DAR AL HARB - U.S.A.: COMPUTER KEYBOARDS ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT AS KALYSHNIKVOS

Report: Muslim Extremists Utilize Web
By AP/BEVERLEY LUMPKIN

Extremist Islamic groups have come to value the Internet so much for its ability to spread their message that some have said the keyboard is as important as a Kalashnikov rifle, a report for Congress says.

The report, to be presented to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Thursday, says terrorists have increased their use of the Internet to make their activities faster, cheaper and more secure.

Use of the Internet for communications, propaganda and research has grown to include recruitment and training, says the report prepared by a panel of experts brought together by George Washington University's Homeland Security Policy Institute and the University of Virginia's Critical Incident Analysis Group.

The report found that terrorists have used the Internet in a variety of new ways, including:

� "Dead drops": An e-mail message is saved as a draft rather than being sent. Anyone with access can log in and read the message, but it is less likely to be intercepted by authorities.

� "Parasiting": Training manuals can be hidden deep inside seemingly innocent subdirectories on legitimate Web sites.

� Research: Terrorists can research potential targets online, using both text and imagery.

� Fundraising: Terrorists can launch their appeals for donations anonymously online.

The study noted that Internet chat rooms have replaced meetings in mosques, community centers and coffee shops, making recruitment more difficult to detect and disrupt.

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Pertinent Links:

1) Report: Muslim Extremists Utilize Web