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Journalists and commentators covering Afghanistan and Pakistan have addressed everything from geopolitics to tribal dynamics, reconstruction aid, and, of course, terrorism. Even the casual observer has probably read stories that have addressed U.S. intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance efforts, most notably the use of Hellfire missile-armed Predator and Reaper drones. In covering these topics, pundits often pause to cite the area’s difficult physical terrain, often mentioning it as a factor in the region’s long history of repelling foreign armies. However, none of these analysts has yet written about the sad state of the United States’ basic terrain data (specifically the Digital Terrain Elevation Data — DTED) over this region, which has emerged as an obstacle in conducting operations over such complex terrain. If you would like to read the complete article by USGIF board member Chris Tucker, check it out on Foreign Policy’s web site here.

Tags: Afghanistan, Chris Tucker, Foreign Policy Magazine, GEOINT and Afghanistan, United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation, USGIF