How Jammers Helped Counter the Iraqi Insurgency

The US military came up with a better technology to thwart remote-controlled bombs in Iraq.

Beautiful code, ugly fonts, and the architecture of diplomacy

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In this week’s World in Words podcast, new research suggests that hard-to-read typographical fonts may help us remember the ideas they spell out. Also, an exhibit in Silicon Valley traces the origins of the language of computer programming. And the architectural grammar of the U.N. Security Council: the design layout of the council’s chamber and adjourning rooms is considered so important that replicas have been constructed during refurbishment.

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Taking the CIA to court over drone attacks

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An international group has called on the US to acknowledge the number of civilians killed by drone attacks in north-west Pakistan and tribesman are taking the CIA to court over allegations that US drone strikes killed their relatives. The BBC’s Aleem Maqbool talks with Lisa Mullins about the drone attacks in Pakistan’s tribal region. Download MP3
Globalsecurity.org: Pakistan’s anger at U.S. drone strikes growing

New insights into America’s drone war

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The Wikileaks cables shed some light on the politics of the US drone war in Pakistan. Jeb Sharp gives us an update on drones and their implications in American warfare. Download MP3

Wired.com: Everybody wants drones
The drone war on The World

Why nations want drones

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Another Wikileaks revelation: other nations keep asking the US for drone aircraft. Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with Noah Shachtman of Wired Magazine about why those nations want drones, and what the proliferation of drone technology means for the future. Download MP3

• Wired’s Dangerroom on twitter

Hacking into American drone aircraft

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Insurgents in Iraq have hacked into live video feeds from unmanned American drone aircraft, US media reports say. Shia fighters are said to have used off-the-shelf software programs to capture the footage. The hacking was possible because the remotely flown planes have an unprotected communications link. Alex Gallafent reports. Download MP3

• BBC coverage
• Wired Magazine’s Noah Shachtman on the ‘drone war’ in Central Asia
• Tech Podcast: Listen to a longer version of the Shachtman interview
• Marco Werman talked with Ahmed Rashid about drone attacks

The drone war

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At least three suspected militants have been killed in a US drone attack in north-western Pakistan, officials say. The area is a major sanctuary for al-Qaeda and Taliban militants. Pakistan has publicly criticized drone attacks, saying they fuel support for the militants. The US military does not routinely confirm drone attacks, but the US armed forces and CIA in Afghanistan are the only forces capable of deploying drones in the region, analysts say. Noah Shachtman of Wired magazine is just back from the region. Download MP3 (Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

• BBC coverage
• Wired.com: U.S. Military Joins CIA’s Drone War in Pakistan
• Podcast: Listen to a longer version of our interview with Noah Shachtman
• Marco Werman talked with Ahmed Rashid about drone attacks (Nov 5)
• Jeb Sharp on the controversial US drone strikes (Jun 18)

Tech Podcast 270: Drones in Afghanistan and Pakistan

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On this week’s podcast, we kick off with an extended version of an interview with Noah Shachtman of Wired.com. Noah’s just back from checking out the drones that are currently flying over Pakistan and Afghanistan, and he’s got a lot of interesting things to talk about. We’ll also take a trip into space to hear about a new NASA telescope, and about Sapporo’s “Space Barley” Beer.

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