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A Short Primer on Terrorist VideosBy J.M. BergerEditor, INTELFILES.com Note: This page is under construction and will evolve over time. Television, video and film have always been effective propaganda tools, but recent trends have led to the emergence of Internet-hosted audio and video clips as the leading form of propaganda for global terrorist networks. Internet videos are widely used by Islamic extremist terrorist groups including al Qaeda and its affiliates around the world. There are a few basic formats for these videos, each tailored to a different audience. They include: Communiques: al Qaeda leaders have used audio and video speeches to spread their messages for more than a decade. Prior to 9/11, even low-level terrorists usually met top al Qaeda leaders during their visits to training camps, but in the wake of U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, these audio and video statements now represent virtually the entire body of communication from Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri to their troops in the field. Operations: Handheld video cameras are increasingly used by terrorists and insurgents wishing to document their activities. After recording terrorist attacks or insurgent military operations, the videos are digitized and distributed through a few key individuals using a complicated and sometimes confusing network of temporary sites, hijacked sites and dozens of Islamic message boards. Direct terrorism: Very recently, Iraqi insurgents and terrorist groups have begun to use video as a direct form of terrorism, by showing the gruesome executions of Americans and other hostages. The trend began with the videotaped execution of American reporter Daniel Pearl by Khalid Shaikh Mohammed in Pakistan, but quickly became a phenomenon in Iraq after the widely disseminated video beheading of American contractor Nicholas Berg (see story). There are now dozens of videotaped executions in circulation using a variety of methods, sometimes with multiple victims or public executions. Documentary and propaganda: There are many different kinds of terrorist-produced documentaries in circulation. They range from simple footage of training camps, to interviews with terrorist leaders and operatives, to slickly produced hour-long narrative documentaries on specific topics or geographical regions. The vast majority of terrorist videos are simple, amateur productions filmed with handheld cameras or even video cell-phones. Footage is digitized on a computer, usually including the addition of logos, captions and special effects which can be used to identify the originating terrorist group. Recently, a trend has surfaced toward more sophisticated programs, incorporating footage from a number of sources and higher production values. Videos distributed over terrorist message board networks often include highly sensitive material, such as footage of terrorist attack preparation and execution. Videos also include surveillance of U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as footage from other countries, such as the former Soviet Republics and Saudi Arabia. For more information on terrorist videos, you can view the sample clips listed at the top right column of this page, or sign up for a membership to INTELFILES. INTELFILES editor J.M. Berger is available for media appearances to discuss terrorist videos in the news, trends in terrorist propaganda and related issues. E-mail for more information. |