This would be an obvious point, just like the fact that Islam is not a religion of peace, were it not so often denied. CNS News noted in September 2013 that “according to a Rand Corporation report on counterterrorism, prepared for the Office of the Secretary of Defense in 2009, ‘Terrorists are not particularly impoverished, uneducated, or afflicted by mental disease. Demographically, their most important characteristic is normalcy (within their environment). Terrorist leaders actually tend to come from relatively privileged backgrounds.’ One of the authors of the RAND report, Darcy Noricks, also found that according to a number of academic studies, ‘Terrorists turn out to be more rather than less educated than the general population.’”
They’re motivated by ideology — by their beliefs. But since that line of thinking leads directly to Islam, Western leaders and analysts search endlessly for some other plausible explanation — a search that leads them farther and farther away from reality.
“Osinbajo: I’ve seen rich people join terrorism,” by Isiaka Wakili, Daily Trust, October 20, 2015:
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says apart from those participating in terrorism for money, he has seen well-to-do people being recruited into the act.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, in a statement on Tuesday, quoted his boss to have said this at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday while receiving the United States Special Envoy on Counter Terrorism Communication, Rashad Hussain.
“There have been those who were lured into participating in terrorist acts for money. Nonetheless, I have seen people who are well-to-do being recruited into terrorism”, the vice president was quoted to have stated.
He said the Federal Government would organise a campaign involving civil societies, the youth and non-governmental organisations with a view to providing “positive counter narratives against those of violent groups like Boko Haram”.
The vice president also hinted that the government would set up a crisis communication centre that provides information on violent and extremist ideology, especially in the North-east.
According to the vice president, the centre will help to “define and disseminate positive narratives that expose the evil of terrorism”.
“For some strange reasons, something that appears so completely mindless and almost insane gains currency in a way that gets regular recruits. It’d have been understandable if the campaign of the terrorists preaches better life, equity and such other lofty ideas; but when the narratives of the insurgents have no such hope, it is intriguing that the message gains any currency”, he added.
The statement quoted Hussain to have told Osinbajo earlier that based on the United States’ experience and the happenings in other parts of the world, the Boko Haram terrorist group has a strong propaganda in the media.
The envoy was also quoted to have emphasised that the media propaganda of the sect had to be countered.
According to him, although many people have rejected Boko Haram, the voices of the minority are being played and re-played in the media causing “content imbalance”….