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U.S. Forces In Iraq Ban GPS Phones
Brian Enigma writes "According to a report last night on NPR and these two articles, Central Command has banned a particular satellite phone from reporters. It seems that it not only has a GPS--to help locate which satellite to use--but also (if activated) transmits the users location back to the phone company. Eavesdropping this signal is nontrivial, but still possible."
In related news, embedded reporters are also being instructed not to carry Iraqi homing beacons, or gigantic signs saying ``US Troops Here ----->>''
I mean, why is this news?
<sarcasm> Oh yes. You can tell that's a serious and accurate site from the article on the front page claiming they have a working anti-gravity device. </sarcasm>
"Officers have ordered me to hand my phone in and I am giving it to one of the officers," correspondent Matthew Green said.
In a related story, the U.S. military seems to have growing concerns that the printing inks used in reporters' copies of Maxim and the smoke from reporters marijuana cigarettes could be detected by sophisticated equipment in Iraqi possesion.
"Officers have ordered me to hand my copies of Maxim and my marijuana cigarettes in and I am giving them to one of the officers," correspondent Matthew Green said.
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Believe me, I'm as surprised by my comment as you are.
"And why shouldn't they?"
There isn't a reason they shouldn't. They're doing the right thing. I think the point of posting this story was to rile up the knee-jerk "banning technology is oppression!" ppl. It's kind of like running into a crowd of Mac people, putting on a helmet, and shouting "3 gigahertz!!"
*hoping the mods are open to a little humor today*
I don't know, I played red-alert 2. those russians have alot of technologies we don't have... now where the hell are our chrono troops?
THE WORLD IS GOING TO END!!!! eventually.
More on this breaking story as it happens. Coming up next, How to eat all the fat and preservatives you want and still lose 40lbs a day.
I'm a little tea pot.
which part of the camel do they use to trace those GPS signals? maybe it's that advanced sand technology...
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"In times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act."
-- George Orwell
First, I think you have to realize that certain press people are with certain American forces using a certain technology...hint hint.
Second, just because the government doesn't tell everyone its intentions behind mandates doesn't mean there is a huge conspiracy behind it. What if Washington were honest in its intent to pusue justice and freedom for the Iraqi people? Whoah! Perhaps there are people in power who actually care about oppressed people and
Americans who are risking their lives to stop it!!!
Or going to the Annual "Big Science Thing" and shouting "Pi is exactly 3!"
So this is why these reporters are always being attacked whenever they go to make a report by phone.
There are a thousand forms of subversion, but few can equal the convenience and immediacy of a cream pie -Noel Godin
>they picked the crankiest, self-rightious, blabbermouthiest population of poeple in the western world.
actually it looks like they missed one.