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Al Qaeda's World-Wide Propoganda Machine

MONDAY MARCH 14 2005 3:00 PM

Submitted by Oskar. Edited By Michael_J_Totten.

Today's technology is evolving at a phenomenal rate, sometimes too fast for people to understand its full potential. So it is not suprising that terrorist cells are just now starting to use the Internet as a means to recruit, plan, and release information to the world at large. For example, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi has taken his fight onto the Web.

Mr. Zarqawi's group started an Internet magazine, complete with photographs and 43 pages of text.

Radical Islamic groups in general have been using the net in new ways to foward their goals.

Terrorist groups around the world rely increasingly on Internet chat rooms, more anonymous than traditional Web sites, to recruit fighters and to communicate with one another.

While it may be propoganda, Zarqawi's Web page also functions, in a weird sort of way, as a news site.

One recent Web posting, for instance, angrily disputed "the infidels' claim that the mujahedeen are weakened and their attacks are fewer." Another insisted that Mr. Zarqawi was "in good health" and still planning operations. Yet another warned against recent entreaties to insurgents to "sit down at the bargaining table" with Americans and their allies.

It is hard, of course, to be sure of the authenticity of Internet postings. But American officials say those that appear with the Zarqawi logo seem to be credible, and that has led them to conclude that he does indeed have a news operation.

7 Comments

Lotusmonger

Chicago, IL

May 2004

MAR 14, 2005 03:58 PM

The Zarqawi Logo, I never wear a pair of jeans without it.

a_ring_of_saturn

San Francisco, CA

February 2005

MAR 14, 2005 04:37 PM

"While it may be propoganda, Zarqawi's Web page also functions, in a weird sort of way, as a news site."

well...In the history of things propaganda has rarely been straight forward, and has been a commonly hidden within "news".

Our own news broadcasts ( most of them ) are filled with just as much lies as they are truths.

theseeman

Asheville, NC

December 2002

MAR 14, 2005 04:41 PM

The Al Qaeda Factor with Bill Al Qaeda

Bill: I hear what you're saying but you are wrong. And I am turning you mike off.

Time now for "Most Ridiculous Item of the Day"...

For more than an hour yesterday, a dog eluded Terhan authorities, running for miles through the streets and byways of the city. You can't make that stuff up.

and thats the Factor. Allah Akbar, and each other.

Michael_J_Totten

Iraq

February 2004

MAR 14, 2005 07:36 PM

a_ring_of_saturn said:
Our own news broadcasts ( most of them ) are filled with just as much lies as they are truths.

Does CNN et al propagate more lies or fewer lies than Al Qaeda Web sites?

Who, exactly, is doing the lying in the media industry? Who decides what the lies are going to be? Who do the lies serve? Is there an organized conspiracy, or do most journalists make up their own lies?

How do you explain the fact that Jason Blair, known liar, is a disgrace in journalist circles and can't get a job?

Do you know the difference between a lie and an error?

Do advise.

supercrisis

Canada

July 2004

MAR 15, 2005 06:18 AM

Too bad that Al Qaeda was made up by the US government.

stockula

Anchorage, AK

May 2003

MAR 15, 2005 06:29 AM

supercrisis said:
Too bad that Al Qaeda was made up by the US government.

And Karl Rove.

Samebeat

Missoula, MT

September 2003

MAR 15, 2005 02:20 PM

theseeman said:
The Al Qaeda Factor with Bill Al Qaeda
Bill: I hear what you're saying but you are wrong. And I am turning you mike off.
Time now for "Most Ridiculous Item of the Day"...
For more than an hour yesterday, a dog eluded Terhan authorities, running for miles through the streets and byways of the city. You can't make that stuff up.
and thats the Factor. Allah Akbar, and each other.

That was pretty funny