Interview with Blogger Gerald
By The Pakistani Spectator • Jul 30th, 2008 • Category: Interviews • One ResponseI’m middle-aged, and an anthropologist by profession. I have always been fascinated by people: by their history and cultures, their evolution, by politics, and the way people think. In my world travels I have discovered the oneness of humans, we all find the same kind of things funny, we all bleed red blood and feel pain, we are one.
My blog, Internet Anthropologist Think Tank, ( LINK) looks at the Insurgent war around the world. It looks at and questions developing paradigms, of the US Government and the Terrorists.
It examines news and information, looking to see relationships, directions, and change. It projects these ideas into the future, to find useful ways of looking at the entire terrorist situation, and possibly combating it. I develop trends from the past, to check for consistency and reasonableness. I also am interested in small details, which can influence events and opinions about them.
The people who feel they have a special right to blow up other people, kill and injure innocent people, are dangerous to all of us. Muslim killing Muslim, women children and bombing Mosques and market places.
Do you feel that you continue to grow in your writing the longer you write? Why is that important to you?
Critical thinking improves the more one writes, and writing is like breathing, something one must do. Since I am using my writing skills to try to bring people together to work against terrorism, it is important that those skills be effective.
To communicate clearly, and think critically.
I’m wondering what some of your memorable experiences are with blogging?
Finding and developing the information to take down al Qaeda’s web attack site, three days before the planned attack, and burning their head hacker was definitely memorable.
http://warintel.blogspot.com/
This information was developed in an urgent effort by my squad of volunteers. We knew precisely when al Qaeda planned their attack, and took the site down 3 days before the attack on other web sites..
When finally the piece of information came in leading to their vulnerability, we were set and ready to proceed. You can imagine how exciting that was.
Our intelligence supports the position that al Qaeda is finished, that bin Laden is dead or in a coma, and that Zawahiri was killed in a missile strike. Developing this intel has been very rewarding, and this is all very recent.
I also know from my logs that several governments follow my blog closely.
What do you do in order to keep up your communication with other bloggers?
I stay in email contact with a few special people. The rest I follow with an army of over 100,000 specialized bots, tracking and reporting information of interest to us.
What do you think is the most exciting or most innovative use of technology in politics right now?
Information warfare, fighting for the hearts and minds of people. The ability to counter lies and spread
critical thinking.
Also the ability to recruit interested and capable people worldwide to participate in events that concern them. Our volunteers have been attracted to assist in counter-terror work. They were looking for a way to participate and make a difference. And they have - together we have found information leading to the disruption of terror cells in the US, war intel in Iraq, we have countered their lies on forums and blogs, and tracked and burned their hackers.
Most politicians and news media are using the new technology in old ways, with propaganda to manipulate, or public relations efforts. It is the public who is doing the innovating, individuals finding new ways to learn and participate in politics.
Do you think that these new technologies are effective in making people more responsive?
The Technologies increase communication, person to person world wide, more truth.
More understanding person to person, will lead to a more peaceful world.
People respond at the level they are capable of. Some are overwhelmed by information, others use it for personal enjoyment and entertainment. Those capable of critical thinking seek out the information to feed their hungry minds, and new technologies mean people can educate and inform themselves as never before. And the truth shines through - you can’t fool thinking people for very long. Public fact-checking is very empowering.
What do you think sets Your site apart from others?
Action. People can participate in something important to them. I direct a Cyber Battalion, LINK
http://warintel.blogspot.com/
We have the capability for direct action. We are pro-Islam and anti al Qaeda and Taliban.
Our one public company http://warintel11.wetpaint.com
I try to make sure the volunteers understand that the terrorists are corrupting and defiling Islam. We don’t want racists and religious bigots, but reasonable people who hate terrorism. Our fight is not against a great religion, but against criminals.
By using the talents of a group, we have access to computer experts, language experts, and other kinds of expertise. Everybody has something to offer.
We have engaged al Qaeda on the web and beat them. We have the tools and power to hunt al Qaeda and the Taliban and combat them on the Internet. We have taken down Taliban and al Qaeda web masters and hackers. We have forces, but we need more. We would love to add the special skills of Pakistanis to our group.
The terrorist has the arrogance to feel he knows the will of Allah for us all, not the genuine humility of the sincerely faithful. They have grouped together to intimidate us all, and force us by fear to their will. Individually we feel powerless, not knowing when or where they will strike. But together, pooling knowledge, we can fight back against criminals who want to tell us how to live.
Blessed be al Qaeda, http://warintel.blogspot.com/
I try to make sure the volunteers understand that the terrorists are corrupting and defiling Islam. We don’t want racists and religious bigots, but reasonable people who hate terrorism. Our fight is not against a great world religion, but against criminals.
If you could choose one characteristic you have that brought you success in life, what would it be?
Persistence, critical thinking, and growing with or ahead of the technology.
What was the happiest and gloomiest moment of your life?
Getting that stock brokers license was difficult, took years, and so was a personal accomplishment.
Of course, I always remember with happiness when my kids were small. They drove me crazy yelling and crying, they made messes, they had health crises and disasters, they talked back, they wore me out with their constant activity. Yet I miss those times very much.
I was very broken up by my mother’s death. She was an honest, tough-minded woman with very high standards for her children. She was often brusque, and we didn’t always get along very well. But few other people in my life cared enough to question my motives or actions. She often made me mad, but she always made me think.
If you could pick a travel destination, anywhere in the world, with no worries about how it’s paid for - what would your top 3 choices be?
I’d love to visit Pakistan. As an anthropologist, the many peoples and cultures are fascinating. The Indus valley is the seat of civilization. Then there are the beautiful mountains and valleys.
But also, it is where the action is, the home now of al Qaeda and the Taliban. Pakistan has the potential to become an independent wealthy nation, if these parasites can be destroyed. The people are intelligent and industrious, and there is natural wealth.
#2 Amazon, Fishing, pristine water way.
#3 The great Rift in Africa, home of primates.
What is your favorite book and why?
I read a great deal, and would have trouble choosing a favorite book. I enjoy science fiction as relief from the very serious things I work on. There are many good authors, but Frank Herbert was always a favorite. However I find myself coming back to the Koran most often, the words of the Prophet center me.
What’s the first thing you notice about a person (whether you know them or not)?
Eyes - how some one is looking at me.
Is there anyone from your past that once told you you couldn’t write?
NO
How bloggers can benefit from blogs financially?
Donations, advertising, there are probably other ways. But I don’t benefit financially, instead I spend quite a bit of money on our counter-terrorism needs.
Is it true that who has a successful blog has an awful lot of time on their hands?
Everyone has the same amount of time, what is important to one determines how one spends it.
What role can bloggers of the world play to make this world more friendlier and less hostile?
Confront evil, critical thinking, giving voice to ones opinions. Confront lies.
Speak the truth as one sees it, while trying to understand other points of view. If I read your blog, and you read my blog, even if we disagree, we can learn how people of good will can see things differently. We are not the images our politicians create, but unique individuals.
Our Survey on Paki attitudes: http://pianotickler.com/
Who are your top five favourite bloggers?
Civilian Irregular Information Defense Group
Is there one observation or column or post that has gotten the most powerful reaction from people?
http://warintel.blogspot.com/
After the Pentagon read this post they decided not to set up a command in Africa.
What is your perception about Pakistan and its people?
I’ve looked at 130 Paki blogs and the absence of criticisms of the Taliban or al Qaeda indicates how scared the Paki people are.
Al Qaeda and the Taliban have learned and mastered the anonymous workings of the Internet, but the Paki people have not and don’t speak out.
I hope to learn more about the Paki people through our Survey: http://pianotickler.com/
Have you ever become stunned by the uniqueness of any blogger?
American troops that were Blogging, speaking truth to power. And the US Military shut them down???
What is the most striking difference between a developed country and a developing country?
Time. 200 years ago, the Wild West in America was very similar, during the late 1700’s and early 1800’s. People lived by the power and law of the gun, and were subject to outlaw gangs.
Pakistan in some parts are like the West in the 1700’s and in other locations as modern as New York City.
Also corruption, one of the major problems in most developing nations. It exists everywhere, but is sought, prosecuted, and punished in more developed countries.
What is the future of blogging?
Power to individuals. With the public fact-checking and give-and-take available, there is more access to the truth, if someone is willing to look for it. Truth is power.
You have also got a blogging life, how has it directly affected both your personal and professional life?
Not much. My professional life is flexible, and my family supports the work I am doing. We feel safe here in America, but so many people are in danger in other places that my family agrees that working against terrorism is very important.
What are your future plans?
We are releasing a survey to explore Pakistans attitudes towards its Government, al Qaeda, Taliban and the US Government.
Survey location http://pianotickler.com/
Our survey was suggested by Paki students, and developed with the help of Paki Students:
http://100wk.wetpaint.com/
Any Message you want to give to the readers of The Pakistani Spectator?
The Internet can be Anonymous, al Qaeda and the Taliban have learned this and use it.
al Qaeda doesn’t even fear the US Government on the Internet, why do the Paki people fear al Qaeda on the net?
Don’t feel that you can’t make a difference. If many of us work together, each little bit fits in, and you would be surprised at what can be accomplished.
I want them to know we have engaged al Qeda on the WWW and beat them.
We have the tools and power to hunt al Qaeda and the Taliban and do them harm on the Internet.
We have the forces and want them to join us.
We have taken down taliban and al Qaeda web masters and hackers.
Put the fear of Allah into the terrorist and let the ummah see the power we can offer them.
The toll of human pain they have caused is enormous. For each statistic is a devastated family, traumatized kids. Forgetting all the rationale BS, their actions are as close to pure evil as anything I ever heard of. The only reason they don’t equal the worst historical comparisons is lack of ability, the will is there. It’s almost amazing how successfully they use religion and nationalism to appeal to the lowest elements of human beings. For their defilement of Islam, the faithful worldwide pay a price of shame and being considered suspect. And if you believe in the soul, think of the gullible young men who are destroyed for their ignorant ideals.
Support: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/
Please help with our survey.
http://pianotickler.com/
Gerald
Internet Anthropologist
Trackback URL
|
|
|
Click For More Articles By The Pakistani Spectator
A candid look
All posts by The Pakistani Spectator
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
[...] So says Brigadier Zaman, over at The Pakistani Spectator, a Pakistani blog written in English which interviewed Gerald of Internet Anthropologist Think Tank. I stumbled upon Brigadier Zaman’s entry while [...]