http://www.jamestown.org/terrorism/news/article.php?articleid=2369884
Volume 3, Issue 4 (January 31, 2006) | Download PDF Version
A Jihadi Course in Military Mapping Symbols
By Stephen Ulph
Khattab's course. Symbols depict the type of military unit.
The Mawsu'at al-I'dad ("Encyclopedia of Preparation") stands out as a
prime example of an illustration of the "data mining" capability that
the internet provides. As earlier indicated in Terrorism Focus, this
work is unique in its form since it constitutes an ever-expanding
e-compendium made up of a multitude of data links (Terrorism Focus,
Volume II, Issue 7).
Among the titles in the work is a course on codes and ciphers. The
Dawrat al-Shahid al-Qa'id al-Maidani Khattab ("The Martyr Field
Commander Khattab's Course") is more precisely an exhaustive treatment
on the use of symbols in the planning of military operations,
specifically with reference to mapping in the field. It is part of a
series on military terminology, planning and mapping signals prepared
for the web by Abu al-Darda, "the Salafist," and published by
al-Markaz al-Islami al-I'lami ("the Islamic Information Center").
There is no indication as to who Khattab is in the title. Nor is any
date given, but it is likely that the work ultimately derives from the
Afghanistan period when training for open military conflict had more
significance. In more up-to-date works, the emphasis is on urban and
guerrilla warfare and activities related to covert operations and
intelligence gathering.
After presenting the basics on the employment of military symbols, the
author illustrates how, from a simple figure, minor additions and
adaptations can be made under certain pre-agreed conditions to produce
economically drawn symbols to express precise information. "The
symbols have to be kept simple and clear," the author states, "since
densely packed marks on documents, or an [overly] complicated single
sign (such as a combination of symbols and numbers not previously
agreed) will prejudice the clarity of the required representation, and
possibly cause doubt [as to interpretation]."
The construction of intelligence symbols is presented in a logical
progression, and the use of adaptations (size, thickness and type of
line) to denote information such as the number or group of numbers
(indicating the function or identity of a unit and its affiliation,
date, time, caliber of weapons), the size or importance of the unit,
its level of readiness, its verified presence, whether the located
point is under surveillance, or whether there are doubts as to the
quality of the information available. The use of color is categorized
to indicate: friendly forces (units, bases, tactical conditions,
preparedness), enemy forces (units, bases, tactical conditions,
preparedness), areas contaminated by enemy or friendly activity, zones
of destruction, minefields or artificial barriers and lines marking
off friendly units and zones of artillery fire.
Over the course of the 76-page document, the author carefully
tabulates intelligence marks for agreed symbols to denote sizes of
military units, from small bands up to detachments, battalions,
divisions, corps and brigades. Then he lists symbols denoting the
configuration of the military units, marks for weaponry, and marks
corresponding to detailed specifications of this weaponry or
concentrations of armaments at one point. Following are symbols for
communication points and communication methods, barriers and
obstacles, crossing points and lines of fire.
The author illustrates, by way of example, the symbols employed for
units of the Lebanese army. Yet, it is the section on FEBAs (Forward
Edge of the Battle Area) that gives some indication of the ultimate
origin of the work or its indebtedness to Western military manuals,
since the Arabic terminology used in this section is consistently
related to its English-language equivalent. The inclusion of Khattab's
course in the Encyclopedia of Preparation is clearly intended as part
of an overall course in military training—part of the "Virtual
Afghanistan" imperative provided for the internet, and which saw the
production of the Mu'askar al-Battar ("Al-Battar Training Camp")
periodical that ran for 22 issues until its closure late in 2004.
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