Monthly Archives: July 2013

The Ten Most Disturbing Things You Should Know About the FBI Since 9/11

"1. USA Patriot Act Abuse; 2. 2008 Amendments to the Attorney General's Guidelines; 3. Racial and Ethnic Mapping; 4. Unrestrained Data Collection and Data Mining 5. Suppressing Internal Dissent: The FBI War on Whistleblowers; 6. Targeting Journalists; 7. Thwarting Congressional Oversight; 8. Targeting First Amendment Activity; 9. Proxy Detentions; 10. Use of No Fly List to Pressure Americans Abroad to Become Informants." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe Ten Most Disturbing Things You Should Know About the FBI Since 9/11

CDC Report Fatally Shoots Obama’s Theory of Gun Violence

"Obama earlier this year issued an executive order commanding the Centers for Disease Control to do a study of gun violence in America — as if gun violence is caused by a disease. The CDC did what it was told. It has issued a report. It shoots down Obama. 'Between the years 2000-2010 firearm-related suicides significantly outnumbered homicides for all age groups, annually accounting for 61 percent of the more than 335,600 people who died from firearms related violence in the United States.' This creates a major problem for Obama. It’s difficult for the government to prosecute users of unregistered handguns who kill themselves." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCDC Report Fatally Shoots Obama’s Theory of Gun Violence

Steroid abuse has become a major problem among police officers

"A national expert who's been studying steroid use in all types of subcultures from athletics to the military believes 'tens of thousands' of cops all across the U.S. are on such illegal drugs. A recent scandal in New Jersey turned up 248 public safety officials — most of them cops — who were getting steroids prescribed by a steroid-abusing doctor, and New Jersey officials responded by ordering random police drug testing. The biggest concern most people have over steroid 'juiced' cops is the potential for increased aggression in someone who's armed and trained to use everything from pepper spray and stun guns to firearms." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSteroid abuse has become a major problem among police officers

Former President Bush praises President Obama on counterterrorism and immigration reform

"'I think the President got into the Oval Office and realized the dangers to the United States, and he's acted in a way that he thinks is necessary to protect the country,' Bush said. 'Protecting the country is the most important job of the presidency,' Bush added, in response to a question about whether he felt surprised that Obama had kept many of the counterterrorism programs put in place during his own administration. Obama has come under criticism following the disclosure that the National Security Agency has continued to implement cellphone and Internet data surveillance programs created by Bush." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFormer President Bush praises President Obama on counterterrorism and immigration reform

Daniel Ellsberg: Snowden made the right call when he fled the U.S.

"Many people compare Edward Snowden to me unfavorably for leaving the country and seeking asylum, rather than facing trial as I did. I don’t agree. The country I stayed in was a different America, a long time ago. I hope Snowden’s revelations will spark a movement to rescue our democracy, but he could not be part of that movement had he stayed here. There is zero chance that he would be allowed out on bail if he returned now and close to no chance that, had he not left the country, he would have been granted bail. Instead, he would be in a prison cell like Bradley Manning, incommunicado." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDaniel Ellsberg: Snowden made the right call when he fled the U.S.

‘Rookie mistake’ in Cryptocat chat app makes cracking a snap

"Developers of the Cryptocat application for encrypting communications of activists and journalists have apologized for a critical programming flaw that made it trivial for third parties to decipher group chats. The precise amount of time the vulnerability was active is in dispute, with Cryptocat developers putting it at seven months and a security researcher saying it was closer to 19 months. As a result, activists, journalists, or others who relied on Cryptocat to protect their group chats from government or industry snoops got little more protection than is typically available in standard chat programs." Continue reading →

Continue Reading‘Rookie mistake’ in Cryptocat chat app makes cracking a snap

Snowden reveals Australia’s links to US spy web

"United States intelligence leaker Edward Snowden has provided his first disclosure of Australian involvement in US global surveillance, identifying four facilities in the country that contribute to a key American intelligence collection program. Classified US National Security Agency maps leaked by Mr Snowden and published by US journalist Glenn Greenwald in the Brazilian O Globo newspaper reveal the locations of dozens of US and allied signals intelligence collection sites that contribute to interception of telecommunications and internet traffic worldwide." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSnowden reveals Australia’s links to US spy web

Ex-Senator: FBI hindered 9/11 inquiry, withheld reports about Sarasota Saudis

"Former U.S. Sen. Bob Graham has accused the FBI in court papers of having impeded Congress’s Joint Inquiry into 9/11 by withholding information about a Florida connection to the al-Qaeda attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people. Graham said the FBI kept the 9/11 Commission in the dark, too. He said co-chairmen Thomas Kean and Lee Hamilton and executive director Philip Zelikow all told him they were unaware of the FBI’s Sarasota investigation. Moreover, Graham stated that Deputy FBI Director Sean Joyce, the Bureau’s second in command, personally intervened to block him from speaking with the special agent-in-charge of the Sarasota investigation." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEx-Senator: FBI hindered 9/11 inquiry, withheld reports about Sarasota Saudis

Egyptian security forces open fire in dawn raid on praying pro-Morsi supporters, 42 dead

"At least 42 people were killed on Monday during an attack on supporters of ousted Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi outside an elite army base in Cairo, a senior medical official said. 'The death toll is 42 dead and 322 wounded,' Ahmed al-Ansari, the deputy head of emergency services, told AFP. The Muslim Brotherhood, which has led pro-Morsi demonstrations, said 35 of its supporters were killed when police and troops fired at them while they were praying at dawn. Witnesses, including Brotherhood supporters at the scene, said the army fired only tear gas and warning shots and that 'thugs' in civilian clothes had carried out the deadly shooting." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEgyptian security forces open fire in dawn raid on praying pro-Morsi supporters, 42 dead

Snowden fate in balance as Cuba backs asylum bid

"US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden won support from Cuba for his bid to seek asylum in Latin America as he began his third week in limbo at a Moscow airport on Monday. Cuba, a key transit point from Russia on the way to Latin America, supported the leaders of Bolivia, Venezuela and Nicaragua, who have offered the 30-year-old fugitive a possible lifeline as he remains marooned without documents in the transit area of a Moscow airport. Even if Snowden receives a new passport or travel document and manages to board a flight to Latin America, there are no guarantees that his plane would not be grounded once it reaches European airspace, analysts say." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSnowden fate in balance as Cuba backs asylum bid