FEMI TAIWO: HOW TO ERASE BOKO HARAM IN 6 MONTHS OR LESS (II)
STRATEGY WITH FEMI TAIWO ON MONDAY
Michael is a first class chemical engineering graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria, and a PhD holder in same discipline from the University of Arkansas, United States.
Continued from PART 1
2. Win the Public Relations war
BH is winning and we know it because every day we see the number of people they kill or maim; we count the buildings they destroy and we realize how much of a match they are for the armed forces. They act and then publicize it. They know they have to win the Public Relations (PR) war so that the funds can keep coming in. No one wants to finance a losing campaign. Your job will be to get the message out that the terrorist network is dying and on its way out. I hear the army keeps journalists out of some war zones. What a stupid move! Allow journalists in! Perception is reality. Your version of what is going on must drive public discussion and debate on this issue. Have a public relations expert – a master spinner – work with newsmen from various outlets to craft a continual stream of victory tales; of the valor and brilliance of your men; of how the enemy is dwindling by the day. Let them interact with the locals and interview them. Let them get the word out on people’s hopes of victory. Tell your own story. Don’t let the scumbags do it for you. By doing this, you galvanize support from the outside world and channel hate towards the arsonists and trouble makers. Let people know you are winning and that you are not leaving until the last of the insurgents is rooted out and dealt with.
Picture source: prconversations.com
A well-orchestrated PR war is a great way to spread misinformation. In a bid to refute your claims, the enemy shows his face and you nab him. Use informants and double spies. Publish the names you have and televise how the network runs. People must see you are winning to believe you. If the terrorists can get to them, it dents your credibility. Even when the terrorists score a point, make sure the word doesn’t get out. Control the information channels and you choke the terrorists’ hopes of survival. Remember: each byte of information you have is worth more than ten armored tanks.
3. Crush the terrorists
Make no mistake: you will have to crush the enemy. Destroy his morale, his will to fight. Erase him everywhere you find him and make a public show of it. Use force or the threat of it to add to the enemy’s casualties. Strike the shepherd and the sheep will scatter. Your aim here is simple: use each captured terrorist to get to his boss and then his boss’s boss until you get to the source. You capture one to capture many. This is where you cash in all the information you have about the enemy.
Picture source: informationng.com
Always keep in mind that you are not after the minions per se, it is the mastermind of this network you want. And any method that will get you there fastest with the least bloodshed has the blessings of the gods of strategy.
People must see you are winning to believe you. If the terrorists can get to them, it dents your credibility.
Lest anyone think these are principles born of musings from a library, I will apply these steps to three case studies in history and look at how they have been used, misused or abused.
Case Study 1: The Irish Republic Army vs. British Government
Case Study 2: The FRN vs. French Government
Case Study 3: United States in Iraq
*****
EDITOR’S NOTE: Although this essay by our columnist is best situated within the purview of politics, and we have maintained this is not a political blog, it is nevertheless published because it is still about management of a macro-situation. Management – corporate and national – is one of our key themes on this portal.
