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interpreting the constitution
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one nation, under surveillance
Traffic
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Weather
number 143 03.16.08
source: Viroqua Institute
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Computer network security
personnel representing 18 federal
agencies and more than 40 private
corporations spent last week
confronting a series of simulated
cyber-attacks on government
operations and critical civil
infrastructure, as part of “Cyber
Storm II,” a secret exercise
coordinated by the Department
of Homeland Security. The five-
day program involved officials
from nine states and four foreign
countries. The exercise was
intended to build links between
public and private sector network
security specialists, according to
Under Secretary for the National
Protection and Programs
Directorate Robert Jamison.
Cyber Storm II included simulated
attacks on the information
technology and communications
industries, as well as attacks on
chemical facilities, railroads, and
pipelines. Government and
private contractors spent 18
months creating attack scenarios
that would test the response
capabilities of the agencies and
industries involved. Private
companies participating in the
exercise included Microsoft, Dow
Chemical, Cisco Systems,
Wachovia Bank, and McAfee. The
foreign governments included
were Canada, the UK, Australia,
and New Zealand.
The operation included testing of
the government's recently
developed "Einstein" program, a
federal security program that
monitors numerous computer
systems in real time, searching
for intrusions on all government
networks. it's all true
personnel representing 18 federal
agencies and more than 40 private
corporations spent last week
confronting a series of simulated
cyber-attacks on government
operations and critical civil
infrastructure, as part of “Cyber
Storm II,” a secret exercise
coordinated by the Department
of Homeland Security. The five-
day program involved officials
from nine states and four foreign
countries. The exercise was
intended to build links between
public and private sector network
security specialists, according to
Under Secretary for the National
Protection and Programs
Directorate Robert Jamison.
Cyber Storm II included simulated
attacks on the information
technology and communications
industries, as well as attacks on
chemical facilities, railroads, and
pipelines. Government and
private contractors spent 18
months creating attack scenarios
that would test the response
capabilities of the agencies and
industries involved. Private
companies participating in the
exercise included Microsoft, Dow
Chemical, Cisco Systems,
Wachovia Bank, and McAfee. The
foreign governments included
were Canada, the UK, Australia,
and New Zealand.
The operation included testing of
the government's recently
developed "Einstein" program, a
federal security program that
monitors numerous computer
systems in real time, searching
for intrusions on all government
networks. it's all true
In the second report on widespread
privacy abuses in the FBI’s use of so-
called “national security letters” to
obtain phone, Internet, and banking
records of companies and individuals, the
Justice Department has revealed that
Bureau officials issued improper
“blanket” records demands to
retroactively justify unlawful surveillance
and investigations. The practice
continued through 2006, with the FBI
using at least 11 of the “blanket” orders
in that year alone, according to the
report by Justice Department Inspector
General Glenn Fine. The records
demands were used by the Bureau to
cover thousands of data requests over
several years to a particular phone
company or Internet service provider.
In compiling his report, the Inspector
General interviewed FBI agent Bassem
privacy abuses in the FBI’s use of so-
called “national security letters” to
obtain phone, Internet, and banking
records of companies and individuals, the
Justice Department has revealed that
Bureau officials issued improper
“blanket” records demands to
retroactively justify unlawful surveillance
and investigations. The practice
continued through 2006, with the FBI
using at least 11 of the “blanket” orders
in that year alone, according to the
report by Justice Department Inspector
General Glenn Fine. The records
demands were used by the Bureau to
cover thousands of data requests over
several years to a particular phone
company or Internet service provider.
In compiling his report, the Inspector
General interviewed FBI agent Bassem
Youssef, who alleges that senior FBI
officials implemented the use of blanket
records demands after they realized the
Bureau had a massive backlog of illegally
obtained data. A March 2007 report by
the Inspector General confirmed that
agents had routinely cited “emergency”
circumstances to access private records
in non-emergency situations, in
thousands of cases dating back to 2001.
According to Youssef, the sweeping
records demands were explicitly issued
to retroactively cover these unlawful
investigations.
In a statement noting the contributions
of "whistleblowers like Bassem Youssef,"
Republican Senator Charles Grassley of
Iowa said, "In the past, the FBI has
shown a propensity to act as if it were
above the law. That attitude clearly
needs to stop." it's all true
officials implemented the use of blanket
records demands after they realized the
Bureau had a massive backlog of illegally
obtained data. A March 2007 report by
the Inspector General confirmed that
agents had routinely cited “emergency”
circumstances to access private records
in non-emergency situations, in
thousands of cases dating back to 2001.
According to Youssef, the sweeping
records demands were explicitly issued
to retroactively cover these unlawful
investigations.
In a statement noting the contributions
of "whistleblowers like Bassem Youssef,"
Republican Senator Charles Grassley of
Iowa said, "In the past, the FBI has
shown a propensity to act as if it were
above the law. That attitude clearly
needs to stop." it's all true
"The free world is not going to tolerate the development of know-how in how to build a weapon." Washington DC 09.20.07
verbatim number 28.2
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8
12
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16
A recent poll reveals that American's
awareness of developments in Iraq
has waned as major media outlets
have reduced their coverage of the
on-going military action. The Pew
Research Center for the People and
the press found that half of those
polled thought that the number of
American's killed in Iraq was around
3000, which is the approximate
number of US casualties in Iraq
before American media outlets
stopped aggressively reporting on the
occupation. The actual number of US
military casualties in Iraq is 3991.
The researchers found that Iraq
topped the list of most closely
followed news stories 47 weeks last
year. For the past few months,
however, “coverage of the war has
been virtually absent,” said the
researchers. Reports about Iraq
comprised only one percent of news
stories between February 17 and
February 23. The same study found
that 84 percent of the respondents
correctly identified that TV talk show
host Oprah Winfrey had thrown her
support behind presidential candidate
Barack Obama. it's all true
awareness of developments in Iraq
has waned as major media outlets
have reduced their coverage of the
on-going military action. The Pew
Research Center for the People and
the press found that half of those
polled thought that the number of
American's killed in Iraq was around
3000, which is the approximate
number of US casualties in Iraq
before American media outlets
stopped aggressively reporting on the
occupation. The actual number of US
military casualties in Iraq is 3991.
The researchers found that Iraq
topped the list of most closely
followed news stories 47 weeks last
year. For the past few months,
however, “coverage of the war has
been virtually absent,” said the
researchers. Reports about Iraq
comprised only one percent of news
stories between February 17 and
February 23. The same study found
that 84 percent of the respondents
correctly identified that TV talk show
host Oprah Winfrey had thrown her
support behind presidential candidate
Barack Obama. it's all true
The military attorneys representing a
Canadian youth, Omar Khadr, who is
being be tried for murder under the
Pentagon’s military tribunal system at the
detention camp in Guantanamo Bay,
Cuba, has alleged US soldiers fabricated
the evidence against his client. The
charge was made in a pre-trial hearing by
Navy Lieutenant Commander William
Kuebler who told the tribunal, “The
government manufactured evidence to
make it look like Omar was guilty.”
Khadr was captured by the US military in
2002 and charged with throwing a
grenade that killed Sgt. 1st Class
Christopher Speer during a US military
Canadian youth, Omar Khadr, who is
being be tried for murder under the
Pentagon’s military tribunal system at the
detention camp in Guantanamo Bay,
Cuba, has alleged US soldiers fabricated
the evidence against his client. The
charge was made in a pre-trial hearing by
Navy Lieutenant Commander William
Kuebler who told the tribunal, “The
government manufactured evidence to
make it look like Omar was guilty.”
Khadr was captured by the US military in
2002 and charged with throwing a
grenade that killed Sgt. 1st Class
Christopher Speer during a US military
raid. Kuebler told the tribunal that the
original military report regarding the
incident said that the fighter who threw
the grenade was later killed in the same
battle by US forces, which would mean
that Khadr could not have possibly
murdered Sgt. Speer. Kuebler informed
the court that he received a later version
of the report as evidence in the tribunal
proceeding that had been altered to say
that US soldiers did not kill but rather
only “engaged” the fighter who threw
the grenade.
The case against Khadr rests upon his
confession to the crime, an admission
that was given to US agents who
original military report regarding the
incident said that the fighter who threw
the grenade was later killed in the same
battle by US forces, which would mean
that Khadr could not have possibly
murdered Sgt. Speer. Kuebler informed
the court that he received a later version
of the report as evidence in the tribunal
proceeding that had been altered to say
that US soldiers did not kill but rather
only “engaged” the fighter who threw
the grenade.
The case against Khadr rests upon his
confession to the crime, an admission
that was given to US agents who
interrogated Khadr at an detention
facility set up by the US military at
the Bagram air base in Afghanistan.
Attorneys for the detainees held at
the detention camp at Guantanamo
Bay have alleged that US
interrogators used brutal and
unlawful interrogation methods to
elicit confessions from detainees.
The interrogators who elicited the
confession from Khadr were from a
military unit involved in the beating
deaths of two Afghani detainees in
2002.
Khadr was 15 years old when he was
captured by US soldiers. it's all true
facility set up by the US military at
the Bagram air base in Afghanistan.
Attorneys for the detainees held at
the detention camp at Guantanamo
Bay have alleged that US
interrogators used brutal and
unlawful interrogation methods to
elicit confessions from detainees.
The interrogators who elicited the
confession from Khadr were from a
military unit involved in the beating
deaths of two Afghani detainees in
2002.
Khadr was 15 years old when he was
captured by US soldiers. it's all true
The announcement last week of the
resignation of the top US military
commander in the Middle East after
some of his public statements became “a
distraction at a critical time” has fueled
speculation that the Bush administration
intends to attack Iran during its final
months in office. Admiral William J.
Fallon retired after less than a year in
charge of the US Central Command,
known as CENTCOM, which
encompasses the most volatile regions in
the world, including the Middle East, the
Horn of Africa, and Central Asia.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates, in
confirming the resignation, denied that
Fallon’s often candid opposition to
military action against Iran was the
reason for his departure.
The publication of an interview with
Fallon in the April issue of Esquire
resignation of the top US military
commander in the Middle East after
some of his public statements became “a
distraction at a critical time” has fueled
speculation that the Bush administration
intends to attack Iran during its final
months in office. Admiral William J.
Fallon retired after less than a year in
charge of the US Central Command,
known as CENTCOM, which
encompasses the most volatile regions in
the world, including the Middle East, the
Horn of Africa, and Central Asia.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates, in
confirming the resignation, denied that
Fallon’s often candid opposition to
military action against Iran was the
reason for his departure.
The publication of an interview with
Fallon in the April issue of Esquire
magazine, which portrayed the Admiral
as an isolated proponent of diplomatic
overtures toward Iran among a military
and civilian leadership all but committed
to war, was apparently the last straw for
the White House, according to political
observers. In the article, headlined The
Man Between War and Peace, Fallon
argues that in a region with “five or six
pots boiling over, our nation can’t afford
to be mesmerized by one problem.” In
September, Fallon told Al Jazeera,
“This constant drumbeat of conflict is
one that strikes me as not helpful, not
useful for the people, and I wish we
could get moving to things that are more
constructive for the region.”
Fallon’s outspoken candor and
willingness to depart from Bush
administration bellicosity towards Iran
created a major rift with hawks within
as an isolated proponent of diplomatic
overtures toward Iran among a military
and civilian leadership all but committed
to war, was apparently the last straw for
the White House, according to political
observers. In the article, headlined The
Man Between War and Peace, Fallon
argues that in a region with “five or six
pots boiling over, our nation can’t afford
to be mesmerized by one problem.” In
September, Fallon told Al Jazeera,
“This constant drumbeat of conflict is
one that strikes me as not helpful, not
useful for the people, and I wish we
could get moving to things that are more
constructive for the region.”
Fallon’s outspoken candor and
willingness to depart from Bush
administration bellicosity towards Iran
created a major rift with hawks within
the White House and Pentagon,
notably the office of Vice President
Dick Cheney. There were also
rumors of hostility between Fallon
and his subordinate, Army General
David Petraeus, who heads military
operations in Iraq, and is considered
a favorite of the president. Fallon has
denied press reports that he berated
Petraeus for his willingness to please
the administration, calling him an “ass-
kissing little chickenshit.”
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
issued a statement calling the
resignation "yet another example that
independence and the frank, open
airing of experts' views are not
welcomed in this administration." A
Pentagon spokesman denied it was
"indicative of a hostile environment
toward free thinking." it's all true
notably the office of Vice President
Dick Cheney. There were also
rumors of hostility between Fallon
and his subordinate, Army General
David Petraeus, who heads military
operations in Iraq, and is considered
a favorite of the president. Fallon has
denied press reports that he berated
Petraeus for his willingness to please
the administration, calling him an “ass-
kissing little chickenshit.”
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
issued a statement calling the
resignation "yet another example that
independence and the frank, open
airing of experts' views are not
welcomed in this administration." A
Pentagon spokesman denied it was
"indicative of a hostile environment
toward free thinking." it's all true
Abrupt Departure of Admirable Admiral Leaves Many Resigned to Attack on Iran
DHS Takes Up
Cyber Space
Cyber Space
FBI Engaged in Blanket Denial of Privacy Rights
Increasing International Friction Over Juvenile Gitmo Fiction
Deficient Media
American, Idle
American, Idle
The Bush administration again acted to
overrule government scientists last week
when it intervened to set air pollution
standards at a lower level than the
Environmental Protection Agency
advised would be needed to protect the
health of Americans.
The administration interceded to ensure
that government limits on ozone were
weaker than EPA scientists had
recommended. The Clean Air Act
requires that pollution standards be
reviewed every five years. Researchers
from the EPA had unanimously called for
tightening the standards for releasing
ozone into the environment. The
scientists said that the new more
aggressive standards would protect
wildlife, farmland, and the nation’s parks,
as well as the health of US citizens.
The White House overruled the
scientific assessment of researchers from
the EPA after extensive lobbying by
interest groups that represent business
concerns, including representatives of
utilities companies and manufacturers.
The EPA acknowledged that tightening
standards for air pollutants would have
the effect of increasing costs for
businesses, but the agency also said that
its research indicated that between
overrule government scientists last week
when it intervened to set air pollution
standards at a lower level than the
Environmental Protection Agency
advised would be needed to protect the
health of Americans.
The administration interceded to ensure
that government limits on ozone were
weaker than EPA scientists had
recommended. The Clean Air Act
requires that pollution standards be
reviewed every five years. Researchers
from the EPA had unanimously called for
tightening the standards for releasing
ozone into the environment. The
scientists said that the new more
aggressive standards would protect
wildlife, farmland, and the nation’s parks,
as well as the health of US citizens.
The White House overruled the
scientific assessment of researchers from
the EPA after extensive lobbying by
interest groups that represent business
concerns, including representatives of
utilities companies and manufacturers.
The EPA acknowledged that tightening
standards for air pollutants would have
the effect of increasing costs for
businesses, but the agency also said that
its research indicated that between
1400 and 2300 heart attacks would be
prevented in the US over time if the
more stringent rules were adopted. The
administration’s intervention ensured
that the ozone standards would be set at
75 parts per billion instead of the tighter
standard proposed by EPA scientists of
60 parts per billion.
A spokesperson for the environmental
advocacy group The Natural Resources
Defense Fund said that the
administration’s decision to change the
proposed standards at the behest of
industry was an “unprecedented and
unlawful act of political interference.”
Tim Donaghy of the Union of
Concerned Scientists told Reuters that
the Bush administration’s demands to
satisfy business interests has led to an
“epidemic of interference in the work of
scientists,” that stretches from the EPA
“across pretty much every science based
agency in the federal government.” The
chairman of the House Oversight and
Government Reform Committee, Henry
Waxman (D-CA), sent a letter to the
head of the EPA asking the agency to
“explain its rational” for ignoring its own
scientist’s unanimous recommendations
and acquiescing to the Bush administra-
tion’s demands regarding the new ozone
emission rules. it's all true
prevented in the US over time if the
more stringent rules were adopted. The
administration’s intervention ensured
that the ozone standards would be set at
75 parts per billion instead of the tighter
standard proposed by EPA scientists of
60 parts per billion.
A spokesperson for the environmental
advocacy group The Natural Resources
Defense Fund said that the
administration’s decision to change the
proposed standards at the behest of
industry was an “unprecedented and
unlawful act of political interference.”
Tim Donaghy of the Union of
Concerned Scientists told Reuters that
the Bush administration’s demands to
satisfy business interests has led to an
“epidemic of interference in the work of
scientists,” that stretches from the EPA
“across pretty much every science based
agency in the federal government.” The
chairman of the House Oversight and
Government Reform Committee, Henry
Waxman (D-CA), sent a letter to the
head of the EPA asking the agency to
“explain its rational” for ignoring its own
scientist’s unanimous recommendations
and acquiescing to the Bush administra-
tion’s demands regarding the new ozone
emission rules. it's all true
Smokescreen at Industrial Protection Agency
| Percent of people 65 years and over below poverty level - selected states |
%