Jihadi propaganda often references important jihadi operations/violent events in order to establish these events as key milestones that shape the current jihadi movement. Usually, the events are reinterpreted as illustrations of the effectiveness of the violent jihadi struggle and its successes in targeting its enemies. In particular, the propaganda uses examples of jihadi victory against much stronger and more powerful Western forces as evidence of the imminent victory of jihadist Islam over Western imperialism and secularism. This framing of events facilitates faith and confidence in the jihadi enterprise, and is intended to inspire others to join in the growing success of the jihadi movement. The caption here reads: “nuhammidu Allah yawma rabbi nassarana, yawma dammarna fil-bahr Cole” (“we praise God for the day He made us victorious, the day we destroyed the USS Cole in the sea”), referring to the attack against the USS Cole on 12 October 2000 depicted in the image.
