Sadly, the so-called Islamic State struck again–this time in Brussels–to claim31 lives and injuring over 270 others. Yes, we realize that the tragic irony is the so-called Islamic State targets Muslims just as brutally–but with less media attention and solidarity declared for those victims’ families. Because of this vehement entity, more Muslims died weekly, in Syria or Iraq, between 2013 to 2016. This fact does not escape the pita-consuming region or pita-consumer community. Terror is universally experienced, and experienced disproportionately by Muslims and Christians in non-“Western” countries like Lebanon (Beirut attacks in October 2015), Iraq, and Syria.
There is another tragic irony: cyber-terrorism introduces more financial damage to the U.S. economy than the so-called Islamic State high-jacking Iraqi oil fields. Remember the Syrian Electronic Army–the group that falsely claimed President Barack Obama was caught in a White House attack in 2013? It’s a group of Bashar al-Assad regime sympathizers who punish countries who declared that Assad must go. As a result of the Syrian Electronic Army’s malevolent cyber attack, the Dow Jones Industrial Average–America’s business health indicator– fell by 143 points and “wiping out $80 billion in value”!
It is no surprise that the Dow’s top performing American companies responded so sensitively. What is surprising is that the information was FALSE, but still, adversely influenced investors to lose confidence in the U.S. economy as if there was an American political crisis.
On Tuesday, March 22, those responsible for carrying out the Syrian Electronic Army cyber attack were charged, according to Bloomberg News.
The alleged hackers include Ahmad Umar Agha, 22, known online as “The Pro,” and Firas Dandar, 27, who goes by the online alias “The Shadow.”~Bloomberg News
In another cyber-terrorism incident that hurt the U.S., US Attorney General, Loretta Lynch, charged seven Iranians for allegedly hacking nearly 50 financial companies and a New York dam between 2011 to 2013. The financial damage amounts to “tens of millions of dollars“. The Department of Justice believes that the cyber attacks were coordinated from employees at Iranian computer companies: ITSecTeam and Mersad Company..
The seven defendants include: Ahmad Fathi, 37; Hamid Firoozi, 34; Amin Shokohi, 25; Sadegh Ahmadzadega, 23; Omid Ghaffarinia, 25; Sina Keissar, 25, and Nader Saedi, 26. However, it is unlikely that their extradition will come to light.
“It’s very unlikely that the Iranian government will allow these people to be arrested and have them sent to the United States to face these charges,”~Al Jazeera’s Kimberly Halkett, reporting from Washington.
