What can drive a 5GW campaign? What’s it’s catalyst? What pumping engine hammers it out and spreads forth? The Super Empowered Individual? Or the mastery of ideology?
I’ve talked before of mastering the media and how such mastery is divided from the influence we see in various 4GW efforts.
Now I’ll discuss the mastery of ideology and how those that could, hypothetically, master ideology are divided from those that are enslaved by ideology. That which divides the two is not so easily realized as it may seem.
What of Osama bin Laden? Certainly the argument could be made that he has, quite effectively, mastered the ideology he professes. From his early years as financial kingpin of a propaganda initiative to encourage and invite Arab individuals to join the Afghan Mujaheddin (I.e. the creation of the Arab Mujaheddin via the “Services Offices“) in Afghanistan to his fomentation of al Qaeda in the nascent form of al Masada (the Lions Den) to the spectacular attacks on America on 9/11 bin Laden has seemed to profess a mastery of his own ideology. What divides him from the 5GW actor beyond the obvious and overt?
He believes and identifies with the cause he puts forth. He is, like any follower of AQ’s counter geo-political cause, a fervent defender and acolyte of his own pious vision of Islam. In short, his own ideology enslaves not only the masses that follow his perverted course but also himself. His convictions and his ideology are one and the same. He has not mastered his ideology, rather been enslaved by his own fervent beliefs and so his ideological cause comes to be truth. He has, effectively, lashed himself to his own ideals.
I’ve tossed the fantastical idea (depending on which side of the Bible one stands) of the Anti-Christ as a 5GWarrior about before.
“For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,[a]' and will deceive many.” Matthew 24:5
“With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image.” Revelation 19:20
In effect what divides the 5GWarrior from the powerful (even super empowered) like of Osama bin Laden is not the effect but rather the cause. In short, Osama truly believes the rhetoric he espouses to be “holy” and absolute. Contrarily the Anti-Christ is quite comfortable managing a massive influence and set of beliefs that he propagates as “real” yet does not, in the least bit, believe. The 5GWarrior presents a convincing ideology from a perspective of absolute emotional detachment and disbelief. You believe, he decides.
11 years ago
7 comments:
I would suggest "The True Believer" by Eric Hoffer for insight into ideologies and mass movements. It's brilliant stuff.
Contrarily the Anti-Christ is quite comfortable managing a massive influence and set of beliefs that he propagates as “real” yet does not, in the least bit, believe.
This true of the suicide bomber myth that you will go to heaven should you die in the jihad. Osama Bin Laden doesn't quite believe that, otherwise he wouldn't have fought so hard to try to escape US guns and bombs in Afghansitan.
Certainly Osama is a believer, but he is not above also telling lies to his followers.
Thanks Steve, I'll keep an eye out for it.
Ymarsakar, research the battle of Jaji. bin Laden's reluctance to be captured is likely as much in concern for his cause as it is self preservation.
According to Peter Bergen, bin Ladin is a true zealot who wouldn't really mind dying a martyr's death.
Adrian,
I agree, hence the Jaji reference. I think bin Laden officially left behind the pious Arab playboy and entered the "jihad beyond the struggle" (aka: jihad redefined) realm right after his division from Abdullah Azzam.
Bin Ladens an intriguing individual and I can't read enough about him as of late.
Let us not forget that the real Antichrist will, when he comes on to the world scene will be very popular. He will be very charismatic. So the point is when we look for the “Antichrist” we shouldn’t be looking for a villain. We shouldn’t be looking for a bad guy, for that is not how he is going to appear, not to most people, at least not at first.
In fact he is going to appear as a savior. He is actually going to be responsible or seem to be responsible in solving some of humanity’s most intractable problems. Perhaps he is going to be responsible for curing some disease, or develop ways to make things grow on barren land.
This is why I am guessing that he will be an industrialist because only an industrialist could have the infrastructures to develop such technology. Obviously what pushes this guy into the world stage would be the continuing success of his company.
And from there his success and charisma is going to pull him into politics. I say pull but it was his plan all along, though like the best of politicians he will make it look like he only begrudgingly entered the political sphere.
I believe he will become the head of the European Union, an entity that right not isn’t that strong, but since I see see this as happening from 30-50 years from now I see that by then the organization will have risen in strength.
I still believe we have a generation or two before he arises, but in the term of human history a generation or two isn’t that long from now.
I believe he will become the head of the European Union, an entity that right noW isn’t that strong, but since I see see this as happening from 30-50 years from now I see that by then the organization will have grown in strength.
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