Obama executive order expands Homeland Security reach into local law enforcement

"The executive order creates a White House Homeland Security Partnership Council and Steering Committee, aimed at fostering local partnerships between federal and private institutions 'to address homeland security challenges.' The council will be chaired by 'the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, or a designee from the National Security Staff.' The executive order comes weeks after a damning Senate report on Homeland Security’s 77 fusion centers, which the Washington Post called 'pools of ineptitude, waste and civil liberties intrusions.'" Continue reading

Continue ReadingObama executive order expands Homeland Security reach into local law enforcement

Police Arrest Gas Buyer In New York

"Police arrested a 47-year-old New York man accused of filling up 30 five-gallon Home Depot buckets with gasoline on Saturday night. According to investigators, Yunus Latif, of Richmond Hill, collected money from his neighbors, bought gas at a Valero station in Orange and planned to bring it back to his neighborhood, where they had no power and gas. The owner of the Valero gas station, located at 347 Boston Post Road, was arrested as well. Police claimed Muniruzzaman Gomosta should have known what Latif was doing since he came into the store several times to pay for buckets of gasoline." Continue reading

Continue ReadingPolice Arrest Gas Buyer In New York

The Dilemma of False Terrorism

"Anyone who challenges the authority of the state (and thus the money power that stands behind it and controls it) is at risk for being labeled a terrorist. This explains why US prosecutors can label von NotHaus a terrorist. The term is merely a convenient nomenclature. It has been purposefully 'evolved' so that an extracurricular judicial system can be brought into effect. Simply by redefining definitions over time − and manufacturing events to buttress the terminology − the elites have been able to bring into being a new class of felon (the terrorist) and a new and oppressive judicial system, as well. The purpose is intimidation." Continue reading

Continue ReadingThe Dilemma of False Terrorism

Former Obama drug policy adviser predicts weed war if states legalize

"The Obama administration will not just sit by and watch as up to three states attempt to implement laws legalizing marijuana, one of the president’s former senior drug policy advisers predicted Sunday. Dr. Kevin A. Sabet, who spent three years as a senior adviser to Obama’s Office of National Drug Control Policy, warned that voters in Colorado, Washington and Oregon may just bring fire and brimstone down on their heads if they vote for ballot measures that would legalize marijuana under state law." Continue reading

Continue ReadingFormer Obama drug policy adviser predicts weed war if states legalize

Local TSA workers headed to East Coast

"TSA workers are leaving Thursday to help Sandy survivors. They'll not only be helping the traveling public, but their fellow TSA screeners who are dealing with the aftermath of a storm in their personal lives. The extra help is needed because of the backlog of passengers the airlines have with all the canceled flights over the past three days, and because many of the TSA screeners in the New York City area can't make it to work." Continue reading

Continue ReadingLocal TSA workers headed to East Coast

Hurricane Sandy: Local residents banned from barrier island up to 8 months

"Busloads of people were being escorted out, with several residents interviewed saying police and fire officials knocked on their doors, telling them they had five minutes to pack a bag before they had to leave. Residents will be able to return at some point, with police escorts, to gather their belongings. 'Overall, we’re in very very good shape because we have the people in place to do the job at the right time. We’ve pretty much got Seaside on lockdown and that’s what we’ve go to do to make it safe,' Seaside Height Police Chief Thomas Boyd said." Continue reading

Continue ReadingHurricane Sandy: Local residents banned from barrier island up to 8 months

Please, for Heaven’s Sake, DON’T CALL THE POLICE

"Michael Kelly of Clayton, Georgia did what he believed to be his duty as a law-abiding citizen. As a result, he and his wife were arrested and spent two days in jail, and nearly lost custody of their 9-year-old son to the department of child services. Michael Kelly’s family has joined the ever-growing roster of innocent victims who can testify that it is NEVER a good idea to call the police for ANY reason." Continue reading

Continue ReadingPlease, for Heaven’s Sake, DON’T CALL THE POLICE

Canadian Law Bans Concealing Face At Protests

"This bill simply adds another layer of restraint when it comes to protests. It will have a chilling effect on anonymity and thus on participation in even peaceful protests. This is because those who wish to remain anonymous simply won't go for fear that a peaceful protest will turn violent – and they will then be ensnared by this new legislation. Both Washington and Canada are rolling out tiny drones that can take pictures of protestors. The law combating anonymity can be seen as a clever step toward making drone surveillance even more effective." Continue reading

Continue ReadingCanadian Law Bans Concealing Face At Protests

Low morale continues to plague Homeland Security

"Employees at the Homeland Security Department are less satisfied with their jobs on average than other federal workers, and DHS must do a better job figuring out why, according to a new report. Morale varies among DHS employees, depending on where they work, with job satisfaction and employee engagement particularly low at the Transportation Security Administration and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency compared to other federal workers, the Government Accountability Office pointed out in a new report based on data from the 2011 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey." Continue reading

Continue ReadingLow morale continues to plague Homeland Security

Pentagon to end exclusive deal with RIM’s Blackberry

"The US military and intelligence agencies have long preferred the Blackberry due to security concerns and had worried that Apple, Android and other smart phones lacked sufficient safeguards. The Canadian firm RIM has struggled to compete against the iPhone and devices that use Google’s Android system. Questions remain as to whether companies other than Blackberry can meet the strict encryption criteria employed by intelligence services within the Defense Department, including the eavesdropping National Security Agency." Continue reading

Continue ReadingPentagon to end exclusive deal with RIM’s Blackberry