Afghan Government Turns To Iran For Internet 80
Barlaam writes "Renesys describes new evidence that the Iranian national telecommunications provider, DCI, is selling (uncensored?) Internet connectivity to customers in neighboring Iraq and Afghanistan. 'The Internet connectivity outreach that we now see in the global routing tables seems like continuing evidence of Iran's long-term strategy: aggressively pursuing bilateral infrastructure and investment projects with its neighbors, in ways that will increase Iran's regional influence after the Americans have moved on.'"
Or maybe they are just doing business? (Score:4, Informative)
Look at the map. When you are a landlocked country you get your connectivity from your neighbors. I suppose they could run cable all the way over to western Afghanistan from Pakistan. Would you want to sole-source all your connectivity from Pakistan? The other choices aren't worth mentioning.
World Map (Score:1, Informative)
Seriously? You studied Kazakhstan for a semester and you don't know that the EU is far, far away?
There is no "Eastern EU" anywhere near Kazakhstan, the Ukraine is as far from joining the EU as ever (never). Are you regionally challenged? The EU is not synonymous with the continent of Europe.
As for your claim that Iran will become a hub for the "region" I doubt your map reading skills. Iran is insignificant to Russia, and China is even further away. Russia is a great deal more capable than Iran, guess who's delivering the nuclear reactor to Iran? What would Russia or China need Iran for? Russia has pipe lines to Europe as it is and transport channels from coast to coast (Baltic to Bering).
Incidentally Russia and Norway just saw the first [Norwegian freight] ships going the Northern passage route to Asia and China. It's shorter and better controlled than the pirated and dangerous waters of the Indian ocean.
You are probably right in the sense that Iran doesn't want any more wars, they do however want to remain in power and dominate the region. You can't blame them, the Sunni's have been attacking them for a long time. If they get their safety they might be less agressive. The country could become a great asset to the world.
Re:Shaw? (Score:3, Informative)
"Mort au Shah, et vive les souris"
Death to Shah, and long live the mice
Shah sounds a lot like "chats" which means cats. So theres the joke for non-French speakers.