[Ashamed Canadian]

It's always great to be extra cautious, but I have a hard time believing that terrorists are smart enough to utilise GPS. I mean, the 9-11 attacks were a very crude undertaking. Effective, unfortunately, but crude. It is good not to underestimate the enemy though.

I still maintain the west will win this war because we are, and always will be, smarter than these people.

[Filterhead]

I believe that the 9-11 terrorists used GPS on the planes to find their targets. I bring my GPS on the plane whenever I travel & you can see actual streets. All they would have to do is mark waypoints on the ground and then fly toward them.

[TheCornerOffice]

...I have a hard time believing that terrorists are smart enough to utilise GPS.

You've got to be kidding. If they are so technically inept, why can't we track down the exact source of postings to Jihadi internet sites (like the Bin Laden tape just posted)?

As for 9-11, they did have to learn how to fly those planes to have any chance of success in their final goals for that day, and they methodically did just that. Why should learning to use GPS be any different?

As you said, it's never a good idea to underestimate your enemy.

[Reeses]

I have a hard time believing that terrorists are smart enough to utilise GPS.

From the wobbly flight paths taken by the 911 terrorists, you are right, they were not using GPS equipment.

I read they practiced with Microsoft Flight Simulator though. Bill Gate's potential powers of observation are incredible. Unless a user turns it off, Media Player reports back to Bill's servers everything someone plays. I'd be curious to know what he knows. Also, Bill has gotten suspiciously talented at tracking down virus writers. Hmmmm.

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

And because we are fighting for freedom and life, not enslavement and a culture of death.

[all4one]

At some point after 9/11, there were stories about GPS transponders that were found in buildings adjacent to the WTC area. They were somehow linked to the hijackers being able to redirect the planes to the correct coordinates to hit the buildings. I am sure that someone here at FR recalls this info., or has articles from that time that back-up my recollection.

[Travis McGee]

Anybody can use commercial off the shelf aviation and marine GPS navigation gear to steer a plane or cruise missile to a target. This equipment is standard for boats and planes, it links the autopilot to the GPS. You just put in the exact coordinates, and tell the boat or plane to go to that "waypoint." And it will. Even if the plane is a Learjet loaded with explosives, and the "waypoint" is the Whitehouse.

[rabidralph]

I believe the Marines found GPS equipment in Fallujah when they were doing their raids last month.

[Ditto]

I still maintain the west will win this war because we are, and always will be, smarter than these people.

It is always a mistake, sometimes a fatal mistake, to underestimate your enemy. These Islamonazis may be crazy, but they aren't dumb.

[Terabitten]

It's always great to be extra cautious, but I have a hard time believing that terrorists are smart enough to utilise GPS.

How smart do you have to be to buy a $100 GPS receiver from Wal-mart?

That said, they don't have the technology to truly use GPS as a guidance system. It only tells you where you are.