Troops Worried About Popular Google Feature
Soldiers Worry About Insurgents Using Information
POSTED: 9:48 pm PDT August 11,
2005
UPDATED: 9:58 pm PDT August 11,
2005
SAN DIEGO -- A popular new feature on Google's Web site has troops in Iraq upset, NBC 7/39 reported on Thursday.The "Google Earth Program" has satellite maps from around the globe, where people can zoom in on their houses -- or a military base in Iraq.The pictures are a year old, but troops say many things have not changed, such as aircraft that are in the same locations.
The program can show people the latitude and longitude of any spot. Troops said they fear insurgents can use all of the information to aim mortar rounds.A local retired Marine said he does see some risk in the site."Clever and devious people can come up with any number of ways to use this and keep themselves out of harm's way while doing significant damage to U.S. forces or any of the coalition," said retired Lt. Col. Thomas Richards.Google said the images are all publicly available; the program just puts them in one place.
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