Did Google Earth help NYC terrorists?

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As loadster suggested,

As loadster suggested, cruise gas missiles that don't exist used by maps that are a year old is the problem we are really facing here. ahhh, look out, ufo's are using google too!

Wasn't the FBI informant the

Wasn't the FBI informant the one that showed them how to use Google earth? They thought he was a gift from god. They were not very smart, but had the intent and needed help. Thank goodness the FBI was the first one to provide the help.

Please. Think about this.

Please. Think about this. Blaming google earth for aiding terrorist causes is like blaming Boeing for building the cruise gas missiles that were employed on 9/11. Google earth images are already not real-time by cost effects. The information available from google earth is available from alternate sources and is not tactically significant for targeting without additional vector data. The only reason Cheney's residence is inordinately de-coordinated (blurred) is because he and his security are connected and hiding things. May the rest of us not feel the need to be like him. High pressure gas delivery lines are more at risk from ditch witch diggers or train derailments. Like in california.

IMHO, the real problem is

IMHO, the real problem is letting these people into our country in the first place and then not keeping track of them and checking to see if indeed they are here studying, if their Visa's are indeed (still) valid, and sending them home when their Visa's are about to expire. If they're from a known terrorist "region" then require a background investigation done on them before they even step foot on American Soil.
In other words, stop the revolving door for suspected terrorist. And I’m sure to piss someone off here but, throw out all Imam's that preach hate and revolution or killing of anyone, as if the Koran actually said such nonsense.
And for the Imam’s that really love God and their fellow man, for them to speak out boldly against hatred, killing etc and for them to teach tolerance of “all” people and their beliefs. A good start anyway...

I can't access Google Earth

I can't access Google Earth anymore on my computer. Does anyone know...has the Google Earth site been shut down?

"Data must be closely

"Data must be closely guarded, preferably by the government, because it knows best." I don't want to make out that the government is out to get us but do you really believe without a shadow of a doubt they do things in our interest first and in a way that will benefit them second. I don't know if I am being to suspicious but have you ever heard of Watergate. Remind me again, did the US or British governments find any WMDs in Iraq?

I like to take with what the media and the government say with a pinch of salt, it is true that Google Earth has made it easier for terrorists to access details maps. But terrorist would have gained access to them by other means. With certain states condoning terrorism they would have had access to military level maps, not the in some cases incomplete maps offered on Google Earth. There would have been no money trail if these maps were purchased on the black market.

The freedom of data is a good thing, this is a free country and at its very root what the US constitution is based on. Free data gives the public the information to make judgements on things they see and in the long run can aid the fight against terrorism. I think that people are being short sighted when they lay the blame at Google's feet. They should be looking to recognized states and other factions within them that are not only funding terrorism but spreading their extreme views.

So no I don't think Google Earth is to blame.

Suggesting that satellite

Suggesting that satellite map data be commercially available but not anonomyously available is a long way from advocating governmental control of the data.

Sure, Google maps probably

Sure, Google maps probably did assist them. If they used pencils, pens and paper, that assisted them as well. But what probaly assisted them the most and should be abolished is their ignorance and the reasons they chose to act that way.

Bill

" It is the very act of

" It is the very act of bringing this data to the masses that is the problem."

Indeed. Data must be kept from the masses. Data itself is a big problem, because it can be abused. Data must be closely guarded, preferably by the government, because it knows best.

" a terrorist would have to entangle themselves in a business transaction to obtain the data"

You see, terrorists are completely unable to shield their identity through these "business transactions", whereas disguising an IP is child's play. If you had paid attention in Terror Prevention Class you'd know these things.

Full disclosure: I'm short Google.