Jim Maceda: "Terrorists and the Internet": June 24, 2004

"When militants used to want to make a point, they would send faxes or videotapes to international news agencies. But now, al Qaida is putting its graphic messages and images straight up on the web—with maximum effect. Technology has become their latest weapon in their Holy War [...] According to Paul Eedle, media expert, “Al Qaida is as much media machine as military organization. These messages are what they want the world to see.” [...] militants are cleverly staying one step ahead of the law, even able to hijack websites, like one belonging to a Silicon Valley survey and mapping company to briefly upload its images of the captured Johnson. [...] But some analysts say al Qaida’s use of digital technology to spread their bloody message can backfire. Intelligence sources think that al Qaida’s former top operative in Saudi Arabia—Abdel Azziz al-Muqrin was found and killed last week, because of leads picked up by police experts on websites al-Muqrin used to show Johnson’s execution."
[MSNBC]