USA building "shadow" internet/cellphone systems to help dissidents

[alhoon]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110612/...ssent_internet

The Gist: USA, especially after Mubarak shut down the internet, are trying to make sure that dissidents in many nations will have access to cellphone and internet access.

"In one project, the U.S. State Department and Pentagon have spent at least $50 million to create an independent cellphone network in Afghanistan using towers on military bases in the country, the Times said, citing unnamed U.S. officials."

"The State Department is also financing creation of stealth wireless networks to enable activists to communicate beyond the reach of governments in countries like Iran, Syria and Libya, the Times said, citing participants in the projects.
Another project focuses on development of an "Internet in a suitcase" that could be smuggled across a border and deployed to allow wireless communication with a link to the global Internet, the Times reported."


Well, giving voice to the people in countries where the internet may be cut off to mute them is a good thing IMO. On the other hand... it's meddling. I'm actually mostly pro this kind of thing since it doesn't directly takes lives and I consider that the more people that have access to internet and the world, the better. Especially when it comes to authoritarian regimes that try to silence protests. However again USA is sticking their head on the world. At least this time they do it in a way that actually supports and promotes democracy.
What I want to know is... what happens if those cellphones or this internet access is used by those opposing USA interests? How can USA know that Taliban won't use these very means to communicate with other terrorists abroad? The logic conclusion is that they keep a hold on this "shadow" communication system and that they will be able to shut it down when it's against their interests. That IMO isn't a good thing but USA must protect themselves and their interests after all.

[Exarch]

if i had to use a word to describe united states foreign policy it is this: dissociative identity disorder

on the one hand mubarak was us' ally, and elements within the USG (and israel's mossad) wanted to retain mubarak for realpolitik reasons

on the other hand, other elements within the USG under ideological reasons wanted the arab spring to keep on rolling

the same applies to any and all countries

[Kanaric]

Can you put this app on the iphone so Steve Jobbs can't spy on you and sell your information for more money to expand his asian suicide empire?

[Exarch]

Can you put this app on the iphone so Steve Jobbs can't spy on you and sell your information for more money to expand his asian suicide empire?

i thought that's what they all did, even 'don't be evil' google

[YuriVII]

Will they also be making a dissident service in the USA itself?

Actually I find this to be a very smart move. My god, not just for dissidents, but for HUMINT themselves. A network completely independent from the host country? I'm sure they had something like that in place for years for clandestine agents, but never serviceable to your regular hilfswillige collaborationist.

[Exarch]

a lot of intelligence operatives work under cover of humanitarian organisations; this has been known since the cold war

according to 'confessions of an economic hitman', in south america for instance, CIA operatives used to destabilise countries under the guise of missionary work for the goal of installing governments sympathetic to american interests

[Haldred]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110612/...ssent_internet

The Gist: USA, especially after Mubarak shut down the internet, are trying to make sure that dissidents in many nations will have access to cellphone and internet access.

"In one project, the U.S. State Department and Pentagon have spent at least $50 million to create an independent cellphone network in Afghanistan using towers on military bases in the country, the Times said, citing unnamed U.S. officials."

"The State Department is also financing creation of stealth wireless networks to enable activists to communicate beyond the reach of governments in countries like Iran, Syria and Libya, the Times said, citing participants in the projects.
Another project focuses on development of an "Internet in a suitcase" that could be smuggled across a border and deployed to allow wireless communication with a link to the global Internet, the Times reported."


Well, giving voice to the people in countries where the internet may be cut off to mute them is a good thing IMO. On the other hand... it's meddling. I'm actually mostly pro this kind of thing since it doesn't directly takes lives and I consider that the more people that have access to internet and the world, the better. Especially when it comes to authoritarian regimes that try to silence protests. However again USA is sticking their head on the world. At least this time they do it in a way that actually supports and promotes democracy.
What I want to know is... what happens if those cellphones or this internet access is used by those opposing USA interests? How can USA know that Taliban won't use these very means to communicate with other terrorists abroad? The logic conclusion is that they keep a hold on this "shadow" communication system and that they will be able to shut it down when it's against their interests. That IMO isn't a good thing but USA must protect themselves and their interests after all.

From what I know, wouldn't it be better if the evil terrorists use it? Don't we have like superman capabilities with regards to knowing who's communicating? Especially if it's our own communications stuff?