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U.S. Makes Plans for GPS Shutdown

sailforsingapore writes "Apparently, President Bush is drawing up plans to disable sections of the GPS network in the event of a terrorist attack. The rationale seems to be that it would prevent said terrorists from using the GPS system to direct some sort of attack. The plan would shut down access not only to the GPS satellite network, but projects like the EU's Galileo. Ironically, this comes alongside the President's plan to strengthen the GPS network against deliberate jamming."

4 of 945 comments (clear)

  1. Isn't this already in place? by Wolfhart · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    And I thought GPS for US soldiers was already out of order considering they're currently in Iraq, when Usama Bin Forgotten was last seen in Afghanistan.

  2. Re:Incorrect: Understand the way it's shut off by MightyMartian · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    By the way, there is a narrow difference between outright imperialism and the pseudo-imperialism where you place a "soverign" but for all intents and purposes puppet government in power and tie the economy of the country to your own corporations while maintaining a massive military presence. The only people who are fooled by this difference are the ones doing it. It's not even pseudo-imperialism. The Romans used this kind of imperialism, notably in Palestine (with Xmas so close, folks ought to recall Herod). In the case of the Romans, it was to assure at least some loyalty from a restive province. That's pretty much why the Americans are trying the same thing in Iraq. People can make believe all they want what's going on, but the American occupation of Iraq is no different than the Roman occupation of Palestine or Napoleon's occupation of Spain. In both cases the imperialist power found itself embroiled in some pretty nasty business, though Rome's solution was simply to start evicting Jews. The Americans can't hope to start evicting Arabs from Iraq, so it looks a lot like the Spanish resistance to Napoleonic France (they weren't so dumb either, recognizing that the "local" government was run by Napoleon's brother as a puppet of the French Empire). If that's the road the US is going down, then it's going to learn all sorts of new definitions of pain and suffering. It would be helpful if, at some point, real history was taught in American schools so that those going out to vote could better understand that there is truly nothing new under the sun, and that every step in this ludicrous journey to Mesopotomia has been trodden before.

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    The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
  3. Re:Incorrect: Understand the way it's shut off by hypnagogue · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    A telling moment for me was in the debates, when Kerry said it was important to demonstrate that we had no long-term designs on the Middle East. Bush made no comment. Probably because if he had, the obvious rebuttle would have mentioned the huge permament military bases we're building in Iraq.

    That same argument could be used to prove that America has colonized Germany. America is not imperialistic -- it's only interested in self-defense. There is a difference. If we were imperialistic, the oil fields of Iraq would be pumping out America's New Source of Free Oil.

    Bah. Humbug. Etc.

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    Liberty you never use is liberty you lose.
  4. Re:Incorrect: Understand the way it's shut off by Chris+Burke · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    That same argument could be used to prove that America has colonized Germany.

    No, because that isn't the whole argument.

    America is not imperialistic -- it's only interested in self-defense. There is a difference.

    How was invading Iraq self-defensive? I mean truly, not what we were duped into believing initially.

    If we were imperialistic, the oil fields of Iraq would be pumping out America's New Source of Free Oil.

    Never Free. Oil from Texas isn't free, you know. But let me ask you a question: Which is more reliable, the flow of oil from Iraq or the electricity in Baghdad? Which was secured first, the streets of Iraqi cities or the oil fields? Watch how the price of oil fluctuates with the security situation in Iraq, specifically regarding the pipelines. Consider how Iraq's output helps ensure that oil continues to be bought and sold in U.S. dollars. Then consider what happens if Peak Oil occurs before the Hydrogen Economy (or whatever), and whether it'd be advantageous to have a large military presence on top of the world's second largest oil reserve.

    Making sense yet?

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    The enemies of Democracy are