Googled by the Enemy

The use of Google Earth maps to target allies in Iraq underscores the failure to get technology into the right hands

by Wendy Haig

In January, British troops conducting raids on insurgents in Basra, Iraq, found printouts of aerial maps from Google Earth detailing the coordinates for British camps in the area. Though dated, the maps revealed the locations of buildings, tents, and other vulnerable areas of British forces. A week or so after the discovery, and after negotiations with the British government, Google (GOOG) reportedly replaced the geospatial pictures found by insurgents—taken in 2004—with images taken in 2002, prior to the invasion by coalition forces.

But the discovery of the maps underscores how insurgents appear to be a step ahead of us in utilizing our own technologies against our troops and allies. More fundamentally, it highlights a shortcoming of the U.S. reconstruction effort in Iraq. One of the Bush Administration's aims was to provide computing and Internet technology for the general Iraqi population. Almost four years into the war, this goal remains largely unfulfilled. Of course, meeting the public's basic needs for safety and other liberties remains paramount. Yet the role of technology in the reconstruction of Iraq's economy, education, and civil society should not be disregarded.

Communication Breakdown

Indeed, the Bush Administration made plain its understanding of technology's value to Iraqis early on. In May, 2003, soon after the war began, Alan Larson, Defense Dept. Under Secretary for Economic, Business & Agricultural Affairs, testified before the House International Relations Committee regarding administration plans for postconflict Iraq. "Today we face a challenge in restoring basic communications within Iraq," Larson said. "However, we know that improvements in connectivity can and must develop quickly to facilitate increasing economic activity. Iraq has been largely shut out of the Internet age—as more Iraqis gain access to the Internet, we will explore ways to use technology to expand the public's access to information."

In October of that year, U.S. Presidential Envoy to Iraq Paul Bremer, in a discussion of rebuilding efforts, pointed to the importance of Internet connectivity for Iraqi citizens. He said before the war there were 4,500 Internet connections and important services such as instant messaging were forbidden. "Today, there are already more Internet connections—we estimate 4,900," Bremer said at the time, adding that the U.S. expected 50,000 connections by the beginning of 2004.

But as of September, 2006, Internet World Stats reported that 0.1% of the Iraqi population—about 36,000 people—were Internet users. Presumably, more than one person uses a single connection. But even if, for the sake of argument, each person is using a single connection, the September statistics suggest there are 14,000 fewer connections than the Administration hoped for three years ago.

What the numbers don't indicate is what percentage of these users are insurgents or terrorists. The Google find, combined with Internet usage reports, reveals that the plan to implement more technology in Iraq has empowered insurgents and left noninsurgents vastly behind. As we endeavor to provide tools such as Internet connectivity, it would be futile to attempt to keep the technology out of insurgents' hands. Rather, we must focus on adversaries who have Internet technology and keep ahead of their potential negative uses. And we should do more to empower the vast majority of Iraqis with technology tools of their own.

A Wi-Fi Education

Because of the escalating violence in many Iraqi cities, school attendance is reportedly the lowest it has been since the coalition invasion in 2003. Education is a major and necessary component for economic development, so alternative plans must be made available to the Iraqi population before they become disenfranchised. If Internet access were more widely available in Iraq, online and distance learning programs could be implemented and utilized. This would enable children and adults to progress even while trapped inside their homes.