Cameras built to police Iranians became the regime's Achilles' heel

(royapakzad.substack.com)

85 points | by benbreen 1 day ago

4 comments

  • srean 17 hours ago
    Is that really true or is it a parallel construction to hide humint sources. Much like the bin Laden story.
    • eagleal 14 hours ago
      There's also the theory of the attacks starting at a certain time because the talks for the nuclear were under way. They probably knew the iranian leaders would group together to discuss the details.

      For example it is now common knowledge that IAEA shared reserved data with Israel INT agencies, and this info was used for the previous strikes.

      • gregw2 9 hours ago
        It's never been clear to me how effective IAEA can be at keeping out state spies from their midst if the world's best intel agencies want "in".

        Going back pre-Iraq-war, back when there were "inspections" and "sanctions" on Iraq, you can dig up "page 19" articles in NYTimes where -- if I recall correctly -- the US was caught putting spy equipment on the IAEA monitoring equipment in Iraq. This is (according to Iraq) what in large part triggered Iraq to kick out US inspectors. Then the Iraq (2) war started because they wouldn't let in inspectors.

        Iran's theory, glossed over at the time but also reported in the rare western press articles was that the US intentionally got caught. (So that the Saddam would have explicit pressure to get the US kicked out, so that then they (US/Israel) could have a pretext to take out Iraq.) I don't know if Iran had any actual evidence to that effect or it was a bit of a conspiracy theory; I never actually read Iranian news sources whcih might have had details (or might have revealed just empty posturing.)

    • itake 16 hours ago
      yeah, this headline doesn't pass the sniff test to me too:

      The traffic cameras can't tell you who is in the vehicle. Maybe they know which plate he typically rides in? But the much simpler explanation is he had a leak.

      • hersko 11 hours ago
        1) It's possible there are traffic cameras covering wherever they get into the vehicle.

        2) It can be used in conjunction with other assets watching who got in etc...

        • DennisP 10 hours ago
          It's also possible that they simply went ahead and hit the vehicle, knowing there was a good chance that their target would be inside. It's not like they've been all that picky about collateral damage.
          • itake 2 hours ago
            Why risk starting a war and not be 100% confident where the leader is?
            • DennisP 1 hour ago
              Most wars are started without targeting the leader at all.
      • hermanzegerman 8 hours ago
        Are you sure?

        The Chinese traffic Surveillance cameras also photograph who is inside the Vehicles

        • itake 2 hours ago
          yes, the driver, but not the passengers. I doubt he drives his own car.
  • sputknick 1 day ago
    Similar to how the roads Rome built to control their empire were used by Barbarian invaders. History doesn't repeat but it does rhyme.
    • avoutos 1 day ago
      Or the roads the Inca built as well.
      • mapt 11 hours ago
        One of the key infrastructures for the Inca's large transportation network connecting diverse territories in the Andes was a system of of grass-rope bridges across the ravines that had to be rebuilt annually. I would imagine their fragility played a substantial role in the invasion / occupation. The most important ones were rebuilt by the Spanish in stone once their position was secure.
  • aussieguy1234 1 day ago
    Could be true, but could also be false.

    If Iran removes these cameras, they will have a much harder time tracking protests and dissidents.

    So it's entirely possible this could be misinformation intended to mislead the regime into removing the cameras.

    • metalman 17 hours ago
      It would be simpler to put a disconect on the whole network, or you know, build a society that reflected how people actualy want to live. The unfortunate part is that cameras are hated everywhere, and EXACTLY the same people hacking Irans network, are running the ones in the US.
    • srean 17 hours ago
      Oops I commented the same before reading yours.
  • JohnnyLarue 15 hours ago
    [dead]