And you thought you had bad cable service
Maybe while Jack Bauer is waiting around for the next season of “24″ to take shape (interesting WSJ story on that here, btw), he could look into what the heck is suddenly happening with undersea communications cables in the vicinity of the Middle East. Last Wednesday, two cables in the Mediterranean responsible for 75 percent of the Internet capacity connecting the Middle East and Europe were severed, disrupting traffic from Egypt to India. OK, this sort of thing happens all the time, and the likely culprit was thought to be a dragging anchor. Then Friday, a third cable was cut, this one off the coast of Dubai. Hmm. Then yesterday, authorities revealed a fourth cable, also off the UAE, had been damaged Friday, and the Egyptian transport ministry said on-shore video cameras showed no ship traffic within 12 hours where the first cuts occurred. Double-hmm.
Industry experts say it’s curious, all right, but almost certainly the sort of coincidence that will happen in a complex system over time. But human nature much prefers conspiracy over coincidence, and those so inclined are working hard to figure out a plot in which this would all make sense.
Given the increase in electronic warfare (see Russia vs. Estonia in 2007), and the value of global communications to commerce, it would seem only a matter of time before undersea fiber cables would become greater targets of espionage. Unlike the Cold War, where intercepting communications from cables (see C.I.A.’s “Ivy Bells” underwater cable tap) was the primary mission, today’s environment seems to suggest something more destructive (meaning that I don’t believe that this is the work of overly aggressive sharks…)
“Industry experts say it’s curious, all right, but almost certainly the sort of coincidence that will happen in a complex system over time.”
The operative words here are “over time”! Given enough time, all cables will have been cut. The industry comment is meaningless drivel. When you get this many cuts in a matter of week or so, even someone not versed in statistics can tell you something seems afoot here.
You can choose to believe that it is a random event, but it does seem a bit odd that all of these cable are connecting the very same parts of the world, i.e., the Middle East and India. Hmm. Also, many financial transactions flow between Dubai and the Emirates through India and Europe. Hmm. I suspect foul play.
Things are going to get ugly. This could get retaliatory. Any serious frogman can cut a cable. ROV’s can do it. That cable was only 4 miles from land. What a great way to cancel internet discussion with the world, when the “Evil Empire” retaliates against the West!
If the Democrats elect a President and overwhelming majority in Congress (22 Republicans have decided to quit already), then there’s only one thing to do: another Pearl Harbor.
Let’s see: Compressed air cut-off grinder? Check. Two tanks to swim four miles? Check. GPS? Check. Folding shovel? Check.
Glub, glub, bubble bubble. Success!
Back to the beach.
Or… you could read Richard Clark’s (yes, THAT Richard Clark) novel “Breakpoint”… chapter 1 shares with us the same scenario.. with the plot becoming more nefarious as following chapters unfold…. Sinister and chilling consequences are identified as internet traffic and communication capabilities linking markets, network centric operations, and government processes are impacted…. Is the Truth really stranger than Fiction?? Or, is Fiction road-mapping our future Truths?? It’s a read for all avid conspiracy theorists…
Hmmm…
I say just “google it”
It appears that the “Evil Empire’ is already on the job and this may the preview of the things to happen in near future. How are we going to protect these under-the-sea Communication ‘Super Highways’? It is now high time that all the countries think together seriously about this and come up with solid the preventive measures. Otherwise another 9/11 for Communication Super Highways may not be far off.
Who benefits from this?
It stands to reason, the longer the cable the more that will go wrong with it.
Keep high tech jobs in US. Shorter cable, fewer problems.
How hard would it be for Al-Khida to get an old Soviet sub and equip it for this kind of thing. Sounds like just the kind of thing they like to do.