Something Bad is Happening

You all may not be aware, but something very bad is happening and/or is about to get worse.

Over the last two weeks, (January 23 to Feb 6) 5 that's five undersea, fiber optic, internet lines in the Middle East have been destroyed. Here's how that breaks down, assuming no foul play:

1: accident
2: coincidence
3: unlikely
4: impossible
5: chances are between 0 and 0.

Someone is systematically attacking the ability for the Middle-East to access the internet. Today's attack has caused heavy disruptions to internet traffic to/from Iran.

I don't know what's happening over there, or who's behind it, but it is deliberate, malicious, and will surely lead to more trouble. The internet is a resilient creature, it was specifically designed that way by the Department of Defense, so that it would continue operating after a nuclear attack, automatically rerouting traffic around damaged areas. The design has held up amazingly well over the first 4 attacks. While throughput was slow, and bandwidth limited, the Internet continued to function. If more attacks occur the infrastructure in the area will not be able to compensate and countries will begin disappearing from the Internet.

Some Slashdot readers have suggested it is a U.S. attempt to prevent trading oil in non-US currency: Iran Oil Bourse to deal blow to dollar. Regardless, this is bad. If it turns out that the U.S. government is behind this, I am going to be pissed. Anyone with knowledge of basic invasion strategy realizes that disruption of communications is the first target before an invasion launches. There are not words to express my disgust with the government if U.S. forces invade Iran during this fiasco.

Keep your eyes open readers, because I strongly believe that something very unpleasant is going to take place in that part of the world in the very near future.