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Bush: Give Me Plans for GPS Shutdown

By Ed Oswald, BetaNews

December 16, 2004, 12:04 PM

U.S. President Bush has asked the Department of Defense to draft plans for shutting down the nation's GPS network in the event of a national emergency. This action would prevent terrorists from using the technology to carry out a widespread attack, the White House told reporters Wednesday.

A White House official requesting anonymity explained further that a shutdown would only occur in the most extreme cases.

With the request, the President asked for research to begin on how they could disrupt navigational satellites regionally during smaller emergencies.

"This is not something you would do lightly," said James Lewis of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "It's clearly a big deal. You have to give them credit for being so open about what they're going to do."

The move would revive an abandoned plan by President Clinton to jam certain navigational satellites on an as-needed basis, dubbed "selective availability."

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By hardgiant

posted Dec 21, 2004 - 6:32 AM

The Civilian uses of GPS would be shutdown while military satellites would still function.

Keep them terrorist from using GPS to escape.

{{{ Of course a suicide bomber only needs GPS to find the target not escape. }}}

Score: 0

By sst

posted Dec 20, 2004 - 8:24 PM

First we make our weapons dependent on GPS.
Then we make our logistics dependent on GPS.
Now we make our civilian response dependent on GPS.
Finally we turn OFF GPS.
Gotta love the logic...

sst

Score: 0

By Planet.Of.Wounds

posted Dec 20, 2004 - 1:04 PM

The GPS is owned and operated by the US Department of Defense. The president of the USA is the commander in chief.

I would therefore deduce that this kind of things is his prerogative - and simply because the Dept. of Defense made it available publicly doesn't mean it owes you the free ride...

Score: 0

By jkirby

posted Dec 20, 2004 - 10:56 AM

They say extended us of cocaine will make you paranoid. It all falls into place... First the fear of god and now the fear of everyone.

Score: 0

By kprovance

posted Dec 19, 2004 - 1:39 AM

What is considered an emergency by Dubya and what is considered one by the rest of us are two very different things.

Can we say WMD?

I thought so! :)

Score: 0

By sjc001

posted Dec 17, 2004 - 6:57 AM

Big Brother knows best. Your chocolate rations are going up from 30g to 20g.

Score: 0

By Bugs4HJ

edited Dec 18, 2004 - 6:55 AM

Read the "would only occur in the most extreme cases." versus "during smaller emergencies" also note the "You have to give them credit for being so open about what they're going to do."

LOL You probably would have noticed it soon enough, without them telling upfront because most National and International organisations rely on GPS, so shutting them down won't be fun for them, nor you, and Europe is building its own GPS network, just because of this fact!

Imagine this, you're hit by some kind of accident and waiting for the ambulance to arrive,
but they can't pin point your exact location!

Another one, my car is equiped with a GPS tracking device, now I wonder, will my car insurance pay out when my car is lost during such event?