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Glenn Greenwald: Members of Congress denied access to basic information about NSA

"It is not merely that members of Congress are unaware of the very existence of these programs, let alone their capabilities. Beyond that, members who seek out basic information - including about NSA programs they are required to vote on and FISA court (FISC) rulings on the legality of those programs - find that they are unable to obtain it. Two House members, GOP Rep. Morgan Griffith of Virginia and Democratic Rep. Alan Grayson of Florida, have provided the Guardian with numerous letters and emails documenting their persistent, and unsuccessful, efforts to learn about NSA programs and relevant FISA court rulings." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGlenn Greenwald: Members of Congress denied access to basic information about NSA

CIA Should Probably Stop Having Drones Fire Again On Whoever Shows Up After a Strike

"Double tapping is sure to make even those who support the use of drones at least a little queasy. To many, it is uncomfortably similar to the tactics used by some of the terrorists we are supposed to be morally superior to: Hamas, for example. Some argue that it is a violation of international law, including at least one UN official. At the very least, it is a risky tactic for a country that holds itself up as an example of rectitude in the world and it weakens our moral authority. Worse yet, it creates a justification that could be used against us by future enemies who don't even pretend to have our level of regard for human life." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCIA Should Probably Stop Having Drones Fire Again On Whoever Shows Up After a Strike

Yemeni Engineer Begs Obama to Stop Murdering His Family with Drones

"Last year, Salem Ahmed bin Ali Jaber, a respected Muslim cleric in Yemen, gave a speech denouncing al Qaeda. Representatives from Al Qaeda came to speak with Jaber and his cousin in a private meeting. During this meeting, they were all incinerated in a drone strike by the United States. Jaber’s brother-in-law, Faisal bin Ali Jaber, has written a letter, distributed by human rights group Reprieve, begging Obama and Hadi to stop killing innocents in these drone strikes and warning that they are making enemies of the very communities they claim to be trying to protect." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingYemeni Engineer Begs Obama to Stop Murdering His Family with Drones

8 Cities Where 911 Systems Recently Failed

"A watchdog agency has launched an official investigation into the system, which cost $88 million and has only been operational since May. In July, the New York Post reported that the system had crashed at least nine times in a single week. It's also drawn blame for leaving a crash victim unaided on a highway for almost two hours, and marooning a paramedic with a dead body. Made by a company called Intergraph Government Solutions—whose board is well stocked with former security officials from the George W. Bush administration—the software will soon be coming to Boston, which plans to spend $15 million on its contract." Continue reading →

Continue Reading8 Cities Where 911 Systems Recently Failed

U.S. officials say global terror threat is ‘very specific’

"U.S. officials are warning that a global terror threat from al Qaeda is ‘very specific’ and could last through August, as at least 22 embassies and consulates across the world prepared to shut down Sunday in fear of a possible attack. The U.S. issued a global travel alert for American travelers on Friday after intercepting electronic communication among top al Qaeda operatives in Yemen regarding an attack in its final planning stages. If traveling outside the U.S., King said: ‘I would let the American embassy know where you are. Basically check in and where you are and how long you plan to stay there and what your itinerary is.’" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. officials say global terror threat is ‘very specific’

Obama Meets Security Advisors Over “Most Specific, Credible Terrorist Threat In Years”; US Forces On Alert

"According to CBS, the 'terrorist threat prompting the U.S. government to close nearly two dozen embassies and consulates Sunday is the most specific, credible threat information in years' (even more credible than the Boston marathon bombers?) Specific but lacking the actual date, or timing, of an alleged 'terrorist attack.' Information which, however, can not be shared with the general public for obvious reasons - just trust the government and ignore that spy drone peeking into your window." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingObama Meets Security Advisors Over “Most Specific, Credible Terrorist Threat In Years”; US Forces On Alert

Miss Utah contestant charged with making and throwing homemade bombs

"18-year-old Kendra Gill and three friends, John Reagh, Shanna Smith and Bryce Stone, told authorities in Riverton, Utah, that they bought household chemicals, aluminum foil and plastic bottles to make the devices, which they then threw out of Smith’s car while riding through the area late Friday night or early Saturday morning. No injuries were reported, but while officials told KUTV they were still looking for a motive for the group’s actions, the station reported that, according to Stone, the joyride involved them playing a prank on friends, including Stone’s ex-girlfriend. The four suspects were charged with 10 counts each of setting off incendiary devices." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMiss Utah contestant charged with making and throwing homemade bombs

FBI allowed informants to commit 5,600 crimes in one year

"The FBI gave its informants permission to break the law at least 5,658 times in a single year. Agents authorized 15 crimes a day, on average, including everything from buying and selling illegal drugs to bribing government officials and plotting robberies. FBI officials have said in the past that permitting their informants — who are often criminals themselves — to break the law is an indispensable, if sometimes distasteful, part of investigating criminal organizations. USA TODAY asked the FBI for all of the reports it had prepared since 2006, but FBI officials said they could locate only one, which they released after redacting nearly all of the details." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFBI allowed informants to commit 5,600 crimes in one year

Thousands now using online gun sales to avoid background checks: report

"Online gun sales have become a haven for buyers looking to avoid background checks, leading gun safety advocates concerned they are becoming more of a problem than sales at private gun shows, according to a new report by a progressive think tank. Among the advertisements for more than 15,000 guns on the sales site Armslist, in 10 states where lawmakers voted against bills that would have required background checks for private gun sales were nearly 2,000 listings by people looking to buy their firearms privately. 'Nobody’s monitoring this,' Hatalsky told the Post. 'Nobody has any ability to stop these people who are looking for private sellers.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThousands now using online gun sales to avoid background checks: report

Hackers now stashing child pornography on business websites

"A new study from an online watchdog group shows a surge in complaints that hackers are manipulating both adult and regular business sites to spread viruses and images of children being sexually assaulted. According to the BBC, the group, the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), has tracked 227 reports of use of 'orphan folders' to hide the offending material in the past six weeks. One example involved a furniture store site being used as a repository for the images of sexual abuse. 'What better way to scare someone into paying a ransom than to tell them that they have been spotted accessing child pornography?' Cluley told the Independent." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingHackers now stashing child pornography on business websites