Bianca Roseboro
15 October 2010
An online al Qaeda magazine called “Inspire” has released it’s second edition. The first edition was published in July. This second edition presents its reader with detailed essays and sinister terror tips that include using a pickup truck as a weapon and opening fire on a crowded place of business in Washington. The magazine is believed to be backed by an American citizen, who now lives in Yemen, named Samir Khan.
The publishing of this edition marks the 10th anniversary of the suicide attack on the USS Cole, a guided missile destroyer. The USS Cole struck in Aden, Yemen as it refueled on October 12, 2010. A Yemen expert who is a part of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace claims that the timing of the magazine publication and the ten year anniversary of the USS Cole. The Yemen expert, Christopher Boucek, stated:
"It also comes on the heels of a busy week for al Qaeda in Yemen. They released an hourlong video last week. There was also an attack on a British Convoy in Sanaa [Yemen's capital] last week. And an audiotape was released two days ago. Al Qaeda in Yemen is good at amplifying its message and that shows the organization is still active, that they're still able to function."
I believe this publication should be considered criminal because it encourages terorists acts. The fact that these ideals and its publication has been tolerated is criminal within itself. This magazine edition could be considered a global sociological issue because it fuels the acts of terrorism by providing “helpful” hints on how to execute attacks. New attacks could lead to continued animosity between al Qaeda, the Middle East, and their global enemies which in turn could contribute to prolonged war and fighting in the Middle East. Prolonged war could create opportunity for continued national debt in the United States, death of soldiers and civilians globally, and may lead to a global economic crisis. I believe because of the risks this magazine could possibly present, the writers and publishers should be punished for overseeing the transmission of terrorism publicly.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/10/12/mideast.jihadi.magazine/index.html?npt=NP1
2 comments:
I don't agree that the publishers of the magazine should be punished. They have freedom of press and publishing. The argument that publishing information how to carry out terrorist attacks would lead to more terrorist attacks, wars, higher risk of national debts for the U.S. and economic depression is not only too pessimistic but also sloppy.
One must note that it is a small group of extremists who are carrying out terrorist attacks worldwide. These people are well trained by terrorist groups and do not need any magazine to teach them about terrorism. Therefore, the magazine has no impact on them.
Normal people do not carry out terrorist attacks and they dare not. Terrorist attacks are always organised. So, individuals having read the magazine will not tend to conduct terrorist attacks as a result of the reading.
On the other hand, I think publishing knowledge about how to carry out terrorist attacks will decrease rather than increase terrorist attacks. Knowledge is a two-sided weapon--a sword as well as a shield--depending on the purpose of its use. By publishing relevant knowledge, more people are aware of terrorist attacks and hence can help prevent some by staying more alert and cooperating better with law enforcement agencies.
Therefore, let's embrace freedom of expression, press and publishing. Education of ethics, nonviolence and citizenship is the key to prevent terrorism, but not forbidding education.
First, I want to say I'm more informed now since you made your post, Bianca. I didn't know there was a magazine out about how "Be a Better Terrorist, by Samir Khan." Who subscribes to these things? Anyway, Hing Min is right, freedom of speech and press allows publishers to do what they want. We're all allowed to talk and write. Besides, they're not our biggest problem. The magazine isn't our biggest problem. Think about it, successful terrorist attacks have been going on before the magazine, so they don't need the magazine, the training comes from the camps and from other people who already know how to implement various attacks, like Hing Min said. I understand you though. I don't like the magazine either. I wish terrorism would just die out and disappear, but its not that easy. I wish the publishers would find some other way to make some money, but they do what they want to do.
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