GlobalSecurity.org In the News

Pixels

By Kevin Hunt (hunt@courant.com)

Afghanistan Overview

Gather your own intelligence on Afghanistan at GlobalSecurity.org, a defense analyst firm in Alexandria, Va., that posts military bases, rebel camps and even troop movements on its website. Some of the material from remote commercial satellites is dated -- a foot march, tunnel entrances and possible helipad locations date from 1999 -- but before-and-after images of sites targeted by U.S. bombing are available. Satellite images of the World Trade Center and Pentagon are also posted, as is a weblog of media coverage of recent events. For background on Afghanistan's history, terrain and people, visit Afghanpedia at www.sabawoon.com/ afghanpedia/default.shtm.

Shock Radio

Part of the U.S. propaganda campaign in Afghanistan reportedly includes air-dropping fixed-frequency, wind-up radios. The radios reportedly tune in only to information broadcasts commissioned by the U.S. military. Freeplay, which makes wind-up radios and flashlights more commonly used by campers, has supplied the specially made radios. The BBC reported relief agencies want to supply commercial models to refugees. Winding a Freeplay radio crankcase for about 30 seconds yields about 45 minutes of play. The Air National Guard's Commando Solo fleet, six EK-130 planes, act as airborne radio stations.

Videophone Home

The U.S. military operation in Afghanistan is serving as a coming-out for the video- phone, until now known for its sluggish, herky-jerky video and inconsistent audio quality. It's still all of that, but it's sending out photo images where only voice reports would have been possible in the past. Broadcast news operations are more mobile than ever with "Talking Head" videophones by 7E Communications of England. The videophone, popularized by CNN, looks like a compact briefcase that weighs only 10 pounds. The videophone's camera is often replaced in the field by a portable digital model. Footage is then streamed, using a satellite phone, back to the network. The Talking Heads from 7E can cost upward of $10,000.