Tux of Borg Posted January 13, 2007 Share Posted January 13, 2007 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml...3/wgoogle13.xml Terrorists 'use Google maps to hit UK troops' By Thomas Harding in Basra Royal Green Jackets provide ‘top cover’ from their Bulldog armored vehicle outside Basra Palace Terrorists attacking British bases in Basra are using aerial footage displayed by the Google Earth internet tool to pinpoint their attacks, say Army intelligence sources. Documents seized during raids on the homes of insurgents last week uncovered print-outs from photographs taken from Google. The satellite photographs show in detail the buildings inside the bases and vulnerable areas such as tented accommodation, lavatory blocks and where lightly armored Land Rovers are parked. Written on the back of one set of photographs taken of the Shatt al Arab Hotel, headquarters for the 1,000 men of the Staffordshire Regiment battle group, officers found the camp's precise longitude and latitude. "This is evidence as far as we are concerned for planning terrorist attacks," said an intelligence officer with the Royal Green Jackets battle group. "Who would otherwise have Google Earth imagery of one of our bases? "We are concerned that they use them to plan attacks. We have never had proof that they have deliberately targeted any area of the camp using these images but presumably they are of great use to them. "We believe they use Google Earth to identify the most vulnerable areas such as tents." One soldier has been killed in the past six months following a mortar attack and there have been several injuries. Since the maps were found intelligence chiefs have been keeping track of where rounds land to see if the insurgents are using them to pinpoint weakly protected areas. The British camps experience mortar and rocket attacks on a daily basis. Salvos are fired from up to four miles away and are increasingly accurate. Yesterday three rounds were fired into Basra Palace at a block close to where The Daily Telegraph was staying. No one was injured. Intelligence sources also believe that the insurgents are receiving more training and weaponry from Iran to improve their fighting skills. But the British are gathering more intelligence on mortar crews and launching several "strike operations" to detain the operators. Anyone with the internet can sign up to Google Earth and by simply typing in the name of a location they can receive very detailed imagery down to identifying types of vehicles. The company is one of several internet outlets that buy aerial imagery, usually taken by aircraft but sometimes by satellite, from governments or mapping companies. It is unclear how old the maps are but it is believed the Basra images were made within the past two years. Major Charlie Burbridge, the British military spokesman in Iraq, said: "We take the security of our bases very seriously and we constantly review the means to provide secure accommodation for our soldiers. "There is a constant threat of reconnaissance missions to access our bases and using these internet images is just another method of how this is conducted." A Google spokesman said the information could be used for "good and bad" and was available to the public in many forms. "Of course we are always ready to listen to governments' requests," he said. "We have opened channels with the military in Iraq but we are not prepared to discuss what we have discussed with them. But we do listen and we are sensitive to requests." There have also been reports that the images are being sold to rogue militias in the market place in Basra. The British security services are concerned that terrorists will be able to examine in detail sensitive infrastructure such as electricity stations, military basis, and their own headquarters in London. Soldiers from the Royal Green Jackets based at the Basra Palace base said they had considered suing Google Earth if they were injured by mortar rounds that had been directed on the camp by the aerial footage. "Even if they did blank out the areas where we are based it is a bit after the horse has bolted as the terrorist now have the maps and know exactly where we eat, sleep and go to the toilet," one soldier said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UConn James Posted January 13, 2007 Share Posted January 13, 2007 Soldiers from the Royal Green Jackets based at the Basra Palace base said they had considered suing Google Earth if they were injured by mortar rounds that had been directed on the camp by the aerial footage. "Even if they did blank out the areas where we are based it is a bit after the horse has bolted as the terrorist now have the maps and know exactly where we eat, sleep and go to the toilet," one soldier said. Which is like suing the town I live if I get burglarized by thieves who use copies of the P&Z board's blueprints, which they have for every building in town. Are we going to stop teaching video production to everyone and burn all textbooks so Ayman and Osama won't be able to use our infrastructure? Govt and agencies have gone overboard since 9/11 denying access to even some of the most basic public records. Stupid response to smart enemies when you tear down your own democracy of information for a little safety. I wouldn't begrudge the blurring/blacking out of the layout of the compounds, bases, etc. (it probably is already done for some sensitive sites in the U.S.) for security purposes, but I would be loathe to wipe out the purpose for all the legit usage of GE. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted January 13, 2007 Share Posted January 13, 2007 Which is like suing the town I live if I get burglarized by thieves who use copies of the P&Z board's blueprints, which they have for every building in town. Are we going to stop teaching video production to everyone and burn all textbooks so Ayman and Osama won't be able to use our infrastructure? Govt and agencies have gone overboard since 9/11 denying access to even some of the most basic public records. Stupid response to smart enemies when you tear down your own democracy of information for a little safety. I wouldn't begrudge the blurring/blacking out of the layout of the compounds, bases, etc. (it probably is already done for some sensitive sites in the U.S.) for security purposes, but I would be loathe to wipe out the purpose for all the legit usage of GE. Exactly... The terrorists want a CLOSED society... And we are giving it to 'em... So in other words, aren't the terrorists winning in the long run? Out of every million people that act okay, there will always be one that knocks it all out of whack... Mainly because of the knee jerk reaction by the mutitudes in the first group... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
/dev/null Posted January 13, 2007 Share Posted January 13, 2007 I wouldn't begrudge the blurring/blacking out of the layout of the compounds, bases, etc. (it probably is already done for some sensitive sites in the U.S.) for security purposes I just GE'd some bases and you can zoom in pretty far *EDIT* Google Area 51 and see how far in you can zoom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted January 13, 2007 Share Posted January 13, 2007 I just GE'd some bases and you can zoom in pretty far *EDIT* Google Area 51 and see how far in you can zoom They don't want our captive aliens getting hurt... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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