YouTube - as-Sahab 11 septemberIf anybody know how to shut down As Sahab, which is AL Qaeda's movie production wing on the net you have my deepest respect.
• “The media is terrorist’s best friend,” said Walter Laquer. Terrorism relies on the media. Terrorism’s goal is to terrorize. Without the media those affected would be limited to those immediately present.
• The importance of Islamic terrorist’s Cyber Jihad was underscored in a letter intercepted from bin Laden to Taliban leader Mullah Omar sometime before the September 11 attacks. Bin Laden explained that as much as "90 percent of the total preparation for the battles" is conducted in the media. The operational leader of the 9/11 conspiracy, Mohammed Atta, research US flight schools on the internet from Hamburg Germany. Member of the 9/11 terror cell used encrypted email messages and chat groups to plan and carry out attacks. The 9/11 commission report noted: "the emergence of the World Wide Web has given terrorists are much easier means of acquiring information and exercising command and control over their operations.” Indeed, Al Qaeda even has a Media production center. Writers, film makers, video and online editors produce content that supports Al Qaeda’ s different Media branches and affiliated hosts.
• The TV production arm of Al Qaeda, As Sahab or "The Clouds,“ appears to be an effective mobile studio that produces professional quality videos with animation effects, English subtitles, sound tracks and voiceovers. As Sahab has also proven to have an effective content distribution center responsible for the dissemination of these videos and their message of Jihad around the internet. This process is supported by popular news stations like Al Jazera, which complement terrorist strategic message campaign allowing their message to reach millions of viewers and potential recruits around the world. One of these recruits is believed to be lead bomber Mohammed Sidique Khan. Khan appeared in a video tape bearing As Sahab’s logo which aired on Al Jazeera shortly after the London attack. Following the broadcast is appeared on terror and news sites all over the internet. The video tape effectively spread Al-Qaeda’s message to millions 'I'm Our words have no impact upon you, therefore I'm going to talk to you in a language that you understand.‘ 'Our words are dead until we give them life with our blood.‘ 'I'm sure by now the media's painted a suitable picture of me, this predictable propaganda machine will naturally try to put a spin on things to suit the government and to scare the masses into conforming to their power and wealth-obsessed agendas.‘ 'I and thousands like me are forsaking everything for what we believe.
• Sahab debuted its first major project on the Internet in the summer of 2001. Since then, As Sahab has continued to release statements from Al Qaeda's leaders--and has significantly increased its output in the last year. As Sahab produced 58 videotapes in 2006, more than tripling its 2005 output, according to IntelCenter, a Virginia-based company that tracks statements by jihadists.
• Technological revolutions in data sharing also support the effective distribution of As Shabab’s content. Popular video sharing programs like “You Tube” have been exploited by terrorists groups and ideological supporters to share violent videos of muhajideen snipers killing US soldiers and beheadings. The war on terrorism is an ideological war. Without believers willing to die fighting Jihad terrorists operations would be severely weakened. In that data sharing technology like YOU TUBE is an effective weapon for As Sahab. Their Web content reaches millions of potential recruits in their language. It also serves to unite other al Aqeda affiliated Islamic terrorist cyber groups, such as: Global Islamic Media Front (GIMF), Al-Furqan, Al-Fajr, Al-Boraq.(site Paz)
• Counter terror experts have had a difficult time figuring out how closely online cells work together. In A Global Jihadi Umbrella for Strategy and Ideology: The Covenant of the Supreme Council of Jihad Groups, Reuven Paz points out that the cyberJihadists may share an ideological framework, but “there is a recognition of this legitimate pluralism reflected in the system of information, propaganda, and indoctrination campaign that the various Jihadi groups are waging in the Internet.” He comes to this conclusion by examining various information warfare campaigns being waged by Al Qeada affiliate cells who currently act in harmony with one another.” Despite increasing cooperation there are still many questions weather al-Qaeda has an Operational Organization leader or hierarchy that dictates commands from the top down or what Paz questions is a Global Council of Jihad?
