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FCC To Require Backdoor Network Access for Feds
humankind writes "The EFF is reporting that the Federal Communications Commission issued a release [pdf] announcing its new rule expanding the reach of the Communications Assistance to Law Enforcement Act (CALEA)." From the article: "Practically, what this means is that the government will be asking broadband providers - as well as companies that manufacture devices used for broadband communications - to build insecure backdoors into their networks, imperiling the privacy and security of citizens on the Internet. It also hobbles technical innovation by forcing companies involved in broadband to redesign their products to meet government requirements."
GO LINUX!
"Meet the new boss, same as the old boss."
The Clinton administration also sought increased police powers after they torched all those people down in Waco.
There are of course ideological differences between the Republican/right and the Democratic/left, but one thing that does not differ is the desire for those in power to expand their reach.
The mistake that is being made in this case is to treat terrorism as a criminal justice problem when it is in fact a military problem.
Think back to WW-II for a moment. At that time there were temporary laws and regulations passed as part of the war effort that did encroach upon our rights and freedoms. For the most part these were necessary in order to ensure the continued security of our own nation and the success of the war effort overseas. When the war was won and the threat neutralized these laws were repealed because they were both unnecessary and an affront to the core ideals this country was founded upon.
What I fear is that the left in this country is going to succeed in undermining our resolve to pursue and defeat our enemies, resulting in an ongoing conflict with no end in sight. This is exactly what happened during Vietnam. They were not the sole perpetrators of our defeat, but they did more than their fair share. The anti-war far left of the 60's and 70's has become the mainstream left of today (Howard Dean, John Kerry), much to the detriment of our nation as a whole. This is a big part of why the Republicans are so successful nowadays. It's not that everyone who votes Republican is "right wing," rather it's the fact that so many moderates and independents can't stomach voting Democrat anymore. If the Democratic party ceases to be a viable opposition, the far right contingents within the Republican party will be given a blank check to push their own brand of bullshit down everyone's throat.
In any case, if the left succeeds in undermining and thwarting our efforts overseas, if not outright offering aid and comfort to our enemies, then not only will this conflict persist, but these laws and regulations that threaten the well being of our society will persist as well. This threat is two fold. First, too much power is placed in the hands of government. Second, we run the risk that our society itself will be corrupted in such a way that these laws are seen as acceptable or even preferable. The longer such laws are on the books, the greater both threats grow.
So, if you don't like such laws and want to see those that are already with us go away, support our efforts to destroy our enemies. The sooner the islamofacists are dead and buried, the sooner laws like this will be put to rest as well.
Lee
Muslim community leaders warn of backlash from tomorrow morning's terrorist attack.
WTF? Nobody is at this time limiting your rights, your privacy or your liberty if you are a normal plain old citizen with no malicious intent. I don't got thru the day worrying about if the Gov't might know something about me they didn't know yesterday. If I want to keep something private, I sure don't send it via the Internet, snail mail still works good in that respect. The fact that the Patriot Act got pretty much unanimous reapproval in the House and Sentate says it not a bad deal on the whole. The Patriot Act is nothing to fear unless you got something to hide. I don't like Unkie Sam knowing things about me, I don't see why he needs to know, I don't fit the Terrorist Profile, but I really don't care as I'm not going to do something to bring himm down on me.