An interesting article here:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6155766/

Given these facts, that the Iraqi insurgents and their supporters, who are the enemies of the United States and against whom we are at war, are using the internet to promote themselves and spread terror, why are we showing restraint?

The article claims that we have no authority to act against foreign web sites and hosting services> But I say B.S. - this isn't basic internet crime, this is WAR!

We have troops trained in computer/internet warfare whom I believe are capable of quickly identifying these terrorists postings, hacking thier way into the servers hosting them, and deleting them. I say let's use them! Any nation that provides a home for terrorists is subject to U.S. action, potentially including military action, so why can't we say the same about internet servers? After all, we need not take out the entire web sites that they're using for spreading their terror, promoting themselves and/or coordinating their activities - all we need do is remove the specific content that serves the enemy's goals.

If the enemy uses sites like that of Al Jazeera (which is really probably one of the more balanced sites) to spread propaganda and material that promotes their terror, then we ought to simply go in and remove it. Just as we would send Special Forces teams into another country to take out terrorists. Further, it's not like any of the web sites are our official allies, so what's stopping us?

To answer my own question somewhat, I think our timidity may stem from an appreciation of our own vulnerability to computer attacks. A vulnerability that our nation has not done a very good job of eliminating, from what I have read on the subject. It's a darned shame if this failure to adequately respond is preventing us from waging war against the Iraqi insurgents on the internet "battlefield"!