Google Earth

I've heard a lot in this country about the security threat that Google Earth has imposed. The map service offers high-definition photos of some of India's major military installations. In effect, any person with internet access could go online and learn the intricate details of an Air Force base outside of Delhi and the naval base at Mumbai. It also means that the security of such installations has been compromised. If the average person could potentially manipulate the data, think what a professional could do with it.

Other countries, Thailand and the Netherlands among them, have also complained that their security is being compromised. Can't say I blame them, either. India has frictional relationship with neighbouring Pakistan, so giving up this kind of intel voluntarily is definitely not a good thing. A country often has to work hard to keep the details its military installations secret, so why should a uber-rich company be able to come along and potentially endanger the safety of a surprising number of countries just to offer yet another free service to its customer?

While I'm on the subject of military installations, I should tell you about a strange incident involving the Russian Foreign Minister and two high-ranking Indian Military officials. Basically, Russia and India were holding joint military exercises that involved dropping missile-equipped jeeps from an airplane. On its way down, one of the jeeps was blown of course and starting drifting towards the structure that housed the on-looking VIPs. A quick warning was given and everyone in the structure was order to evacuate. In the end, Indian Air Force officials guided the stray jeep and managed to land it between two sand dunes - mere metres away from the structure. The Russian Foreign Minister commended the efforts of the Airmen and called it a brilliant piece of flying.