A leaked US Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) report suggests that
Iraq is importing thousands of powerful Sony PlayStation2 consoles
to build military computers. However, the report has already been
dismissed in the UK as nonsense, despite pending investigations by
the FBI and US customs authorities.
According to the DIA, 4,000 PS2s have been shipped to Iraq in
the last three months. The DIA has speculated that the consoles
could be used for controlling missiles or unmanned fighter planes.
Sanctions forbid the export of computer hardware to Iraq by member
states of the United Nations. However, the sanctions do not ban the
export of games consoles. Japanese authorities classified the
128-bit PS2 as a military weapon when it launched in April
2000.
According to news web site ZDNet.co.uk, a source close to UK
government intelligence services described the DIA’s concern as
“complete cobblers.” The unnamed source adds that there is no
shortage of PC hardware in Iraq and that the DIA’s theory, that the
Iraqi military is bundling several PS2s to create a supercomputer,
is very unlikely to work.
