What Are The Odds?

Two days ago, two major undersea cables carrying Internet traffic to Egypt, parts of the middle east and India were cut. The cables had been laid separately and are owned by different companies. Between them they have capacity to handle more than 600 gigabytes per second. The cables were apparently cut by ships dragging their anchors while at anchor in Alexandria, Egypt riding out a storm.

Today, according to Dow Jones, a third cable, known as FLAG, and used to carry traffic to the Mediterranean and Gulf regions, was cut between Dubai and Muscat, by unknown means. FLAG was rated at 80 gigs.

Telecom officials reported that they were re-routing traffic through other circuits in the U.K. and the U.S.

A quick check shows that Internet traffic to and from Iran has come to a complete halt. Zero. Nada. Nothing.

Possibilities: a.) They did it to further withdraw from the civilized world. b.) We did it to move more traffic through the U. S., where it is more convenient to the NSA. c.) Stuff happens and every thousand years or so three separate cables will accidentally get sliced at the same time.

UPDATE: CNN is now reporting half the story, Third Undersea Internet Cable Cut in Mideast. but is missing the connection to the U. S. routing and to Iran's apparent disconnect.

UPDATE AND BUMP: Engadget is reporting that a fourth cable has been disabled near UAE. Four major cables, all feeding the middle east, are out of commission. Four in a week. Disparate locations.

This is beyond coincidental.

Reminds me to check on the progress of the FISA renewal.