(Government Security Magazine) Monitoring of extremist Internet forums has uncovered a link between the Islamic State (ISIS) and the potentially life threatening virus, Ebola. The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), a Washington-based nonprofit media monitoring organization, reported in recent weeks that it had found online forum posts suggesting some extremists saw Ebola use as a viable option in their war. Some experts question, however, how viable a weapon Ebola could become.
The Middle East’s political climate and the growing use of the Internet in the Arab world means now more than ever extremists are able to reach thousands of potential converts in the region, in addition to millions worldwide. Terrorists are no longer restricted to their region, but instead have the capacity to influence, convert, and “educate” millions around the globe with their own philosophy.