What’s All This Then!

According to reports, not only did the United States warn India about impending attacks on Mumbai but US intelligence also named which buildings were to be the targets. And yet in a recent interview, India’s president Kalam did not blame his government’s lax security for the death of the victims in Mumbai. In true finger-pointing style of a bureaucrat, he said it was the fault of Google for having maps readily available to terrorists. I suppose if Google Earth had not been invented, Mr. Kalam would be blaming AAA for handing out paper maps. Thank goodness cellphones, GPS devices, bullets, guns and an inept government had nothing to do with this tragedy.

Is Google Earth really the weapon of choice among terrorists? If you check out the satellite view around my house, you’ll see a large area under construction — construction was completed in 2002. In front of the plant where I work sits a road that has been there for over 20 years. Google has yet to add it to their maps. Maybe I shouldn’t worry. If our customers and vendors can’t find our building, what chance do terrorists have?