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United States Technology

U.S. Makes Plans for GPS Shutdown 945

sailforsingapore writes "Apparently, President Bush is drawing up plans to disable sections of the GPS network in the event of a terrorist attack. The rationale seems to be that it would prevent said terrorists from using the GPS system to direct some sort of attack. The plan would shut down access not only to the GPS satellite network, but projects like the EU's Galileo. Ironically, this comes alongside the President's plan to strengthen the GPS network against deliberate jamming."
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U.S. Makes Plans for GPS Shutdown

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  • by handmedowns ( 628517 ) <andrew DOT replogle AT gmail DOT com> on Thursday December 16, 2004 @09:56AM (#11103141) Homepage
    Demand for compases and maps have gone up 80%.

  • by cra ( 172225 ) on Thursday December 16, 2004 @10:02AM (#11103219) Homepage
    Off topic, perhaps, but am I the only one that starts seeing parallels betwen USA/Bush vs Star Wars/The Emperor? It might be just my imaginations and/or one of my mood-swings, but things are getting scary "over there". . . .
  • by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 16, 2004 @10:06AM (#11103255)
    Ironically, this comes alongside the President's plan to strengthen the GPS network against deliberate jamming.

    And we're supposed to believe the President has a plan to harden security for the entire system?

    The man can barely tie his own shoes!

  • by smooth wombat ( 796938 ) on Thursday December 16, 2004 @10:08AM (#11103284) Journal
    that a truck bomb needs GPS to find its target.
  • Re:Drivers (Score:2, Funny)

    by AndroidCat ( 229562 ) on Thursday December 16, 2004 @10:08AM (#11103286) Homepage
    Hard copy maps and, in extreme emergencies, stop and ask for directions?
  • by AndroidCat ( 229562 ) on Thursday December 16, 2004 @10:19AM (#11103415) Homepage
    No driving speed restrictions [slashdot.org] on teenagers during GPS shutdown! YEEHAH!
  • by notany ( 528696 ) on Thursday December 16, 2004 @10:43AM (#11103727) Journal
    Read Darth W. Vader press conference [blogspot.com].
  • by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 16, 2004 @11:10AM (#11104114)
    > When disaster strikes, it would be nice if Superman decides to swoop down and
    > rescue you, but you don't bet your life on it.

    Are you saying that George Bush saving us is an better bet than Superman? Because I happen to have Bush! #1-5 in front of me AND the origin issues (#15-17) and it's pretty clear to me that Superman would be a lot better.

    Consider in Bush! #2 when George is on vacation at the ranch and that tree falls. It almost killed his pet marmoset. George just ran out of the way, and barely missed being crushed.

    In Bush! issue #16, it's clear that Bush's silver spoon "Kluojir" proved useful in fending off those drunk Kappa boys, but dusting a Yalie with a kitchen utensil is one thing, and fighting technologically sophisticated global terrorist bogeymen is another. I'd be interested in seeing the spoon's power against an enemy with ranged GPS-guided weapons, such as Cobra Commander.

    If Cobra Commander launched such missiles from his new TerrorDrome in Tora Bora, a hero like Superman would use his super speed to intercept them, and then use heat vision to incinerate them. George Bush would have to finish watching Hello, Kitty; PLUS, he can't even fly. It's too bad DC and Marvel are different universes. We need Superman NOW. Or powdered toast man, who also has experience as a hero, a chief executive, and a cool youth deacon.

    If it were found that Canada's roads were being used as an entry point to the US, we should destroy the roads. But only after asking nicely. The same goes for foreign radio towers, power plants, the cell phone network, gas pumps, goat milk supplies, highway diners, cotton pullovers, hay bales and suspiciously comfortable-looking rocks. After all, if it's clear that the terrorists are using these things to support an attack, then by golly, we must remove that possibility. It simply HAS to be done.
  • by HarveyBirdman ( 627248 ) on Thursday December 16, 2004 @11:22AM (#11104301) Journal
    • "Let me see if I understand this" followed by complete and total misunderstanding. 2,581
    • "I hate the government!" 1,867
    • People who would hate Bush even if he singlehandedly created workable fusion power, nanotech sexbots and everlasting gobstoppers in a single afternoon of intense activity. 1,120
    • Unfocused hysteria. 987
    • Focused idiocy. 619
    • Posts explaining what the article actually said modded down as Trolls. 599
    • Uninformed kneejerk reactions. 583
    • Actually insightful, and not just dumbasses modding up their fellow dumbasses. 42
    • Yet another snotty, holier than thou Birdman analysis. 1
  • by no_barcode ( 840948 ) on Thursday December 16, 2004 @12:51PM (#11105586) Homepage
    After an intense 20 minute battle between two powerful forces:

    Bush: "Bin Laden, I AM your father..."
    Bin Laden: Moans and then screams in horror; jumps from ledge.
  • by Jason Hood ( 721277 ) on Thursday December 16, 2004 @01:00PM (#11105716)

    Don't you mean a military funded system that we CITIZENS have been given access to because we paid for it?

    Hey! I paid for F-15s but they dont let me fly those! Buttheads...

  • by k_stamour ( 544142 ) on Thursday December 16, 2004 @01:32PM (#11106136) Homepage
    Tonight at 11, Bush; on the heal of passing legislation that is threatening to turnoff GPS, he plans to also disable dead reckoning by.... Stopping time, anyone with a working watch will be considered an enemy combatant..... More at 11.....
  • by Fareq ( 688769 ) on Thursday December 16, 2004 @03:00PM (#11107552)
    And either way you've killed a bunch of angry drunk guys who didn't see it coming.
  • by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 16, 2004 @03:03PM (#11107601)
    No kidding. It's not like rain on your wedding day, or anything.

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