Could We Beam Broadband Internet Into Iran?

abenamer writes "Some reporter at a recent White House press briefing just asked the White House press secretary, Robert Gibbs, this question: Was 'the White House....considering beaming broad capability into Iran via satellite so the opposition forces would be able to communicate with themselves and the outside world?' 'Gibbs said he didn't know such a thing was possible. (Is it?) But he said he would check on the technological feasibility and get back with an answer.' I'm not sure what the reporter meant by beaming broadband into Iran: Do they even have 3G? Would we bomb the Iranians with SIM cards that would allow them to get text messages from the VOA? Or somehow put up massive Wi-Fi transmitters from Iraq and beam it into Iran? How would you beam broadband into Iran?"

Comments

Re:Nokia / Siemens could provide an answer

[cellurl]

I have said it before and I say it now.
I am not voting in another US pres election until its done online. Any bank or CPA firm or pricewaterhouse could make it legit. Todays system is fraught with errors, not from the senior-citizens who administer it, but from the layers above who act in secrecy. I want a website where my ssn and vote are public record!

Re:Ummm

[icebrain]

the reason we helped them had absolutely zilch to do with altruism or genuine interest in their welfare or in the principles of democracy or anything high-minded, and instead had everything to do with our own self interest with complete disregard for how things turned out for them provided we got what we wanted

News flash: that's all countries have ever done. Countries do not act out of genuine altruism. Friends, neighbors, people in general might... but countries do not--especially if doing so is harmful to that self-interest. Only recently (relative to human history) have we seen the first truly "humanitarian" actions by nations; see relief efforts after the tsunami, Katrina, etc.

I'm not saying it's right or wrong, just that acting in pure self-interest is by far the rule for nation-states, not the exception.