Cell phones were rebels’ downfall -Russians gather key information through hostages

msnbc.com ^ | MOSCOW, Oct. 26 | Preston Mendenhall

[InvisibleChurch]

MOSCOW, Oct. 26 — During their three-day siege of a Moscow theater, Chechen terrorists allowed hundreds of hostages to use personal cell phones to reassure their family members and relay new demands. What they didn’t know, officials here say, was that Russia’s security services were on the other end listening and gathering information crucial to ending the hostage crisis.

[InvisibleChurch]

Inri

[ChadGore]

Putin rocks.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Cell phone........don't leave home without it.........

[Maximum Leader]

This is the kind of story which I wish we didn't see in the newspapers. Now the next time there is a hostage situation, the first thing the terrorists will do (assuming they read this article) is collect all the cell phones.

[Slyfox]

Now that Putin has had a good taste of terrorism closeup, I wonder if he will be helping us out any as we fight Saddam.

[Slyfox]

Or will he think that our fight is just about oil?

[Ken522]

You can be sure there will be another situation like this one, and they will collect the cell phones.

[valkyrieanne]

I don't think so. They thought the cell phones would help them control the hostages better.

What the wahoobis didn't figure out is how much information is passed along with a cellphone call.

[sheik yerbouty]

I think Putin is already onboard, and the diplomatic shuffle is to bamboozle the UN(not difficult)

[monday]

"This is the kind of story which I wish we didn't see in the newspapers. Now the next time there is a hostage situation, the first thing the terrorists will do (assuming they read this article) is collect all the cell phones."

Don't underestimate their stupidity. Most people already knew that cell phone transmissions can be monitored. Why didn't they?

[pepsionice]

One can never underestimate a Islamic idiots's stupidity. The Taliban wanted all cellphones destoryed...too much technology for them to understand.

Even if they walked around and attempted to collect all of the cellphones...these are so small now that they could have easily been hidden. And with the new wristwatch cellphones, no one would have figured out it was a cellphone.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Agreed!