military industrial complex

The State: Judge in its Own Cause

"Is this really a nation of laws, though? There’s an old legal principle, 'nemo iudex in causa sua,' which translated into English means 'no one should be the judge of their own cause.' But in fact all the laws theoretically limiting the state’s power are interpreted by — wait for it — officials of the state. The commission of the actual military, intelligence and diplomatic crimes themselves, the classification of documents that evidence those crimes, and the setting of civil and criminal penalties for revealing wickedness in high places — all these things are done by officials of the same government." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe State: Judge in its Own Cause

What Was Bradley Manning’s Sin?

"What was Bradley Manning’s sin that warrants a sentence of 35 years? It was a sin manufactured by the State against the State’s version of righteousness. A righteous person, according to the State, is a State co-conspirator who is required to keep silent when observing crimes of the State. There is a conspiracy of silence and secrecy, like the Mafia’s omerta. Manning joined the conspiracy and then broke the rule of silence. He failed to place his conscience on hold or abeyance while serving the State. Now he must pay for his 'sin', the State claims. What sin? There is no real sin here on his part, and no real crime. There is only a power play." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWhat Was Bradley Manning’s Sin?

Obama heckled over sentencing of Chelsea Manning

"President Barack Obama was interrupted by protesters on Thursday night amid a speech on college affordability. While Obama was speaking in Syracuse, New York, two woman began shouting at him. One of the women held up a giant 'Free Bradley Manning' sign. Both women were escorted out of the event. Manning was sentenced to 35 years in prison on Wednesday for leaking thousands of secret U.S. documents to WikiLeaks. Her supporters have called on Obama to pardon Manning, arguing she is a whistle-blower who acted on behalf of the public." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingObama heckled over sentencing of Chelsea Manning

Pro-Assad hackers target Marine Corps recruiting website

"Pro-Syrian regime hackers posted messages on a US Marine Corps recruiting website on Monday, urging troops to defy orders from President Barack Obama. The hackers showed photos of people in American uniforms holding hand-written signs saying they would not fight for Al-Qaeda in Syria. 'Obama is a traitor who wants to put your lives in danger to rescue al-Qaeda insurgents,' the message read, according to a screenshot from The Wall Street Journal. The US Marine Corps confirmed the intrusion but said the affected site, Marines.com, the official recruitment portal for the Corps, was back to normal." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPro-Assad hackers target Marine Corps recruiting website

Military Members Speak Out Against Syrian War Through Anonymous Meme

"Are we witnessing the beginnings of a new military member internet meme? Military members are donning their uniforms and posting pictures of themselves with signs covering their faces that read, 'I didn’t join the [military service branch name] to fight for Al-Quaeda in a Syrian civil war.' The first image surfaced on the internet a few days ago and now another military member has made their own version. Have military members finally found a way to speak out against U.S. Imperial foreign policies?" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMilitary Members Speak Out Against Syrian War Through Anonymous Meme

Amash: Military Members Keep Telling Me To Vote No On Syria

"After President Obama delivered a speech in the Rose Garden where he said the United States 'should' strike Syria following a deadly chemical weapons attack, Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.) took to Twitter to dispute that claim with comments from those who would likely carry out that order. Since Amash's initial tweet, he's been retweeting comments that have been sent in from military members and veterans. Many of my own military sources have expressed reservations with action in Syria, especially following service in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAmash: Military Members Keep Telling Me To Vote No On Syria

Obama Refers to U.S. Armed Forces as ‘My Military’

"In case you missed it, President Obama referred to the United States armed forces as 'my military' during a statement to the media regarding the Syrian crisis Friday. 'But as I’ve already said,' Obama noted, 'I have had my military and our team look at a wide range of options.' And Twitter users went and got themselves into a bit of a twist. What do you think? Innocent semantics, a slip of the tongue…or something else?" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingObama Refers to U.S. Armed Forces as ‘My Military’

Syria strike could bring Raytheon payday

"A U.S. attack on Syria could translate into big bucks for defense giant Raytheon, which makes the Tomahawk cruise missile that’s said to be President Barack Obama’s weapon of choice. Reports that the White House is planning an attack to punish Damascus for the use of chemical weapons sent Raytheon’s stock price to a 52-week high this week — and have reawakened grumblings in Congress that the military doesn’t buy enough Tomahawks. Raytheon has delivered 252 missiles this fiscal year and 361 last fiscal year. And any Tomahawks fired at Syria would almost certainly represent a future increase in orders for the missiles, which can go for about $1 million apiece." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSyria strike could bring Raytheon payday

Mother, daughter sentenced for Internet scam targeting U.S. military supporters

"A Colorado mother and daughter were sentenced on Wednesday for their roles in a 'Nigerian internet romance scam.' Karen and Tracy Vasseur were convicted of stealing more than $1 million from 374 victims who thought they were sending money to aid members of the U.S. military. Unknown conspirators in Nigeria would establish online relationships with victims via e-mail or social media by sending them fake military documents and personal photographs. After the relationship was established, the purported military member would request large sums of money, ostensibly for satellite phones that would allow them to speak to the victims or travel funds that would allow them to visit." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMother, daughter sentenced for Internet scam targeting U.S. military supporters

We interviewed the guy who prank-called the NSA about his lost e-mail

"The NSA is in dire need of customer service training — at least in the case of Bahram Sadeghi, a Dutch-Iranian filmmaker who decided to call the surveillance agency for “help” after one of his e-mails was accidentally deleted. In a three-minute exchange with NSA spokespeople, Sadeghi manages to confound one with his request (you can almost hear the relief in her voice when Sadeghi asks to speak to someone else) and gets a curt reply from another. How did Sadeghi pull off his trick? In an interview Sunday, the prankster revealed how his plan came together and where it went off the rails. The following transcript has been lightly edited for clarity." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWe interviewed the guy who prank-called the NSA about his lost e-mail