I told you.

At least it was Google Earth and not that controversial mushroom cloud mapping tool that shows nuke blast effects in Washington.

 

You realize that this is Google Earth, not Google Street walk right? And that there are several programs, some that were around way before Google Earth, that give you access to sat. photos for free? I remember using some program in 2002 that had better resolution than Google Earth does now...

 

Of course I realize. It doesn't matter. Google Earth was clearly a potential security risk from the start and this proves that. You do realize that the aerial view is one of the best when planning an offensive, right? Heck, If street view is available for a certain area one can use both at the same time to get two views at different angles. They can do it all from the comfort of a computer without even having telegraphed their position and risk being compromised. They could be a terrorist, they could be a burglar.

Other programs? Then those need to be inaccessible to the public as well just like some of us suggested for that nuclear devastation tool. You get it now?

Your argument is “well, a motivated group will get it regardless.” Maybe so... but at least inaccessibility to a user-friendly program with the capabilities of Google Earth could buy our defenses (Homeland security) a ton of time in drawing connections and eventually finding these people. These terrorists maybe never heard of the other program you speak of. I didn’t. So maybe they’d end-up having to go through a channel for such photos that raises red flags?

 

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&c...photos&spell=1


I guess we should just shut down the Google search engine as well. Or better yet, the internet. I mean...I saw the Anarchists Cookbook online when I was in middle school...I'm sorry you're scared, but limiting access to online tools like this is a very unrealistic suggestion.

 

I understand your point. I still think my point of accessibility to intel and time is valid. If an organization had questionable technology accessible to only a 1000 people then the odds are slim that any of those people are terrorists. Now let's assume this same organization let's the public know of this technology by buying a 30 second block during the SuperBowl. It’s a kick to the nuts for our homeland defenses.

But I still don't see how an aerial view of an Airport and other potential targets is necessary. The anarchists cookbook was just a matter of time. All it took was a little redneck ingenuity and amateur level physics/chemistry know-how. You'd need a fuel-hungry, hugely expensive helicopter or plane with good equipment to take aerial shots around the globe or a specific target. Short of a satellite, you couldn't get an aerial view of an airport with a private helicopter for airspace reasons.