Dangerous Combination
Finger points to British intelligence as al-Qaeda websites are wiped out – Britain – Times Online — This seems to be a little different than the way American intelligence operates. We let things slide hoping upon hope that we can scrape some info from the websites. Of course, we never do.
Over the past fortnight Israeli intelligence agents have noticed something distinctly odd happening on the internet. One by one, Al-Qaeda’s affiliated websites have vanished until only a handful remain, write Uzi Mahnaimi and Alex Pell.
Someone has cut the line of communication between the spiritual leaders of international terrorism and their supporters. Since 9/11 the websites have been the main links to disseminate propaganda and information.
The Israelis detect the hand of British intelligence, determined to torpedo the websites after the London attacks of July 7.
The web has become the new battleground of terrorism, permitting a freedom of communication denied to such organisations as the IRA a couple of decades ago.
found by C. Heath
I see nothing wrong with this. These groups preach hate and death. It is not free speech. This country is too worried about offending and not willing to do what has to be done to stop the greatest threat to the world since communism.
The only problem, of course, with accepting the destruction of websites as a tactic — is that it can be a two-way street. For that reason alone, it is illegitimate.
Now, religious fanatics of whatever stripe have a precedent for destroying the intellectual product of those they disagree with — as absolutely justified.
The shortsighted will not care.
Ed’s comment seems to be one made oblivious to the ‘precedent’ set by bombing trains, busses and full office blocks. Are you actually saying that taking down a web site is pushing the envelope further! These murderers don’t deserve to use the communication backbone that governments and corporations of the world pay for to preach their lessons of hate. They lost this privelage a long time ago.
Web warfare, like nuclear warfare requires a sophisticated understanding of the technology. Is there any doubt that once terrorists master either, that they will waste no time in using it against us? Net: being preemptive, especially with non-lethal warfare, is just simply pragmatic.
Hopefully the Brits will refine their tactics and replace the Al Queida sites with ones focusing on porcine beauty.