military industrial complex

For NSA chief, terrorist threat drives passion to ‘collect it all,’ observers say

"'Rather than look for a single needle in the haystack, his approach was, ‘Let’s collect the whole haystack,'' said one former senior U.S. intelligence official who tracked the plan’s implementation. 'Collect it all, tag it, store it. . . . And whatever it is you want, you go searching for it.' Alexander, 61, has quietly presided over a revolution in the government’s ability to scoop up information in the name of national security. And, as he did in Iraq, Alexander has pushed hard for everything he can get: tools, resources and the legal authority to collect and store vast quantities of raw information on American and foreign communications." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFor NSA chief, terrorist threat drives passion to ‘collect it all,’ observers say

Terminator to the rescue? Watch the most advanced humanoid robot in action

"It’s the stuff of science-fiction movies: A six-foot-two, 330-pound humanoid robot that is agile enough to climb using its hands and feet. And it is what DARPA, a research arm of the U.S. Department of Defense, hopes one of seven teams will be able to turn into an life-saving emergency responder in disasters. ATLAS is one of the most advanced humanoid robots ever built, according to DARPA. The robot has two sets of hands, 28 hydraulic joints, stereo cameras and a laser range finder. It was created by Boston Dynamics." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTerminator to the rescue? Watch the most advanced humanoid robot in action

NSA is more than just a spy network, it’s global fascism

"Putting the overall theme of government abuse of power into perspective, this week provided a solid example of what should happen in an advanced civilized democracy. Luxembourg’s long-serving Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker announced his resignation this week over a spying scandal involving illegal phone-taps, alongside a number other highly corrupt activities. In normal times, what happened in Luxembourg should also happen in other countries like the US, or Great Britain - but these are far from normal times. What passes for normal in this bizarre epoch is anyone’s guess, and the same goes for what is deemed to be ‘legal’." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNSA is more than just a spy network, it’s global fascism

Were Snowden’s Actions Justified? Ellsberg, Mukasey Debate

"When Edward Snowden exposed the existence of some of the National Security Agency's intelligence gathering operations, did he help or harm America? Jeffrey Brown gets debate from Daniel Ellsberg, co-author of the famous internal Defense Department study 'The Pentagon Papers,' and former Attorney General Michael Mukasey." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWere Snowden’s Actions Justified? Ellsberg, Mukasey Debate

Britain is exporting arms to human rights violators: report

"Britain has issued export licences worth £12 billion ($18 billion, 14 billion euros) for the sale of military equipment to states deemed possible rights violators including Syria, Iran and China, lawmakers said Wednesday. The countries for which licences have been issued include Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Belarus and Zimbawe, the Committees on Arms Export Controls of parliament’s lower House of Commons said. The countries with the largest numbers of licences include China with 1,163 licences worth £1.4 billion, Saudi Arabia with 417 licences worth £1.8 billion, and Israel and the Palestinian Territories with 381 licences worth £7.8 billion." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBritain is exporting arms to human rights violators: report

Afghani accused of murdering and torturing civilian blames U.S. commanders

"He blamed the murders on three Americans, whom he named as Dave, Hagen and Chris, and whom he said were fluent in Afghanistan’s two main languages Dari and Pashto. 'I was simply a low-rank translator and did not have authorisation to roam around inside the base, or (go) to interrogation sections,' the report quoted Kandahari as saying. He did admit to 'slapping' and 'kicking' the detainee allegedly shown in the video reportedly obtained by Afghan intelligence agents, according to the report. US investigations have found 'no credible evidence' to substantiate any allegations of abuse by either NATO or US forces, a military spokesman told AFP on Tuesday." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAfghani accused of murdering and torturing civilian blames U.S. commanders

Ex-Military General Dynamics Contractor: ‘I Hereby Resign in Protest Effective Immediately’

"I have served the post-911 Military Industrial complex for 10 years, first as a soldier in Baghdad, and now as a defense contractor. At the time of my enlistment, I believed in the cause. I was ignorant, naïve, and misled. We have become what I thought we were fighting against. Recent revelations by fearless journalists of war crimes including counterinsurgency 'dirty' wars, drone terrorism, the suspension of due process, torture, mass surveillance, and widespread regulatory capture have shed light on the true nature of the current US Government. I have always believed that if every foot soldier threw down his rifle war would end. I hereby throw mine down." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEx-Military General Dynamics Contractor: ‘I Hereby Resign in Protest Effective Immediately’

Email exchange between Edward Snowden and former GOP Senator Gordon Humphrey

"I only wish more of our lawmakers shared your principles - the actions I've taken would not have been necessary. The media has distorted my actions and intentions to distract from the substance of Constitutional violations and instead focus on personalities. It seems they believe every modern narrative requires a bad guy. Perhaps, in such times, loving one's country means being hated by its government. If history proves that be so, I will not shy from that hatred. I will not hesitate to wear those charges of villainy for the rest of my life as a civic duty, allowing those governing few who dared not do so themselves to use me as an excuse to right these wrongs." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEmail exchange between Edward Snowden and former GOP Senator Gordon Humphrey

The Michael Hastings Wreck: Video Evidence Only Deepens The Mystery

"The day after the crash, I found myself in the homicide squad room in South Los Angeles. The Hastings topic came up, and one of the detectives said, 'Stanley got him. Took his time, but got him. That wasn’t an accident.' (Meaning General Stanley McChrystal.) On cue, a sign showed up the next day on the now-singed Hasting’s Palm: 'This was not an accident.' By nightfall, someone had replaced it with another message: 'Go to sleep people. This was an accident.' Hastings’s death was national news briefly, but it was soon pushed aside by subjects deemed more pressing to the mainstream media." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe Michael Hastings Wreck: Video Evidence Only Deepens The Mystery

Unitarian Church, Gun Groups Join EFF to Sue NSA Over Illegal Surveillance

"'People who hold controversial views – whether it's about gun ownership policies, drug legalization, or immigration – often must express views as a group in order to act and advocate effectively,' said Cohn. 'But fear of individual exposure when participating in political debates over high-stakes issues can dissuade people from taking part. That's why the Supreme Court ruled in 1958 that membership lists of groups have strong First Amendment protection. Telephone records, especially complete records collected over many years, are even more invasive than membership lists, since they show casual or repeated inquiries as well as full membership.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingUnitarian Church, Gun Groups Join EFF to Sue NSA Over Illegal Surveillance