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Iraq Emerges From Isolation As Telecommunications Hub
New submitter jamaicaplain sends this quote from an article in the NY Times:
"Iraq, cut off from decades of technological progress because of dictatorship, sanctions and wars, recently took a big step out of isolation and into the digital world when its telecommunications system was linked to a vast new undersea cable system serving the Gulf countries. The engineers who designed and installed the cable that made shore in Al-Faw, near Basra, had to deal with an unusual number of challenges. There were more than 100 oil and natural gas pipelines to cross; stretches of shallow water where the cable had to be buried; and unexploded ordnance from the Iraq war that had to be avoided. ... Because of the crisis in Syria and the tensions over Iran, the possibility of routing traffic via Iraq has suddenly become more attractive to telecommunications operators. ... 'Iraq has a very strong strategic position to become a transit point for traffic between Europe and Asia.'"
And whats the betting the pipe conveniently has a US Intel feed monitoring all the data. A way to spy on Europe, without having to get permission to tap into the European pipes directly
Obviously, this was going to happen. The US forces ran a ton of fiber to Iraq to support their own operations. When we left, we gave it back. Iraq would be stupid not to utilize the new optical links to generate some cash.
For a source of electricity you want solar, wind and a steam engine plus generator where you can fire anything that burns. Usually wood.
Since Iraq is US controlled, that means that Homeland Security is likely to put a communications monitor system on the hub site. So, so much for routing around US observation...
The Middle East's new "Telecommunications Hub" is a country that spent the past decade under the rule of a nation that has no qualms about over electronically spying on its own citizens without a warrant?
I'm sure everyone in the region would by dying to hop on-board and use their service.
Seems like a lot of hassle to get them Internet. Why can't they use satellites in space, and transmit with laser technology, It's been available for a decade now.
-- By all means let's be open-minded, but not so open-minded that our brains drop out.
does all the fiber go through the US Embassy?
I bet they cut the cable a month after getting their first DSL bill.
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Depends on where you plan on living.
They key to a survival compound is your ability to reach it as such having it on adjacent property does sound like a good course of action.
Black licorice, lots and lots of black licorice, you can never have enough.
A pea shooter and a very heavy door.
Solar, and any excess electricity should be stored as hydrogen.
Don't know something? Look it up. Still don't know? Then ask.
After we spend billions arming and installing what can only be described as the Middle East's classiest dictator ever (ah the 80s), we were forced to spend years of diplomatic man hours sanctioning you senseless (the roaring 90s), then finally something like $1 trillion literally removing your precious, regional Hitler by force....How about a little thanks for (possibly) becoming the 4th most used telecommunications go-between for European and Asian (countries that matter) communication? We've already got our oil firms pumping all that pesky oil for you. Is there anything else we can do for you, ingrates?? You never had it so good.
> Do you think home values are at their minimum?
Not even close. Your remaining questions are moot.
Do you think home values are at their minimum?
Home values in Iraq are definitely at a minimum. In fact, you can probably find an abandoned property for free.
Do you think purchasing adjacent property as a survival compound is wise?
Yes.. if you have the money, purchase lots of land around your home and put up a concrete blocks. This will help keep out the suicide bombers.
What types of items would you stock it with? What type of armament(s) would you suggest?
automatic weapons, bullet proof vests.. maybe night vision goggles so you can watch out for terrorists during the night.
As a backup source of electricity, is a generator the most practical thing or would you do solar (or wind)?
Oh, you'll definitely need a generator. Iraq gets about 4-6 hours of electricity a day. Don't forget gas for your generator.
Q - Do you think home values are at their minimum?
A - It depends on where you want to buy, I suggest the UK or Switzerland, since they are both politically stable. Lots of Russian and 3rd World Oligarchs are buying there. The rest of Europe (except for the tax havens of Andorra, Monaco, and San Marino) don't look so good for price appreciation.
Q - Do you think purchasing adjacent property as a survival compound is wise?
A - Why, are you really expecting the Zombie Apocalypse?
Q - What types of items would you stock it with?
A - The usual, furniture, a flat screen TV, and a well stocked bar.
Q - What type of armament(s) would you suggest?
A - I'd put a properly trained Infantry squad on retainer. It frees up room in the house. That armory can now be a wine cellar. Of course, always keep a good shotgun around for home defense/duck shooting off the deck.
Q - As a backup source of electricity, is a generator the most practical thing or would you do solar (or wind)?
A - Both, generators are cheap enough to have around unless you want something over 15 kW.
In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is usually crucified.
"and unexploded ordnance from the Iraq war that had to be avoided"
Since this is an undersea cable I can only assume they are referring to Navel Mines... They are still bobbing about? Crazy.
'There were more than 100 oil and natural gas pipelines to cross'
'Iraq has a very strong strategic position to become a transit point'
The country is weak due to cutlural conflicts, so the world powers are taking advantage of the weakness and sucking the oil out for a discount, yet it's stable enough for a strategic information depot?
Yeah, well, I know what you mean. What with both Jewish and Arab ancestors, an unreasonably optimistic and giving American upbringing, and a long time working for the UN in the middle east, you would think that I would have some hope or sympathy for those involved. Instead, I came back to America with a distinctly hardened attitude.
Fuck 'em. Palestinians and Jews? They deserve each other. They spew vitriol, kill each others' children, stomp on each others' houses, spit on the others' religion, steal, ruin, and dig, dig, dig to make the problems worse. Never have I found a culture so resistant to conflict resolution from within and without. As individuals, I found both cultures to have deep, compassionate, intelligent individuals. As a collective, each culture was a barbaric, disgusting amalgam of loathing and greed, worthy only of being stomped out of existence then glassed in as an enduring and visible warning to others. They'll do it to themselves; I just with they would do it faster.
The prophet Mohammed cut the sleeve off his robe to avoid disturbing a sleeping cat.
Why do you think the USA tortures Muslims with dogs, eh? Using a dog on an observant Muslim is like force-feeding an Orthodox Jew pig's blood. Totally not kidding. We do this to break them psychologically.
Anyone with the slightest knowledge of world affairs knows this.
You mentioned Israel because you are too much of a chicken to go after the perps alone, and try to demonstrate a (warped) sense of justice by putting them on the same pedestal. It's no different from a school teacher punishing 2 kids - one of who's being bullied by the other and fights in self defense - equally. It's called moral equivalency, and is particularly a bankrupt approach when it comes to Muslims and any other religious groups.
Like it or not, Israel is the only country in the region that guarantees minorities their rights, despite being a Jewish state. Nazareth for instance, is dominated by Muslims - under the Palestinian propaganda narrative, they should have all fled this 'racist, apartheid state'. But nobody is fleeing Israel for Muslim countries, whereas Christians have fled Iraq and now fleeing Syria and Egypt, while Jews are fleeing Tunisia.
The real problem is all Muslim countries, whether in the Middle East or elsewhere. Philippines is not a part of the Middle East, but they too are battling a Muslim insurrection in Mindanao. Thailand is not a part of the Middle East, but they too are battling a Malay separatist movement in South Thailand. Mali just lost Timbuktoo to some Taureg Jihadis, who are now bent on driving out the few Christians there, and in Nigeria, there is a civil war on to impose Shariah law on the entire country. It's all over the Islamosphere.
There would have been no problem had cable been laid in Israel - in fact, I can bet you that unlike in this case of Iraq, it wouldn't even be news. There is a major reason that Israel has been a major technology hub, while none of its neighbors are.
I'm neither a Jew nor Christian nor Muslim, but Jews get along fine with other people, whether in Israel, US, Europe or anywhere else. Muslims, on the other hand, not only don't get along with non Muslims - they can't even tolerate other sects, which is why you have Shia-Sunni wars, Shia persecuting Bahai, Sunnis persecuting Ahmadiyas, and so on.
"The image this title brings to mind is of a mighty military commander, one who can at a mere word summon rank upon rank of protective power" from -> What is or does the Lord of Hosts means? http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081010142651AAPvMox in regards to this -> http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=2783135&cid=39696975 where u failed badly.
before the religious conservatives in Iraq decide to start censoring their internet.