Social networks 'driving up violent extremism'

from sbs.com.au: Social networks - not radical ideology - are the major driver in the creating violent extremists, according to the findings of a four year study.

More than 100 current and former extremists participated in the study, which found that social networks and online forums were enabling people to get in touch with "radical" and "terror" groups.

According to Greg Barton, the director of Monash University's Global Terror Research Centre, terrorists and radicals are often lonely individuals who lack any sense of belonging.

“Your life hasn't gone so well, you're a bit of a failure…If you do this thing, come join with us, you can go as they say from zero to hero and that's often the logic of a suicide bomber,” he said.

Mr Barton used Norwegian terrorist Anders Breivik, who murdered 77 people in 2011, as an example of someone who found his voice and sense of belonging online.

“He was reaching out on social media, connecting and posting pictures of himself…Clearly his virtual community was very important to him."

The research will be used to identify and prevent terrorism in the future.

US Power Grid Vulnerable to Just About Everything

from oilprice.com: As Washington hunts ill-defined al-Qaeda groups in the Middle East and Africa, and concerns itself with Iran’s eventual nuclear potential, it has a much more pressing problem at home: Its energy grid is vulnerable to anyone with basic weapons and know-how. Forget about cyber warfare and highly organized terrorist attacks, a lack of basic physical security on the US power grid means that anyone with a gun—like disgruntled Michigan Militia types, for instance--could do serious damage.

For the past two months, the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has been tasked with creating a security strategy for the electric grid and hydrocarbon facilities through its newly created Office of Energy Infrastructure Security. So far, it’s not good news.

“There are ways that a very few number of actors with very rudimentary equipment could take down large portions of our grid,” warns FERC Chairman Jon Wellinghoff. This, he says, “is an equal if not greater issue” than cyber security. FERC’s gloom-and-doom risk assessment comes on the heels of the recent declassification of a 2007 report by the National Academy of Sciences.

The National Academy of Sciences on 14 November warned that a terrorist attack on the US power grid could wreak more damage than Hurricane Sandy. It could cause massive blackouts for weeks or months at a time. But this would only be the beginning, the Academy warns, spelling out an “end of days” scenario in which blackouts lead to widespread fear, panic and instability.

Mega-Bank’s Plan To Steal Money And Blame Fake Cyber Attack

Susanne Posel questions premise of cyber attacks on large US banks recently, in article, "Mega-Bank’s Plan to Steal Your Money and Blame Fake Muslim Cyber Attack."   Senator Joseph Lieberman blamed cyber attacks on Iran, but Posel only sees planting of a "propaganda seed." "The attackers used a known forum that is utilized by the CIA-controlled Anonymous to issue threats and brag about their successes," fingering a CIA-backed asset! "The timing of the newly formed 'digital al-Qaeda' and their expressed anger over the US-produced anti-Muslim film are questionable considering how the US and Israeli government are setting the stage for a justified war with Iran," points out writer, as timing seems too convenient to occurred by chance!  Posel totally discredits film, "Innocence of Muslims," with the following revelation: "The film is...actually a 14 minute trailer written, produced and directed by Sam Bacile, a.k.a. Nakoula Basseley Nakoula who is an FBI informant , an Israeli citizen and the patsy used by the Zionist regime in order to facilitate a manufactured revolt of fake Islamic tension in the Middle East." Wow!

Posel sees a final financial coup de gras to economy, used to galvanize public opinion one more time for another war:

"Framing Iran for the American banking system’s computer failure kills two birds with one stone. Not only would the banking cartels be able to shut down all banking computers (and simultaneously syphon the remaining money in their customer’s accounts) but also use this fake cyber-attack to engage the American public against Iran and justify their highly anticipated military strike."

"By blaming Iran, the technocrats could initiate the shutdown of all domestic banking computer systems in order to “purge” the virus and reconfigure their systems. However this would be a false flag meant to pacify the public to avert mass panic. While the general public would fall for the cover story, the banking cartels would simply electronically transfer all customer funds from private checking accounts out to off-shore banks where they could not be touched and cover their tracks."

Posel may be on right track as above scenario only reveals true heights of corruption and criminality in banking and government!

Wall Street has its own methods of preparing for financial collapse. The average citizen hordes food, water and firearms.  Posel describes financiers, as also, "...acquiring firearms, ammunition and control over private mercenary corporations like DynCorp and ‘Blackwater'...."  The presenter writer can only agree they will need it!