When Americans think of satellite surveillance and the National Security Agency, they are likely to imagine something out of the TV show 24: a limitless set of eyes in the sky that can watch everything, all the time. In fact, even today’s amply funded NSA can watch only a limited number of sites. “Our overhead imagery is dedicated to force protection in Iraq and Afghanistan,” I was told by a former intelligence official who would not let me use his name. He meant that the satellites are tied up following U.S. troops on patrol and in firefights to let them know who might be waiting in ambush. “There are still ammo dumps in Iraq that are open to insurgents,” he said, “but we lack the imagery to cover them—let alone what people might be dreaming up in Thailand or Bangladesh.” Because so many spy satellites are trained on the countries we have invaded, they tell us less than they used to about the rest of the world.
I read this and the image that came to mind was at the conclusion of the Return of the King: the assembled armies of the West are fighting at the gates of Mordor to buy time for the Ringbearers, under the watchful eye of Sauron. The gambit works and too late, he sees the real threat.
Makes you wonder what Osama might have in mind while the Sheriff of Crawford is out clearing brush on his non-ranch.
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