Monthly Archives: September 2013

Anti-War Protesters to Cop: We Don’t Need A Permit, We Have The Constitution

"A group of activists gathered on the side of the road to waves signs in Spartanburg, S.C. in protest of Obamas intentions to strike Syria with missiles in response to an alleged gas attack by the Syrian government against it’sown citizens. A police officer approached the activists and told them they would need to have a permit to assemble in the future but the activists were not having it. Citing that the constitution is the national permit for peaceable assembly, these protestors stood strong for the rights of all Americans today." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAnti-War Protesters to Cop: We Don’t Need A Permit, We Have The Constitution

The Middle East, explained in one (sort of terrifying) chart

"Sir, Iran is backing Assad. Gulf states are against Assad! Assad is against Muslim Brotherhood. Muslim Brotherhood and Obama are against General Sisi. But Gulf states are pro-Sisi! Which means they are against Muslim Brotherhood! Iran is pro-Hamas, but Hamas is backing Muslim Brotherhood! Obama is backing Muslim Brotherhood, yet Hamas is against the U.S.! Gulf states are pro-U.S. But Turkey is with Gulf states against Assad; yet Turkey is pro-Muslim Brotherhood against General Sisi. And General Sisi is being backed by the Gulf states! Welcome to the Middle East and have a nice day." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe Middle East, explained in one (sort of terrifying) chart

Pakistan orders fresh murder charges against Pervez Musharraf

"An anti-terrorism court last month charged Musharraf with the murder of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, who died in a gun and suicide attack after a political rally in December 2007. It was the first time a head of Pakistan’s army has been charged with a crime, challenging beliefs that the military is immune from prosecution and threatening to fan tensions with civilian institutions. While murder will be difficult to prove, it may embolden efforts to try Musharraf for treason for seizing power in 1999 and for violating the constitution by sacking judges and imposing emergency rule in 2007. Treason can carry the death penalty." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPakistan orders fresh murder charges against Pervez Musharraf

Bombing Syria Is An Act of War

"2 years ago the president told Assad to leave office. Looking for the lowest-cost way to accomplish this objective (without explicitly using American forces), the president then supported the rebels covertly. When the rebels lost ground in the last year, the president looked for a pretext. The chemical event, no matter how it came to be, is that pretext. Although the president has tried to sell bombing as a limited one-time event in response to a chemical event, none of the major players believes this. They know that it is an act of war. The president further acknowledges that it is an act of war by seeking congressional approval." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBombing Syria Is An Act of War

France will ‘prove’ Syria regime behind chemical attack

"France will hand over evidence to lawmakers on Monday proving President Bashar al-Assad’s regime was behind last month’s chemical weapons attack in Syria, a government source told AFP. 'It will be a set of evidence of different kinds that will allow the regime to be clearly identified as responsible for the August 21 chemical attack,' the source said. Another government source said the evidence would include 'declassified secret documents' and that 'some of them could be made public'. France has become Washington’s main ally in the Syria crisis after the British parliament in a shock move rejected plans for military action mooted by Washington." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFrance will ‘prove’ Syria regime behind chemical attack

Fifth of CIA applicants with suspect backgrounds have ‘significant terrorist’ connections

"Although the file did not describe the nature of the jobseekers’ extremist or hostile ties, it cited Hamas, Hezbollah and Al-Qaeda and its affiliates most often. The fear of infiltration is such that the NSA planned last year to investigate at least 4,000 staff who obtained security clearances. The NSA detected potentially suspicious activity among staff members after trawling through trillions of employee keystrokes at work. The suspicious behavior included staffers accessing classified databases they do not usually use for their work or downloading several documents, two people familiar with the software used to monitor staff told the Post." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFifth of CIA applicants with suspect backgrounds have ‘significant terrorist’ connections

FBI increases surveillance of Syrians in U.S.

"The FBI has beefed up its surveillance of Syrians living in the United States ahead of a possible US military attack on Syria, The New York Times reported Sunday. The newspaper said FBI agents are set to interview hundreds of Syrians in the coming days. US officials are especially concerned because Syria’s close ally Iran has warned that any military action on Syria would leave Israel in flames. It said senior FBI officials have also directed the bureau’s field offices to follow up with sources linked to Syrians as part of an effort to identify any talk of a retaliatory strike. And Syrians currently under investigation will be placed under closer scrutiny." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFBI increases surveillance of Syrians in U.S.

Snowden files reveal NSA spied on Brazil and Mexico presidents

"Rio de Janeiro-based journalist Glenn Greenwald told Globo on Sunday that a document dated June 2012 shows that Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto’s emails were being accessed. That was a month before his election. The NSA also intercepted some of Pena Nieto’s voicemails. The communications included messages in which the future leader discussed the names of potential cabinet members. As for Brazil’s Dilma Rousseff, the NSA said in the document that it was trying to better understand her methods of communication and interlocutors using a program to access all Internet content the president visited online." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSnowden files reveal NSA spied on Brazil and Mexico presidents

Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom plans to launch new political party in New Zealand

"Dotcom said his plans were still embryonic but the yet-to-be-named party would launch on January 20, the second anniversary of an armed police raid on his Auckland mansion which resulted in him being charged with online piracy. The Internet mogul revealed few details of his platform beyond saying he wanted to improve New Zealand’s information technology infrastructure, including 'fair Internet pricing and no more data caps'. Dotcom, who denies any wrongdoing and is free on bail as he fights extradition to the United States, also took a swipe at Prime Minister Key, whom he accuses of bowing to Hollywood pressure by pursuing the case against him." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMegaupload founder Kim Dotcom plans to launch new political party in New Zealand

Gun ownership gets easier in Texas starting Sunday

"Texas is taking steps to be even cozier for concealed handgun license holders. Texas passed its concealed handgun license law in 1995, and since then has required applicants to undergo 10 to 15 hours training minimum. That standard included classroom and shooting range instruction. But instructors said they really don’t need that much time, and lawmakers cut the training requirements in half. Other changes taking effect Sunday will allow license holders to renew online and provide easier access to obtaining fingerprints for applications. Also, license holders will be certified to carry a revolver or semi-automatic pistol, regardless of what type of gun they used in class." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGun ownership gets easier in Texas starting Sunday