Satellites zoom in on crime at border(Military spy agency tracks drug smugglers from space)

[JonLP24]

Source: AZCentral.com

A relatively obscure U.S. intelligence agency has begun using satellite photographs to help authorities bust drug runners along the nation's Southwest border.

R. Scott Zikmanis, a deputy director of operations with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, said pictures from space can be used along with other intelligence to pinpoint Mexican narcotics operations and anticipate smuggling forays into the United States.

An eye in space adds one more tool to an ever-expanding technological arsenal aimed at defending the border from narcotics traffickers, human smugglers and terrorists.

If, for example, phone surveillance by the National Security Agency were to intercept cartel conversations in Mexico about a planned marijuana shipment, Zikmanis said, a satellite could be directed to photograph the staging operation, and pictures could be transmitted to U.S. agents along the border.



Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2009/05/18/20090518geospatial0518.html

[FailureToCommunicate]

1. Gee willikers Mr Wizard! Holy aerial photography Batman! What, they JUST now

started using an eye in the sky for this?!? I seem to remember some famous snapshots of missiles in Cuba in 1962...

[Wizard777]

2. You called? Two words Posse Comitatus. Oh that's right the Neocon's destroyed that. Never mind drugs...

The Republicans have legalized TREASON.:wow:

[alcibiades_mystery]

3. Like they "zoomed in" on that Afghan village?

The Afghans have a good point: if you can supposedly zoom in on one truck of smugglers from space, why the fuck do you keep blowing up whole villages of women and children? The "security" community needs to cool it with their technophilia, as it certainly points up some disconcerting questions about these so-called technologies.

[Algorem]

4. so when are they gonna bomb their first Mexican wedding?

[peace13]

5. We are going to have some type of additional observation on the Great Lakes as well.

The Homeland Security officer could not name who it was but kept mentioning another group was on the water. Go figure. How to take the word pleasure out of pleasure boating, I think they have done it. Another industry brought to its knees.