Saturday, January 15, 2005
The New York Times > Washington > F.B.I. May Scrap Vital Overhaul of Its Outdated Computer System: "The Federal Bureau of Investigation is on the verge of scrapping a $170 million computer overhaul that is considered critical to the campaign against terrorism but has been riddled with technical and planning problems, F.B.I. officials said on Thursday."
FBI retires Carnivore | The Register, 15th January 2005: "FBI surveillance experts have put their once-controversial Carnivore Internet surveillance tool out to pasture, preferring instead to use commercial products to eavesdrop on network traffic, according to documents released Friday."
7news stories, : "Chaotic post-war Iraq has become the world's biggest training ground for the next generation of 'professionalised' terrorists, says a CIA report." This refers to the CIA report Mapping the Global Future (which I have yet to read)
The Seattle Times: James Yee Investigation: Painful Secrets: "Amid signs the spy case against him is fizzling, Yee is released from confinement, only to face new charges of adultery and downloading pornography."
KRT Wire | 01/14/2005 | Iraqi women divided about whether to vote conservative and lose rights: "Marwa al Beqaa, for example, recently started a nonprofit group that she ambitiously named the International Organization for Friendship and Peace. When pressed, 25-year-old al Beqaa admitted that it's mostly just a few friends and her working out of segregated women's sections of Internet cafes in Najaf."
LA Times/Connecticut News, In Weblogs, Iraqis Post Feelings And Frustrations, 14 Jan 05 ""Baghdad Girl" fills the pink pages of a weblog with photos that show a skinny, dark-eyed teenager hugging her cats, and classroom essays beginning with sentiments such as: "Childhood is a beautiful stage in our life.""
Reuters.com, Iraq Group Claims Killing of Aide to Sistani: "The message was signed by Ansar al-Islam Group - Saad bin Abi Waqqas Brigade. It was not immediately clear if the group was linked to Ansar al-Islam, a militant Islamist organization with alleged al Qaeda ties which operated in northern Iraq before U.S.-led forces invaded the country in 2003."
Islam Online- News Section, IslamOnline.net Reference Web Site for French Press "Thanks to its “independence” and wide-ranging coverage of issues concerning and/or of concern to the Muslim world, IslamOnline.net has become a reference Web site for the French press.
Thursday, January 13, 2005
The World Needs Information tsanami disaster responses from Middle Eastern media are analysed in this article
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
The New Yorker, Battle Lessons - what the generals don't know internet references here, on US military issues: "The younger officers have another advantage over their superiors: they grew up with the Internet, and have created for themselves, in their spare time, a means of sharing with one another, online, information that the Army does not control. The “slackers” in the junior-officer corps are turning out to be just what the Army needs in the chaos of Iraq. Instead of looking up to the Army for instructions, they are teaching themselves how to fight the war. The Army, to its credit, stays out of their way."
Reuters.co.uk, German police arrest 22 suspected Islamists: "Police have arrested 22 people in a series of pre-dawn raids across Germany in pursuit of Islamic extremists suspected of helping militant groups and recruiting fighters for 'holy war'."
Times of Oman, Arabs seek ‘friends in the West, not masters’: "A mighty and powerful Arab media. That is in short, the one and only answer to 'media monsters' of the West, who have been constantly polluting and poisoning western minds and even propagating 'Islamaphobia' (amongst them), a top Arab journalist said here yesterday."
arablogger.com, Best Arab Blogs Awards vote now (or nominate) your favourite [closing date is 15 Jan 2005 so get moving]. Some of the best links that I hadn't previously noted have been added to the Blogosphere, on the side of this site (scroll down). There are some intriguing entries.
The New York Times > Technology > Apple Changes Course With Low-Priced Mac: "Apple Computer introduced its first low-priced Macintosh on Tuesday, signaling its bet that most consumers now see computers as simply another appliance in the modern house." this clearly has implications in terms of accessibility for all - it will be interesting to see whether it trickles down into Middle Eastern and other markets.
Editor Myself, No blogging, no social networking "Friends in Iran, journalists and technicians, are saying that judiciary officials have ordered all major ISP to filter all blogging services including PersianBlog, BlogSpot, Blogger, BlogSky, and even BlogRolling.
"They have also ordered to filter Orkut, Yahoo Personals and some other popular dating and social networking websites."
"They have also ordered to filter Orkut, Yahoo Personals and some other popular dating and social networking websites."
AP/CNN.com - Iraqi insurgents fear bin Laden's moves - Jan 12, 2005: "Osama bin Laden has vowed to turn Iraq into the front line of his war against the United States, but Iraqi insurgents seem worried that he's out to hijack their rebellion ...
" ... Earlier this month, a posting on Ansar al-Sunnah's Web site told foreign militants to stop coming. The group, which defines itself as both nationalist and Islamic, said it needed money, not more recruits."
" ... Earlier this month, a posting on Ansar al-Sunnah's Web site told foreign militants to stop coming. The group, which defines itself as both nationalist and Islamic, said it needed money, not more recruits."
AP/tehrantimes.com, Bin Laden could be in Afghanistan: U.S: "Osama bin Laden and other militant leaders could be hiding in eastern Afghanistan, the commander of U.S. forces along a key stretch of the Pakistani border told The Associated Press on Monday."
Hacker breaches T-Mobile systems, reads US Secret Service email | The Register: "A sophisticated computer hacker had access to servers at wireless giant T-Mobile for at least a year, which he used to monitor US Secret Service email, obtain customers' passwords and Social Security numbers, and download candid photos taken by Sidekick users, including Hollywood celebrities, SecurityFocus has learned." security issue, not specificially relating to this blog
Lankans see 'Allah' written in picture -DAWN - International; 11 January, 2005 further tsunami theories, this time based on satellite imagery
Ealing Times, Mayor Backs Muslim Scholar Despite Tsunami Letter "London's Mayor Ken Livingstone has again defended the Muslim scholar Dr Yusuf al-Qaradawi who he says has been the victim of an Israeli smear campaign."
expressindia.com, Out of potboiler, trader cooks up extortion drama: "Not everybody just reads a Grisham thriller or watches a Bollywood potboiler. Amit Kapoor put together several plots and tried to pull off an extortion with two of his previous employers, posing as a militant of the Jamaat-e-islami. The foil came as he appeared too familiar in his letters, quoting details that raised suspicion." Allegations relating to man arrested for posing online as Sheikh Islam Ahmed of Jamaat-e-Islami.
AP/KFOR.com, Former CIA employee: Internet is new challenge in terrorism fight: "A former CIA employee and psychiatrist said Tuesday policing the Internet is the new challenge in fighting terrorist groups."
Tuesday, January 11, 2005
socaltech.com, McAfee Ships Google Hacking Tool: "McAfee's Foundstone division has released an upgraded tool that uses Google to help companies find vulnerabilities in their corporate web sites."
iht.com, Jail abuse defendant cast as brutish thug email reference here, in discussion of Abu Ghraib related case
Wired News: The Business of Fighting Terror "Since the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon in 2001, the news has been filled with stories on proposed surveillance and data-mining programs, ranging from the Total Information Awareness system and the MATRIX to CAPPS II and journalist Steven Brill's drive for a private, biometric identification card."
Washington Post/aina.org, Jihadists and the Big Lie more on tsanami theories, including references to the chat rooms and websites
Jewsweek, Open book policy: "More than 20 book fairs are held throughout the Arab capitals. New technologies, in part fostered by the rapid expansion of satellite TV, the Internet, and a new Arab internationalism, are fueling that growth. " Discussion on allegations associated with anti-Jewish/Holocaust denial titles emerging from various publishers. Refers in part to Internet publishing. Author Edwin Black is also responsible for the book "IBM and the Holocaust".
Greater Kashmir Daily Welcome to 'Cyberia'. "So, the increasing “cyberization” of our lives makes real-life interaction ever more crucial to keep ourselves human. We can allow our shadow selves to be in cyberspace, but we must not lose our souls in cyberspace. In the process of cyberizing Islam, we must see what happens to Islam." Article also includes reference to 'Islam in the Digital Age'. I think some of this is based on a previous Islam-Online article.
Islam Online - Discussion Forum, Amazing!: "Accept Jesus Christ and Get a Free PlayStation 2!" discussion of a hoax page, which raises some interesting issues in terms of how the internet is read.
IslamOnline - Tsunami Reflections: Theological Lessons From the Sumatra Earthquake article by Abdal Hakim Murad, which originally featured on deenport.com
Islam Online - Fox Features “Muslim Terrorists” in “24” Drama more details on series 4 of '24', which was previously blogged, discussing the 'Muslim terrorist' theme of the story.
AFP/Khaleej Times Online, Jordan arrests “cyber-Islamist” who threatened to attack intelligence HQ
"Abu Jamil told the defendant that one of the current methods of the jihad (holy war) is the electronic jihad,” the report said, adding that Assaydeh was encouraged to send electronic mail to his targets."
"Abu Jamil told the defendant that one of the current methods of the jihad (holy war) is the electronic jihad,” the report said, adding that Assaydeh was encouraged to send electronic mail to his targets."
Monday, January 10, 2005
Islamic mobile phone signals growing opportunity - AME Info Business News "The story estimates the market size to be 500 million strong which is further evidenced by a growing number of new products and services being introduced such as Muslim matrimonial websites, Shariah-compliant investing services, modest and fashionable clothing lines, Muslim community networking websites, high-tech Islamic education and reference tools, children's products, specialized travel services, media, and so on."
SouthBendTribune.com: Al-Zarqawi's violent interpretation of Islam evident in prison stay: "'Al-Zarqawi was a simple, but a dangerous man,' said Yousef Rababaa, who shared al-Zarqawi's cell block in Jordan for three years until 1999. "
New Scientist Breaking News - Microsoft browser bugs 'extremely critical': "Several flaws in Microsoft's popular Internet Explorer web browser have been rated 'extremely critical' by security experts after code which could exploit the flaws was posted online."
Alaqsa Intifadaorg and Jerusalem Post, Abbas wins nearly 62% of vote perspectives and background on the election.
post-gazette.com, Saddam's men may be behind brutal attacks "Hadi Saleh, a 56-year-old labor rights advocate and official of Iraq's Communist Party, affectionately known by friends as "Abu Furat," was found strangled in his home with a steel wire, his face beaten to a pulp, his hands bound behind his back."
Times Online, Let Bin Laden stay free, says CIA man, January 09, 2005 "If the world’s most wanted terrorist is captured or killed, a power struggle among his Al-Qaeda subordinates may trigger a wave of terror attacks, said AB “Buzzy” Krongard, who stepped down six weeks ago as the CIA’s third most senior executive."
Times Online - Briton accused of aiding most wanted terrorist: "A British citizen is being held in Iraq on suspicion of funding and aiding Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the Jordanian fugitive who heads Al-Qaeda in Iraq and is behind many of the bloodiest terrorist attacks in the country. "
Friday, January 07, 2005
BBC NEWS | Programmes | Newsnight | Iran's sex-change operations not directly IT based, but some interesting perspectives on decision-making issues.
Three jailed in Saudi rape film case | The Register: "Saudi Arabia has jailed three men convicted of organising the rape of a teenage girl and later peddling footage of the assault across mobile networks. Two Saudi men used a video mobile to film the assault of a 17-year-old girl by a Nigerian man, a Saudi court heard. The subsequent distribution of this video across mobile networks ultimately led to the men's arrest and conviction."
Vacation videos make big news - The Washington Times: Nation/Politics - January 07, 2005: "'Asia's tsunami is open season' for the Western press, said Bombay-based Ashok Malik of the Indian Express newspaper, who complained of insensitive coverage of the victims."
aljazeerah.info, Beware of Neo-Muslims and Rand Robots By Tahir Ali: "What these Muslim neo-cons and Rand Robots are seeking is not reform but intellectual and moral surrender. However, there is one important difference between Muslim neo-cons and Rand Robot: the Muslim neo-cons do not attack Islam or Prophet of Islam, the Rand Robot do." opinion piece
chronwatch.com, "Noam Chomsky and Anti-Semitism" by Rachel Neuwirth opinion piece, includes references to Radio Islam.
Zaman Daily Newspaper, 'Dialogue Between Religions is a Must' : "Being engaged in trade, and announcing his ideas to the world through his own Internet site as well as other media, Nablusi meets his followers and gives lectures to his students every Friday evening in a mosque carrying his own name. Nablusi answers the community's questions and is personally interested in their problems, so he can represent his society. " profile of Mohammad Rabit Nablusi
New York City - National News: "But Ansar al-Sunnah, a radical Islamic Iraqi group that has been active in northern Iraq, claimed responsibility for the mess hall attack. In a videotape posted on the Web, Ansar al-Sunnah identified the suicide bomber as Abu Omar al-Musali -- an apparent nom de guerre meaning Abu Omar of Mosul.
"The man identified as Abu Omar al-Musali appeared in the Web video wearing an explosives-laden vest, but did not speak. Another man, speaking in an Iraqi accent, described how the operation had been planned. A subsequent segment showed what appeared to have been the attack. "
"The man identified as Abu Omar al-Musali appeared in the Web video wearing an explosives-laden vest, but did not speak. Another man, speaking in an Iraqi accent, described how the operation had been planned. A subsequent segment showed what appeared to have been the attack. "
AP/BostonHerald.com - National News: Food drive for starving Iraqi police dogs based on an e-mail appeal.
send2press.com, 'Binladin: Where is Your Support for Your Muslim Brothers Now?' Encourages Californian owning former Binladin Family Website - Business News from Send2Press Newswire - Thu, 6 Jan 2005, 01:48 EST: "A website formerly owned by the Binladin family, saudi-binladin-group.comnow displays proclamation for Binladin support.
"The proclamation for Binladin support is announced publicly on the website, saudi-binladin-group.com, a website formerly owned by the Binladin family which coincidentally expired on September 11, 2001. It remains a controversy whether or not the website expiration served as a trigger to the disastrous events which occurred on 9-11."
"The proclamation for Binladin support is announced publicly on the website, saudi-binladin-group.com, a website formerly owned by the Binladin family which coincidentally expired on September 11, 2001. It remains a controversy whether or not the website expiration served as a trigger to the disastrous events which occurred on 9-11."
MEMRI: Conspiracy Theories Surrounding the Tsunami: It was a Punishment from Allah for Celebrating Christmas and Other Sins; It was Caused by the U.S., Israel, India derived from extracts of the Friday sermon of Sheik Mudeiris, in Palestine.
MEMRI: Latest News: "Ahmad Al-Baghdadi, a professor of political science at the University of Kuwait, recently published an article in the Kuwaiti daily Al-Siyassa and later in the Egyptian government weekly Akhbar Al-Yaum in which he called for outlawing and disbanding the Muslim Brotherhood organization, and confiscating its sources of funding. " opinion piece
Islamic Awakening Forums :: View topic - e-Jihad: Muslimwakeup.com Hacked! just picked this up, although the hack took place in December. Includes screenshot.
Thursday, January 06, 2005
New Statesman - NS Essay - Scaring people may be the only way to avoid the risks of new-style terrorism Anthony Giddens' essay includes reference to the net.
Washington Report, December 2004, Evidence and Analysis, Jews, Israel and America by Thomas L. Friedman "One thing that Israel can do is push harder to defuse the conflict with the Palestinians in order to deprive the Arab media of the raw images that help to feed this phenomenon, not because the continuing conflict is all Israel’s fault—it is not—but because Israel has such an overriding interest in forging a partnership with a legitimate Palestinian Authority, and getting this poisonous show off the air. A generation of Muslims raised on these images on the Internet is enormously dangerous for Jews, Israel and America."
HUMAN EVENTS ONLINE :: University Professor Endorses Jihad by Robert Spencer: "Alam's words were published widely on the Internet. When challenged by an email, Alam replied with an anti-Semitic sneer: 'Why is it that the only hateful mail I have received is signed by Levitt, Hoch or Freedman?' " allegations and counter-allegations online
USATODAY.com - Could U.S. aid to survivors alter anti-Americanism among Muslims?: "Indeed, some Internet sites and Egyptian media have gone so far as to report that the tsunami was actually caused by an American nuclear test.
"In Jerusalem, Adnan Husseini, director of the Islamic Waqf, a religious authority, says the U.S. role in Iraq undermines any positive benefit from the aid effort. 'You can't give an apple in one hand and a rocket in the other,' he says."
"In Jerusalem, Adnan Husseini, director of the Islamic Waqf, a religious authority, says the U.S. role in Iraq undermines any positive benefit from the aid effort. 'You can't give an apple in one hand and a rocket in the other,' he says."
Monroe Courier, Story search reveals Google glitch, 6 Jan 05 "When Kraft Foods Inc. learned that its company name and Web address appeared as a sponsored link after a search on a pro-white Web site, company officials said they were appalled."
Eye on Eurasia: Sources for liberal Islam - (United Press International): "Supporters of what some call 'liberal Islam' are using the Internet to spread their ideas, even though the meaning and use of this term by various groups in the Russian Federation and elsewhere remains a matter of intense dispute."
Inevitably, plenty of conspiracy theories have emerged in chat-rooms and elsewhere in the aftermath of the tsunami disaster: sify.com, Islamists on Net blame US for tsunami destruction - Sify.com: "'God struck the beaches of debauchery, nudism and prostitution,' said one internet user. 'God warns humanity against perpetuating injustice,' wrote another, while a third applauded 'the harbinger of the Islamic caliphate'."
FrontPage magazine.com :: Hollywood Discovers Radical Islam by Daniel Pipes a discussion/opinion piece which includes reference to the TV series '24' - the forthcoming series of which has an internet/Islam element. According to Pipes: "The terrorists manage to take the secretary of defense as a hostage; and the movie climaxes with the secretary shown on a gruesome Internet video like those coming out of Iraq, then tried for “war crimes against humanity.”
Wednesday, January 05, 2005
Bahrain Tribune Daily Newspaper, Al Arabiya: War inside the Arab newsroom: "Overall, Al Rashed has been happy with Essam's reports from Iraq. Al Arabiya Web site featured them prominently, detailing Essam's journey through Fallujah, from his close calls with insurgents and US marines to the "large predatory mosquitoes" he encountered outside the city. Al Rashed knew it was a great coup to have a reporter behind the lines in Fallujah - American and British television journalists couldn't safely report from there, and in August Al Jazeera was banned from Iraq by the government of Ayad Allawi."
Saudi to punish "immoral" use of 3G mobile phones - The Economic Times: "The warning form the Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) came as it officially handed over the oil-rich kingdom's first 3G licence to mobile phone operator Ettihad Etisalat. "
AP Wire | 01/04/2005 | Religion Today: "The ailing, 66-year-old Gulen - who's been described as a cross between missionary, mogul and freelance diplomat - says Turks can embrace Islam, Western values and nationalism. But he adds a twist that collides with Turkey's secular codes: Islamic culture and perspectives should be given equal weight and freedom of expression alongside Western-leaning views." Fethullah Gulen has moved to the US - his media arms continue their work.
Reuters/deepikaglobal.com- Qaeda says Riyadh attacks targeted Interior min: "The Saudi wing of al Qaeda said it had tried to assassinate the kingdom's Interior Minister during two high-profile suicide bombings in Riyadh last week, according to an Internet statement posted today.
The statement, signed by the Al Qaeda Organisation in the Arabian Peninsula and dated December 31, also vowed the group would wage more attacks against ''infidels and Christians'' in the world's top oil exporter."
The statement, signed by the Al Qaeda Organisation in the Arabian Peninsula and dated December 31, also vowed the group would wage more attacks against ''infidels and Christians'' in the world's top oil exporter."
Turkish Weekly, Globalized Islam - Interview with Olivier Roy refers to Roy's work, and Internet issues.
Tuesday, January 04, 2005
Boston.com / News / World / Middle East / Bomber of US mess hall said to be Saudi student: "[But] Ansar al-Sunnah, a radical Islamic Iraqi group that has been active in northern Iraq, claimed responsibility for the mess hall attack. In a videotape on the Internet, Ansar al-Sunnah identified the suicide bomber as Abu Omar al-Musali -- an apparent nom de guerre meaning Abu Omar of Mosul.
The man identified as Abu Omar al-Musali appeared in the Web video wearing an explosives-laden vest, but did not speak. Another man, speaking in an Iraqi accent, described how the operation had been planned. A subsequent segment showed what appeared to have been the attack."
The man identified as Abu Omar al-Musali appeared in the Web video wearing an explosives-laden vest, but did not speak. Another man, speaking in an Iraqi accent, described how the operation had been planned. A subsequent segment showed what appeared to have been the attack."
WebWire | On One-Year Anniversary of CAN-SPAM Act, MX Logic Reports 97 Percent of 2004 Spam Failed to Comply with the Law; Spam, Other Email Threats Will Continue to Increase in 2005: Predictions for 2005:
"Rise in frequency of spam without economic profit. Email-borne propaganda from domestic political organizations and from foreign entities such as Al Qaeda affiliates will increase in frequency and in boldness. In June 2004, MX Logic saw the first use of a spambot network to propagate political spam -- German-language spam denouncing the presence of Turks and other foreigners in Germany. More than 25 variants of this 'hate mail' flooded the Internet. Political spam is not covered by the CAN-SPAM Act. "
"Rise in frequency of spam without economic profit. Email-borne propaganda from domestic political organizations and from foreign entities such as Al Qaeda affiliates will increase in frequency and in boldness. In June 2004, MX Logic saw the first use of a spambot network to propagate political spam -- German-language spam denouncing the presence of Turks and other foreigners in Germany. More than 25 variants of this 'hate mail' flooded the Internet. Political spam is not covered by the CAN-SPAM Act. "
The Scotsman - Trial aims to expose Euro terror network, 4 Jan 05: "During questioning in Dubai, Beghal said he had been ordered to organise an attack against the US embassy in Paris. He told local investigators he had been ordered to create a company as a smokescreen to cover the true activities of the terrorist cell. He intended to open a web cafe which would have allowed cell members to communicate with al-Qaeda chiefs based in Afghanistan." Paris trial of six men suspected of plotting to blow up the US embassy commences - and has a computer thread in it. One of the accused was a computer scientist and former internet cafe employee. Another sought to open up a cybercafe. The trial continues.
Khaleej Times Online: "The Al Qaeda linked group of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi claimed responsibility Tuesday for the assassination of Baghdad's governor, according to a statement and a video posted on the Internet."
Daily Times - Terrorism has harmed legitimate liberation moves, says scholar: "A Muslim scholar said on Thursday that terrorism harmed the legitimacy of liberation movements in Indian Held Kashmir, Palestine and Chechnya."
Daily Times - The myth of ‘Ijtihad’ —Khaled Ahmed’s TV Review Discussion and opinion-piece on the 'limitations' of ijtihad. "We Muslims say tirelessly that Islam allows new thinking through ijtihad. But when we start explaining the limits of ijtihad, it develops that virtually no new thinking is allowed."
Monday, January 03, 2005
BBC NEWS | Technology | Web logs aid disaster recovery refers to Dogs without Borders and the South East Asia Earthquake and Tsunami blog - both significant sites.
Street executions filmed as warning - www.smh.com.au"Insurgents belonging to a group led by the Jordanian Abu Musab al-Zarqawi have posted a videotape on the internet showing five men being killed because they served in the Iraqi security forces."
alt.muslim - The First Annual Brass Crescent Awards for the Islamic Blogsphere: "In recognition of the growing talent and creativity of the Islamic blogosphere, alt.muslim and City of Brass are hosting the First Annual Brass Crescent Awards. The Brass Crescent Awards are named for the Story of the City of Brass in the Thousand and One Nights."
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