Houthis knock out underwater cables linking Europe to Asia • Hacker News Board

Re: Houthis knock out underwater cables linking Europe to Asia

#51

Post by mapt » Tue, Feb 27, 2024, 5:05 PM UTC

Communitivity wrote: post #39

This should provoke swift, hard, and overwhelming reactions from G7 countries. The undersea cables have to be inviolate or we'll see this happen all the time, with major negative impacts to internet stability and effective international commerce.

The only de-escalatory move right now is to do both - step on Israel hard to show that it's not about that, and step on Yemen harder to show that Thou Shalt Not Fuck With This Particular Thing As Activism.

Our support for this genocide puts the rest of the world in an impossible place and we shouldn't expect traditional international norms to remain unbroken if we're going through with it.

Re: Houthis knock out underwater cables linking Europe to Asia

#52

Post by khokhol » Tue, Feb 27, 2024, 7:01 PM UTC

lupusreal wrote: post #26

tmnvix wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Considering how we arrived at this point (Houthis threatening and attacking trade and communications), I would say the US government's obvious inability to rein in its ally (Israel) despite having a huge amount of leverage demonstrates a pretty weak administration. Feeble is precisely the right word to describe US pressure on Israel. Saying "We've asked them" over and over again just doesn't cut it. It's weak and eve…

America has very little leverage over Israel. The money/etc that America gives to Israel is motivated by the religious convictions of Americans (evangelical protestants particularly, but not exclusively.). This support isn't conditional on Israel behaving itself and any politician who cuts Israel off will have a very difficult time getting reelected. This effectively makes America's financial and material support for…

America has very little leverage over Israel.

This couldn't further from the truth. The U.S. has enormous leverage over Israel, via the massive foreign assistance it has provided since 1948.

Its politicians may be too spineless, too hoodwinked by decades of extremist propaganda over all these decades -- or in the cases of evangelicals, blinded by their own religious delusions; or (in the case of most) just too self-interested and apathetic -- to make use of this leverage. But there is no question that this leverage exists.

Re: Houthis knock out underwater cables linking Europe to Asia

#53

Post by instagib » Tue, Feb 27, 2024, 7:05 PM UTC

perihelions wrote: post #22

goles wrote: post #3

Hard to find good sources on this. Guardian article (Feb 5, 2024), "Houthi-linked Telegram channel published a map of the cables running along the bed of the Red Sea. The image was accompanied by a message: “There are maps of international cables connecting all regions of the world through the sea. It seems that Yemen is in a strategic location, as internet lines that connect entire continents – not only countries –…

- "How can these be repaired? Can it even be done safely? Insurance of operating a specialized boat in these waters? (paraphrasing)" . - "[Flag Telecom founder and telecoms entrepreneur Sunil Tagare] also posted that no cable ship provider was willing to provide repairs in the area and that insurance companies would cancel policies for cable ships attempting to operate in Yemeni waters. Again, DCD hasn’t been able to…

After watching a pirate vs coalition documentary, you can imagine the cartoonish dollar signs in the eyes of the insurance for piracy industry. Only one person would speak on camera. Loosely quoted “we increased our profits by 35% this year after insuring ships in the gulf of Aden.” Interviewer what would happen if the pirates stopped >> “we would not be very happy about it”.

It costs about 20k per ship for insurance. Armed/unarmed militia onboard security is quite expensive though and they didn’t quote a price. I’m sure they can work it out with the coalition, insurance, and workmen for all the risks involved.

I don’t know if anyone here realizes how valuable these cables are. Satellite time is incredibly expensive. Using other undersea cable routes is bad because now you are in a situation where bandwidth limitations may come into play but mainly lack of alternatives if those remaining cables have issues. I wouldn’t say it’s common to have issues but it is not uncommon.

last quote of the documentary per pirate leader “we are considering going back to the old ways of cutting throats”.

Re: Houthis knock out underwater cables linking Europe to Asia

#54

Post by pests » Tue, Feb 27, 2024, 8:23 PM UTC

nfieidnrn wrote: post #49

pests wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I always thought this would make a good movie. Parody both sides so hard each thinks you are "representing their views" while the opposing side thinks it's a comedy.

they already made this movie https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hunt_(2020_film)

I'll check it out thanks!