Information Warfare: Good News That Will Get You Killed

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July 27, 2006: Many of the people involved in doing development work in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other places frequented by Islamic terrorists, actively discourage reporters from "telling the good news" about their particular project. Aid workers have concluded that when word of a successful project gets into the media, the terrorists will sometimes learn about it and target it. This has happened many times in Afghanistan, in the aftermath of news stories about schools for girls, and rural education in general. This is where the Internet comes in, because that's how widely dispersed Islamic radicals can stay in touch. For these fellows, publicity is very important. And when they see a story that appears to disrespect them, like girls going to school, retaliation is discussed, and eventually someone follows through.

 

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