NGA's "Eyeball on Earth" Logo; Geospatial Data and the Iran Strike

How many DUers have ever heard of the NGA?

http://www.nga.mil (Be sure to note the logo in the upper lefthand corner; the "pupil" of the eye is shown here.)



When we launched the first Gulf War in 1991, we had the opportunity to battle test many embryonic "smart weapons" systems, some of which boasted early GIS and GPS guidance.

With our conventional forces stretched thin nowadays, any decision to forcibly derail the Iranian nuclear program is likely to showcase the current state of the art: "smart weapons" (including, I worry, tactical nukes) that have "MapQuest on steroids," so to speak: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=gis+%22smart+weapons%22

Thankfully, as part of the National Intelligence Community, the NGA would be covered under Chairman Waxman's proposed whistleblower protection bill, HR 985: http://oversight.house.gov/Documents/20070214164051-26052.pdf

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`(2) the term `covered agency' means--

`(A) the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Central Intelligence Agency, the Defense Intelligence Agency, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, and the National Reconnaissance Office; and

`(B) any other Executive agency, or element or unit thereof, determined by the President under section 2302(a)(2)(C)(ii)(II) to have as its principal function the conduct of foreign intelligence or counterintelligence activities;
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This bill was passed out of committee unanimously today: http://www.whistleblower.org/content/press_detail.cfm?press_id=772

The eagerness to "battle test" the accuracy of GEOINT systems should not contribute to a headlong rush to confrontation - and GEOINT dissenters at the NGA and elsewhere should be free to contact members of Congress with any concerns they may have, without fear of reprisal.

- Dave

Which nations are we sharing our GEOINT and GIS systems with today, that could become problems 20 years from now?

- Dave

Happy Valentine's Day, darling, from my sector of Twilight Zone to yours.

:hi:

Also note the Microsoft pact with NGA: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=nga+microsoft+geospatial

- Dave

P.S. Happy Valentine's back to you! Smile for the NGA if you go out to dinner tonight!

I always look upwards and smile wherever I go, just so the gubmint knows I'm friendly.



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Animal lovers, this dog is looking for a home:
&dogid=489

No, not me, the dog in the pic. :D