function __remove_cloud_image($image_id, $noop)
 {
     $error = '';
     $image = new image();
     $image->get_instance_by_id($image_id);
     if (strlen($image->name)) {
         $authblocker = new authblocker();
         $authblocker->get_instance_by_image_id($image->id);
         if ($authblocker->image_name == $image->name) {
             if ($noop) {
                 $authblocker->remove($authblocker->id);
             } else {
                 // error
                 $error = "removing authblocker: " . $authblocker->id . "<br>";
             }
         }
         $this->cloudimage->get_instance_by_image_id($image_id);
         if ($noop) {
             $this->cloudstorage->remove($this->cloudimage->id, $this->timeout);
             $image->remove($image->id);
         }
     }
     return $error;
 }