Clever PR glosses over vile message

It is called strategic communications and it is a weapon of war. Islamic State (Isis) demonstrated yesterday its grasp of this non-violent but just as effective form of warfare with the release of the video of John Cantlie, playing the part of a pro-jihadist news presenter, offering an alternative narrative on the militant group, analysts said.

“It is defensive PR. They are operating as though they were a country,” said Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Williams, a former SAS commander.

The militants are trying — as are western governments — to control the message portrayed to the public.

“That they have a western journalist doing it is because, in theory, he will be more credible but really importantly, he will be projected,” Colonel Williams said. “If they had