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| Terror Networks |
| Al Qaeda Uses Secure Links To Track U.S. Troops in Combat |
| 2002-11-27 |
| Why would a sophisticated airborne intelligence-gathering system like Rivet Joint be needed against a seemingly primitive military foe like the Taliban or Al Qaeda in Afghanistan? Because in several respects--including human intelligence gathering and secure communications--they are actually among the world's sophisticated practitioners, and their wireless networks serve as the central nervous system of Al Qaeda's military reconnaissance and command structure. U.S. communications intelligence specialists, for example, detect dozens of wireless telephone calls to Al Qaeda command groups every time an allied unit drives through a village. Because the U.S. has limited numbers of helicopters, in particular the highly modified, special-operations aircraft, most of these patrols are forced to go by road, say veteran members of the special forces. The village-based observer corps is a basic component of the Al Qaeda command and control system that manages a polyglot force that usually stays well dispersed until they are ready to attack. Remember that scene from "Blackhawk Down" when you see this kid watching the helicopter fly over, then he pulls out the cell phone and calls it in? Thats what they are doing. The commander that controlled Al Qaeda's reaction to Operation Anaconda earlier this year, which caused dozens of U.S. casualties, was a veteran of the fighting against the Soviet Union and simultaneously used at least five radio operators and communications channels, each involving one or more languages for each ethnic group involved (Arab, Pakistani, Uzbek, Afghan, etc.). The wireless telephones, the "best equipment that money can buy," (follow the money) according to U.S. intelligence officials, tied the observer corps (some of whom also monitor aircraft flying out of allied bases) to the Al Qaeda and Taliban combat forces and the overall tactical commander. The system in Afghanistan is efficient enough that Special Operations members say Al Qaeda had a 48-hr. warning of Anaconda. These are not stupid people we are fighting, folks. This is a very clever, low cost, decentralized network. Of course, we can play this game too. Jamming can shut them down during a big operation. And of course if they stay on the phone too long, we can identify communication hubs and pay them a visit. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #1 Are we talking cell phones here? How the heck can they have coverage in rural Afghanistan and I can't get coverage in downtown Manhatten? Oh, Sprint... never mind. |
| Posted by: Chuck 2002-11-27 14:23:41 |