Websites and Internet newsgroups have, as usual, been a breeding ground for all sorts of rumours; some of these are described elsewhere on this page.

While conventional news operations have pulled out the stops and thrown massive energy into covering the angles on this story, the Internet has also been buzzing with information and discussion. Often it has been a useful supplement to the necessarily limited range that's available in newspapers and broadcasts.

And all over the world, people who are opposed to US foreign policy, or are concerned about the violent response that is being planned in Afghanistan or elsewhere, have been turning to the Internet for news and views from that particular angle. "Dissenting" websites have been a growth industry of this crisis.

Counterpunch.org, for example, is the website of a monthly US newsletter; it usually posts one or two articles each week. Lately it has featured five or six a day, from experts, journalists and activists all over the world. Other newly buzzing sites include antiwar.com, nowarcollective.com, commondreams.org and thenation.com. In best Internet fashion, most of them encourage debate and interaction.