The FBI after facing immense criticism for redacting the name of the Orlando shooter and the ISIS to which he pledged alliance released the conversation he had with the police on that fateful night. When the transcript was initially released Omar Mateen was referred to as OM and mention of the ISIS was omitted. President of the United States of America, Barack Obama had even said, " what exactly would one accomplish by using this (ISIS) label?" It does come as a surprise the manner in which this incident had been handled by the FBI and a pertinent question that needs to be asked, is what good would have come out by concealing the details.



The Americans would know best that the ISIS has one of the best PR mechanism. They do thrive on propaganda and they know well how to push their point. Even before the investigations commenced, the ISIS did claim credit for the attack. The media too had reports almost immediately after the attack about the call Mateen made to 911 and pledged allegiance to the ISIS and its boss, Abu Bakr al-Bhagdadi. With so much already out, what exactly was the FBI gaining in concealing the key details such as the name of the shooter and the outfit.



In this entire episode the statement by FBI agent Ronald Hopper was probably the most preposterous. He went to say that Mateen was radicalised domestically and not directed by any foreign group. The US must know by now the how the ISIS functions. The group relies heavily on lone wolves and outsources terror. Even during the Paris attacks, the direction never came from the ISIS and neither was the approval of Bhagdadi sought. The ISIS is content that the attacks are carried out in their name. What the ISIS does is provide ample propaganda material on the web which works like a charm to the several sick minds who are radicalised.



In addition to this the ISIS keeps calling for attacks against Europe and America. After this it is a choice that the person radicalised has to make. He is free to go ahead and attack any country and does not need to seek the permission of the top brass of the outfit. Experts say that the success of the ISIS lies in the fact that they do not follow a red tape while executing attacks. There is no pre-requisite for an ISIS fan boy to visit Syria or Iraq to be part of the group. He pledges allegiance in his heart and strikes. Hence this argument by Hopper is outdated.



The FBI's initial decision to conceal the details is misplaced. America must accept that the ISIS has managed to capture the imagination of millions across the world. The US battling the ISIS in Syria does have some effect on the ISIS, but is that enough? The US needs to battle the group on the web through which it reaches out to millions of youth. It is the propaganda material that the ISIS put up which is more dangerous than their guns. The US would also do well to take a tough stance on those Wahabis in Saudi Arabia who help further the ideology of the ISIS.



With a group such as the ISIS, fighting the battle on the ground is not enough. The US must sincerely move forward and fight their ideology instead.



Merely concealing details is just living in denial. The ISIS has landed at the door step of the US and it is time that big brother took notice of this instead of trying to conceal the facts. When Donald Trump says that the ISIS problem is real and must be dealt with, the response from Obama cannot be, " this is a political distraction."



(Vicky Nanjappa is a senior security affairs analyst who writes for One India.)



Disclaimer: The opinions, beliefs and views expressed by the various authors and forum participants on this website are personal and do not reflect the opinions, beliefs and views of ABP News Network Pvt Ltd.