[knak]

I'll give that one a shot JellyJam. I think they use those satellite phones. Don't know if they can be tracked. But chatter I believe is just what it sounds like. Plans to attack being put out, be it through phones, online or what have you.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong on the phone thing.

[JellyJam]

Thanx, knak!

It just made me curious, because you would think the most technologically advanced country in the world could find these devil spawn talking on cell phones or online.

[nwctwx]

I'll give that one a shot JellyJam. I think they use those satellite phones. Don't know if they can be tracked. But chatter I believe is just what it sounds like. Plans to attack being put out, be it through phones, online or what have you.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong on the phone thing.

I do not believe they use Satellite phones much anymore, they are actually highly traceable due to their signaling. They were sort of used as "homing" devices in Afghanistan at the start of the war. From what I know, most high-level communication is either through the internet (throw-away e-mail addresses, disappearing websites) or in many cases, by courier.

I'm assuming "chatter" refers mostly to what is picked up through internet surveillance and regular phone calls between parties that do not know they are being tapped. It also obviously refers to various other discrete Intel gathering as well as deciphering what AQ/Friends are directly disseminating to the public.

[Quix]

I think "chatter" refers to

ALL

the intel sources monitoring various kinds of communications.

The sheer volume of info--even encrypted--can be a clue to something.

The particular types of increased communications can be a clue.

The variety or mix of types of communications can be a clue.

I think in this context, "chatter" refers to all kinds of communications from all sources. And the statement seems to be that the . . . parameters, types, complexion, dimensions, types, nuances . . . ??? . . . whatever summarized measures they can use to characterize such--I think they are saying that the chatter has begun to remind them of the chatter prior to 911.

That is pretty sobering. It speaks of a LOT of data taking on a particular PATTERN or some such which is sobering to alarming.

imho.