Shin Bet Chief warns: Internet boosting global terror threat
'The internet provides terror organizations with the kind of intel that was once available only to countries,' says Yuval Diskin at homeland security conference.
By Ora Coren Tags: Shin Bet Yuval Diskin Israel terrorShin Bet security service Director Yuval Diskin said Monday that terror threats facing Israel are gradually becoming far more complex than the threats of the past thanks to technological innovations in the service of globalization. "The internet is providing terror organizations with the kind of intel that was once available only to countries," he said.
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Shin Bet chief Yuval Diskin |
| Photo by: Emil Salman |
Speaking at a homeland security conference in Tel Aviv, Diskin said that "it is possible to fight terror successfully, and even defeat it, but success requires a general cooperation between countries and intelligence agencies and the free flow of knowledge, intelligence and homeland security technology, as well as operational cooperation at a high level and the development of a global judicial system."
"Technology has made the world smaller and flatter," he went on to say. "The availability of technology that has revolutionized economy and communications has also given rise to many global terror opportunities."
The Shin Bet chief gave some examples of how "technology allows terror to cross more borders and continents." The first example was the purchase of weapons by Hamas and Islamic Jihad from Iran and Korea, which arrive in Yemen and Sudan and are then smuggled through Egypt into Gaza, while the same terror organizations, based in Gaza, smuggle fighters through Egypt to Iran to train and prepare terror attacks.
"Terrorists use internet chat rooms," Diskin declared. "These are people who read certain Websites, and undergo cyber-brain washing by al-Qaida operatives. The kind of information that is available [on these Websites] teaches them how to handle explosives and evade security service organizations like the one I head."
Diskin warned that the biggest threat is currently coming out of the Islamic Jihad, and targets global flights via passenger-carried explosives, or mail bombs, or the use of shoulder-launched missiles. In addition, he explained, suicide bombers also pose a real threat on flights.
"It is possible to remotely attack essential infrastructure by using the Internet, and cause real damage and loss of life," Diskin continued, adding that the most significant development in the field is the breaking down of "psychological inhibitions" from the kinds of mega-terror attacks exemplified by the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York City and Washington.
Diskin elaborated on Israel's battle against terror, saying that it has advanced leaps and bounds since a recent restructuring within the Shin Bet and cooperation with different anti-terror bodies.
"In addition to these, one super-capability is required, one for which, unfortunately, no technology has been invented – putting egos aside and knowing to subjugate relative advantages in pursuit of the common goal: the safety of citizens," Diskin added. "For this to happen, we need leadership from the political and operational echelons."
"Getting used to this takes time," he continued, "but if we don't do this quickly there will be a painful price to pay. Our intelligence capabilities have been good at times, but when the cooperation wasn't effective, the desired goal wasn’t' achieved."
However, Diskin concluded, "through combined efforts, we've been able to thwart hundreds of suicide bombings and prevent more than 120 terror attacks that were launched."
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Before internet, Israel was so nice. I remember the nice articles, and pictures in the newspapers. The smiling farmers, so happy and working hard. It is possible that since internet was created, the pays changed and this internet create automatically all these bad pictures and small movies. We will never know!
terrorism get it technology from mossad
Terrorists (no names mentioned - just to follow the policy of ambiguity some militant groups love to pursue) use the internet to release viruses used to cripple the infrastructure of certain nations like Iran. Anyone remember Stuxnet? It wasnt too long ago.
Maybe an apology for killing nine of their citizens might help. BTW, one Turk was shot through the neck BEFORE the commandos boarded the Mavi Mamara. The Turks started the violence? Baloney. Liar liar pants on fire....caught again. Salaam/Shalom
He's psychologically preparing everybody and doing the groundwork for the next war.
Make everyone turn their computers off? I bet you are really pissed that you guys brought terrorism to the mid east and showed them how to do things
Diskin is disattached from reality and is exaggerating. It is true that the chat rooms are used to recruit terrorists but this is another matter. Intel useful to terrorists never falls on the web, how could it ?
Packet sniffers anyone? How do you perform a whois on someone your intrusion detection system identifies? Ever set up a 'Honey Pot' and see who drops by to sample it? The internet may give anyone the ability to gather intelligence, and it may give bad guys the ability to communicate, but it is a two-edged sword. What is scary is that much of the story shows how Diskin lacks the least subtly and is void of the ability necessary to turn the internet into an intel asset instead of a liability. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him think. Time for a younger generation to be given the reigns of the Mossad.
"The internet is providing terror organizations with the kind of intel that was once available only to countries," - Yuval Diskin Congratulations Yuval, you have discovered that the internet gives everyone the ability to assemble intel as governments can. Why did you only discover this almost 20 years after many of us did?
Prior to the net and chat rooms there was no complex terrorism? BS. Cyber-brain washing as apposed to what. Brain washing by another human being up close and personal, usually quoting repeatedly from some old book or the likes. Purchasing weapons? Our world is awash with weapons, and let’s faces it you cannot send material hardware via the internet nor transport people. No doubt you will have noticed that this cry from the Shin Bet is being echoed globally by many security services, apparently they all want the power to eaves drop on anyone and everyone, to achieve their ends they do as the power elites have always done, spread panic and stoke hysteria. When are we humans ever going to learn? I’m just curious.
Intelligence (there's a misnomer) agencies better get used to the internet. After all it's been around for nearly 20 years. The trouble with these people is they don't like anybody having information apart from themselves. I'm talking about the ordinary bloke in the street, not just so-called "terrorists". Well it's a new world, and they better get used to it.
It is not necessary to be a Shin Bet chief to know that all technological progress is applied for weapons. Israel has the most sophicated weapons, therefore their enemies are following the same logic.
Yes, however true this is, I remember how telephones from East Beirut were used to inform the West side about what was happening. Should we limit everyone's use of phones? Planes are used as weapons, so...? We'll just have to stay ahead.
Do not fail to moderate comments on the opinion pieces, including op-ed articles (especially of infrequent guests), and the Strenger blog. (B. Burston knows how to take care of his own blog.) These are often the best, and most thought-provoking articles of the day. "The more man meditates upon good thoughts, the better will be his world and the world at large." - Confucius
Definition: "Time sharing" - the moderator should not concentrate every time he shows up solely on one or two articles until all the comments on them are published, then move on to another article if he has time, which he usually doesn't. Instead, he should work on a few comments on article A then a few for B, then C, etc. If you don't understand why this is necessary, please talk to your supervisors. If you don't know how the system works, ASK a colleague. "He who asks is a fool for five minutes. But he who does not ask remains a fool forever." - Confucius
What has Shin Bet worried is not the internet being used by terrorists, but rather the internet being used by bystanders who know how to upload to YouTube.
It's true hard work never killed anybody, but why take the chance? Laziness is nothing more than the habit of resting before you get tired/ The only thing wrong with doing nothing is that you never know when you're finished/ The idle man does not know what it is to enjoy rest, for he has not earned it/ There is no fatigue so wearisome as that which comes from lack of work/ Tomorrow is the only day in the year that appeals to a lazy man/ If you're coasting, you're either losing momentum or else you're headed downhill
It is ridiculous to have 100,000 American troops in Afghanistan rooting out the Taliban. Even dumber is lying to us about AlQuida in their caves in North Waziristan. The planners of terror can organize an attack from any hotel room in the world with internet access. Today is halloween and Bin Laden and Iran are scaring us out of our wits if we are dumb enough to believe the fake threats threatening our existance.
All you have to do is to tell the "World" they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country.
He's a fossile with a mind turned to stone.
Netanyahu considers himself an expert on terrorism. he wrote a book or two on the subject and edited another. So let us see how great his expertise is. 1. The present POOR attempt at blowing up two US synagogues by mail bombs, Yahoo considers to be an indicator that terrorism is rising "in the scope of the attacks, the audacity with which it is directed at the nations of the world, and of course, in its armaments." Gee, I would think this indicates that terrorism is returning to the stone age after being handed some major defeats. 2. Netanyahu is going to discuss with poor Biden "steps to combat terrorism." Obviously, none of these steps would include coming to a peace deal with the palestinians so that their situation will not be used by al-Qaida as a recruitment motivation. Neither does Diskin mention this "technique". Reminds me a movie by Charlie Chaplin: first he commissions a kid to break windows and then goes around the neighborhood as a window glass fixer.
The Charlie Chaplin scenario Logios describes exactly matches Logios' plan of action: First Logios creates (and arms) a PA Fatah State in mortar range of BenGurion Airport and 9 miles from the Mediterannean, then, when Fatahs Tanzim start launching mortars at the coastal plain and running back to hide in the state Logios created, Logios will say: "its Netanyahus fault". Logios, have you noticed that at the Fatah conference last summer, all of your "two state solution" buddies openly boasted that once the "two state solution" is implemented, it will be used to continue the armed struggle to liberate Jaffa Ramle Lod Akko and Jerusalem ? And, by the way, the Goldstone experience shows that the IDF will not be "allowed" to do anything about it. Haaretz: How about running some opposing arguments to Logios, seeing as Logios' stuff gets up on every article every day? Thanks.
terror as long as State Terror exists (but you know this already). Selling us the same secret service INTEL B.S. as usual. Miss your old job at the dis-information departmant Yuval ? The coopreration of nations will only be at that level, as they see fit > diplomatic bull > you cannot change their secret agenda's and interest of the elite. Selling high tech. arms technology by Israeli's to N. Korea you forgot but I forgive you (It's all so complex isn't it ?). I agree fully with the statement of a common goal > safety of the citzens. De-programming the mind of zionists would be a nice start, yes ? Shalom !