Posted on 01/12/2007 6:38:39 PM PST by blam
Terrorists 'use Google maps to hit UK troops'
By Thomas Harding in Basra
Last Updated: 2:06am GMT 13/01/2007
Royal Green Jackets provide ‘top cover’ from their Bulldog armoured vehicle outside Basra Palace
Terrorists attacking British bases in Basra are using aerial footage displayed by the Google Earth internet tool to pinpoint their attacks, say Army intelligence sources.
Documents seized during raids on the homes of insurgents last week uncovered print-outs from photographs taken from Google.
The satellite photographs show in detail the buildings inside the bases and vulnerable areas such as tented accommodation, lavatory blocks and where lightly armoured Land Rovers are parked.
Written on the back of one set of photographs taken of the Shatt al Arab Hotel, headquarters for the 1,000 men of the Staffordshire Regiment battle group, officers found the camp's precise longitude and latitude.
"This is evidence as far as we are concerned for planning terrorist attacks," said an intelligence officer with the Royal Green Jackets battle group. "Who would otherwise have Google Earth imagery of one of our bases?
"We are concerned that they use them to plan attacks. We have never had proof that they have deliberately targeted any area of the camp using these images but presumably they are of great use to them.
"We believe they use Google Earth to identify the most vulnerable areas such as tents."
One soldier has been killed in the past six months following a mortar attack and there have been several injuries.
Since the maps were found intelligence chiefs have been keeping track of where rounds land to see if the insurgents are using them to pinpoint weakly protected areas.
The British camps experience mortar and rocket attacks on a daily basis.
Salvos are fired from up to four miles away and are increasingly accurate.
Yesterday three rounds were fired into Basra Palace at a block close to where The Daily Telegraph was staying. No one was injured.
Intelligence sources also believe that the insurgents are receiving more training and weaponry from Iran to improve their fighting skills. But the British are gathering more intelligence on mortar crews and launching several "strike operations" to detain the operators.
Anyone with the internet can sign up to Google Earth and by simply typing in the name of a location they can receive very detailed imagery down to identifying types of vehicles.
The company is one of several internet outlets that buy aerial imagery, usually taken by aircraft but sometimes by satellite, from governments or mapping companies.
It is unclear how old the maps are but it is believed the Basra images were made within the past two years.
Major Charlie Burbridge, the British military spokesman in Iraq, said: "We take the security of our bases very seriously and we constantly review the means to provide secure accommodation for our soldiers.
"There is a constant threat of reconnaissance missions to access our bases and using these internet images is just another method of how this is conducted."
A Google spokesman said the information could be used for "good and bad" and was available to the public in many forms. "Of course we are always ready to listen to governments' requests," he said.
"We have opened channels with the military in Iraq but we are not prepared to discuss what we have discussed with them. But we do listen and we are sensitive to requests."
There have also been reports that the images are being sold to rogue militias in the market place in Basra.
The British security services are concerned that terrorists will be able to examine in detail sensitive infrastructure such as electricity stations, military basis, and their own headquarters in London.
Soldiers from the Royal Green Jackets based at the Basra Palace base said they had considered suing Google Earth if they were injured by mortar rounds that had been directed on the camp by the aerial footage.
"Even if they did blank out the areas where we are based it is a bit after the horse has bolted as the terrorist now have the maps and know exactly where we eat, sleep and go to the toilet," one soldier said.
Henceforth, all forms of navigational instruments shall become illegal. Yup, that will fix the problem!
Or military can now sleep easily, knowing that they will no longer come under attack.
Time that the Brits realize, though, that their worst enemies live down the street from them. Very likely, the people who use Google Earth are working in Britain and sending this info to their 'brothers' in Baghdad.
If you ever have actually done precise location work using compasses or other manual means, you would be aware of how absurd that statement is...
There is no reason for google to have the most recent photos on their database for a war zone.
Additionally, spoofing was the standard for many years (offsetting coordinates by random amounts, available only to the military, if required), and there is no reason for that not to be the case with the images that google makes available to the public.
I can't think of any reason why updated photographs in a war zone should be available to the public.
Now don't confuse them with facts :)
If they are concerned about the location of the tents, then move the tents and put up a mosque there. The GE imagery is over two years old and static. Tents are somewhat mobile.
YEAH, you can't blame google for this -- it's the reality of the modern world.
Bullsh!t.
"Google Earth" still shows my red Bronco parked next to the barn - of the house we moved from 3 years ago!
And no, the new owner doesn't also park a red Bronco next to his barn!
 hg |
| "We believe they use Google Earth to identify the most vulnerable areas such as tents." Since the maps were found intelligence chiefs have been keeping track of where rounds land to see if the insurgents are using them to pinpoint weakly protected areas. I certainly hope the Brits thought to move the tents before they decided to keep track of incoming ordinance. A google satellite image of my home still shows my old dock that I replaced three years ago. This is a silly article. A boy standing on a hillside with a cell phone is more dependable than Google for calling in firing adjustments. It's not like these insurgents are running around with MinutemanIII missiles where the actual lat-lon would come in handy. |
Google or no google, fixed positions are not wise anyway.
no they are typically a year or more old but don't let facts get in the way of a good story...
"There is no reason for google to have the most recent photos on their database for a war zone."
They don't, this article is crap.
My Name is Jeff Davis and I agree with this speaker. http://www.box.net/public/todikmblcy
Google is too big for their collective britches right now. It would be good practice to take out their satellite.
I'll add my agreement. In my neighborhood there are vacant lots shown that now have buildings and vice versa. Some of these shots are at least 2-3 years old. So, move the tents, lavatories, and Land Rovers more often!
"spoofing was the standard for many years (offsetting coordinates by random amounts, available only to the military, if required), and there is no reason for that not to be the case with the images that google makes available to the public.
I can't think of any reason why updated photographs in a war zone should be available to the public.'
That's right! I remember being told about 'spoofing!' If Google doesn't work with our people to help safeguard their material from being used by the wrong folks, well, it sure shows where their priorities are.
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