VOA常速英语2007年-Experts: Terrorists Exploit Internet to Recruit

By Margaret Besheer
Washington
08 November 2007

Experts say that the weapons of terrorism today are not limited to bombs and guns, but include all the components¹ of technology, and in particular, the Worldwide Web. They warn that extremists are using the Internet to promote violence, spread ideology² and recruit. From Washington, VOA's Margaret Besheer has more.

When authorities raid terrorist hideouts these days they come away not only with components for bombs and other weapons, but they usually cart away computers, cellular³ phones, video equipment and other tools used for creating and spreading extremist ideology over websites and chat rooms, drawing the disenfranchised and the easily influenced into their cause.

Several experts testified this week before a subcommittee of the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security about how the Internet has become the weapon of choice for terrorists and other radicals⁵. Their testimony⁶ comes in the wake of the passage in the House of the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007. The centerpiece of that legislation is the creation of a National Commission to study violent radicalization and to determine the best way to combat it.

Bruce Hoffman, a professor at Georgetown University says the near limitless communications options the Internet provides such groups is essential to their survival. "Without an effective communications strategy, a terrorist movement would be unable to assure a continued flow of new recruits into its ranks, motivate and inspire existing members as well as expand the pool of active supporters and passive sympathizers from which terrorism also draws its sustenance," he said.

Rita Katz of the private SITE Institute, which tracks terrorist websites, says the Internet enables terror groups such as al-Qaida to exist despite the money the United States and other nations spend to fight them on the ground. "Though guns, IEDs [improvised explosive devices] and other weapons are necessary for terrorists to remain dangerous, the Internet is what enables them to coordinate⁷, share information, recruit new members and propagate their ideology. If we do not treat the Internet as a crucial battleground in the war on terror we will not be able to defeat the jihadist threat. The virtual jihadi network has replaced al-Qaida training camps," she said.

 

The Internet is a tool not just for Islamic radicals, but for all types of extremists.

Parry Aftab, an attorney who specializes in Internet issues that affect children, says these groups are using the Web to recruit bored, middle-class young people with access to technology. "Kids who would have never been exposed to this otherwise - who are not Muslims, who are not normally interested in radical⁴ groups, who see it as a way to become included, a way to become famous, a way to become "in" [popular], a way to find a place to belong," she said.

So what can be done to take this weapon out of the hands of radicals and terrorists?

Katz says the first step is for intelligence officials and law enforcement authorities to infiltrate⁸ these chat rooms and message boards and study them so they can target these groups' weaknesses.

Other recommendations from the experts include educating young people about radical groups and how they use the Internet to recruit, and increasing cooperation internationally to lessen⁹ the impact of the Internet as an inexpensive and easily accessible resource for extremists.

1 components   

（机器、设备等的）构成要素，零件，成分； 成分( component的名词复数 )； [物理化学]组分； [数学]分量； （混合物的）组成部分

参考例句：

• the components of a machine 机器部件
• Our chemistry teacher often reduces a compound to its components in lab. 在实验室中化学老师常把化合物分解为各种成分。

2 ideology   

n.意识形态，(政治或社会的)思想意识

参考例句：

• The ideology has great influence in the world.这种思想体系在世界上有很大的影响。
• The ideal is to strike a medium between ideology and inspiration.我的理想是在意识思想和灵感鼓动之间找到一个折衷。

3 cellular   

adj.移动的；细胞的，由细胞组成的

参考例句：

• She has a cellular telephone in her car.她的汽车里有一部无线通讯电话机。
• Many people use cellular materials as sensitive elements in hygrometers.很多人用蜂窝状的材料作为测量温度的传感元件。

4 radical   

n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的

参考例句：

• The patient got a radical cure in the hospital.病人在医院得到了根治。
• She is radical in her demands.她的要求十分偏激。

5 radicals   

n.激进分子( radical的名词复数 )；根基；基本原理；[数学]根数

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals. 一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The worry is that the radicals will grow more intransigent. 现在人们担忧激进分子会变得更加不妥协。 来自辞典例句

6 testimony   

n.证词；见证，证明

参考例句：

• The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
• He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。

7 coordinate   

adj.同等的，协调的；n.同等者；vt.协作，协调

参考例句：

• You must coordinate what you said with what you did.你必须使你的言行一致。
• Maybe we can coordinate the relation of them.或许我们可以调和他们之间的关系。

8 infiltrate   

vt./vi.渗入，透过；浸润

参考例句：

• The teacher tried to infiltrate her ideas into the children's minds.老师设法把她的思想渗透到孩子们的心中。
• It can infiltrate as much as 100 kilometers into enemy territory at night.可以在夜间深入敌领土100千米。

9 lessen   

vt.减少，减轻；缩小

参考例句：

• Regular exercise can help to lessen the pain.经常运动有助于减轻痛感。
• They've made great effort to lessen the noise of planes.他们尽力减小飞机的噪音。