May 08 2006
Another invasion?
As the administrator of a server that also hosts AmeaNet, a web of sites that are visited mostly by Americans, I have some insight in the whereabouts of these visitors, because the server automatically logs IP-numbers, providers and other trivia such as browsers and operating systems used.
The Americans currently make up for about 65% of the visitors of www.ameanet.org. The rest of the visitors come from all over the world, with a few exceptions; the Saudis rarely stop by and Iraq and Iran are also countries that almost never pop up in a server log.A few weeks before the invasion of Iraq however, I had numerous entries from Iraqis using (US) English browsers and IP accounts that traced back to US owned Internet providers. My conclusion was that there was something wrong with the server. The idea that the Americans were already in Iraq, weeks before the decision of an invasion was made, seemed ludicrous to me. Paranoid even.
After the invasion there were rumours that some American troops were already in Iraq weeks before they officially invaded the country.
In the last week Iran pops up frequently in my server logs – same situation, same routine. (US) English browsers tracing back to US owned providers while the geographical location of the visitors is most definitely Iran.
I sincerely hope I am paranoid.