Surveillance & Intel News

ꕤ Article SOURCE surveillance | intel PETITION #Surveillance #Privacy #uspoli #law stop backdoor govt access to encrypted services - #Petition https://www.savecrypto.org/ #uspoli #surveillance #California Police fake phone tower  spy tech approved by DOJ https://www.revealnews.org/article/east-bay-cellphone-surveillance-plan-gets-attorney-generals-support/ #Berlin campaigners launch Intelexit support group for #NSA & #GCHQ to quit http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2015/09/30/intelexit_for_nsa_surveillance_self_help_group_for_intelligence_agents_started.html #France Draft Bill #Surveillance mass surveillance carte blanche Similar plans are already in place in the UK and the Netherlands. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2015/09/france-must-reject-law-that-gives-carte-blanche-to-mass-surveillance-globally/ #military Nearly 120 soldiers from 163rd and 303rd Military Intelligence Battalions deployed to #Afghanistan http://kdhnews.com/fort_hood_herald/across_the_fort/fort-hood-military-intelligence-troops-deploy-to-afghanistan/article_42e4c9c0-66b0-11e5-8fd1-5f39ca88a06f.html #military US army #SouthKorea hoover up radio transmissions & detect underground tunnels fleet of new spy planes http://theweek.com/articles/577905/new-american-spy-planes-could-spot-kim-jong-uns-secret-tunnels ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/02/world/asia/kunduz-taliban-afghanistan.html?_r=0 Afghanistan Kunduz Still Held by Taliban, Locals Say, Despite Afghan Government Claims By ALISSA J. RUBIN  OCT. 1, 2015 Afghan soldiers preparing on Wednesday for a counteroffensive to try to retake the city of Kunduz from the Taliban. Credit Najim Rahim/European Pressphoto Agency KABUL, Afghanistan — Kunduz residents and provincial officials said the city remained in Taliban hands on Thursday, despite claims from the Afghan government that it had retaken the city. Kareema Sediqi, a member of the Kunduz provincial council, said that “the city is still in Taliban control,” but that Afghan security forces had advanced as far as a roundabout near the city’s entrance. Interviews with several residents suggested that the situation was fluid, with fighting continuing. Ms. Sediqi, who spoke from Kabul but was in contact with family members trapped in Kunduz, said, “The Afghan security forces are struggling against strong Taliban resistance from Taliban who are wearing A.N.A. uniforms,” referring to the Afghan National Army. It is a common Taliban tactic to obtain uniforms of the government security forces and use them to confuse their enemies. [...] But before residents had gone far from their homes, the Taliban counterattacked, wearing the uniforms of Afghan security forces, with some riding motorcycles and others driving captured Humvees and sports utility vehicles. They pushed back the Afghan forces, who remained on the city’s outskirts, according to Ms. Sediqi and some residents. [...] Saad Mukhtar, the director of public health for Kunduz, said that since the city fell, his office had recorded 49 dead and 332 wounded in local hospitals, including civilians and members of the Afghan security forces. Hundreds of civilians and members of the government forces have been holed up in the airport south of Kunduz, and reinforcements sent from other provinces have been delayed or halted by Taliban resistance in outlying areas. Residents reached in parts of Kunduz Province beyond the city said that the Taliban remained in control in the district of Chardara. That district is one of the most strategically important in the province because a road to the largest city in Afghanistan’s north, Mazar-i-Sharif, runs through it. [...] http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/02/world/asia/kunduz-taliban-afghanistan.html?_r=0 ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- Pentagon Pushing to Increase Post-2016 Troop Levels in Afghanistan New Plans Aim to Give Military 'Leeway' on When to Carry Out Drawdown by Jason Ditz, September 30, 2015 Every planned drawdown of US military forces from Afghanistan seems to turn up later than announced and smaller than planned, and despite officials still sticking to the NATO narrative that the Afghan War “ended,” some 10,000 US troops remain there. Officially, the plan is for a major drawdown by the end of next year that will finally catch up with what was supposed to be a 2014 pullout. Unsurprisingly, the Pentagon is once again fighting against following through on the plans, with officials saying the “plans” they are advancing both intend to withhold the troop level reductions deeper into 2017, and to give the Pentagon more “leeway” in when and how many troops get removed from the country after 2017. Already 14 years into the occupation of Afghanistan, the continuing struggles of the Afghan military continues to drag US ground troops into combat, and many officials seem to favor just maintaining the occupation essentially forever instead of ending the war and watching the government continue to lose territory to the same insurgency they’ve been fighting throughout that war. With less and less media coverage of the Afghan War, there seems to be less political interest in seeing the troops brought home, which likely will ensure that the Pentagon proposals to keep troops there get through without too much debate. http://news.antiwar.com/2015/09/30/pentagon-pushing-to-increase-post-2016-troop-levels-in-afghanistan/ ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- COMMENT Thought I'd look up to see what's going on with Afghanistan, seeing the US is sending out over 100 intelligence staff. Looks like Taliban's winning? Fourteen years is such a long time to occupy a country. Surprised how sophisticated Taliban are, wearing uniforms of Afghan government troops etc. It sounds like life goes on around the fighting and bystanders get shot if they're unlucky. Don't know enough about Afghanistan to make anything of what's going on. ------- Spy planes that find tunnels is pretty cool ... & especially handy near Gaza. ------- The French are going to subject everyone to mass surveillance, which is pretty standard for countries that expose themselves to internal risks. ꕤ

What's New Pussycat?

#Indonesea govt of Pres  Joko Widodo 33 proposed names to Ambassador posts 24 appear (to me) to be political appointments http://www.globalindonesianvoices.com/22332/ambassador-positions-as-consolation-prize/ #Egypt ambassador to Canada Ambassador Motaz Mounir Zahran to visit port of Sydney http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local/2015-09-02/article-4266057/Egyptian-ambassador-to-visit-port-of-Sydney/1 #Mexico confirms new ambassador to US academic, Miguel Basanez Ebergenyi k.a.  Miguel Basanez http://www.thepublicopinion.com/news/associated_press/national/latin-america/mexico-senate-ratifies-academic-as-next-ambassador-to-us/article_14f76c5d-a762-5746-9116-65e506892a9a.html William McCormick Blair Jr fmr US Ambassador, Dead at 98 Stanford airforce intel ops China, Burma (Myanmar) & India http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/03/us/politics/william-mccormick-blair-jr-former-us-ambassador-dead-at-98.html?_r=0 #LatAm #Colombia Under Secretary Wendy Novelli meets w/ Colombian Ambassador to US http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/appt/2015/09/246590.htm #LatAm #Colombia Assistant Secretary Crocker meets with Colombian Ambassador to the U.S. Juan Carlos Pinzón, at DoS http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/appt/2015/09/246590.htm ASSIST SEC ECONOMIC & BUSINESS AFFAIRS CHARLES RIVKIN Assist. Sec Rivkin meets w/ President of Committee for European Affairs of the French Senate Jean Bizet, in Paris, France. travel to #France, #Nigeria, & #Senegal from September 1-11 http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/appt/2015/09/246590.htm #LatAm #Chile Under Sec Wendy Novelli attends lunch hosted by Chilean Ambass to US Juan Gabriel Valdés, in WA, D.C. http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/appt/2015/09/246590.htm Counsellor DoS / to Kerry Thomas A. Shannon lunch with #Azerbaijan Ambassador to the U.S. Elin Suleymanov http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/appt/2015/09/246590.htm Counselor Shannon - US DoS meeting U.S. Ambassador to #Rwanda Erica Barks-Ruggles, at Department of State http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/appt/2015/09/246590.htm Dir. Policy Planning (internal think tank) DAVID MCKEAN meets w/ Italian Ambassador to US Claudio Bisogniero, at DoS http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/appt/2015/09/246590.htm #Pakistan BISP moots cooperation w/ diplomatic corps / conference attended by deans of diplo corps http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/national/03-Sep-2015/bisp-moots-cooperation-with-diplomatic-corps Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) non-conditional cash transfer program / cash BISP est. 2005 to address reductions in purchasing power: *inflation *high cost food & oil *empower women ... lol  Sounds like a Pakistan gimme cash scam see also:  accusations of corruption and political favouritism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benazir_Income_Support_Programme Dr. Susan K. Brems rank of minister-counselor incoming Mission Director USAID Philippines, Pacific Islands & Mongolia 23 years in USAID Dr. Susan K. Brems, USAID previously, mission director Zambia & Angola http://www.interaksyon.com/article/116983/new-usaid-mission-director-to-ph Santos Aust oil & gas producer corporate Aust. horror show lost $10 BILLION in market capitalisation in past 12 mths more info Santos:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santos_Limited / 2013 oil spill QLD, 1 week to stem / high water usage: Indonesia, QLD, SA bulk of 500-plus job losses = come from its Adelaide HQ in the past 6 months AUD$27 billion GLNG project - overcapitalised http://www.afr.com/business/energy/oil/santos-bidding-war-could-be-undone-by-100m-partial-poison-pill-20150902-gjd54s Australia's Ambassador to Italy, San Marino, Albania + Libya = former SA premier, Mike Rann (ALP) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Rann CORPORATE PATRIOTISM Jul / BHP Billiton slashes headcount by 37pc at Melb HQ / Treasury division relocating http://www.afr.com/business/mining/iron-ore/bhp-billiton-slashes-headcount-by-37pc-at-melbourne-headquarters-20150728-gim7lk Santos 500-plus job losses = bulk from Adelaide HQ in past 6 mths http://www.afr.com/business/energy/oil/santos-bidding-war-could-be-undone-by-100m-partial-poison-pill-20150902-gjd54s UNSC draft resolution re Europe's migrant crisis / inspection of suspected migrant ships on high seas Med http://www.thepublicopinion.com/news/associated_press/national/africa/russia-security-council-addressing-europe-s-migrant-crisis/article_f6638637-91ca-5b3d-99ad-4aaae4238e48.html OUTRAGEOUS INTERFERENCE IN DOMESTIC POLITICAL AFFAIRS OF BRITIAN - OR A SET-UP BY THE TORY GOVERNMENT, WHO FULLY APPROVE OF THIS PUBLIC DISPLAY OF WHY BRITAIN 'MUST' REMAIN EU FAITHFUL? #UKpolitics German ambassador Dr Peter Ammon deliberate sabotage of UK / interfering British politics Britain is eyeing EU’s exit door demanding fewer immigrants now refusing to pay a £1.7 billion bill sum demanded by the EU Commission is punishing the UK for recent economic growth "Dr Ammon would not be drawn on how the UK should vote." BUT ... "Germany would be happy if the UK stayed, he said." Leverage / Public Scare Tool "Berlin wants to trade with the UK more and increase existing investment that he said already supports 370,000 jobs." http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/political-interview-dr-peter-ammon-uk-stag-parties-london-is-the-best-9826049.html UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon the US puppet trying for UN investigation chemical weapons #Syria / Russia refused to sign off .. lol Reports of ISIS mustard gas used  on Kurds ... WMD, anyone? http://www.3news.co.nz/world/russia-holds-up-un-syria-chemicals-investigation-2015090311 #Crime #Fraud #internet LOVE SCAM #Nigeria Gabriel Oseremen Xavi fake Facebook: Collins Page http://newmail-ng.com/efcc-returns-10540-euros-to-polish-love-scam-victim-pictures/ Do not send $$$$$$   lol #Jordan KING meets CEO Centre for Israel & Jewish Affairs (CIJA), Shimon Fogel mtg incl. Canadian ambassador in Amman http://en.ammonnews.net/article.aspx?articleno=30007 ** Jordan his high energy needs.  Israel has energy.  Canada has energy expertise.  I'm going to guess that this meeting is about energy supply to Jordan.  Some sort of Israeli-Canadian joint project.  :) Hmmm ... hard to say.  Maybe not energy.  Maybe something else.  So much for my guesses.  lol Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs  *formerly the Canadian Council for Israel and Jewish Advocacy   oversight + co-ordinating body for a number of Jewish Canadian orgs  CIJA is the advocacy arm of the Jewish Federations of Canada-United Israel Appeal CIJA's creation has been criticized as an attempt to "corporatize" the funding structure of Jewish community organizations and tie them to pro-Israel lobbying. Opposition to boycotts of Israel Opposition to the Iranian government https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centre_for_Israel_and_Jewish_Affairs Shimon Fogel " ...registered consultant to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Canadian House of Commons, and has been a member of the Round-Table on Global Security under the Department of National Defence. He has also been a seasonal lecturer at Queen’s University ..." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shimon_Fogel ... graduate of Clark University’s School of Government and International Relations in Massachusetts and pursued graduate and doctoral studies at McGill University. He also holds rabbinic ordination. ... written and lectured extensively in Canada and internationally on matters of public policy and has been engaged by numerous groups. The Hill Times recognized Fogel as one of the 100 most influential actors within the political sector, and Embassy Magazine ranked him among the 50 most important people influencing Canadian foreign policy. http://www.cija.ca/team/shimon-fogel/ Sweden | Russia Look out Russia, Sweden to stop pretending neutrality: / rethinking neutrality amid fear of 'Russian aggression' despite   "200-year-old posture of military neutrality" Oh, please.  Sweden was probably double-dealing the last 200 years.  It certainly has been the last 70 years or so.  Sweden's not neutral.  Sweden's virtually a member of the Anglo-American 'Five Eye' gang. http://www.latimes.com/world/europe/la-fg-sweden-russia-nato-neutrality-20150902-story.html #CzechRepublic #cybersecurity firm CyberGym seek to train companies in defence / Israeli-side supervision #cybersecurity CyberGym is Israeli Israel Electric Corp. / planning US, LatAm & Asia ops http://www.praguepost.com/technology/49587-cyber-attack-training-center-to-open-near-prague UN under-secretary-general Stephen O’Brien (British former MP, Conservative) visit to Qatar’s embassy in Turkey http://www.gulf-times.com/qatar/178/details/453539/un-official-praises-qatar%E2%80%99s-positive-stance Stephen O’Brien > https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_O'Brien Sahel Arabic for:  "shore, coast" abt, top third (?) Africa overpopulation & over-farming / soil degradation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sahel Flags UN #Palestine proposed draft proposal for non-member states to raise flag / Ron Prosor Israel, rejects http://www.dailysabah.com/mideast/2015/09/03/israel-asks-un-to-reject-palestinian-attempt-to-raise-flag #LatAm #Peru YANKEE GO HOME Peru Activists Show Displeasure In Arrival of 3,200 US Troops http://www.9and10news.com/story/29945309/peru-activists-show-displeasure-in-arrival-of-us-troops #Israel United Torah Judaism first Agudat Yisrael minister in 63 years Ya’acov Litzman takes oath Minister Health Ashkenazi ultra-Orthodox / do not want ministers bearing collective responsibility / religion ethics issue? http://www.jpost.com/Business-and-Innovation/Health-and-Science/Litzman-takes-oath-becomes-first-Agudat-Yisrael-minister-in-63-years-415031 1977 Moscow, US Embassy fire great deal of info was lost or stolen some classified KGB suspected US marines get revenge burning down KGB shed http://www.huffingtonpost.com/adst/the-us-embassy-moscow-fir_b_8078818.html #India #Oil USA keen to participate expansion project of Numaligarh Refinery / US working on Defence & Energy deals http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/48778653.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst #Panama #Italy #LatAm international scandal President Juan Carlos Varela http://plenglish.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4122031&Itemid=1 #Ukraine Western journalists knew  US govt operatives helped orchestrate coup & ignored right-wing nationalists http://www.globalresearch.ca/maidan-2-0-ukraine-rightists-kill-police-putin-blamed/5473431 USA presumes to lecture the world re 'human rights' US Hypocrites move To EXPLOIT: "Free 20 Women Political Prisoners" campaign USA almost a quarter of the world's prisoners  2.3 million USA prisoners 1.6 million CHINA prisoners @ x4 population of USA SOURCE - US STATS http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/23/world/americas/23iht-23prison.12253738.html?pagewanted=all SWITZERLAND Ideologue of Swiss People's Party Facebook blocked - AGAIN CENSORSHIP Previously blocked for captioning migrant ship with:  here comes the labour force. https://archive.is/qyaBh#selection-2227.15-2235.1 Swiss People's Party Schweizerische Volkspartei, SVP Democratic Union of the Centre right-wing Eurosceptic nationalist economic liberalism Britain’s surveillance state  ‘worse than bad joke’ UN Special Rapporteur on Privacy  Joseph Cannataci  today there are many parts of the English countryside where there are more cameras than George Orwell could ever have imagined. https://www.rt.com/uk/314157-britain-surveillance-dangerous-un/ #Nevada #USpoli #Surveillance Undercover FBI infiltrates Burning Man festival, collects intelligence, documents show http://www.cbsnews.com/news/fbi-infiltrates-burning-man-festival-collects-intelligence-documents-show/ FBI investigated this song 1964 The Kingsmen  |  Louie Louie 1963 https://youtu.be/7Vae_AkLb4Q Best Version: Motorhead |  Louie Louie  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDP7_h4wkgw #Philippines #Surveillance #HumanRights Supreme Court protection & release of dossiers sought re govt harassment / unions & student union / threats + surveillance activities / military and police participation http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/718981/militant-leaders-seek-sc-help-vs-govt-harassment US military deploys drones to #Latvia on training mission / NATO puppets help ground exercises & planning http://www.pressexaminer.com/us-military-deploys-drones-to-latvia-on-training-mission/66820 ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- COMMENT Just some of the news that caught my attention. Much of it just skimmed.   A lot of this is trivia. US is deploying drones on Russia's doorstep, but the papers aren't screaming 'US aggression'. US ally, Philippines, appears to engage in harassment and repression of unions and those that are politically active.  That would probably be standard practice for close friends of the US.  lol Britain has cameras in the countryside, while the FBI is infiltrating the likes of a hippy festival in Nevada.  Western values?  Freedom?  Oh, bullsh*t.  lol Free speech regarding the consequences (mass immigration) of the pursuit of the neocon US aligned corporate/imperialist agenda abroad, is harshly censored in Europe.  While there's a funny side to that Swiss guy's Facebook being blocked, this social media censorship is suppression of political comment, debate, and dissent ... in what's supposed to be a democracy, one presumes. Britain is pretending it doesn't want to be in the EU, for the sake of the rabble who don't.  But they've probably OK'd the German Ambassador's theatrical, 'Baby, Please Don't Go' performance. The US hypocrites and that awful Power woman are forever exploiting humanitarian, minority and feminist causes for political gain.  Meanwhile ... back in the United States .... (check out incarceration stats in America, the 'land of the free'). Nation states operate as handmaidens of corporations and the interests of corporations are put above all else ... but corporations:  well, corporations put PROFITS above all else.  Stuff the rabble back home.  Let them eat cake.  We're downsizing.  lol The Latin American and Italian scandal is a bit hard (for me) to follow in that article.  Don't have the patience with that one.  There'd be more articles regarding that, if anyone's into keeping track of dodgy Latin goings on.  lol ꕤ

Intel, Surveillance & Cybersec- Random News Items

#Algeria - Gen Hassan retired Algerian intel chief (counter-terrorism) / held in military prison Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika reforming intel services relieving them of missions >> control transfer to Military July 2015 Algeria Pres. Bouteflika replaced heads of DSI counter-espionage unit residential security + Republican Guard http://www.news24.com/Africa/News/Algeria-detains-former-counter-terror-chief-report-20150830-4 #SouthAfrica allegations of SA intel spying on journalists Democratic Alliance asked intel Inspector General to investigate allegations SSA is spying on SABC journalists http://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/da-seeks-sabc-spying-probe-1.1907758 #SouthAfrica Cops in 'super-spy' machine probe The Grabber / dirtbox / cigarette smuggling http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/cops-in-super-spy-machine-probe-1.1907719 MacDonald, Dettwiler & Associates Ltd. = Canada-based communications & info co commercial & govt customers, globally MacDonald, Dettwiler & Associates Ltd. 2 segments: Communications +  Surveillance & Intelligence MacDonald, Dettwiler & Associates Ltd. Communications: = TV, satellite, radio, broadband, mobile Surveillance & Intel: = Geospatial + [think encountered MDA the other day] http://www.lulegacy.com/2015/08/30/macdonald-dettwiler-associates-pt-lowered-to-c89-00-mda/594668/ #UK MI6 agent Gareth Williams hacked Clinton’s agenda / diplomatic nightmare - Sir John Sawers / mysterious death http://nypost.com/2015/08/31/british-agent-hacked-bill-clintons-agenda-before-his-mysterious-death/ #Surveillance  advertising co's profile user, based on internet usage history “super-cookies aka pass ID = unique token injected into every HTTP request / user helpless: no choice / persists after clearing cookies Culprits: Verizon AT&T Bell Canada Bharti Airtel Cricket Telefonica de España Viettel Peru S.A.C. Vodafone NL Vodafone Spain Solution: 1) limit web browsing to sites that offer SSL or TLS 2) switch to provider that does not use super-cookies. http://www.techworm.net/2015/08/supercookies-are-back-in-force-giving-rise-to-privacy-threats.html PricewaterhouseCoopers Insurance Banana Skins 2015 #cybersecurity = one of biggest fears of insurers in world Report http://www.pwc.com/gx/en/insurance/banana-skins/2015-survey-report.jhtml #cybersecurity Ashley Madison hack UK intel checked files for security breaches & info / counterparts doing same http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/ashley-madison-hack-british-intelligence-checked-leaked-files-for-security-breaches-and-information-10479238.html Ashley Madison hack Noel Biderman steps down as CEO of parent co Canadian Internet entrepreneur Self-proclaimed "King of Infidelity" former CEO of Avid Life Media  [wikipedia] #cybersecurity Indian financial outfits facing numerous cyber attacks from Pakistan / no mandatory reporting of hacks http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/48737054.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst #cybersecurity 3 broad hacker type: 1. financial motive cyber criminal 2. hacktivists or politically motivated 3. nation state attackers most serious type, said to be (3) nation state hackers >> steal business strategy + intellectual property /indiatimes #cybersecurity #OPM US federal agencies to pay at least $132 million re OPM hack Carter said his desire to increase the military’s computer defenses is one reason he was heading to Silicon Valley on Friday to recruit outside help. Federal agencies will pay at least $132 million to begin cleaning up the mess caused by the computer hack of at least 22 million current and former federal employees and military personnel. About 40 percent of the total, or nearly $53 million, will be paid by the Army. A little more than a quarter will be paid by the Air Force and 17 percent, or about $23 million, will come from the Navy, according to National Journal. Last month, OPM notified agencies it would charge them for their share of the protection services being offered to at least 22 million hack victims, proportional to the number of affected former and current employees, contractors, and applicants connected to each agency. The OPM has notified each agency what they owe for fiscal 2015, agencies must shift funds around to make the required payments. The Defense Department submitted its reprogramming request to Congress, where it has already received approval from at least the Senate Appropriations Committee’s panel on Defense spending. The plan set aside $132 million to pay for hack victims’ credit and identity monitoring, identity restoration and protection services for dependent children. https://thetelegraph.com/news/70496/report-says-va-way-short-of-psychiatrists ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- COMMENT Just news items that caught my eye. That US$130 million eventually goes to cybersecurity companies? They must be ecstatic whenever there's a big hack.  lol Algeria sounds interesting.  Something big's going on. South Africa sounds corrupt. CEO stepping down is a pointless, symbolic act. ꕤ

Intel & Surveillance News

US vows to help #Philippines in intel gathering / oldest US ally in Asia no specifics re support see Territorial dispute South China Sea #China claim Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei + Taiwan have overlapping claims http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/08/26/1492532/us-vows-help-philippines-intel-gathering MacDonald, Dettwiler & Associates Lttd /MDA CA$3.9 million contract with National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency http://softwaredev.itbusinessnet.com/article/MDA-to-provide-operational-enhancements-for-information-solution-to-support-flight-operations-at-airports-4038599 other MacDonald, Dettwiler & Associates Lttd /MDA  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacDonald,_Dettwiler_and_Associates National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency combat support agency, under USA DOD & intelligence agency US intel comm GEOINT NGA credited by WH military officials for providing info re Op Neptune's Spear 2011 / bin Laden #Serbia National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency cause of #NATO Bombing of Chinese embassy in Belgrade / CIA argues otherwise. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Geospatial-Intelligence_Agency USA military - DRONES Spent last decade amassing over 7,000 surveillance drones / some size of birds / others as big as as jetliners Drone technology = USA spy planes will be phased out starting in 2018 Without US ground troops in Iraq and Syria, #USA commanders rely on airborne #surveillance more than ever before Iraq war - USA had plenty fighter pilots - low on aerial surveillance re what happening ground / long distance pilots on amphetamine paste Over decades, U-2 spy plane claimed lives of 30 pilots / many have nearly crashed after suffering decompression sickness Russia U-2 spy plane shot down over Soviet Union in 1960 / capture of pilot Francis Gary Powers / traded for Soviet spy 1962 It is after satellites could be relied upon for remote control that drones could be used for surveillance. US Airforce trained: x18 U-2 pilots trained 2014 x57 ground-based pilots for Global Hawk (drone) [ looks like drones are the go ] DRONES = cost about half what the U-2 spy planes cost per flying hour to operate Global Hawk = drone http://www.latimes.com/nation/great-reads/la-na-c1-spy-plane-pilot-20150826-story.html Potomac Advocates (PRASAM) PRASAM, intel community's 'official' lobbyist grabbed lion’s share of USG lobbying 4 intel community /subsription http://www.intelligenceonline.com/government-intelligence/due-diligence/2015/08/26/prasam-intelligence-community-s--official--lobbyist,108088706-ART More Potomac Advocates http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/firmsum.php?id=D000036775 Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc provides war fighter solutions and security related services engineering, Information Technology services and war fighter solutions primarily for US National Security priorities services include command, control, communications, computing, combat systems, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (c5ISR), weapon systems lifecycle support, military weapon range and technical services, network engineering services, advanced information technology services, security and surveillance systems, and critical infrastructure design and integration services. http://www.americantradejournal.com/kratos-defense-security-solutions-inc-short-interest-update-2/657949/ #Canada Surveillance Police surveillance camera goes up in East Vancouver neighbourhood / gang violence issue http://www.news1130.com/2015/08/25/police-surveillance-camera-goes-up-in-vancouver-neighbourhood/ #Surveillance Windows 10 heralds a future in which the cloud rules and computers snitch on us by default default / automatic sharing of data the new normal — from your voice & typing patterns to unique machine ID s/ track & target #surveillance By default, users of Mac OSX & Ubuntu Linux transmit local search terms to respective companies + third parties http://america.aljazeera.com/opinions/2015/8/when-surveillance-is-a-feature-not-a-bug.html #AmericanAggression masked as deterrence to 'Russian aggression' USA send F-22 Raptors to Europe European Reassurance Initiative $985 million in overseas contingency operations USA funding - 2015 current fiscal year. http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2015-08-25/us-will-send-f-22s-europe-bolster-allies-deter-russia Understanding Indications & Warning Efforts Of US Ballistic Missile Defence – Analysis http://www.eurasiareview.com/26082015-understanding-indications-and-warning-efforts-of-us-ballistic-missile-defense-analysis/ Surveillance / Militarised Police #Baltimore police Coming Storm 'Stingray' Surveillance by Police http://www.citylab.com/crime/2015/08/youre-going-to-hear-a-lot-more-about-police-use-of-stingray/402283/ USA Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act | CISA concerns re proposed Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act ie - nature and volume of private data about users being funneled to the government (and intelligence agencies) by companies who opt to participate in the information sharing scheme contemplated by the law https://www.justsecurity.org/25475/cisa-surveillance-law-xss-attack/ USA - Surveillance Act (FISA) electronic surveillance under Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) fed appeals court upheld sentence http://www.startribune.com/federal-appeals-court-upholds-women-s-prison-sentences-in-terror-case/322843851/ Military Drones Market to Reach $11 Billion by 2021 From $3 Billion in 2014 http://www.aviationpros.com/news/12106991/military-drones-market-to-reach-11-billion-by-2021-from-3-billion-in-2014 Ghostery privacy extension / Ghostrank Ghostery privacy extension http://www.extremetech.com/internet/212476-is-it-safe-to-use-the-ghostery-privacy-extension ---------------------- ꕤ  ---------------------- COMMENT Random surveillance articles.  Bit of a mixed bag that's thrown up some military stuff.  Mostly just skimmed. The ballistic missiles article could be interesting, as it's a bit hard to apply lessons of history to present day strategy, without knowing anything about today's military capabilities.  That might be a reading list article.  Not sure I'll get there.  Swamped with all the earmarked stuff I think might be a good read.  Not enough time in the day for all this stuff.  lol The US proposal for companies to share info with government and spy agencies is about as totalitarian as it gets. ꕤ