Do Some Arabic Language Websites Fuel the Jihadist Fire?
The UWAC recently concluded research on how some multi-lingual, pan-Arab websites change the type and presentation of information for Arabic and English-speaking audiences. This eleven-day study reviewed fifteen websites, including popular news websites, such as Al Jazeera.
The overall affect of these differences promotes a sense of Arabic and Islamic superiority while also stoking resentment against Israelis and Westerners. Eight key themes were developed during the study, including:
- Highlighting military clashes, American deaths, and Israeli deaths in Arabic language versions
- Highlighting peace talks and international news on English versions
- Favorable reporting for Hamas, Hezbollah, and sometimes al Qaeda in Arabic language versions
- Limiting Iranian news coverage primarily to Arabic language versions
Compare for yourself, Arabic or English
iPhone App Could Help Military Fight Terror
Researchers at Animetrics Inc. have developed the iFace application that allows users to perform facial recognition with their iPhones. The MultiTouch feature of the iPhone makes it ideal for locating and zooming in on faces to capture images that can then be compared against a database of known or suspected terrorists.
Using a phone for facial recognition allows military personnel to perform identity checks in an indiscreet and non-threatening manner. The iFace application would bolster the biometric collection capability of the military, which includes fingerprint and iris recognition systems currently being used in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Collecting biometrics in non-Western, Islamic societies, however, has significantly different social implications than it does here in the U.S. Concerns over physical privacy and the interaction between men and Muslim women, must be considered before these types of technology are integrated into the military.
Read more about iFace here
VIDEO: Importing Terror into Afghanistan
The adjacent video clip reports on a failed suicide bombing attempt. This segment details how the vest was made in Pakistan and incorporated design features imported from the Iraqi conflict.
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