proposed an interesting tactic to combat terrorism.

Bomb them with love? Now, hold on. It’s not as crazy as it sounds. In his article “Valentine’s Day Enrages Jihadists”, Phares noted that, “the terrorists are not intimidated by death, but they are terrorized by love.”

“Love is the strongest human force fighting against terrorism and jihad,” Phares wrote.

He explained that during a recent Valentine’s Day, some puritanical Islamic leaders preached that love is evil. “Love is forbidden, love is infidel.”

Phares said that in an online chat room, puritanical “scholars” said, “Al Hub” (basic love) is not permissible outside commitment to Jihad.”

Not all Muslim agree with the puritanical scholars. It seems that young Muslims in search of romance have come up with several clandestine strategies to hoodwink the Mullahs.

Phares wrote, “Valentine’s is ravaging the region, including under the most restrictive regimes. They are right to worry: The battle for love is as wide as the call for jihad. The revolution is rising. The ‘love guerrillas’ are spreading on the street and on the internet.”

Not just in Iran either. Phares notes, “In liberated Afghanistan, transistor radios air love songs. In Iran, boys and girls have waged the revolt of kissing in public. Tracked by the militia, the teenagers perform the kiss-and-run tactic.”

Phares continued, “In Kuwait, tactics are evolving. In this oil-rich state, young Arabs buy two cell phones, and as they see the beloved driving by, they throw one of the mobiles in her car; then the telephonic romance can begin.”

“Love warfare has become the boldest threat that can roll back jihad. On the internet, Arab, Persian, Kurdish, Aramaic, and other love and music chat rooms attract ten times the al-Ansar-crowded rooms. There, you read and hear discussions of love; they seek, not decadence, but the early stages of a romantic revolution,” according to Phares.

There you have it. Make love not war.

Efforts should be increased to provide well-balanced materials such as books and films that educate people about healthy relations between the genders, romantic love and similar aspects of family, community and human life.

PSYOP experts now need to “think outside the box.” New technology allows video streaming of films through the Internet. Books can be introduced in various ways. We could help provide appropriate OSINT for the peoples of many societies.

Phares wrote, “The followers of love have no weapon except human nature; it is the only one they need.”

The Beatles might just be right. “All you need it love.”

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