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'''Rita Katz''' (born 1963, ], ]) is a terrorism analyst and the co-founder of the ], a private intelligence firm based in ], which focuses on tracking global terrorist networks, and intercepting and distributing secret messages, videos, and advance warnings of ]s from the terrorist group's communications networks.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20697164/site/newsweek/ |title=Keeping an Eye on Al Qaeda |publisher= Newsweek |date= Sept. 11, 2007|accessdate= |format= |work= }}</ref><ref name="washpost1">{{cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |author=Joby Warrick |coauthors= |title=Bin Laden, Brought to You by ... |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/11/AR2007091102465.html |work= |publisher=The Washington Post |pages=A01 |page= |date=Sept. 12, 2007 |accessdate= |language= |quote= }}</ref> '''Rita Katz''' (born 1963, ], ]) is a terrorism analyst and the co-founder of the ], a private intelligence firm based in ], which focuses on tracking global terrorist networks, and intercepting and distributing secret messages, videos, and advance warnings of ]s from the terrorist group's communications networks.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20697164/site/newsweek/ |title=Keeping an Eye on Al Qaeda |publisher= Newsweek |date= Sept. 11, 2007|accessdate= |format= |work= }}</ref><ref name="washpost1">{{cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |author=Joby Warrick |coauthors= |title=Bin Laden, Brought to You by ... |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/11/AR2007091102465.html |work= |publisher=The Washington Post |pages=A01 |page= |date=Sept. 12, 2007 |accessdate= |language= |quote= }}</ref>


==Early life==
In October 2007, it was revealed that Katz had discovered, and issued to the Bush Administration, a copy of an ] video which had yet to be released by ]. Katz issued the video via a private link to a SITE web page to White House counsel ], and Joel Bagnal, deputy assistant to the president for homeland security. Within minutes, computers registered to various parts of the ] began downloading the video, and within hours a transcript referencing SITE had appeared on ]. Katz had requested the web page remain confidential, and has reported that dissemination of this information tipped off her Al-Qaeda supporters who had since eliminated the ability of SITE to gather such information.<ref name ="washpost2">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =Leak Severed a Link to Al-Qaeda's Secrets | work = | publisher =The Washington Post | date =Oct. 9, 2007 | url =http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/08/AR2007100801817.html? | format = | doi = | accessdate =2007-10-09 }}</ref>
Katz, a fluent ] speaker, was born in Basra in 1963 to a well-to-do ] family. After the ], in 1968 her father was arrested on charges of spying for ], and the rest of the family put under ]. The following year, after having been tortured, Katz's father was convicted and executed in a public hanging in the central square of Baghdad to the roaring applause of more than half a million Iraqis.<ref>]'', July 25, 2003, accessed January 31, 2010]</ref> Katz's mother managed to escape on foot with her three small children to Iran, and from there made their way to Israel.<ref name="katz profile">{{cite web | last =Wallace-Wells | first =Benjamin | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =Private Jihad: How Rita Katz got into the spying business | work = | publisher =The New Yorker | date =May 29, 2006 | url =http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2006/05/29/060529fa_fact | format = | doi = | accessdate =2007-10-09 }}</ref>

==Background==
Katz, a fluent ] speaker, was born in Basra in 1963 to a wealthy ] family. In 1968 her father was arrested on charges of spying for ], and the rest of the family put under ]. The following year Katz's father was convicted and executed in a public hanging, and Katz's mother managed to escape with the children to Israel.<ref name="katz profile">{{cite web | last =Wallace-Wells | first =Benjamin | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =Private Jihad: How Rita Katz got into the spying business | work = | publisher =The New Yorker | date =May 29, 2006 | url =http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2006/05/29/060529fa_fact | format = | doi = | accessdate =2007-10-09 }}</ref>


While in Israel, Katz served in the ] and studied politics and history at ]. She later married a medical student and in 1997 came to the United States with her husband, who received a ] fellowship. While in Israel, Katz served in the ] and studied politics and history at ]. She later married a medical student and in 1997 came to the United States with her husband, who received a ] fellowship.

==Career==
In October 2007, it was revealed that Katz had discovered, and issued to the Bush Administration, a copy of an ] video which had yet to be released by ]. Katz issued the video via a private link to a SITE web page to White House counsel ], and Joel Bagnal, deputy assistant to the president for homeland security. Within minutes, computers registered to various parts of the ] began downloading the video, and within hours a transcript referencing SITE had appeared on '']''. Katz had requested the web page remain confidential, and has reported that dissemination of this information tipped off her Al-Qaeda supporters who had since eliminated the ability of SITE to gather such information.<ref name ="washpost2">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =Leak Severed a Link to Al-Qaeda's Secrets | work = | publisher =The Washington Post | date =Oct. 9, 2007 | url =http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/08/AR2007100801817.html? | format = | doi = | accessdate =2007-10-09 }}</ref>


==Works== ==Works==
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* '''', (as Anonymous). Ecco, May 6, 2003. ISBN 0060528192 * '''', (as Anonymous). Ecco, May 6, 2003. ISBN 0060528192


===Articles=== ===Select articles===


*, '']'', with Josh Devon, August 11, 2002 *, '']'', with Josh Devon, August 11, 2002
*, '']'', with Josh Devon, August 20, 2002 *, '']'', with Josh Devon, August 20, 2002
*, ''National Review'', with Josh Devon, September 17, 2002
*, ''National Review'', with Josh Devon, March 20, 2003
*, ''National Review'', with Josh Devon, March 20, 2003
*, ''National Review'', with Josh Devon, May 27, 2003
*, ''National Review'', with Josh Devon, July 14, 2003


==Sources== ==Sources==

Revision as of 08:39, 31 January 2010

Rita Katz
Born1963 (age 61–62)
Basra, Iraq
Alma materTel Aviv University
OccupationTerrorism analyst
EmployerSITE Institute

Rita Katz (born 1963, Basra, Iraq) is a terrorism analyst and the co-founder of the SITE Institute, a private intelligence firm based in Washington, DC, which focuses on tracking global terrorist networks, and intercepting and distributing secret messages, videos, and advance warnings of suicide bombings from the terrorist group's communications networks.

Early life

Katz, a fluent Arabic speaker, was born in Basra in 1963 to a well-to-do Iraqi Jewish family. After the Six Day War, in 1968 her father was arrested on charges of spying for Israel, and the rest of the family put under house arrest. The following year, after having been tortured, Katz's father was convicted and executed in a public hanging in the central square of Baghdad to the roaring applause of more than half a million Iraqis. Katz's mother managed to escape on foot with her three small children to Iran, and from there made their way to Israel.

While in Israel, Katz served in the Israeli Defense Forces and studied politics and history at Tel Aviv University. She later married a medical student and in 1997 came to the United States with her husband, who received a National Institutes of Health fellowship.

Career

In October 2007, it was revealed that Katz had discovered, and issued to the Bush Administration, a copy of an Osama bin Laden video which had yet to be released by Al-Qaeda. Katz issued the video via a private link to a SITE web page to White House counsel Fred F. Fielding, and Joel Bagnal, deputy assistant to the president for homeland security. Within minutes, computers registered to various parts of the Executive Branch began downloading the video, and within hours a transcript referencing SITE had appeared on Fox News. Katz had requested the web page remain confidential, and has reported that dissemination of this information tipped off her Al-Qaeda supporters who had since eliminated the ability of SITE to gather such information.

Works

Book

Select articles

Sources

References

  1. "Keeping an Eye on Al Qaeda". Newsweek. Sept. 11, 2007. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. Joby Warrick (Sept. 12, 2007). "Bin Laden, Brought to You by ..." The Washington Post. pp. A01. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  3. Glick, Caroline B., "A personal jihad", Jerusalem Post, July 25, 2003, accessed January 31, 2010
  4. Wallace-Wells, Benjamin (May 29, 2006). "Private Jihad: How Rita Katz got into the spying business". The New Yorker. Retrieved 2007-10-09. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  5. "Leak Severed a Link to Al-Qaeda's Secrets". The Washington Post. Oct. 9, 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-09. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
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