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Spy Satellite Photos Used To Fight Drug Smugglers

Hugh Pickens writes "The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, part of the Department of Defense, is using satellites to track the activities of drug cartels operating along the US-Mexican border. The agency is supplying photos to pinpoint Mexican narcotics operations and anticipate smuggling attempts into the United States. During a conference on border security held in Phoenix last week, Scott Zikmanis said his agency already has supplied some data to the El Paso Intelligence Center, a federal clearinghouse for investigating drug cartels. Any border-security surveillance will be done over Mexico, not the US says Zikmanis because a federal law, the Posse Comitatus Act, strictly limits US military operations on American soil unless such operations are authorized by Congress. Civil rights attorneys question the use of satellite technology in law enforcement. 'We are in the midst of a really dangerous time in terms of technology,' said Chris Calabrese, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union. 'The idea that such a powerful tool might be turned on US citizens is really troubling.'"

6 of 381 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Military required? by cayenne8 · · Score: 5, Funny
    "Some people are expressing concerns about Mexico's stability in the face of drug-cartel related violence."

    If that's the case, why doesn't the US just annex MX? I mean, we've already got about half the people here, why shouldn't we get the real estate too? Nice beaches, etc....

    :)

    --
    Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
  2. query: by UncleTogie · · Score: 2, Funny

    Did we check to see that US military flights over another sovereign nation would be OK with them?

    --
    Don't tell me to get a life. I'm a gamer; I have LOTS of lives!
  3. Re:Military required? by Hognoxious · · Score: 5, Funny

    Nice beaches

    Sexist bastard!

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  4. Damn by Kohath · · Score: 2, Funny

    I knew we shouldn't have run the whole drug-smuggling operation on the roof.

    At least all of our communications were done inside, on the phone. Those should be safe.

  5. Re:LUSIK by s73v3r · · Score: 3, Funny

    Don't sugar coat it. Tell him how you really feel.

  6. Re:Military required? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Make it expensive to hire illegals and they'll stop coming.

    How are you going to make it expensive to do something illegal? Are you going to pass a law?