WASHINGTON — Pro-Assad computer hackers today broke into the Marine Corps recruiting website, redirecting visitors to a screed that called President Barack Obama “a traitor who wants to put your lives in danger to rescue al- Qaida insurgents.”
A Marine Corps spokesman confirmed that the site, marines.com, was tampered with and redirected temporarily, but no information was put at risk.
Capt. Eric Flanagan wouldn’t say who was responsible for the hacking, but the site was redirected to a message from the Syrian Electronic Army, a hacker group that’s claimed responsibility for disrupting the New York Times website, Twitter and other media sites the group sees as sympathetic to Syria’s rebels.
President Barack Obama is seeking congressional approval for U.S. military intervention in Syria in response to the suspected August chemical weapons attack on Syrian rebels who are trying to oust Syrian President Bashar Assad from power.
The full message as it appeared on the redirected site is below:
This is a message written by your brothers in the Syrian Army, who have been fighting al-Qaida for the last 3 years. We understand your patriotism and love for your country so please understand our love for ours. Obama is a traitor who wants to put your lives in danger to rescue al- Qaida insurgents.
Marines, please take a look at what your comrades think about Obama’s alliance with al-Qaida against Syria. Your officer in charge probably has no qualms about sending you to die against soldiers just like you, fighting a vile common enemy. The Syrian army should be your ally not your enemy.
Refuse your orders and concentrate on the real reason every soldier joins their military, to defend their homeland. You’re more than welcome to fight alongside our army rather than against it.
Your brothers, the Syrian army soldiers. A message delivered by the SEA”