Al-Qaeda video now on cell phones!

Now their videos also come with cell phone version!

Last week, the jihadi media group - the Al-Sahab - proudly presents the first batch of 8 previously recorded videos downloadable to your cell phone.

Size of videos ranges from 17 megabytes to 120 megabytes. Al-Sahab promised in their announcement that more of its previous video messages will be released in cell-phone quality formats.

Further reading:
Report by the Associated Press on Jan 6 2008

Fight back!

Is the removal of information from the terrorist websites an efficient step in combating terrorism?

In my view, banning of terrorists' websites might be quite futile attempts to restrict terrorists' exposure since terrorists could just register another domain name and re-appear in the virtual world only seconds afterthey are removed. Seems they are even more difficult to track and tackle than virus!

Many governments have sought ways to limit or minimize terrorists' influence. These have inspired fears among civil libertarian activists.

On the digital war front, the first victim maybe our civil liberties.

Some argue we must surrender some freedoms in order to enjoy the ones we cherish most, others emphasize the price in freedom we pay for this war. Many in the Western World and especially in the United States worry about the abuse of civil liberties in the name of fighting terrorism. What do you think?

Press relations of media-savvy Al-Qaeda

In December 2007, al-Qaeda invited journalists to send questions to al-Zawahri, al-Qaeda's No. 2 figure.

The invitation was the first time al-Qaeda offered outsiders to "interview" one of its leaders since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

I am still searching which wired network finally respond to this invitation.

As Sahab - Al Qaeda’s media wing

How is their video production quality?

Their earlier videos are of poor quality, well below what is considered the professional broadcast standard in Western countries.

Now, their videos demonstrated a standard comparing favorably with the production quality obtained by major television networks some 10 years ago.

Subtitles have fewer grammatical and spelling errors and sometimes explain Islam-specific concepts.

A study in August 2007 showed that As-Sahab may be using a technology similar to greenscreen (chromakey) to accomplish back-drop effects.

Who are the terrorists' target audience?

One question to ponder: Am I their target audience?

The answer is probably yes.

I guess they appeal to current and potential supporters, to the international community, or to their enemies (namely the public who is part of the opposing community in conflict, i.e probably you and me!)

Al-Qaeda uses Web 2.0 marketing, do you?

Terrorists ride on the power of the internet and have clearly exploited it to its fullest use. Videos of suicide bombings will be edited and available for download just hours later. Are you amazed by their speed and efficiency?

This documentary is on how terrorists publcise their messages through the jihad TV and how it pervert the minds of young Muslims. Videos of smiling suicide bombers could be more destructive.

Documentary on 'Jihad TV'


When planning September 11th, Al-Qaeda filmed the wills of the hijackers against an easily replaceable background, allowing them to edit in shots of the World Trade Centre in flames later. For them, 9/11 was as much about creating iconic images as killing their enemies. It was the internet that "turned the trickle of propaganda into a torrent".


I really like this quote from this documentary : "The sad fact is that a whole generation of young Muslims is growing up with their view of the world shaped by images of war in the Islamic world. They don’t need to watch jihadi videos to be radicalised. They just have to watch the news. "

Digital marketing tips from Al-Qaeda

First tip: Niche marketing /narrowcasting!
They tailor-made their materials to suit different target audience.

a) Cartoon - targeting children

Just as I mentioned in my previous blog entry about the use of cartoons. Hama's websites, al-Fateh ('The Conqueror') is updated every other week and is designed for children, with a cartoon-style design and colorful children's stories.

b) Using the color pink for female suicide manuals - targeting women

Second tip: Be international, be user-friendly!

Terrorist groups target the international 'bystander' public and web surfers who are not involved in the conflict. Most terrorists sites offer versions in several languages in order to increase their internal audience.

Eg. Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA) offers information in Span, German, French, English and Italian

Third tip: Be press-friendly!
Organisations often place press releases on their sites. One of Hezbollah's sites invites journalists to interact with the organisation's press office via e-mail!

Source : Mashable - social networking news

Their "Cartoon Network" - educating children for hatred and terrorism

Terrorism does not necessarily be scary and eerie. Read this.

"Al-Fateh", an online children’s magazine, contains stories, poems and illustrations, making the content friendly and attractive to children while preaching hatred and encouraging suicide bombing terrorism

Source: Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center at the Center for Special Studies

They learn from America TV too.

MacGyver Syndrome: a Jihadist with a laptop and fertilizer

MacGyver is a popular American adventure television series in the 1980s about the laid-back, extremely resourceful secret agent.

The character was known to be skillful in creating explosives by household devices in minutes.

European-based Jihadism are also moving towards this direction. Instead of purchasing traditional explosives, self-trained Jihadi (holy war) operatives are increasingly relying on household chemicals and the Internet.

Full article by Stefania Benaglia