It is interesting to me that when I recommend targeted disruption of multinational corporations, and even suggest possible tactics, I frequently receive three responses; “it is not easy to implement on the ground” and “how can we disrupt them?” and “can you give us a list of companies?”.
The ironic thing about these responses is that they often come from jihadists. As if armed rebellion against the military and security forces is somehow much easier to implement on the ground than disrupting a company.
They cheer calls for “jihad! Jihad!” without even the most basic strategic plan, without experience in armed combat or guerrilla warfare, and neither perceive any difficulty in this nor demand a detailed plan; but when I talk about disrupting corporate operations, it somehow seems tremendously risky to them and they want a step by step guide for how to break a window or slash a tire.
Al-Hamdulillah, I have listed many tactical options on this page, and I have supplied lists of companies (although you can more easily identify the multinational corporations yourselves on the streets of Cairo), and the type of research and surveillance you need to do to choose targets.
Once you have chosen a target, simply map its system. Analyze the vulnerabilities of its physical location; the things that are vital for it to function; the factors which contribute to profitability, etc.
For example; if you jam the locks on the doors, you delay employees entering the building – that causes a disruption to the day’s productivity, alerts the company that it is a target, creates a sense of anxiety among staff, and it incurs a measure of expense. If this is done repeatedly (and it can easily be repeated), the impact of this disruption multiplies.
If you break out the windows of an office – this incurs expense, alerts the company that it is targeted, creates fear among staff, puts all equipment and merchandise in the building at risk of looting, etc. Again, if this is done every week, or more often, the impact multiplies.
If you can successful damage the plumbing and water pipes, you can potentially flood the office –this causes extensive damage, loss of productivity, incurs great cost, alerts the company that it is a target, creates fear among staff, hinders the ability of the company to carry on operations efficiently, and this hurts its standing in the market, etc etc.
If you identify key staff members and, for instance, disable their cars (slash tires, spray paint or break windshields, jam door locks, etc) –this will intimidate employees and potentially cause them to leave the company, loss of vital staff will hurt productivity and will require recruitment and training of new staff (that is costly and time-consuming), it may also make it more difficult to find people willing to work for the company, which will require higher salaries and possibly insurance for staff, etc etc.
Just try to brainstorm and think creatively; there are almost unlimited options for how you can disrupt a company’s operations and profitability, and if you undertake a continuous, repetitive onslaught of disruptive tactics, you can make it impossible for them to do business.
At the same time that you do this, you deliver a message to executive staff explaining why the company is being targeted, and how they can rescue their business from revolutionary attacks. It is really quite a straightforward strategy.