Experts: Iraq War Being Fought in Cyberspace
Experts say the war is playing out on more than one battlefield.
Sept. 11, 2007 — -- In his testimony to Congress, Monday, on the progress of the Iraq war, Gen. David Petraeus covered all the typical bases: the battle on the ground, the success of the troop surge, and an announcement of when some troops might return home.
But, to the public, one of Petreaus' comments may have seemed unexpected — that the war is also being fought on the Internet.
"Finally, in recognition of the fact that this war is not only being fought on the ground in Iraq, but also in cyberspace, [the report of recommendations] also notes the need to contest the enemy's growing use of that important medium to spread extremism," Petraeus testified.
While it may have surprised some, according to experts, the connection between the war in Iraq and the Internet is an obvious one.
"I suppose that he's talking about these various insurgent groups that have propaganda on Web pages," said former cyber terror czar and ABC News consultant Richard Clarke. "Whenever they attack a U.S vehicle, they make a tape. ... This encourages other insurgents ... It's not just the war in Iraq, but the war on al Qaeda."
For years, the Internet has proved to be a fertile ground for terrorist groups' member development, and recently, several videos of insurgent attacks have shown up online.
"That's where they do all of their effective recruiting," Clarke said. "They're very, very good at it."
According to the Middle East Media Research Institute, a D.C.-based nonprofit organization that analyzes the region's media, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of jihadist Web sites, many of which focus specifically on the war in Iraq.
In July, the organization presented 40 jihadist Web sites to Congress, 18 of which were based on American Internet service providers (ISPs), said Yigal Carmon, MEMRI's president and founder.
Carmon told ABCNews.com that the sites are hugely influential.
"The Internet is what encourages the jihad warriors on the ground and in the field through giving inspiration [and] direct encouragement, giving information, knowledge, training," Carmon said. "[The sites] also give the feeling — even the wrong feeling — that they are overcoming the American forces.
"When you show so many bombings of American tanks, helicopters ... [it] gives the false impression that the jihadists are prevailing."
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