Yearly Archives: 2013

Defense contractor accused of espionage had worked in deterrence at US Pacific Command

"A civilian defense contractor accused of giving his Chinese girlfriend military secrets worked on developing military plans to deter potential U.S. enemies when the two began their romance, according to his online professional profile and court documents. Bishop was arrested Friday at Pacific Command headquarters at Camp H.M. Smith in Hawaii. The LinkedIn profile says he moved to a different department last May to work on cybersecurity. During that month, the FBI claims, Bishop emailed military secrets to the woman, including war plans and information on nuclear weapons." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDefense contractor accused of espionage had worked in deterrence at US Pacific Command

Albany police: SWAT used poor black neighborhood for training because it’s ‘realistic’

"The chief of police in Albany, New York says that his department just wanted a 'realistic' setting when it frightened residents in a poor, predominately African-American neighborhood with SWAT training exercises that included firing blank ammunition and exploding flash grenades. On Thursday, Albany’s SWAT team shocked nearby residents when it stormed a public housing complex that was scheduled to be demolished, according to the Times Union. Photos circulated on Facebook over the weekend showed police in tactical gear, spent shell casings and fake blood." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAlbany police: SWAT used poor black neighborhood for training because it’s ‘realistic’

New report says there are still no federal safety standards for nation’s bioterror defense labs

"US labs that research bioterror germs such as anthrax are at risk for accidents because they do not have uniform building and operation standards, a Congressional investigative group said on Monday. A lack of oversight has persisted despite a 2009 report by the Government Accountability Office on the same topic, leaving no single agency in charge of safety or research goals at bioterror labs, the GAO said in its report. US labs that research ways to protect against bioterror germs and disease outbreaks have been on the rise since the September 11, 2001 attacks." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNew report says there are still no federal safety standards for nation’s bioterror defense labs

Vial of easily weaponized virus goes missing in Texas

"A virus that authorities worry could easily be weaponized as an aerosol went missing from a medical research facility in south Texas, an official at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston said Saturday. About a quarter of a teaspoon of frozen viral material went missing last Wednesday, UTMB President David L. Callender explained in prepared text. The virus is an exotic strain from south America called Guanarito, which can cause a life-threatening condition that includes fever, convulsions and hemmhoraging." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingVial of easily weaponized virus goes missing in Texas

Calling All Of Freedom’s Friends to NY State

"You'll recall that Mr. Wassell is the first victim the People's Democratic Republic of New York has persecuted under its anti-Constitutional SAFE Act. Let's be sure that Mr. Wassell doesn't confront the totalitarians all alone: make plans to attend this upcoming stage of his trial if at all possible -- more for your sake than his. The heroic Kurt Hofmann offers an excellent summary of this kangaroo-case in today's column. I appreciate his tactic of embarrassing New York's rulers by emphasizing Mr. Wassell's status as a wounded Marine -- something those of you spreading the word about Mr. Wassell may want to stress as well." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCalling All Of Freedom’s Friends to NY State

3D Printed Guns (Documentary)

"This is a story about the rapid evolution of a technology that has forced the American legal system to play catch up. Cody Wilson, a 24 year old University of Texas Law student, is an advocate for the open source production of firearms using 3D printing technology. This makes him a highly controversial figure on both sides of the gun control issue. MOTHERBOARD sat down with Cody in Austin, Texas to talk about the constitution, the legal system, and to watch him make and test-fire a 3D-printed gun." Continue reading →

Continue Reading3D Printed Guns (Documentary)

Ron Paul on the ‘Korean Threat’

"Tthe US and South Korea held a three day naval exercise last month that included, among many other warships, an American nuclear-powered submarine. This month, the US and South Korea are conducting another joint military exercise, this time with the US flying nuclear-capable B-52 bombers over the Korean peninsula. Much of the current escalation came after the US drew up yet another set of sanctions for the UN Security Council to impose on North Korea. The North Korean government retaliated against the new sanctions with bellicose threats to launch a nuclear first strike against the US. The US response to the threats has been entirely predictable." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRon Paul on the ‘Korean Threat’

CIA helping boost arms shipments to Syria rebels

"Arab nations and Turkey, helped by the CIA, have dramatically increased military aid to Syrian rebels in recent months, The New York Times reported Monday, citing air traffic data and interviews with unnamed officials and the rebel commanders. The airlift has grown to include more than 160 military cargo flights by Jordanian, Saudi and Qatari military-style cargo planes landing at Esenboga Airport near Ankara, and at other Turkish and Jordanian airports, the report said. US intelligence officers have helped the Arab governments shop for weapons and vetted rebel commanders and groups to determine who should receive the weapons as they arrive." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCIA helping boost arms shipments to Syria rebels

CIA helping boost arms shipments to Syria rebels

"Arab nations and Turkey, helped by the CIA, have dramatically increased military aid to Syrian rebels in recent months, The New York Times reported Monday, citing air traffic data and interviews with unnamed officials and the rebel commanders. The airlift has grown to include more than 160 military cargo flights by Jordanian, Saudi and Qatari military-style cargo planes landing at Esenboga Airport near Ankara, and at other Turkish and Jordanian airports, the report said. US intelligence officers have helped the Arab governments shop for weapons and vetted rebel commanders and groups to determine who should receive the weapons as they arrive." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCIA helping boost arms shipments to Syria rebels

Former S.C. Republican official: ‘C*cksucker’ anti-war vet should have ‘come home in a body bag’

"The former head of the South Carolina Republican Party on Sunday lashed out at an Iraq war veteran who now opposes the war, saying that he should have 'come home in a body bag.' In a series of tweets, former South Carolina GOP executive director Todd Kincannon blasted Iraq war veteran Michael Prysner over tweets last week defending former Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez and the assertion that an American police officer was a 'coward and a sociopath.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFormer S.C. Republican official: ‘C*cksucker’ anti-war vet should have ‘come home in a body bag’