WHY is the US Dept of State Interacting w/ISIS Fighters on Twitter?

originally posted by: defcon5
This explains it:

Lol all night long on that one

Commanding the Strategic Twitter Attack Group, or STAG party hahaha

originally posted by: spite
a reply to: kkrattiger

That's so stupid but so funny. If only we could limit our conflicts to harmless online flaming.

Probably not true, you don't need to be a PR expert to see how DUMB that would be to do. You aren't crazy, Krattiger.

LOL...

I once got into a "console war" with Osama when he tried telling me his dreamcast had better graphics than my gamecube.

a reply to: kkrattiger

Well I found their account on twitter and as I read through the tweets I kept thinking that there's no way this is actually the US Dept of State. Well lo and behold it's a twitter verified account. Our tax dollars are actually being spent engaging in tweet battles and crafting stupid hashtags. #facepalm

The tweet in the OP was posted on June 27th @Thinkagain_DOS

I think I'm going to go grab a few

originally posted by: hogstooth
a reply to: kkrattiger

Well I found their account on twitter and as I read through the tweets I kept thinking that there's no way this is actually the US Dept of State. Well lo and behold it's a twitter verified account. Our tax dollars are actually being spent engaging in tweet battles and crafting stupid hashtags. #facepalm

The tweet in the OP was posted on June 27th @Thinkagain_DOS

I think I'm going to go grab a few

Think it's not actually the Dept. of State? Think again.

Wow, pondering the implications of their chosen handle is getting downright horrifying. Who picked it?

Thought the Govt was your friend? Think again.



Many thanks to putting in the research to verify the account and bringing it here.

a reply to: TinfoilTP

Maybe it depends on what the definition of IS IS

I think it's kinda a good idea, some people need a sense of humour

And besides.. Trolling and mocking may result in one of them... BLOWING A FUSE... ?

If you click on the 2nd link in my OP you'll see it is a Freedom of Information Act request, with a screenshot of a reply the requester received from a person who handles such requests. The site linked shows a list of FOIA requests.
I did not think it was a bona fide Govt Twitter handle, so I checked via searching and that FOiA request is what led me to believe it is indeed for real. I mean, besides the BBC reporting it in the first place with the details that there is a Counterterrorism Communications office. Maybe it should be called the Countercounterterrorism Communications office.
a reply to: CloudsTasteMetallic

a reply to: kkrattiger

Twitter verified the account as belonging to the US Dept of State. Their verification process is pretty comprehensive so I have no doubt it belongs to the entity it claims to be.

It could be as simple as a government employee deciding to troll in order to escape boredom...not everything has to be a conspiracy such as giving orders to operatives or hiding a message in plain sight. The twitter handle was set up to counter critics of the USA, so responses to these types of things are generally a given. The only odd aspect about it, is the snarky remark from the government employee.

The remark itself probably wasn't a good idea. Firstly, it is acknowledging the terrorists on a social media site of which they utilise. This can be construed in that it could portray ISIS to be more legitimate than what it actually is...Secondly, stating controversial remarks, especially to extremists, is not a good idea as it could lead to unintended consequences.

Hey, at least the government has that guy's IP address now, lol.

That it strokes the fires of illwill and invites displays of posturing which could become actions is a concern.

a reply to: daaskapital

a reply to: defcon5

Now theres a post I wish I could star a thousand times. lol

a reply to: kkrattiger

Technically they can intercept the IP address and vastly narrow down their location, so drones could fly over monitor, and possibly send them a special tweet.

Nobody caught the word Osama in there. That Osama had retired from terrorism? Talking to bloodthirsty insane murderers that the cia and various cartel's goons propped up, is a little much. All the leaders and UN leaders that didn't squash this at the first harm, torture or murder committed all those crimes with them and this world won't be safe until we have all of the leaders and all the fanatical fundamentalists demonic beings behind bars for life.

I think they spelled Obama wrong. There's no "s" in his name. What the spell check is going on here?

originally posted by: defcon5
This explains it:

Stop poking fun at the greatest president the U.S. has ever had! ( tongue inserted tightly into cheek)

From MotherJones

"Given the audience, and the sensitivity of the subject matter, [the State Department has] to be very careful when you put any kind of message out into the world," says Will McCants, a former State Department senior counterterrorism adviser who helped set up CSCC's digital outreach; he is now a fellow at the Brookings Institution. (The State Department's current digital-outreach team was not available for comment on this story.) McCants describes the digital pushback initiative as his "baby," and he made sure to get the right people involved (good linguists, for instance). "The US government has to contest these kinds of [jihadist] messages, because what was happening prior to this was nothing," he says. "Recruiters would recruit with impunity. When I started, the thinking was, 'We don't dignify this stuff with a response.' Well, that makes sense if you're President Obama or secretary of state. That'll just drive traffic to it. But at least this way, we're offering some American perspective and shooting down some of the more egregious examples. It's targeted at blunting the recruitment pitches online."

I can see the argument FOR it, after thinking about this perspective. I can see both sides of it. Maybe it's a worthwhile pursuit to talk to the people involved using tones they themselves use. Kind of like a detective who "grew up in the hood" getting all "street" in his demeanor & words while engaging the neighborhood kids. (Which is patronizing.)

a reply to: kkrattiger

Good question.

Why did the United States and Soviet Union have embassies in each others countries when we were enemies?

Just because they are a group of uneducated morons defiling a religion does not mean you don't talk to them. It can give an insight into their short term / long term plans. It can identify the real players in the group and separate them from the lesser bosses.

originally posted by: Xcathdra
a reply to: [post=18105352]

Just because they are a group of uneducated morons defiling a religion does not mean you don't talk to them. It can give an insight into their short term / long term plans. It can identify the real players in the group and separate them from the lesser bosses.

Yes, I agree. I think now I would have titled this something else, because I can see the utility and reasoning behind it. After all, we all engage with idiots every day, and probably sometimes on their level.

"We say to the US Government and swear to God that we will enter the White House and come to your cities", CSCC replied: "Like you haven't threatened us many times before! Btw, Osama officially retired from terrorism!"


sounds like a typical bf gf fight cause of cheating

The federal press people often seem inept in their responses. I think some body with claimed 'social media' skills gets a high paying job and forgets they are no longer just a smart A poster on the internet.

A food fight on twitter and facebook isn't going to do much good.