US Network Falters in Mideast Mission

The Bush administration’s War on Terror has evolved beyond traditional military operations, and has become a propaganda war in which the hearts and minds of average citizens are at stake. The US primarily uses the radio for communication, but Al Qaeda has become more technologically advanced and imaginative. Therefore, despite the US being a leader in the communications sector, it often finds itself being “out-communicated” by Al Qaeda. Al Qaeda frequently uses Al-Jazeera to broadcast its messages, but once the network stopped airing complete videos from the terrorist organization, Al Qaeda turned to the web. Using advanced encryption techniques and other extreme security measures, Al Qaeda relies on websites, forums and even iPod files to spread its message. Thus, any US effort to defeat terrorism cannot rely on military action alone and requires a global-communication strategy. – YaleGlobal