Orwellian

NDAA Judge: Executive Branch “Known To Make Things Up”

"Mr. Constitutional Law Professor insisted that he signed the bill with 'serious reservations.' He also promised that he would never, ever use NDAA's powers -- he merely collects such prerogatives as you or I would books or china cups, so he can set them on a shelf and admire them. And for a guy who so unenthusiastically signed the legislation in 2012 -- and in 2013 as well -- he has most vigorously defended it. Judge Katherine Forrest declined to cooperate with evisceration of the Constitution and suspended the NDAA. Ole Reluctant Signer immediately appealed to the Second Circuit to overturn her ruling. That hearing took place yesterday in NYC." Continue reading →

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Obama’s Drone War Could Legally Kill Americans But Not Anywhere

"Obama is stretching the terms 'imminent threat' beyond recognition to justify dubious unilateral presidential action, now targeting regional al Qaeda affiliates in Pakistan, Yemen, and Somalia—all of which had no role in the 9/11 strikes and which focus their attacks mainly against local governments. This expanded war is congressionally unauthorized, and so it is illegal and unconstitutional to kill anyone in these countries—Americans or foreign peoples. There is now talk about setting up a secret court to approve adding Americans to the terrorist kill list, much like the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) court does for spying on Americans." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingObama’s Drone War Could Legally Kill Americans But Not Anywhere

Upstate New York bids to become federal drone testing site

"A coalition of upstate New York universities and defense contractors has submitted a bid to become a federally designated testing and research site for the integration of unmanned aircraft systems, or UAS, into domestic airspace. Drones are expected to be used for everything from search and rescue, to crop dusting, to newsgathering. One of the key issues the FAA will have to assess is the ability of drones to communicate with air traffic controllers, manned aircraft and other drones. The massive growth of drone use is expected to create an economic boom in the U.S." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingUpstate New York bids to become federal drone testing site

Activists launch campaign against ‘autonomous weapons’: Killer robots must be stopped

"A new global campaign to persuade nations to ban “killer robots” before they reach the production stage is to be launched in the UK by a group of academics, pressure groups and Nobel peace prize laureates. The Stop the Killer Robots campaign will be launched in April at the House of Commons and includes many of the groups that successfully campaigned to have international action taken against cluster bombs and landmines. They hope to get a similar global treaty against autonomous weapons." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingActivists launch campaign against ‘autonomous weapons’: Killer robots must be stopped

Another ‘War is Peace’ Award (This Time Hollande Wins!)

"In this case it may be more appropriate than one might first imagine. The prize, awarded by UNESCO, is known as the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize in honor of the authoritarian president of of the Ivory Coast from 1960-1993. Could it be, as suggested in this very provocative article in the journal of the Strategic Culture Foundation, that France was over-eager to show its new Rafale fighter jets in action in hopes of scoring the "deal of the century" -- a $12 billion sale of these thus far tepidly received fighters to India?" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAnother ‘War is Peace’ Award (This Time Hollande Wins!)

France’s Hollande Invades Mali, Wins UNESCO Peace Prize

"This is France's second war in Africa in several years. The first we have written about at length – the destabilization of the Ivory Coast on behalf, partially, of France's cocoa interests and the empowerment of Alassane Ouattara. His opponent, Laurent Gbagbo is on trial now in front of the International Criminal Court for the crime of trying to insist on his lawful election. Hollande, who now lords over an increasingly aggressive and unjust France that has started two wars in about as many years, has just received a peace prize. Conclusion: Oh, the irony." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFrance’s Hollande Invades Mali, Wins UNESCO Peace Prize

New Nationalist Government of Japan Stokes Tensions with China

"Abe wants to lead the aging and insecure Asian economic power back to its former greatness and, most of all, to rid it of its unpopular 'postwar regime.' The premier wants to return Japan to its former position as a 'beautiful country,' which is also the title of a book in which he describes his vision for the nation's future. Now Abe wants to quickly increase defense spending. He is expected to buy surveillance drones from the United States soon in response to China's unveiling of eight new unmanned aircraft at an aviation show in November." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNew Nationalist Government of Japan Stokes Tensions with China

States step up fight against use of surveillance drones by law enforcement

"Lawmakers in at least 11 states are proposing various restrictions on the use of drones over their skies amid concerns the unmanned aerial vehicles could be exploited by local authorities to spy on Americans. Virginia lawmakers on Tuesday approved a two-year moratorium on the use of drones by police and government agencies. Proponents of the legislation say the unfettered use of drones could infringe on Virginians' privacy rights. In an attempt to address police concerns, legislators carved out exceptions for the use of drones in emergencies, or to search for missing children or seniors." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingStates step up fight against use of surveillance drones by law enforcement

Daniel Ellsberg: “We Are A Part of A Death Squad Country”

"Luke Rudkowski interviews Daniel Ellsberg on government harassment during the times that he released the Pentagon Papers and how government corruption from then compares to what we're seeing today. To find out more about Daniel Ellsberg check out his website here. http://www.ellsberg.net/ Daniel Ellsberg is currently involved in a lawsuit against the government (Hedges v Obama) to stop the indefinite detention provision of the NDAA." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDaniel Ellsberg: “We Are A Part of A Death Squad Country”

When can your government kill you?

"The administration seems happy to answer whether or not anyone has been killed in a drone strike in the United States. No one has yet answered whether targeted killings, conducted via some means other than drones, have ever been carried out. And no one has yet answered whether either the Obama administration or the Bush administration before it ever has operated at the boundaries of what OLC says is possible within the United States. That’s important because people have died in counterterrorism operations within the United States." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWhen can your government kill you?