statism

Cameron targets terrorist ‘haven’ in Mali

"The Prime Minister said that Britain is now engaged in 'generational struggle' against al-Qaeda affiliates like the group behind last week’s Algerian hostage crisis, whose leadership is based in Mali. The National Security Council will today discuss boosting British assistance to the French intervention in Mali, he told MPs. Islamic militants who are threatening the government there raise the risk of 'a new terrorist haven developing on Europe’s doorstep,' Mr Cameron said. Mr Cameron also said that ministers could 'look again' at defence cuts and spend more on counter-terrorism capabilities and Special Forces like the SAS and SBS." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCameron targets terrorist ‘haven’ in Mali

Muslim Brotherhood: Another Meme Unraveled

"In 2007, the Wall Street Journal published an article titled, 'To Check Syria, U.S. Explores Bond With Muslim Brothers.' And even then, it was noted that the Brotherhood held close links with groups the US recognizes and lists as terrorist organizations, including Hamas and Al Qaeda. The report gives a disturbing foreshadowing of US support that would eventually see the Muslim Brotherhood rise as both a political and terroristic power across the Arab World, after decades of hard-fought attempts to crush the sectarian extremist organization. In fact, the 2007 article specifically noted that the US partnership could 'destabilize governments in Jordan and Egypt'." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMuslim Brotherhood: Another Meme Unraveled

Women in combat: Will they have to register for the draft?

"Now that the Pentagon is lifting its ban on women in combat, does this mean that women could potentially be drafted, too? 'The answer to that question is clearly yes,' says Anne Coughlin, a law professor at the University of Virginia School of Law in Charlottesville. Once the combat exclusion policy is lifted, 'My belief is that if we open up combat arms to women, even on a voluntary basis, if there is a draft, we should be able to force women into those positions,' says retired Col. Peter Mansoor, a professor of military history at the Ohio State University in Columbus and a former US Army brigade commander who served two tours in Iraq." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWomen in combat: Will they have to register for the draft?

Owner wins court battle against feds trying to seize his Tewksbury motel

"Caswell has been battling the government since September 2009 to save the motel his father built in 1955. The government sought to seize the motel using a civil asset forfeiture law that allows the government to seize property linked to drug crimes. The government introduced information about 15 specific drug-related incidents at the motel from 1994 to 2008, a period of time, the judge noted, when the motel had rented out 196,000 rooms. But Caswell has never been charged with — or even accused of — any criminal wrongdoing, the Globe reported in November." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingOwner wins court battle against feds trying to seize his Tewksbury motel

Web founder Berners-Lee: Governments are suppressing online freedom

"While Yahoo!’s chief Marissa Mayer told the forum there was a 'trade off' between privacy and the benefits of increasingly personalised services offered by Internet giants, the network’s founding father took up the ethical issues at stake. 'The dream is of a more open web,' Berners-Lee told the gathering in the Swiss ski resort, citing social media as a way of breaking down barriers. But he said the recent suicide of Aaron Swartz, a 26-year-old US Internet activist who faced charges of illegally copying and distributing millions of academic articles, highlighted government efforts to police the Internet." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWeb founder Berners-Lee: Governments are suppressing online freedom

At Davos the Elite Ponder Stale Cybersecurity Issues—and Charlize Theron

"Cybersecurity is on the minds of the Davos-ians because it could cost them money. Apparently they have just learned that 'there is barely a large company out there today which has not had its infrastructure and systems breached.' They have also realized that this is going to require some sort of collective action–and the private sector does not do collective action well. Australia and the United Kingdom are actively forcing companies to work together. Last week the European Union proposed a law that would require tech companies to report server issues and security breaches to the government." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAt Davos the Elite Ponder Stale Cybersecurity Issues—and Charlize Theron

Unlocking Cellphones Becomes Illegal Saturday

"In October 2012, the Librarian of Congress, who determines exemptions to a strict anti-hacking law called the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), decided that unlocking mobile phones would no longer be allowed. Unlocking a phone frees it from restrictions that keep the device from working on more than one carrier's network, allowing it run on other networks that use the same wireless standard. This can be useful to international travellers who need their phones to work on different networks. Other people just like the freedom of being able to switch carriers as they please." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingUnlocking Cellphones Becomes Illegal Saturday

Feinstein Gun Control Bill to Exempt Government Officials

"Not everyone will have to abide by Senator Dianne Feinstein's gun control bill. If the proposed legislation becomes law, government officials and others will be exempt. 'Mrs. Feinstein's measure would exempt more than 2,200 types of hunting and sporting rifles; guns manually operated by bolt, pump, lever or slide action; and weapons used by government officials, law enforcement and retired law enforcement personnel,' the Washington Times reports." Continue reading →

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“FEMA Won’t Let Us Rebuild Our Home”

"The Taylor family lives in the Natomas community in Sacramento, California. On August 24, 2012, Brad and Jennifer were driving home with their two young children when they saw smoke in their neighborhood. As they got closer to home, they realized that their house was on fire. Though shaken, both Brad and Jennifer were relieved that no one had been hurt. 'It's just a fire,' Brad said. 'It can all be replaced.' Little did they know that, thanks to regulations created by the Federal Emergency Managment Agency in the wake of Hurricane Katrina -- which hit land thousands of miles away from Sacramento -- their rebuilding nightmare was just beginning." Continue reading →

Continue Reading“FEMA Won’t Let Us Rebuild Our Home”

Oregon Democrat proposing making cigarettes a prescription-only drug

"A lawmaker in Oregon has proposed making nicotine a Schedule III controlled substance in the state, placing it in the same category as many prescription tranquilizers and stimulants. The bill, introduced by Democratic Rep. Mitch Greenlick, would require anyone who wished to smoke a cigarette to first obtain a prescription from a doctor. Nicotine-containing products would only be available from pharmacies. Those caught using nicotine without a prescription could face up to one year in prison and a $6,250 fine under the proposed law." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingOregon Democrat proposing making cigarettes a prescription-only drug