Fifth Cable Cut To Middle East

You may have noticed a number of stories recently about undersea cables getting cut around the world. Apparently the total is now up to 5, but the scariest part of this is that Iran is now offline. You can also read Schneier's comments on this coincidence. Update: 02/06 17:42 GMT by Z : As a commenter notes, though the country of Iran is obviously experiencing some networking difficulties, it is not offline.

Comments

What they are thinking.

[suso]

Hmmm, let me see. Is this one it? No that's Syria. Is this it? No that's Saudi Arabia. Ah, here we go, Iran.

Re:Goldfinger meets Pogo

[SailorSpork]

Why can I picture George Dubbya Bush in a scuba suit, holding a giant pair of sheers and screaming "I'll cut off the terrorist's interweb tubes!"

How many?

[MBGMorden]

Didn't they say Iran was completely offline when the third cable was cut? Then I hear a fourth cable was and they were "now they're offline"! Now there's a fifth cable cut and the news is saying "Now they're REALLY REALLY offline!". And yet it still appears that they are still not offline.

So, how many fscking cables do they have and can they please tell us exactly how many have to go down before I can't ping a single thing in Iran? I don't wanna go through this on the next 12 cables . . .

Re:How many?

[gingerTabs]

So, how many fscking cables do they have and can they please tell us exactly how many have to go down before I can't ping a single thing in Iran? I don't wanna go through this on the next 12 cables . . . Surely your military advisers would give you a better answer than /. George...

Obivously

[Joe U]

Obivously, it's to stop them from downloading Truecrypt 5.

Re:Iran has NOT "offline"

[unbug]

A quick perusal of, e.g., newspaper web sites in Iran finds every one I have tried working fine, including all state-run media. As is the web site of the Government of Iran and numerous other government and press web sites physically located in Iran. See for yourself. Jeez, if this goes on Iran will be offline - it will be slashdotted. But maybe that was the plan all along...

Egypt Loses Its Wireless Connectivity

[briggsb]

The conspiracy theorists just got more fodder. A low-flying plane cut Egypt's wireless Internet connectivity.

Re:Iran has NOT "offline"

[Rik Sweeney]

...and has NOT lost net connectivity.

Meanwhile, at the NWO headquarters:

Underling: "President Bush, Iran still isn't offline!"
Bush: "Dammit, Osama, what the fuck am I paying you for?"
Bin Laden: "Sorry Sir, I'll get right on it"
Elvis: "And get it right this time!"

Re:Goldfinger meets Pogo

[William-Ely]

The plot is much more sinister than we think. Step 1: Cut cables Step 2: Post story on Slashdot Step 3: Have everyone ping Iranian servers to death to prove story wrong Step 4: ??? Step 5: PROFIT!

Re:Except that Iran has NOT gone "offline"

[stonecypher]

So when the basic, sole premise and of the story is wrong, and by extension the clear implication, where do we go from there?

I'm not sure. Traditionally someone says something about Katz or Piquapille, but it's not so easy here.

Re:Goldfinger meets Pogo

[randyest]

Intact.

Unless you meant that the network is inside a small nail.

(Also their but I've just about given up on that one.)

Re:Iran has NOT "offline"

[Farhood]

just called some family (in Iran)...asked them if their 'net was up. they said yea...asked me if mine was up. I said no...damn comcast.

Re:Goldfinger meets Pogo

[Chris Burke]

I'm sure they meant that Iran's internal net infrastructure is turning into the wind.

Re:Goldfinger meets Pogo

[spidercoz]

Never give up! The illiterati must be destroyed, or at least beaten with a dictionary.