I think I agree with you. It might not be a prelude to an attack, but it could very well be a "lets see what they do when we do THIS!" so they'll (we'll?) know how they (Iran) will communicate internationally if we cut their internet off.
(on the other hand, I'm sure ALL traffic that leaves Iran via these channels is monitored by the US. I'd be shocked (and a little disappointed) if that wasn't the case.)
Whilst I tend to agree, that's not a very libertaran viewpoint. Are you libertarian in the 'my liberties' mould only?
What am I agreeing to or not? That we should be cutting cables? That we should be listening in on Iran? We probably shouldn't be cutting the cables even if it does gain us intelligence just because it's wrong. We probably
should be actively spying on Iran as they do occasionally take hundreds of our people hostage. They have made verbal threats towards us and our friends multiple times. They are most likely aiding the murder of our men in Iraq (which if proven true, would be an act of war in my opinion. And for the record, I don't think we should have ever invaded Iraq and I don't think we should be there now......with the caveat that if our goal was to rid the world of evil govts then yes Saddam's govt should have toppled, but that isn't our goal and that's not all we've done. We've kept our dick in that pie for a long time now and look to keep it their until we can't afford to do it anymore or they blow us all up.). There are many good reasons for us to be actively spying on internal and external communications from Iran.
I'm pretty sure I can think that way and still be a Libertarian. Some Republicans are Pro-Choice. Some Democrats hate Affirmative Action. Why do all Libertarians have to fit some preconceived mold? And how is thinking that way unLibertarian? Many Libertarians are very pro-Military even if they are against the Iraq War. Count me as one. I love the Military. I am part of the Military. I do have some major issues with some of the waste I see and I haven't always liked the direction the Feds have pointed us in (my enlistment started during Clinton's first term) but I have no problems with the overall mission of the US Military (or NATO at large, which in some ways trumps the US Military as far as global power shifts go).
Unless there is obvious reason to suspect intentional foul play, I think the most obvious explanation is, as usual, the simplest and most mundane.
Normally I'd agree with you. Rarely should you blame malice when incompetency is afoot. There's been so many odd breaks here though. But yeah...probably accident of some kind. I guess we'll find out when they get it repaired.
<conspiracy hat>UNLESS THEY GET REPAIRED BY THE SAME PEOPLE THAT CUT THEM!
<cue Micheal Moore documentary background music>
