Al-Qaeda uses internet to train terrorists in Iraq: report

The Hindu ^ | Aug. 7, 2005 | PTI

[FairOpinion]

Washington, Aug. 7 (PTI): Al-Qaeda suicide bombers and ambush units in Iraq routinely use the internet for training and tactical support, relying on the technology's anonymity and flexibility to operate with near impunity, a media report said today.

With the help of laptops and DVDs, young terrorists in secret hideouts and at neighbourhood Internet cafes are now using the medium extensively for training, communication and planning through countless new locations, the report said.

Al-Qaeda and its offshoots are also building a massive and dynamic online library of training materials -- some supported by experts who answer questions on message boards or in chat rooms -- covering such varied subjects as how to mix ricin poison, how to make a bomb from commercial chemicals or how to pose as a fisherman and sneak through Syria into Iraq, the Washington Post reported quoting officials.

Western intelligence agencies and terrorism specialists now believe that the "global jihad movement," has largely become a "Web-directed" phenomenon and Governments have become ineffective at blocking or even significantly hindering this vast online presence.

"Biological Weapons" was the stark title of a 15-page Arabic language document posted two months ago on the Web site of al Qaeda fugitive leader Mustafa Setmariam Nasar, according to intelligence officials.

The document even described "how the pneumonic plague could be made into a biological weapon," if a small supply of the virus could be acquired, it said.

[FairOpinion]

They are still a threat, that's why we need to take the measures necessary to discover their activities.

[FairOpinion]

More detail in another article:

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/8854296/

"The number of active jihadist-related Web sites has metastasized since Sept. 11, 2001. When Gabriel Weimann, a professor at the University of Haifa in Israel, began tracking terrorist-related Web sites eight years ago, he found 12; today, he tracks more than 4,500. Hundreds of them celebrate al Qaeda or its ideas, he said."

[topher]

I sure hope these terrorists know how to cleanse their laptops of spyware and malware. I am certain the New York Times will send them money and resources on how to do this. [ /sarcasm off ]

[happinesswithoutpeace]

"Governments have become ineffective at blocking or even significantly hindering this vast online presence."

"Governments" never were effective at blocking or significantly hindering it in the first place.

[kittymyrib]

The server must have been down when those four bombs in London didn't go off. This should be easy to control by monitoring the internet cafes. Email is not private communication, as every employee has been informed.

[sure_fine]

"Governments have become ineffective at blocking or even significantly hindering this vast online presence."

"Governments" never were effective at blocking or significantly hindering it in the first place.

govt has never even tried, if they had the obvious al jazeera would not still exist

I think there are too many wannabee code breakers looking for fame and glory, except there is no code to break

the best hiding place for terrorists is right out in the open

[happinesswithoutpeace]

Excellent point.

[The_Media_never_lie]

Seems like this unsecure method of communication has almost unlimited potential for cooption, mischief and penetration. Could be a good thing, as at least we know what they are up to.

[RightOnline]

I think we need to put up our own Web site that teaches 'em all wrong.

Would be a hoot.

[Dilbert56]

Mohammed: "Abdul..I thought you brought the bomb. On my website it said the lead hijacker brings the bomb".

Abdul: "No, infidel. On my website it said the driver brings the bomb. What do we do now?"

Mohammed: "Says here we call this tool free number and tell them our GPS coordinates...."

[RightOnline]

LOL......exactly.

"Sez here.........hmmm.........insert plastique; dance a victory dance on one foot while praising Allah......insert timer and set to current time.........stick fingers into your ears. Hmmm.......why must we do that, Abdul???"

[The Great RJ]

If a 15 year old kid can almost bring the Internet to its knees, couldn't some of this same "talent" be applied to jihadist web sites? Imagine the fun of posting favorite pork BBQ recipes or porn on these web sites or altering pictures of Osama to show him drinking beer at some strip club.

[Cobra64]

I think we need to put up our own Web site that teaches 'em all wrong.

"Achmed, first you need to get all fired up. Here's what to do. Take one litre of ammonia, and one litre of Clorox, mix thoroughly, and inhale deeply for five minutes."

[The Unknown Nobody]

Couple this with racial profiling...

[mtntop3]

This is a yet another commentary on the divergent manifestations of 21st century technology.

When intent and orientation are evil, the new technology can obviously be a superb enabler for the spreading of hate and homocide.

None of us quite realize, I'm afraid, how much we are at war and how long this war will last - if it ever ceases.

There are no national borders or representative governments to negotiate terms of surrender or even accomodation.

An awareness of the dangers occurs after a 9/11 event; and then progressive amnesia and indolence set in - but not for those intent on evil.

[George W. Bush]

Seems like this unsecure method of communication has almost unlimited potential for cooption, mischief and penetration.

No. You can make standard 128-bit encrypted websites such as ordinary commerce sites (https:). Or you can use much more secure methods like those offered for Hush-encrypted sites and email/filesharing and IM services.

Hushmail

There are also numerous ways to spoof addresses or use IRC and IM clients to escape detection.

Much of the explosion in jihadi websites is much like the similar phenomenon in the West with liberal and conservative blogs. The difference is that here we have both pro-war and anti-war stuff. On the Muslim sites, it's 99% pro-jihad, pro-terrorism.

[MNJohnnie]

media report said today


Ah yes, the fabulous "Media report" right up there with "unnamed sources" as an indication of how much credibility should be assigned to the story. The more vauge the source, the more likely you are reading a story put together by a "journalist" with no morals and a perchance for creative writing.

[denydenydeny]

But...but...the media told me that the incompetent Americans can't keep the power on in Iraq.

[M. Espinola]

Websites promoting jihadic terrorism need to be disabled.

[goldstategop]

Its easy to write a Trojan Horse that would let us eavesdrop on enemy websites. As for disabling them, the Internet is such a vast place its hard to know where to start. One thing it has in common with the real-world war on terror is there are no frontiers. None exist in cyberspace.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)