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firefall · 61-69, M
They want to scare/terrorize everyone into submitting to their ideas and beliefs, at any price, because they are lunatic extremists, whichever 'they' they belong to.
It's a really stupid and counterproductive idea that appears to appeal to any radical extremist of more or less any sort. If it's tried to sufficiently intense and lethal extent, it induces a period of repression that spreads a lot wider than them*. They -think- that will then induce massive widespread reaction/rebellion, but invariably it actually is widely welcomed because both the general population and their own subgroup feels unsafe & willing to sacrifice some freedom and choice in order to get more safety.
*See the German RAF, and the Italian Red Brigades, for classic examples of how this plays out.
It's a really stupid and counterproductive idea that appears to appeal to any radical extremist of more or less any sort. If it's tried to sufficiently intense and lethal extent, it induces a period of repression that spreads a lot wider than them*. They -think- that will then induce massive widespread reaction/rebellion, but invariably it actually is widely welcomed because both the general population and their own subgroup feels unsafe & willing to sacrifice some freedom and choice in order to get more safety.
*See the German RAF, and the Italian Red Brigades, for classic examples of how this plays out.
SW-User
@Ginaa: I think it was an attempt to deligitimise the narrative that they are heroes. I know it is hard to believe but there is a lot of teen and masculine angst that goes into revving someone up to an act of terror. Calling them losers strikes at their pride. As for whether this will add more fuel to the fire of want to be Jihhadists - well, you may want your enemy to view you as a fearsome monster but no young person wants to be viewed as a loser