The recent attacks of terrorists on the "Symbol of America" has once
again focussed the attention of the Global community on the dangers of
Terrorism.
India has time and again been at the receiving end of such terrorism
and the Indians have often felt that USA has for its own short sighted
reasons been ignoring the larger implications of terrorist activities against
India. Now the tragic incidence of the World Trade Center coming crashing
down must have pricked the American pride sufficiently to inject a sense
of objectivity in dealing with India.
India has been the trial ground for the Afghan terrorists to test their
skills and keep their machinery well oiled. Keeping alive the Kashmir issue
has also helped the Afghan militants to seek the support of Pakistan and
acquire a strength that has enabled them take on the might of Pentagon.
Now it is time to prepare for other forms of attack that the terrorists
may be planning to weaken the American economy. One obvious target could
be the technology area represented by the Cyber World. Since terrorism
thrives in creating panic amongst ordinary citizens many strategies are
aimed at soft targets even if they are not militarily important.
Here again India has seen an organized attack of its the Cyber
world which should open the eyes of the Americans. The Cyber terrorism
has been perpetrated on India at two levels. First there has been some
hacking attacks on sites such as SEBI, Indian Defense, BARC etc. leading
to defacement. Secondly, many hate sites have come up such as dalitstan.org
or hinduism.org which are aimed at dividing the community and create internal
turmoil.
Americans can now expect similar attacks on their Cyber world. First
there can be attacks on Yahoo.com, Hotmail, Mcafee, or MSN
web sites the symbols of Cyber world. An attack on Microsoft is also
feasible either on ground or on the Cyber world. A virus which can destroy
the Windows operating systems world wide is sufficient to shake up the
cyber world if allowed to proliferate. There are several jihadi software
programmers in every software companies including Microsoft who can plant
such "Cyber Bombs" if called upon to do so.
What is particularly important to guard are the economic symbols on
the Cyber world such as the Online Stock Trading Systems, Central Bank
web sites, Foreign Exchange and Commodity Exchange sites and major bank
sites. This applies not only to America but also to India as well as US
allies such as Briton.
I therefore urge that the authorities take steps to protect these Cyber
equivalents of the World Trade Centers before it is too late.
At the same time, I once again urge that hate sites should be curbed
at the earliest since these are the breeding grounds for consolidation
of evil forces. It is therefore dangerous for the community to allow sites
such as dalitstan.org or hinduism.org to exist on the Cyber world in the
name of "Freedom of Speech". Soon we will see hate sites that try to drive
a wedge between Christians and Muslims in America and create avoidable
problems for the peace loving people in every community including amongst
the Muslims themselves.
However the path to success in eliminating terrorism which is protected
under the "Jihadi" sentiments is extremely tough and long winding. It is
only when the members of the Muslim community themselves raise against
such "Un islamic Barbarism" that a quick and easy solution can be sighted.
We need a "Mahatma Gandhi" amongst the muslim leaders who will stand up
and stay that "Terrorism" is the immediate concern of all Muslims and provide
active support in its elimination despite the call for "Jihad against American
Christians or Indian Hindus".
Naavi
September 18, 2001.
