Homeland Stupidity

Decline and Fall: The Second Stage is Anger

"Not too long ago, I predicted that if I live to the average American male lifespan of 76 — I’m 46 now — I’ll have outlived the United States as we know it. At the time, I feared I was being over-optimistic, but lately I’m leaning the other way and thinking that my timetable may have been unduly timid. The recent temper tantrums of the American political class and its toadies abroad bring to mind an old saying (incorrectly attributed to Gandhi) — 'first they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win' — and the Kubler-Ross model of grief. Our would-be masters appear to have moved forward from 'denial' to 'anger' in a big way." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDecline and Fall: The Second Stage is Anger

Second British man jailed for selling fake bomb detectors to governments

"The boxes cost less than £5 ($7.85, 5.85 euros) to make, but Gary Bolton claimed they could detect explosives, narcotics, tobacco, ivory and even cash. They were sold for between £2,500 and £10,000 in bulk or up to £15,000 if bought individually. The court heard Bolton’s company, Global Technology, had a turnover of almost £3 million. In May, British businessman James McCormick was sentenced to 10 years in jail for selling fake bomb detectors to the Iraqi government and other countries. McCormick, 57, made an estimated £50 million from selling the devices, which prosecutors said were based on a novelty golf ball finder." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSecond British man jailed for selling fake bomb detectors to governments

‘Guardian’ editor: Destroying hard drives allowed us to continue NSA coverage

"Alan Rusbridger, the Guardian editor-in-chief, has said that the destruction of computer hard drives containing information provided by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden allowed the paper to continue reporting on the revelations instead of surrendering the material to UK courts. Rusbridger told BBC Radio 4′s The World at One on Tuesday that he agreed to the 'slightly pointless' task of destroying the devices – which was overseen by two GCHQ officials at the Guardian’s headquarters in London – because the newspaper is in possession of digital copies outside Britain." Continue reading →

Continue Reading‘Guardian’ editor: Destroying hard drives allowed us to continue NSA coverage

Schedule 7 and the detention of David Miranda

"One of the most troubling aspects of Section 7 is that the UK government is using it to seize computers and mobile phones of travellers without cause, and retain the data indefinitely. The UK justifies its actions as a natural extension of its powers to examine a traveller's paper documents. But mobile electronic devices carry so much more intimate information about us than we would have previously hauled around in our luggage. Everything from a list of contacts, to photos of loved ones, to financial and medical documents, to trade secrets might be contained on a traveller's computer." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSchedule 7 and the detention of David Miranda

David Miranda: I was treated like a threat to the United Kingdom

"David Miranda, the partner of the Guardian journalist who broke stories of mass surveillance by the US National Security Agency, has accused Britain of a 'total abuse of power' for interrogating him for almost nine hours at Heathrow under the Terrorism Act. In his first interview since returning to his home in Rio de Janeiro early on Monday, Miranda said the authorities in the UK had pandered to the US in trying to intimidate him and force him to reveal the passwords to his computer and mobile phone. During that time, he said, he was not allowed to call his partner, who is a qualified lawyer in the US, nor was he given an interpreter." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDavid Miranda: I was treated like a threat to the United Kingdom

U.S. says it did not sanction holding Glenn Greenwald’s partner at Heathrow

"The White House spokesman confirmed that Britain alerted the US authorities after Miranda’s name appeared on a passenger manifest of a flight from Berlin to Heathrow on Sunday morning. 'I think that is an accurate interpretation of what a heads up is,' Earnest said. He would not rule out whether the US authorities had been passed any information from Miranda’s electronic equipment seized at Heathrow, which included his phone, laptop, memory sticks, DVDs and games consoles. 'I’m not in a position to do that right now,' Earnest replied." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. says it did not sanction holding Glenn Greenwald’s partner at Heathrow

UK: Greenwald’s partner had ‘highly sensitive stolen information that would help terrorism’

"The government has embarked on an aggressive offensive to justify the detention of David Miranda by suggesting that the partner of the Guardian journalist Glenn Greenwald possessed 'highly sensitive stolen information that would help terrorism'. Amid calls from across the political spectrum for a fuller explanation, the Home Office made clear that his nine-hour detention was fully justified on the grounds that he was carrying leaked documents. The statement by the Home Office, including a challenge to critics to think about condoning the leaking of sensitive documents, marks a significant change in tone by the government." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingUK: Greenwald’s partner had ‘highly sensitive stolen information that would help terrorism’
Read more about the article Rand Paul on Bradley Manning: “I just can’t support that”

Rand Paul on Bradley Manning: “I just can’t support that”

"Manning faces a maximum jail sentence of 136 years with multiple convictions of Espionage Act violations, but was declared 'not guilty' for aiding the enemy. Sen. Paul reasoned that there need to be some laws that protect certain secrets and that Manning put many lives at risk by releasing millions of pages 'willy-nilly'. His main concern is that whistle-blowers break laws in order to reveal state secrets. Paul made an effort to bring a distinction between the NSA whistle-blower Edward Snowden and Bradley Manning who were both charged with leaking diplomatic documents, but asserted that there needs to be justice when whistle-blowers break the law." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRand Paul on Bradley Manning: “I just can’t support that”

Ammo Envy?

"Perhaps jealous of the DHS with its immense stockpile of ammo, the TSA also 'intends to purchase almost 3.5 million rounds of .357 SIG caliber training ammunition, according to a solicitation issued by the agency on August 16.' Yep, imbecilic, incompetent LaWanda shooting up a rodeo, concert or airport is the stuff of nightmares. Why does anyone consider freelance criminals a bigger threat than the official ones Our Rulers send against us? And no, the Thieves and Sexual Assailants do not currently carry. But of course the corporate media accuses those who ask why an agency of unarmed nincompoops needs ammo of being conspiracy nuts." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAmmo Envy?