I know I am not a QP, so let me know if I am out of my lane. I thought I would add a few of my "go-to" sites when I do open source digging as an SF support intel weenie. I hope they are useful.
A note on the security aspect of open source...I would reccomend Steganos Security Suite and an Hide IP program as stated above. If you want to surf extremist sites you should first have a good firewall. Steganos has a great removable hard drive function with a password protect. I keep all of my files in this hard drive. Here is an article about the program---->
http://techgage.com/article/steganos...ty_suite_2006/
www.opensource.gov -Provides great current information from many different news media agencies all around the world. It can be a great tool for unclass updates on key personalities in different AO's
www.newssafety.com/index.htm -Great security breifings and up to date reports from around the world.
www.lingnet.org -Uses alot of DLI's material on area studies, languages, and cultural information.
http://fieldsupport.lingnet.org/ -Link off of the site above. Offers really good information on using foreign languages in the field (ex: search and seizure, cordon and search, raids, etc.) as well as cultural guides...much of the information is available for download.
www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm -Variety of breifings, reports, and products from all around the world.
https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications...ook/index.html -I'm sure everyone already knows about CIA world factbook.
http://www.aims.org.af/ -Great information about Afghanistan including hundreds and hundreds of maps.
http://worldatlas.com/ -Pretty good general information about countries (good for country studies)
http://www.cdc.gov/ -CDC webpage. Great info on diseases. Why go on an op knowing nothing about what diseases are rampant and how to avoid contracting them?
http://dmoz.org/ -Good links page (click on regional. It will have every region of the world split up with every country available...great for general information on countries i.e. weather, transportation, agriculture, disease, etc.)
http://www.state.gov -state dept. webpage. Good for general knowledge.