Open-Source Warfare. Terrorists are leveraging information technology to organize, recruit, learn

IEEE Spectrum ^ | November 2007 | Robert N. Charette

[Zhang Fei]

All life began when you were born, for the self centered generation ... reading history is so boring.

I think too many people prefer writing to reading. The problem is that without reading a lot of background information, what gets written can be a bunch of nonsense. Why do the legwork when you can BS your way through?

[Tarpon]

Yes, I agree.

[Vision Thing]

I make no IEDs at home, but I suppose Johnny Jihad will inject a little more intelligence into his device. I doubt he’ll set up the device to blow up on a mere phone call. More than likely, not only must he call it, but he must then enter in a code to trigger the device.

[FastCoyote]

That guy is a nutjob/theif, well known and ridiculed in the pulsejet community. He’s lucky someone didn’t take him out and kill him.

He stole a bunch of money from people who bought his pulsejets.

[Travis McGee]

You could load a lot more demo into a Cessna or a Learjet, and use commercial off the shelf avionics/GPS to steer that sucker right into the target of your choice, give or take 30 feet.

[Pontiac]

but he must then enter in a code to trigger the device.

I don’t think Johnny Jihad has to get that complicated.

He simply does not turn on the phone until it is in place and he is ready to leave or bury it. (or however it is placed).

[CodeMasterPhilzar]

Slightly different idea then...

Cell phones are set up to lock on to the strongest signal. This will generally be the closest cell tower, or the one with the best line of sight. Added on top of that is a preference for “home” system towers. eg. a T-Mobile phone would prefer a T-Mobile tower, etc.

Suppose your convoy is led by, and accompanied by, several vehicles with mobile cell towers. Now, they’re not really hooked into the phone grid. The on-board computer is just smart enough to do the exchange/handshake with cell phones. Thus, your antenna(s) “capture” all the phones nearby, over-riding the cell towers by virtue of a stronger signal.

The upshot is, for anyone nearby - dropped call as you approach. While passing - no calls in or out since your mobile cell towers don’t go anywhere. Result - no incoming calls, no IED detonations...

Just another thought. If they’re using technology, we ought to be able to use it against them...

[Pontiac]

Sounds like the idea would work. (It would certainly irritate the populace.)

One problem with the idea is the expense. I don’t think the DoD budget could handle the cost of outfitting every convoy with mobile cell towers.

The other problem is the terrorist would quickly catch on and shift to another method. They could switch to the new walkie talkies that have encrypted recognition that will only receive from their mates.