Al Qaeda and the Internet

Good evening-
My name is Dan Hanson and I am currently working on my Masters Thesis at Johns Hopkins University in Washington. I am starting this process and beginning to investigate how Al Qaeda and affiliated groups use the internet to disseminate propaganda, train, fundraise, and communicate internally.

With that being the case, I am looking for help from SWC subject matter experts. If you have any open source information that you can direct me to or would like to pass along, I would be appreciative. Additionally, if you know of any experts that would be willing to talk with me about this topic, please let me know.

Thank you
Dan Hanson

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Originally Posted by DHanson

Good evening-
My name is Dan Hanson and I am currently working on my Masters Thesis at Johns Hopkins University in Washington. I am starting this process and beginning to investigate how Al Qaeda and affiliated groups use the internet to disseminate propaganda, train, fundraise, and communicate internally.

With that being the case, I am looking for help from SWC subject matter experts. If you have any open source information that you can direct me to or would like to pass along, I would be appreciative. Additionally, if you know of any experts that would be willing to talk with me about this topic, please let me know.

Thank you
Dan Hanson

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Dan,
Have you gone to the CTC's website, http://www.ctc.usma.edu/?

Have you looked through the linked materials on this threads: Technical Mujahid: A Manual for Jihadis

Shek and Jedburgh-
Thanks for the suggestions. Both are excellent sources.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Dan Hanson

Courtesy of the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment:

Hanna Rogan: "JIHADISM ONLINE - A study of how al-Qaida and radikal Islamist groups use the Internet for terrorist purpose" FFI/REPORT-2006/00915

Brynjar Lia: "Al-Qaeda online: understanding jihadist internet infrastructure". JANE'S INTELLIGENCE REVIEW - dec 02, 2005

From the NEFA Foundation:
Evan Kohlmann's Irhaby007 Expert Report, January 2008
Irhaby007's American Connections, July 9, 2007

During my research for the SadrCity MBX (http://council.smallwarsjournal.com/...ead.php?t=5086) I ran into this text, while not exclusively internet centered provides some comprehensive insights on the insurgent media machine in general: http://realaudio.rferl.org/online/OL.../insurgent.pdf

Hope this helps,

Silento

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DHanson

Good evening-
My name is Dan Hanson and I am currently working on my Masters Thesis at Johns Hopkins University in Washington. I am starting this process and beginning to investigate how Al Qaeda and affiliated groups use the internet to disseminate propaganda, train, fundraise, and communicate internally.

With that being the case, I am looking for help from SWC subject matter experts. If you have any open source information that you can direct me to or would like to pass along, I would be appreciative. Additionally, if you know of any experts that would be willing to talk with me about this topic, please let me know.

Thank you
Dan Hanson

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Dan,

Have you looked at Gabriel Weimann, Terror on the Internet? I have it but haven't read it yet. Bruce Hoffman wrote the foreword which suggests that it's worthwhile.

Who are you working with at SAIS?

Try the website of Professor Phil Taylor, Leeds University I am sure there will be something there: http://129.11.188.64/papers/index.cfm?outfit=pmt

He spoke recently on Psyops and has a ppt on AQ propaganda / use of the web; hopefully here on his site.

davidbfpo

Great site, David! Thanks for posting it.