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al-Qaeda's 22 Tips and Tricks To Dodge Drones
Dr Max writes "Ever wonder how al-Qaeda operates under the watchful eye of the U.S. Army? Well, the Associated Press found a list of 22 of their tips and tricks on avoiding drone strikes. Most of it consists of the obvious: stay in the shadows or under thick trees, don't use wireless communications. However, there are also some less obvious solutions, like the $2,595 Russian 'sky grabber, which can track the drones. Their document (PDF) also suggests covering your roof and car with broken glass. They also claim good snipers can take out the reconnaissance drones, which fly at a lower level. Now the question is: will all of this still be relevant during the robo-apocalypse?"
does hiding under a tree really protect your from a predator drone?
After all, terrorist are merely the first type of target of these methods of enforcement.
I've been reading /. for > 10 years now and it's getting worse and worse.
Not only are the stories horribly filtered, but this week alone I've seen 6 stories here that were featured on DrudgeReport the day before.
Not sure why I come here anymore.
With the lurking and ever-increasing possibility (and use?) of drones in the US not for strikes but simply to keep a "watchful eye" on the civilian population, a more aware and less surveilled American public may be an unintended positive outcome of the war on terror. (Thanks, al-Qaeda.)
/.'s Psychic-in-Residence: Psychic to the Geeks
The Prepper community in the US taking tips from Al-Quaeda or maybe even exchanging information.
I am Slashdot. Are you Slashdot as well?
Now all the anti terrorist agency has to do is read this thread and see all the people interested in avoiding drones, and have a list of possible terrorist suspects....
I am just waiting for that knock on my door now...... in 3....2....1....
Following nine months of intensive research—including two investigations in Pakistan, more than 130 interviews with victims, witnesses, and experts, and review of thousands of pages of documentation and media reporting—this report presents evidence of the damaging and counterproductive effects of current US drone strike policies. Based on extensive interviews with Pakistanis living in the regions directly affected, as well as humanitarian and medical workers, this report provides new and firsthand testimony about the negative impacts US policies are having on the civilians living under drones.
It is like those holding the reins want to create terrorists, must not be enough already to justify the defence spending we already have - good for MIC business.
impressed that it's all on one page, instead of spread out with one tip per page, and advertisements after every 5 pages
My bs meter is going off.
Can someone please explain what a "ordinary water-lifting dynamo fitted with a 30-meter copper pole" is and how it might be used to avoid drones. And where would one find a water lifting dynamo in the wilds of Tora Bora (I assume everyone is walking around with a 30 meter copper pole)?
The best way to not be killed by a drone strike when you are a member of al-Qaeda is to NOT be a member of al-Qaeda.
sudo make me a sandwich
Or rather a What-If: http://what-if.xkcd.com/5/
What if there was a robot apocalypse? How long would humanity last?
—Rob Lombino
Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
Don't join al-Qaeda in the first place.
The prepper movement is about one or more of self-sufficiency, being prepared for natural disasters, getting off-grid, natural building materials, raising pesticide free vegetables and fruits, free range poultry, even preparing for a social or economic collapse. It is wrong to expand all preppers into drone haters. You might as well say that Seattle is taking tips from Al-Quaeda. http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/See-what-SPD-drones-look-like-3983169.php
A phased plasma rifle in the forty watt range is your friend.
Last I heard, hiding behind citizens does not stop a predator drone pilot from firing, and he will then be awarded a medal for taking out your sister's wedding party.
Now when a drone sees a car covered in mats? A muddy car in the desert? A car covered in glass? They are as good as gone now.
It's mostly about hiding from the drones, "jamming" their communications (low tech), and general asymmetric-warfare advice:
1 – It is possible to know the intention and the mission of the drone by using the Russian-made “sky grabber” device to infiltrate the drone’s waves and the frequencies. The device is available in the market for $2,595 and the one who operates it should be a computer know-how.
2 – Using devices that broadcast frequencies or pack of frequencies to disconnect the contacts and confuse the frequencies used to control the drone. The Mujahideen have had successful experiments using the Russian-made “Racal.”
3 – Spreading the reflective pieces of glass on a car or on the roof of the building.
4 – Placing a group of skilled snipers to hunt the drone, especially the reconnaissance ones because they fly low, about six kilometers or less.
5 – Jamming of and confusing of electronic communication using the ordinary water-lifting dynamo fitted with a 30-meter copper pole.
6 – Jamming of and confusing of electronic communication using old equipment and keeping them 24-hour running because of their strong frequencies and it is possible using simple ideas of deception of equipment to attract the electronic waves devices similar to that used by the Yugoslav army when they used the microwave (oven) in attracting and confusing the NATO missiles fitted with electromagnetic searching devices.
7 – Using general confusion methods and not to use permanent headquarters.
8 – Discovering the presence of a drone through well-placed reconnaissance networks and to warn all the formations to halt any movement in the area.
9 – To hide from being directly or indirectly spotted, especially at night.
10 – To hide under thick trees because they are the best cover against the planes.
11 – To stay in places unlit by the sun such as the shadows of the buildings or the trees.
12 – Maintain complete silence of all wireless contacts.
13 – Disembark of vehicles and keep away from them especially when being chased or during combat.
14 – To deceive the drone by entering places of multiple entrances and exits.
15 – Using underground shelters because the missiles fired by these planes are usually of the fragmented anti-personnel and not anti-buildings type.
16 – To avoid gathering in open areas and in urgent cases, use building of multiple doors or exits.
17 – Forming anti-spies groups to look for spies and agents.
18 – Formation of fake gatherings such as using dolls and statutes to be placed outside false ditches to mislead the enemy.
19 – When discovering that a drone is after a car, leave the car immediately and everyone should go in different direction because the planes are unable to get after everyone.
20 – Using natural barricades like forests and caves when there is an urgent need for training or gathering.
This post contains no rudeness or derision of any kind. All arguments are friendly. Terms and exclusions may apply.
Get yourself TWO "space blankets" and separate the two with a regular blanket. put it over you and go. You have about 60-120 seconds before your body heat will raise the outer blanket above background temperatures.
This trick has been used to fool FLIR cameras for a very long time and is easily carried unlike a 6'X6' piece of glass that is far more effective at it and a lot longer duration.
Also be sure you are not a moron and wearing "flip flops" or other crap shoes that allow a lot of heat to escape and leave thermal footprints on the ground.
Note: if they are using FLIR and searchlights, you need to cover the outisde space blanket with a couple layers of camo netting or you will stand out as a giant silver alien.
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
Yeah, notorious traitorous pinkos like Ike and Smedley Butler were just spouting off and didn't know what they were talking about.
Also, you need somewhere to burn off excess young male testosterone-addled population to prevent social instability. (Look at contemporary China. A Billion young men that can't find wives. Oh crap...) You can go all Kipling and phrase it in terms of heroism and derring-do. It's all still just keeping that same wheel spinning.
the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Where from I can buy this Dodge Drone, for how much?
From the point of view of the robotic overlords, John Connor was a terrorist. Better that be good dodging drones and ex-governors.
Best they have is: "We'll kidnap Westerners around the world to stop the drones."
Way to go. A couple of hundreds, thousands terrorists kidnapping 1-2 two billion opponents.
Good to see the desperation in their paper.
Can't wait to see the CIA distributing radioactive markers to Al Quada members, then they can kill each other.
(Captcha: triumphs)
If al-Qaeda does not use mobile comms, then why is Big Brother monitoring mobile comms? Dumb question...
I thought that would be a two-for-one deal for a terrorist. The main strategy for Al Qaeda in Iraq was to bomb Sunni and Shiite Mosques to drive them into a civil war, or to just set off a car bomb anywhere where people gathered, such as a crowded street market with the goal to kill as many random civilians as possible to show that the US invaders could not build a safe and happy democracy in Iraq.
Being able to lure drone strikes into the same crowds gives the terrorists the opportunity to kill and maime hundreds while pinning the USA as the direct aggressor, rather than just being powerless to stop it. Of course, the war has dragged on long enough that now nobody cares anymore when a single terrorist is killed and 20 innocent children along with him.
Worst logic ever. The reason they aren't using mobile communication is because we are monitoring it. We are denying them a valuable logistical tool.
They must have some awfully good snipers.
Facts take all of the premium out of arm waving - T. Reynolds
Seriously.
I wonder why using an umbrella hasn't become a political statement in countries where drone strikes are a concern. A couple of 10's of thousands of black umbrellas with a picture of a fist, middle finger raised, printed on the top so they're all identical. Just leave 'em at the doors to be picked up by the next person leaving.
And it protects you from the sun!
21 – In frequently targeted areas, use smoke as cover by burning tires.
22 – As for the leaders or those sought after, they should not use communications equipment because the enemy usually keeps a voice tag through which they can identify the speaking person and then locate him.
Not too different from the first 20, though.
This post contains no rudeness or derision of any kind. All arguments are friendly. Terms and exclusions may apply.
From Drone attacks in Pakistan: Statistics
As of January 2013, the Bureau of Investigative Journalism estimates the following cumulative statistics about US drone strikes:[2][17]
Total strikes: 362
Total reported killed: 2,629 – 3,461
Civilians reported killed: 475 – 891
Children reported killed: 176
Total reported injured: 1,267 – 1,431
Strikes under the Bush Administration: 52
Strikes under the Obama Administration: 310
[2] Obama 2012 Pakistan Strikes Bureau of Investigative Journalism. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
[17] Woods, Chris; Lamb, Christina (4 February 2012). "Obama terror drones: CIA tactics in Pakistan include targeting rescuers and funerals". Bureau of Investigative Journalism. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
"New models of drones, such as the Harfung used by the French or the MQ-9 "Reaper," sometimes have infrared sensors that can pick up the heat signature of a car whose engine has just been shut off."
I sense a great new market opportunity for Tesla Motors!
>"This new document... shows we are no longer dealing with an isolated local problem, but with an enemy which is reaching >across continents to share advice," said Bruce Riedel, a 30-year veteran of the CIA
Yeah Bruce, didn't you get the memo? There was an internationally-coordinated attack on your country in 2001... >:\
Using camouflage and quickly updating techniques against an occupying empire's army sounds like the U.S. Revolutionary War.
The U.S. should be careful not to teach too much of its own history to people in its occupied territories or risk teaching them how to defeat them.
Last I heard, hiding behind citizens does not stop a predator drone pilot from firing, and he will then be awarded a medal for taking out your sister's wedding party.
I'm not excusing firing on civilians, but if you are using them as cover the moral burden for their deaths is on you.
There must be 50 ways to hide from the Drone-Ah:
Just monitor the feed, Steve. ...
Block the control, Flo.
Reflect the light, Ike.
Snipe out the air, Ger,
Dynamo and a copper Pole, Joe.
Title of the AP article - "Al-Qaida tipsheet on avoiding drones found in Mali"
Tip #1
Don't go to Mali
Tip #2
See Tip #1
Remember their great sketch about finding the man hiding in the field? 'specially the part with the narrator blowing up one bush--no go -- blow up the next one -- no go -- blow up the last one -- got him!
https://app.box.com/WitthoftResume Code: https://github.com/cellocgw
Being able to lure drone strikes into the same crowds gives the terrorists the opportunity to kill and maime hundreds while pinning the USA as the direct aggressor, rather than just being powerless to stop it. Of course, the war has dragged on long enough that now nobody cares anymore when a single terrorist is killed and 20 innocent children along with him.
Those aren't "innocent children," they're "pre-terrorists." (you insensitive clod)
https://app.box.com/WitthoftResume Code: https://github.com/cellocgw
There's a paragraph near the end that suggests retaliation through widespread kidnapping:
I think these measures are capable, with God’s help, of disabling the new strategy of the American army at the medium or long-range levels. This is not all we have. There is the golden solution that shortens the long distances and through which we can bring back the pressure of the American public opinion in a more active way depending on the strategy of kidnapping in exchange for the drone strategy and we should not stop until they stop their strategy which will enable all the supporter of jihad to take part in defeating Petraeus and his new strategy. We start kidnapping Western citizens in any spot in the world, whether in the Islamic Maghreb, Egypt, Iraq or any other easy kidnapping places and the only demand is the halt of attacks on civilians in Yemen which is a just and humanitarian demand that will create world support and a public opinion pressure in America as they are being hurt again. We, therefore, aim at the core of the nation’s strategy which if failed, America, will accordingly collapse. We also are taking part in laying a block in the promising Islamic State in the Arab peninsula.
Seems like that's important, but the AP didn't pay any attention to it...
Visit the
Obviously the drones are working. They've forced the shitbags to get out of their vehicles, to stop using modern comms and to keep to the shadows. What we need now is an army of smaller smart AP devices to target individuals.
Before they learn how to knock the drones out of the air. It's just one upsmanship.
"In this film we hope to show how not to be seen. This is Mr. Mohammed Quadrallah of 2345 Ibn Ali Avenue, Lashkar Gah, Helmand province, Afghanistan. He can not be seen. Now I am going to ask him to take the carpet off his pickup truck. Mr. Quadrallah, will you please take the carpet off."
(In the distance Mr Quadrallah takes off a pile of carpets from a pickup truck, which is followed by a drone strike followed by Wilhelm scream)
"This demonstrates the value of not being seen."
Don't actually exist!
"Flyin' in just a sweet place,
Never been known to fail..."
Worth remembering: According to the US government, if you're male, over the age of about 16, and live in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, or Yemen, then you are a "militant" and are not counted among the civilian casualties.
I am officially gone from
There's also the method used in the film Four Lions - shake your head rapidly and it won't be recognisable.
Good plot for a movie: Robo-Apocalypse, and Al-Quaeda becomes the only hope for humanity, with guerrilla tactics and their knowledge of drone-wars.
Build a cheap, small(ish), easy to build, drone killer.
To make it legal it cannot contain any explosives or incendiaries.
I like it how you say "We" and share that War on Terror mentality which has been propagated with so much effort in propaganda. Whatever remains of Al-Qaeda, it is NOT in the USA. So the reason why OP's question is "dumb" as he put it, is not because the logic is not sound (domestic monitoring vs espionage!), but because he knows that the two are unrelated outside of propaganda.
There are plenty of good books published long ago and available all commonwealth libraries about subversion, insurgency and guerrilla tactics analyzed. One such book comes to mind is Brigadier Frank Kitsons Low Intensity Operations. It's been occasionally available also from Amazon and can be now found PDF from the net also. A real classic "This is an essential handbook on the basics of modern counter-insurgency. Every revolutionary should read it. " as it's advertised.
would be if they start to place large pieces of mirrors on roofs or on hill slopes. Normally it is forbidden by civil aviation authorities as mirrors blind pilots. It would blind cameras too.
Besides, it will make the satellite imagery unusable for an area.
If placing of mirrors on roofs will become sort of a mass civil defense measure, flying would become more dangerous for everyone.
But the problem with that statement is that often, the fighters are also civilians and live with their wife and children. I know it would be much easier if they would just step aside and put up a large neon sign pointing at them, but it doesn't work that way. Often the claim they were "using civilians for cover" means "they were in bed at home with the family, which made them pretty easy targets".
In my opinion, people who agree with drone strikes or gunships firing on civilians have no moral authority versus terrorists. None.
Therefore, by the (faulty) logic you're using, you're just a cow with a keyboard - osu-neko (2604)
oh god, someone else watched that film.
Bull fucking shit. When you're sitting in Arizona, killing women and children, with no risk to yourself, or your country, the moral burden lies squarely on you. And, dumbass, it falls on all amerikans. YOU are personally responsible for killing women and children, because YOU refuse to stand up against it, and it wouldn't be happening without YOUR tax dollars. Yes, me too.
Well, I do stand up against it, from within cordoned free speech zones. But what more can I really do, short of activities that will get me disappeared?
Find me one article where the collected slashdot hordes share the same opinion. I dare you. Just one article where the posters try to minimize conflict and reach a consensus decision. I double dare you.
I can think of two reasons you may have made that absurd statement : 1) You find that slashdot, like reality, has too liberal a bias for your internal view of the universe (solution : broaden your horizons beyond the groupthink idiots you currently surround yourself with), or 2) you don't understand what the term "groupthink" means. Actually, it could also be both reasons.
Alternately, we could give the terrorists jet fighters and tanks, so they could fight our armies directly and wouldn't have to attack civilians.
Didn't we do that once?
Thanks for planting "documents in a brown envelope". Or was it done by your friends of DGSE ? I hear they have massive Uranium interests in the region and the new local lords were not entirely obedient as the corrupt crappers that France had before them.
I'm not excusing firing on civilians, but if you are using them as cover the moral burden for their deaths is on you.
That depends. If it's your house and your country, and the guy who fired at you is part of a foreign invading force, I fail to see how you would be in any way responsible.
no that was so they could fight the Russians on equal grounds.
..for beating Netanjahu's War Drums.
I asked for one, you found none. Colour me unsurprised.
Have you ever thought about that ? Maybe the ground truth is entirely different and this is just a propaganda measure along the lines of "see, we have them cornered" ?
The OP should correct the price of the Russian 'sky grabber' to be 89.95, not $2,995.
How do these terrorists survive with this SOP?