Like two pissed off teens (fighting for the future of an entire society), the NATO and Taliban official Twitter accounts began sparring yesterday, quarrelling over civilian casualties. While I’m impressed by the Taliban rep’s use of English idioms, NATO’s mastery over the internet slap fight was clear: figures cited, videos pasted — it was a decisive bit of online warfare. Between this and responding to airstrike requests, NATO’s social media team has a pretty exciting job!
It may seem superficial, but being able to refute the Taliban’s claims in a public forum goes a long way towards weakening their clench on the country. Now if only more than a small fraction of Afghanistan had internet access. [Star and Stripes -- Thanks Rosa!]
DarthDVD
Friday, September 16, 2011 at 7:34 AMOr could Read… or had power….. or computers/tablets.
olearymo
Friday, September 16, 2011 at 8:59 AMIs this genuine? I thought the Taliban shunned electronics? Though I know they’re famous hypocrites, so I guess that might explain it.
“No! You can’t have internet it’s evil!” *goes inside to secretly use internet*
Terry
Friday, September 16, 2011 at 4:38 PM“but can’t we count on Twitter as a bastion of civility? ”
You’re kidding right?
Do you use Twitter? Much? ha ha ha
Also, maybe Afghanistan is better off without some of these so called “technologies” too.
It obviously doesn’t promote neighborly-ness does it.
Good call on the refuting Taliban claims on a public forum though.
Got to wonder if it was a real Taliban rep though. he / she (it) seems quite proficient in the use of txt abrvs for a group who denounce technology. but as olearymo pointed out, hypocrisy is rife with the taliban.