Dabiq/Rumiyah Analysis

The Dabiq/Rumiyah is the ISIS newsletter which they post in order to draw support from Muslims around the world in hopes of them joining the ISIS movement. The newsletter was originally called the Dabiq, but was later changed to Rumiyah after ISIS was pushed out of this symbolic city. The latter name is arabic for Rome, indicating their objective in conquering the Christian center of the world. The magazine itself is well made: it contains polished graphics, easy to read text, and contains a variety of sources. Unsurprisingly, it has some extremely graphic images of those who oppose the Islamic order, and the selection of images seems to portray ISIS as victors in the various skirmishes. Blood is a common theme in their issues, and they also
The first difference between the two are their approaches: Osama bin Laden uses a very subtle approach by appearing reasonable and open to the resolvement of the issue, but in actuality proposes an impossible solution. His argument is narrow in scope but effective. The Rumiyah casts a wide net in hopes of something catching their reader’s eye. They are not afraid of appearing tyrannical, and offer a wide range of reasons to justify their cause. Their tactic seems to be effective, as several hundred Americans have left the United States to join ISIS, not to mention the tens of thousands within the Middle East., Which tactic is more effective is hard to judge, but their approach shows their clear difference in intended audience. Osama bin Laden’s tactic worked well for Muslims living in the Middle East, since the terms offered seem reasonable and justified. The tactic of the Rumiyah has been effective at drawing support from both Muslim and non-Muslim countries. Bin Laden sought to increase his influence within the Middle East whereas the Rumiyah seeks to inspire homegrown acts of terror. The second key difference are the motivations of each group. While it is difficult to accurately pinpoint the motivation of an individual like Osama bin Laden, from his actions and his written works it seems that his primary goal was to increase his own sphere of influence rather than the destruction of the West. The motivation for the group behind the Rumiyah is the creation of a new Islamic caliphate in the Middle East. These are significant differences between the groups which oftentimes goes unnoticed because of the western belief that in the face of acts of terror, any justification is