National Security

[bbsam]

Why Nobody Cares About the Surveillance State - By David Rieff | Foreign Policy

I think it's even more basic. I think people are generally pretty impressed with themselves and it's an ego stroke to think that anyone, yes anyone really gives a damn what they're doing. Even (or especially) the government. It's a cult of personality. Think about it. Senators on twitter? Government officials on Facebook? Think Rand Paul doesn't get off on how many followers he has? Yeah, the human ego is a powerfully exploitable force.

 

[roadrunner2012]

THE SILENT POWER OF THE N.S.A. - NYTimes.com

No laws define the limits of the N.S.A.'s power. No Congressional committee subjects the agency's budget to a systematic, informed and skeptical review. With unknown billions of Federal dollars, the agency purchases the most sophisticated communications and computer equipment in the world. But truly to comprehend the growing reach of this formidable organization, it is necessary to recall once again how the computers that power the N.S.A. are also gradually changing lives of Americans - the way they bank, obtain benefits from the Government and communicate with family and friends. Every day, in almost every area of culture and commerce, systems and procedures are being adopted by private companies and organizations as well as by the nation's security leaders that make it easier for the N.S.A. to dominate American society should it ever decide such action is necessary.

This was published in 1983. Why all the fuss now?

 

[wkmac]

THE SILENT POWER OF THE N.S.A. - NYTimes.com

No laws define the limits of the N.S.A.'s power. No Congressional committee subjects the agency's budget to a systematic, informed and skeptical review. With unknown billions of Federal dollars, the agency purchases the most sophisticated communications and computer equipment in the world. But truly to comprehend the growing reach of this formidable organization, it is necessary to recall once again how the computers that power the N.S.A. are also gradually changing lives of Americans - the way they bank, obtain benefits from the Government and communicate with family and friends. Every day, in almost every area of culture and commerce, systems and procedures are being adopted by private companies and organizations as well as by the nation's security leaders that make it easier for the N.S.A. to dominate American society should it ever decide such action is necessary.

This was published in 1983. Why all the fuss now?

Maybe you just now started listening!

 

[cheryl]

NSA Admits: Okay, Okay, There Have Been A Bunch Of Intentional Abuses, Including Spying On Love Interests - TechDirt

So, this week, we wrote about the NSA quietly admitting that there had been intentional abuses of its surveillance infrastructure, despite earlier claims by NSA boss Keith Alexander and various folks in Congress that there had been absolutely no "intentional" abuses. Late on Friday (of course) the NSA finally put out an official statement admitting to an average of one intentional abuser per year over the past ten years. The AP is reporting that at least one of the abuses involved an NSA employee spying on a former spouse. Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal suggests that spying on love interests happens somewhat more often:

The practice isn’t frequent — one official estimated a handful of cases in the last decade — but it’s common enough to garner its own spycraft label: LOVEINT. ​

​

 

[roadrunner2012]

Maybe you just now started listening!

Speak for yourself, sonny.

I find it a bit ironic that something can be going on for at least 30 years, and yet it's a 'scandal' for the Kenyan POTUS.

 

[wkmac]

Speak for yourself, sonny.

I find it a bit ironic that something can be going on for at least 30 years, and yet it's a 'scandal' for the Kenyan POTUS.

OK little girl.

Some of us were screaming about Echelon, Trailblazer, etc. when "the Kenyan" was still studying law!

Him being President is irrelevant and as I've said before about POTUS, the office is nothing but a sock puppet.

 

[roadrunner2012]

Not a little girl, or even an old lady, bless your heart.

Politicians are politicians, not saviours. That is the sad state of modern America. Oligarchs rule.

This new found fascination is ironic, though. St Ronnie does no wrong, GWB was protecting our 'freedoms', but the Marxist, Socialist, Kenyan is trying to enslave us all.

We get what we deserve. Maybe next time it will be the new darling, Rand. That should work out well, I'm sure he''ll be different.

 

[wkmac]

Not a little girl, or even an old lady, bless your heart.

Politicians are politicians, not saviours. That is the sad state of modern America. Oligarchs rule.

This new found fascination is ironic, though. St Ronnie does no wrong, GWB was protecting our 'freedoms', but the Marxist, Socialist, Kenyan is trying to enslave us all.

We get what we deserve. Maybe next time it will be the new darling, Rand. That should work out well, I'm sure he''ll be different.

Great come back if it were at someone who didn't completely reject elective politics in the first place. As for rulership by oligarchs, well duh! Sadly you still worship at their feet instead of outright rejecting the ruling class completely.

As to the claim of Obama being a Marxist, I've defended him against that false charge. You'd do well to keep up.

As to Ronnie and GWB, I think Brett's charges of me being a socialist would suggest where I've been on that issue.

Could you stick to real issues instead of coming back at me with strawman claims.

 

[wkmac]

Liars on Parade

STOP! LOOK OVER THERE! It's those 2 traitors Manning and Snowden. Go get em'!

 

[wkmac]

From Oct. 2008'

Exclusive: Inside Account of U.S. Eavesdropping on Americans

 

[roadrunner2012]

Great come back if it were at someone who didn't completely reject elective politics in the first place. As for rulership by oligarchs, well duh! Sadly you still worship at their feet instead of outright rejecting the ruling class completely.

As to the claim of Obama being a Marxist, I've defended him against that false charge. You'd do well to keep up.

As to Ronnie and GWB, I think Brett's charges of me being a socialist would suggest where I've been on that issue.

Could you stick to real issues instead of coming back at me with strawman claims.

It's not always about you.

 

[cheryl]

According to reports, NSA officers admitted spying on their own romantic partners and spouses.

 

[roadrunner2012]

According to reports, the NSA has proof that Assad was behind the latest chemical attacks in Syria.

 

[wkmac]

US Black Budget

Edward Snowden reveals the US 'black budget' of secret intelligence spending - Truthloader - YouTube

 

[wkmac]

Follow the Money!

So Who Is Booz Allen Hamilton?

What you're not being told about Booz Allen Hamilton and Edward Snowden - Truthloader - YouTube

So Who Is The Carlyle Group?

Who are The Carlyle Group, and how are they connected to bin Laden? - Truthloader - YouTube

 

[tonyexpress]

Berlin Complains: Did US Tap Chancellor Merkel's Mobile Phone?
German Chancellor Angela Merkel phoned United States President Barack Obama on Wednesday to discuss suspicions that she may have been targeted by US intelligence agencies for years, SPIEGEL has learned.

 

[roadrunner2012]

Berlin Complains: Did US Tap Chancellor Merkel's Mobile Phone?


​German Chancellor Angela Merkel phoned United States President Barack Obama on Wednesday to discuss suspicions that she may have been targeted by US intelligence agencies for years, SPIEGEL has learned.

They tapped EVERYONE'S phone they wanted to. They did it before Obama was POTUS. They tap his phone, too.

Watcha gonna do about it? Have Issa investigate?

 

[bbsam]

Again. What did people think would be the natural progression of the "Patriot Act"?

 

[tonyexpress]

Watcha gonna do about it? Have Issa investigate?

No..... I'm sure his phone is tapped too!

 

[wkmac]

Berlin Complains: Did US Tap Chancellor Merkel's Mobile Phone?


​German Chancellor Angela Merkel phoned United States President Barack Obama on Wednesday to discuss suspicions that she may have been targeted by US intelligence agencies for years, SPIEGEL has learned.

More countries may begin to follow Brazil's lead in removing itself from a US centric internet system. Chaos Communication Congress has even discussed a kind of "off grid" internet as a means to defeat prying eyes of all nation state interests. If the internet begins to decentralize and fracture into pieces, slipping in and out or around such snooping just becomes easier as one can hide in the cracks. The more impossible it is for state interests to control information networks, the better I like it.