The biggest right-wing propaganda coup of the last twenty years has been convincing people like you that anyone to the left of the Republican Party wants a communist overthrow of the United States. It's just... not true. At all. In any way.
"Occupy Wall Street" is a fringe movement spouting tired, old, leftist dogma and hate. The only thing it has in common with the "Arab Spring" is that there are threads of anti-Semitism running through both.
Right now, idealistic young Americans are gathered together to fight injustice and build a better world.
Sure, they're a little dirty, and maybe some of their language is a bit rough, but they've left behind family and friends, as well as the creature comforts the rest of us take for granted, to make a stand for what they believe in.
It's just too bad that today the mainstream media is focusing on the spoiled, incoherent clowns of Occupy Wall Street and ignoring our young fighting men and women.
The mainstream media's cameras can't get enough of these pierced protesters, with their crudely written signs proclaiming their unfocused discontent and general anger at society's selfishness in failing to satisfy their every want and desire.
Of course, those cameras discreetly turn away when the placards demanding socialist revolution and blaming the Jews come out. The protesters' function is to demonstrate inchoate outrage simply by being there. When they start talking, they start alienating the normals.
These are Potemkin protesters, community organized by government worker unions to allow liberal Democrats a way to triangulate to the center next year. Only the rebel media outfits will actually stick a mic in the protesters' dirty faces and let them talk.
What comes out is a confused hash of gripes about their banks, complaints about their student loans, and whining about the quality of their jobs.
Tragically, graduates of Ivy League universities brandishing master's degrees in minority women's studies are not getting jobs that pay enough to service their $150,000 student loans. Who could have seen that coming?
I've worked on/in a lot of big steel frame buildings over the last 20 years, and frankly the official explanation never made much sense to me either, but then again I'm not a metallurgical expert like some of the poeple on that site are.
If you're looking for facts I would try the sites below. Unlike the "truther" sites the people at the sites below aren't baffled by things that blacksmiths know - that steel loses its structural strength and bends long before it reaches its melting point.
Al Qaeda only had to keep about 30-40 people quiet for a year to pull off their attack. The movements of the people that did it, their pilot training, are all known. Al Qaeda took credit for it.
If you believe the conspiracy theorists called "truthers", you have to be willing to believe that probably several thousand people, at least, had to play a part in staging an attack on their fellow Americans that killed thousands and nothing has slipped out after 10 years - including the alleged missile attack on the Pentagon - and despite the fact that the government leaks like a sieve. Actually more than that since an attack that elaborate would have taken significant time to plan, prepare, and rehearse. (Sneak into buildings and place explosive charges to implode them, fire a missile at the Pentagon (by who? from where? What type? Why didn't it turn up missing?) as well as fake some aspects of the plane attacks (what about the family members? The recovered bodies?). Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence, something the 9-11 "truther" movement doesn't deliver. All they have are "questions" and crank theories.
I'm just glad my grandfather who fought against this kind of shit in WWII isn't around to witness this shit.
Since you don't say which side your grandfather fought for, we'll assume it was the United States. If your grandfather fought for the United States, it was to keep the United States free, that is from being conquered by the Axis powers. As part of its war effort, the United States conducted warrantless wiretaps, military tribunals for spies and saboteurs (and executions for the guilty), detained thousands or tens of thousands of enemy aliens and American citizens of Japanese, German, and Italian descent, and detained American members of foreign patriotic societies, such as the German American Bund, built up the active duty armed forces to about 10x their current size in manpower with a population base half the size, and devoted 40% of GDP to the war effort. Seems to me some of that is familiar.
If you were to tell the average American in 1943 that you thought it was an example of government oppression to spy on Nazi agents communicating with their headquarters in Germany on their plots to spy and kill, said American would look at you like you were insane. If you were to tell the average American in 2002 that you think it is an example of government oppression to spy on Al Qaeda agents communicating wtih their headquarters in Afghanistan regarding their plots to spy and kill Americans, said American would typically look at you like you are insane. And that is the actual problem here. Despite the fact that week, after week, after week, there are arrests and convictions of Muslim extremists that want to bomb, shoot, poison, or otherwise kill Americans, you apparently just don't see it. You think taking action against the extremists is somehow selling out the people. You've got it wrong. The American people don't want to be bombed, shot, poisoned, or otherwise killed by Muslim extremists. They are OK with the government spying on people in direct contact with Al Qaeda and its affiliates. The cours have repeatedly found that the government may conduct warrantless wiretaps for national security purposes.
You mean most Americans are too stupid to realize they're getting groped over the internet.
And yet apparently most people on Slashdot are too ignorant to know that they may have passed through someone's crosshairs despite the fact that the arrests and convictions keep coming week, after week, after week. Bomb plots, shooting plots, poison plots. Well, it didn't stop Duke Nukem from shipping, so it must not be important. Besides, everyone watches the Daily Show, right? What more would you need to form opinions about important questions?
If we don't collapse economically thanks to the US senate, there is some small hope that justice and liberty can be restored in time. America needs a valid liberal progressive party instead of the conservative democrats and regressive republicans.
If you think the Democrats are conservative, the United States needs "a valid liberal progressive party" like it needs forced labor camps. You are far too ready to take The Road to Serfdom.
You have no right to private communications with foreign powers or organizations aimed at attacking or overthrowing the government of the United States, particularly if they have declared war on the US.
yeah, the government assigns itself a lot of self-importance and overrides the rights and will of the people.
The will of the American people is to not be blown up at Christmas tree lightings and other public functions by terrorists. They are OK with spying on terrorists communicating with Al Qaeda. The Constitution is OK with that. I'm not sure you're "hip" to any of that.
Please tell me you are not on a dim witted personal crusade to ensure the right of terrorists to conspire and communicate in secret with their overseas masters as they plan and prepare to kill Americans?
A special federal appeals court yesterday released a rare declassified opinion that backed the government's authority to intercept international phone conversations and e-mails from U.S. soil without a judicial warrant, even those involving Americans, if a significant purpose is to collect foreign intelligence.
the special FISA appeals court, which in a 2002 sealed case upholding the constitutionality of the Patriot Act held that "the President did have inherent authority to conduct warrantless searches to obtain foreign intelligence information." The court said it took the president's power "for granted," observing that "FISA could not encroach on the President's constitutional power."
For your viewing pleasure, some of the more recent developments regarding would be "Jihadis" in the US:
A U.S. serviceman is in custody after he allegedly admitted he was planning an attack on his fellow servicemen at the U.S. Army base at Fort Hood, Texas, the same base where 13 people were killed in a 2009 terror attack.
WASHINGTON â" The Marine Corps reservist arrested in Arlington National Cemetery last week with suspicious materials in his backpack was charged Thursday with firing shots last year at five military buildings in the Washington area, including the Pentagon.
Investigators said they linked the reservist, Yonathan Melaku, to the shootings by determining that the bullet fragments recovered at those scenes came from the same gun as the spent shell casings found in his backpack last week.
The cowboy hat is a practical piece of headgear, suitable for people doing hard work outdoors. It keeps the rain off your head, the sun off your face, and the sweat out of your eyes. Since it is American kit connected with hard work and sweat, it is easy to understand why many people feel no connection with it. There is also little mystery that many of those who despise America, and cowboys for that matter, (including too many Americans) generally have a clown hat as their primary headgear.
Nope. But the US has shown willingness to use the guns it has. Now explain to me again how this makes the US the "good guys" again.
It really depends on the use the arms are put to, doesn't it? Kuwaitis were pretty happy when US led coalition forces removed Saddam's army from Kuwait in 1991. Of course there were many Europeans that protested against the US for planning to remove Saddam's forces from Kuwait, but virtually none when Saddam invaded and conquered Kuwait, thus demonstrating the moral bankruptcy of the "Peace" movement.
The French (practically no oil) were pretty happy when the mainly US and British forces of the Allies removed Nazi German forces from France. Likewise the Dutch (practically no oil), Danes (practically no oil), Belgians (practically no oil), and Luxemburgers (practically no oil). Many Italians (practically no oil) were glad to be rid of the Fascist government, as many Germans (practically no oil) were happy to be rid of the National Socialist government.
Australians (practically no oil) were happy to have not been invaded by the Japanese, which the US presence helped, and the Philippinos (practically no oil) were thrilled to see the Japanese (practically no oil) removed by American forces.
South Koreans (practically no oil) are quite happy that they are not governed by the North, a fate prevented by US arms. The South Vietnamese (practically no oil) almost made it, they defeated the 1972 invasion by North Vietnam with American air support. Unfortunately the "peace" movement influenced the US Congress to cut off all aid to South Vietnam, including medical supplies. South Vietnam fell to another conventional invasion by tanks and infantry divisions from North Vietnam.
The vast majority of Eastern Europeans (pretty much no oil) are happy to be free of Soviet rule, and many West Europeans (mostly no oil) are happy to have avoided that fate. American arms made a substantial contribution to that end.
The people of Taiwan (practically no oil) are still free today in large part to America.
The Iraqi people are free today, with a budding democracy, and are rebuilding their country. They are happy to be free from Saddam which wouldn't have happened without American intervention. Despite the large number of people killed by terrorists and insurgents (the vast majority of the dead), they were really no worse off than Saddam’s long term average death rate, and now violence is down overall by about 90%. They have a chance, but not a guarantee, of being able to build a decent country. That is a chance they never would have had under Saddam or his sons.
American arms have helped stop and reverse the world wide trend toward despotism at least twice, helping to turn the tide against fascism, and soviet communism.
America has used its military power in humanitarian relief efforts, such as after the 2004 tsunami, and in Haiti.
The Army has filed 22 new counts against suspected WikiLeaks source Bradley Manning, among them a capital offense for which the government said it would not seek the death penalty.
The charges, filed Tuesday but not disclosed until Wednesday, are one count of aiding the enemy, five counts of theft of public property or records, two counts of computer fraud, eight counts of transmitting defense information in violation of the Espionage Act, and one count of wrongfully causing intelligence to be published on the internet knowing it would be accessible to the enemy. The aiding-the-enemy charge is a capital offense, potentially carrying the death penalty. Five additional charges are for violating Army computer-security regulations.
I hate when an obviously trolly statement is actually the 100% truth.
I think I'll go back to sticking my head in the sand, a much happier place there.
According to the fine report, there were 3,194 wiretaps authorized in 2010. That is roughly 1 wiretap for every 94,000 Americans. On average 118 people's communications were intercepted per wiretap (no doubt including pizza delivery, crank calls, and telemarketing).
So tell me, when did you become overwhelmed with fear and despair? Was it crossing the line of 1 wiretap for every 100,000 Americans to 1 wiretap for every 94,000 Americans? Personally, I would expect that genuine fascism and oppression would result in numbers more like 1 for every 100 to 200 Americans rather than 1 for every 94,000.
"Security theater" has nothing on "civil rights theater", and trolls love theater.
It's the non-environmentalists that seem to have the deathwish.
Don't kid yourself, there are those who want humans removed from the earth "for the sake of the environment". Some are willing to see it done voluntarily, some less so. There are people who go beyond sound scientific policy to worshipping the earth, or nature. Some pursue extreme environmental policy for their own ends.
Phasing out the human race by voluntarily ceasing to breed will allow Earth’s biosphere to return to good health. Crowded conditions and resource shortages will improve as we become less dense.
LulzSec made some headlines and embarrassed a few major organizations. Going to jail isn't worth a few more headlines.
"LulzSec" already earned waiting spots in prison with what they've already done. Not doing anymore doesn't constitute "take back".
Know your objective, how what you're willing to invest to achieve it, and exit when you've reached your goal or exceeded your costs.
That sort of rationality doesn't really fit with doing it for the "lulz", does it? If so, things will become much more boring at MIT. If you are suggesting cold blooded calculation on their part, then that will only add to their misfortunes when they are prosecuted.
"Conservatives (and the Religious Right) are far more likely than liberals to give of their **own** money to support "love thy neighbor" programs." False. In fact the most generous group is actually atheists. Who, btw, have no afterlife angle there playing. Doing it because you're afraid you will be accountable to your sky wizard is not charity, it's paying for points.
I'm afraid you didn't get this correct, and the rest of your post is pretty much off as well.
Lopez: And conservatives are more generous than liberals -- is it really that simple?
Brooks: No, it's really not a question of politics per se -- it goes much deeper, to the values that lie beneath political views. My book explores four areas of our culture that lead people to give, or not: religious faith, attitudes about the government's role in our lives, the source of one's income, and family. These are the big drivers of giving in America today, and the biggest is religion. Religious folks give far more than secularists in every way I've been able to measure. For example, people who attend a house of worship every week are 25 percentage points more likely to give to charity each year than people who never go to church, and give away about four times as much money. And this is not just a question of religious people giving to their churches, as meritorious as that might be: They also give and volunteer significantly more to explicitly nonreligious causes and charities.
Obviously, religion also correlates pretty strongly with politics, which is one reason why conservatives appear to give so much....
Lopez: Surely that religious people are generous isn't that surprising, right? The collection basket is just a normal part of their lives, right?
Brooks: It's probably not surprising to NRO readers, but it is surprising to a lot of folks out there, who see religion as superstition leading people to be less accepting of others, and religious contributions as little more than glorified country club dues. Many people I know find it almost unbelievable that religious people are 21 percentage points more likely than secularists to volunteer for totally nonreligious causes; or that they are about twice as likely to donate blood.
Lopez: Why does all of this matter?
Brooks: One of the most exciting areas of social science research involves the benefits of charitable behavior to givers, their communities, and our nation. There is a growing body of evidence that giving stimulates personal prosperity, strong communities, good citizenship, and a healthier nation. In other words, charity is not just about cash for services (which theoretically, the government could provide with tax revenues). Rather, it enhances quality of life for givers and those around them.
Lopez: How will being charitable make me happy, healthy and rich?
Brooks: Charitable giving and volunteering are tremendously pleasurable. They also empower givers, making them feel less like victims, and give people a lot of meaning in their lives. I have talked to clinical psychologists who actually prescribe volunteer work to their patients, with amazing results. Studies also show that givers are admired and elevated to positions of influence and authority. It is hardly surprising, given all the evidence, that givers enjoy (on average) higher happiness and prosperity than non-givers do. In fact, my research leads me to the belief that the single best self-help strategy is to serve others.
Lopez: What does your data mean for the term "bleeding heart"?
Brooks: According to the popular lexicon, "bleeding hearts" are those who most want to raise taxes and redistribute income from the rich to the poor. Yet the data show that these folks are actually less likely to give away their own money than are those whose hearts apparently don't bleed quite so much. For example, people who
I think most of the smart IT people are beginning to view the U.S. as a threat to their business.
Your link leads to an article complaining about shutting down "websites involved in copyright infringement, the sale of counterfeit goods or child pornography", among other things. I doubt most smart IT people are involved in criminal enterprises. If most of the "smart" people you know are, maybe you should think about moving to a different part of the industry. And when I say different, I mean legal.
I think it's time to hold the FBI to the same standards that they would hold the rest of us. If I went in waving a gun around and demanding to walk away with somebody else's server, they'd throw my ass in jail.
Apparently they waived something much more powerful than a gun - a warrant. It lets them do that.
If they want access to a particular client's content, they can go through the same process as a DMCA takedown request or a backup request would. They make a request, the company yanks that customer's access, then clones that customer's data onto a new drive, then hands them the drive.
Seizing evidence based on a warrant is just a tad different than a DMCA takedown, or a backup. Surprisingly enough, you don't get to decide what they can take. I suggest you speak to an attorney before refusing to comply with a warrant.
There's simply no excuse for such sloppy investigative work. If they screwed up so royally with the servers, you have to wonder how many grievous errors they made in other areas that would lead to the evidence being declared tainted, criminals going free, etc.
Since it seems they didn't comply with your views they probably avoided a number of grievous errors since it doesn't appear to me that you understand chain of custody, evidence handling, or digital forensics for use as evidence in legal proceedings.
On the other hand you probably build a heck of a server and perform backups with the best of them.
Slashdot Mirror
No one wants to be pining for the fjords....
Hey! That was uncalled for, you insensitive clod!
The biggest right-wing propaganda coup of the last twenty years has been convincing people like you that anyone to the left of the Republican Party wants a communist overthrow of the United States. It's just... not true. At all. In any way.
"Occupy Chicago" Protesters CHEER the Communists (Video)
Nazis and Communists Throw Their Support Behind Occupy Wall Street Movements (Updated)
Occupy L.A. Speaker: Violence will be Necessary to Achieve Our Goals
'Here in my country the "Occupy .+ street" event was lead by the local communist party`, GreatBunzinni
Would you please stop typing that kind of bullshit here on slashdot .
Just because the truth stinks doesn't mean it's bullshit.
"Occupy Chicago" Protesters CHEER the Communists (Video)
Nazis and Communists Throw Their Support Behind Occupy Wall Street Movements (Updated)
Occupy L.A. Speaker: Violence will be Necessary to Achieve Our Goals
"Occupy Wall Street" is a fringe movement spouting tired, old, leftist dogma and hate. The only thing it has in common with the "Arab Spring" is that there are threads of anti-Semitism running through both.
Occupy Wall Street Goes Global
Sunday Reflection: Protestors should try occupying reality for real change
PICKET: Occupy Wall Street protesters post manifesto of 'demands'
Nazis and Communists Throw Their Support Behind Occupy Wall Street Movements (Updated)
Occupy L.A. Speaker: Violence will be Necessary to Achieve Our Goals
Video: Occupy Portland Protesters Sing “F*ck the USA”
THOUSANDS Of Obama-Endorsed “Occupy Chicago” Protesters CHEER the Communists (Video)
Wall Street: Occupied by Anti-Semites?
Political party paying Occupy Wall Street protesters?
More Anti-Semitism at Occupy Los Angeles
Coast Guard member spit on near Occupy Boston tents
‘Occupy’ protesters branch out
* morale, sheesh.
In war the moral is to the material (physical) as three is to one. --- Napoleon Bonaparte
Troop Morale
Force multiplication
Umm, exactly how much of a payload do you really think a RC aircraft has? I'll give you a hint: it's only a teeny bit less than a B52...
I'll go out on a limb and guess that it's more than you probably think.
Hand grenades, such as the M67, typically only contain 60-180g of explosives, and yet are lethal out to 5m and deadly out to 15m.
I've worked on/in a lot of big steel frame buildings over the last 20 years, and frankly the official explanation never made much sense to me either, but then again I'm not a metallurgical expert like some of the poeple on that site are.
If you're looking for facts I would try the sites below. Unlike the "truther" sites the people at the sites below aren't baffled by things that blacksmiths know - that steel loses its structural strength and bends long before it reaches its melting point.
Debunking the 9/11 Myths: Special Report
Questions and Answers about the NIST WTC 7 Investigation (Updated 09/17/2010)
Al Qaeda only had to keep about 30-40 people quiet for a year to pull off their attack. The movements of the people that did it, their pilot training, are all known. Al Qaeda took credit for it.
If you believe the conspiracy theorists called "truthers", you have to be willing to believe that probably several thousand people, at least, had to play a part in staging an attack on their fellow Americans that killed thousands and nothing has slipped out after 10 years - including the alleged missile attack on the Pentagon - and despite the fact that the government leaks like a sieve. Actually more than that since an attack that elaborate would have taken significant time to plan, prepare, and rehearse. (Sneak into buildings and place explosive charges to implode them, fire a missile at the Pentagon (by who? from where? What type? Why didn't it turn up missing?) as well as fake some aspects of the plane attacks (what about the family members? The recovered bodies?). Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence, something the 9-11 "truther" movement doesn't deliver. All they have are "questions" and crank theories.
I'm just glad my grandfather who fought against this kind of shit in WWII isn't around to witness this shit.
Since you don't say which side your grandfather fought for, we'll assume it was the United States. If your grandfather fought for the United States, it was to keep the United States free, that is from being conquered by the Axis powers. As part of its war effort, the United States conducted warrantless wiretaps, military tribunals for spies and saboteurs (and executions for the guilty), detained thousands or tens of thousands of enemy aliens and American citizens of Japanese, German, and Italian descent, and detained American members of foreign patriotic societies, such as the German American Bund, built up the active duty armed forces to about 10x their current size in manpower with a population base half the size, and devoted 40% of GDP to the war effort. Seems to me some of that is familiar.
If you were to tell the average American in 1943 that you thought it was an example of government oppression to spy on Nazi agents communicating with their headquarters in Germany on their plots to spy and kill, said American would look at you like you were insane. If you were to tell the average American in 2002 that you think it is an example of government oppression to spy on Al Qaeda agents communicating wtih their headquarters in Afghanistan regarding their plots to spy and kill Americans, said American would typically look at you like you are insane. And that is the actual problem here. Despite the fact that week, after week, after week, there are arrests and convictions of Muslim extremists that want to bomb, shoot, poison, or otherwise kill Americans, you apparently just don't see it. You think taking action against the extremists is somehow selling out the people. You've got it wrong. The American people don't want to be bombed, shot, poisoned, or otherwise killed by Muslim extremists. They are OK with the government spying on people in direct contact with Al Qaeda and its affiliates. The cours have repeatedly found that the government may conduct warrantless wiretaps for national security purposes.
Minneapolis Man Pleads Guilty to Terrorism Offense - July 18, 2011
Pennsylvania Man Indicted for Soliciting Jihadists to Kill Americans - July 14, 2011
Accused al Shabaab Leader Charged with Providing Material Support to al Shabaab and al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula - July 5, 2011
Two Men Charged in Plot to Attack Seattle Military Processing Center - June 23, 2011
Chicago Businessman Tahawwur Hussain Rana Guilty of Providing Material Support to Terror Group and Supporting Role in Denmark Terrorism Conspiracy - June 9, 2011
North Carolina Man Pleads Guilty to Terrorism Charge - June 7, 2011
FBI Announces Identity of Transitional Federal Government Checkpoint Suicide Bomber - June 9, 2011
You are all suspected terrorists. Where is that phone number for the local FBI office...
Maybe these will help:
Minneapolis Man Pleads Guilty to Terrorism Offense - July 18, 2011
Pennsylvania Man Indicted for Soliciting Jihadists to Kill Americans - July 14, 2011
Accused al Shabaab Leader Charged with Providing Material Support to al Shabaab and al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula - July 5, 2011
Two Men Charged in Plot to Attack Seattle Military Processing Center - June 23, 2011
Chicago Businessman Tahawwur Hussain Rana Guilty of Providing Material Support to Terror Group and Supporting Role in Denmark Terrorism Conspiracy - June 9, 2011
North Carolina Man Pleads Guilty to Terrorism Charge - June 7, 2011
FBI Announces Identity of Transitional Federal Government Checkpoint Suicide Bomber - June 9, 2011
Two Iraqi Nationals Indicted on Federal Terrorism Charges in Kentucky - May 31, 2011
You mean most Americans are too stupid to realize they're getting groped over the internet.
And yet apparently most people on Slashdot are too ignorant to know that they may have passed through someone's crosshairs despite the fact that the arrests and convictions keep coming week, after week, after week. Bomb plots, shooting plots, poison plots. Well, it didn't stop Duke Nukem from shipping, so it must not be important. Besides, everyone watches the Daily Show, right? What more would you need to form opinions about important questions?
Fort Hood Suspect Mentions al Qaeda Cleric Believed to Have Inspired Previous Attack, Official Says
Reservist Charged in '10 Building Shootings
Minneapolis Man Pleads Guilty to Terrorism Offense - July 18, 2011
Pennsylvania Man Indicted for Soliciting Jihadists to Kill Americans - July 14, 2011
Accused al Shabaab Leader Charged with Providing Material Support to al Shabaab and al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula - July 5, 2011
Two Men Charged in Plot to Attack Seattle Military Processing Center - June 23, 2011
Chicago Businessman Tahawwur Hussain Rana Guilty of Providing Material Support to Terror Group and Supporting Role in Denmark Terrorism Conspiracy - June 9, 2011
North Carolina Man Pleads Guilty to Terrorism Charge - June 7, 2011
FBI Announces Identity of Transitional Federal Government Checkpoint Suicide Bomber - June 9, 2011
Two Iraqi Nationals Indicted on Federal Terrorism Charges in Kentucky - May 31, 2011
If we don't collapse economically thanks to the US senate, there is some small hope that justice and liberty can be restored in time. America needs a valid liberal progressive party instead of the conservative democrats and regressive republicans.
If you think the Democrats are conservative, the United States needs "a valid liberal progressive party" like it needs forced labor camps. You are far too ready to take The Road to Serfdom.
well, color ME surprised!
How about if I color you uninformed instead?
You have no right to private communications with foreign powers or organizations aimed at attacking or overthrowing the government of the United States, particularly if they have declared war on the US.
yeah, the government assigns itself a lot of self-importance and overrides the rights and will of the people.
The will of the American people is to not be blown up at Christmas tree lightings and other public functions by terrorists. They are OK with spying on terrorists communicating with Al Qaeda. The Constitution is OK with that. I'm not sure you're "hip" to any of that.
Please tell me you are not on a dim witted personal crusade to ensure the right of terrorists to conspire and communicate in secret with their overseas masters as they plan and prepare to kill Americans?
Seeing as warrantless wiretapping is clearly unconstitutional, it's thoroughly inappropriate to be doing it at all.
Warrantless wiretapping for national security purposes has been found Constitutional by courts repeatedly. You don't know what you are talking about.
Intelligence Court Releases Ruling in Favor of Warrantless Wiretapping
Why We Endorsed Warrantless Wiretaps
For your viewing pleasure, some of the more recent developments regarding would be "Jihadis" in the US:
Yet again: Fort Hood Suspect Mentions al Qaeda Cleric Believed to Have Inspired Previous Attack, Official Says
Reservist Charged in '10 Building Shootings
Minneapolis Man Pleads Guilty to Terrorism Offense - July 18, 2011
Pennsylvania Man Indicted for Soliciting Jihadists to Kill Americans - July 14, 2011
Accused al Shabaab Leader Charged with Providing Material Support to al Shabaab and al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula - July 5, 2011
Two Men Charged in Plot to Attack Seattle Military Processing Center - June 23, 2011
Chicago Businessman Tahawwur Hussain Rana Guilty of Providing Material Support to Terror Group and Supporting Role in Denmark Terrorism Conspiracy - June 9, 2011
No
We wear cowboy hats?
The cowboy hat is a practical piece of headgear, suitable for people doing hard work outdoors. It keeps the rain off your head, the sun off your face, and the sweat out of your eyes. Since it is American kit connected with hard work and sweat, it is easy to understand why many people feel no connection with it. There is also little mystery that many of those who despise America, and cowboys for that matter, (including too many Americans) generally have a clown hat as their primary headgear.
Nope. But the US has shown willingness to use the guns it has. Now explain to me again how this makes the US the "good guys" again.
It really depends on the use the arms are put to, doesn't it? Kuwaitis were pretty happy when US led coalition forces removed Saddam's army from Kuwait in 1991. Of course there were many Europeans that protested against the US for planning to remove Saddam's forces from Kuwait, but virtually none when Saddam invaded and conquered Kuwait, thus demonstrating the moral bankruptcy of the "Peace" movement.
The French (practically no oil) were pretty happy when the mainly US and British forces of the Allies removed Nazi German forces from France. Likewise the Dutch (practically no oil), Danes (practically no oil), Belgians (practically no oil), and Luxemburgers (practically no oil). Many Italians (practically no oil) were glad to be rid of the Fascist government, as many Germans (practically no oil) were happy to be rid of the National Socialist government.
Australians (practically no oil) were happy to have not been invaded by the Japanese, which the US presence helped, and the Philippinos (practically no oil) were thrilled to see the Japanese (practically no oil) removed by American forces.
South Koreans (practically no oil) are quite happy that they are not governed by the North, a fate prevented by US arms. The South Vietnamese (practically no oil) almost made it, they defeated the 1972 invasion by North Vietnam with American air support. Unfortunately the "peace" movement influenced the US Congress to cut off all aid to South Vietnam, including medical supplies. South Vietnam fell to another conventional invasion by tanks and infantry divisions from North Vietnam.
The vast majority of Eastern Europeans (pretty much no oil) are happy to be free of Soviet rule, and many West Europeans (mostly no oil) are happy to have avoided that fate. American arms made a substantial contribution to that end.
The people of Taiwan (practically no oil) are still free today in large part to America.
The Iraqi people are free today, with a budding democracy, and are rebuilding their country. They are happy to be free from Saddam which wouldn't have happened without American intervention. Despite the large number of people killed by terrorists and insurgents (the vast majority of the dead), they were really no worse off than Saddam’s long term average death rate, and now violence is down overall by about 90%. They have a chance, but not a guarantee, of being able to build a decent country. That is a chance they never would have had under Saddam or his sons.
American arms have helped stop and reverse the world wide trend toward despotism at least twice, helping to turn the tide against fascism, and soviet communism.
America has used its military power in humanitarian relief efforts, such as after the 2004 tsunami, and in Haiti.
So, what has your country done?
The army has a civil case against him? I thought he was facing court martial.
He is facing court martial for a variety of criminal acts.
Bradley Manning Charged With 22 New Counts, Including Capital Offense
They aren't "getting away" with anything. It's perfectly legal, and rare. You're simply confused on the matter.
In the USA, it should be. But it isnt.
There were 3,194 wiretaps authorized last year. That is about 1 for every 94,000 Americans. When will the "madness" end?
I hate when an obviously trolly statement is actually the 100% truth.
I think I'll go back to sticking my head in the sand, a much happier place there.
According to the fine report, there were 3,194 wiretaps authorized in 2010. That is roughly 1 wiretap for every 94,000 Americans. On average 118 people's communications were intercepted per wiretap (no doubt including pizza delivery, crank calls, and telemarketing).
So tell me, when did you become overwhelmed with fear and despair? Was it crossing the line of 1 wiretap for every 100,000 Americans to 1 wiretap for every 94,000 Americans? Personally, I would expect that genuine fascism and oppression would result in numbers more like 1 for every 100 to 200 Americans rather than 1 for every 94,000.
"Security theater" has nothing on "civil rights theater", and trolls love theater.
Some recent terrorism arrests, convictions, and developments:
Terrorist plot averted in Seattle at military recruiting station
Sources: Reservist Suspected in Military Shootings Self-Radicalized Through Internet
Chicago Businessman Tahawwur Hussain Rana Guilty of Providing Material Support to Terror Group and Supporting Role in Denmark Terrorism Conspiracy
North Carolina Man Pleads Guilty to Terrorism Charge
FBI Announces Identity of Transitional Federal Government Checkpoint Suicide Bomber
Two Iraqi Nationals Indicted on Federal Terrorism Charges in Kentucky
Terrorism is a deliberate human activity, not a random natural phenomenon.
It's the non-environmentalists that seem to have the deathwish.
Don't kid yourself, there are those who want humans removed from the earth "for the sake of the environment". Some are willing to see it done voluntarily, some less so. There are people who go beyond sound scientific policy to worshipping the earth, or nature. Some pursue extreme environmental policy for their own ends.
The Voluntary Human Extinction Movement
Is there even one Muslim country where porn is not outlawed?
Is there even one Muslim country where porn is not found?
No. 1 Nation in Sexy Web Searches? Call it Pornistan
Random connection: Exclusive: Pornography found in bin Laden hideout: officials
Far more troubling than the porn:
"I hope that Kuwait will enact the law for...sex slaves"
"When I want a sex slave, I just go to the market and choose the woman I like and purchase her"
Pakistan: In the Land of Conspiracy Theories
What explains those crazed conspiracy theories running wild in Pakistan?
LulzSec made some headlines and embarrassed a few major organizations. Going to jail isn't worth a few more headlines.
"LulzSec" already earned waiting spots in prison with what they've already done. Not doing anymore doesn't constitute "take back".
Know your objective, how what you're willing to invest to achieve it, and exit when you've reached your goal or exceeded your costs.
That sort of rationality doesn't really fit with doing it for the "lulz", does it? If so, things will become much more boring at MIT. If you are suggesting cold blooded calculation on their part, then that will only add to their misfortunes when they are prosecuted.
"Conservatives (and the Religious Right) are far more likely than liberals to give of their **own** money to support "love thy neighbor" programs."
False. In fact the most generous group is actually atheists. Who, btw, have no afterlife angle there playing. Doing it because you're afraid you will be accountable to your sky wizard is not charity, it's paying for points.
I'm afraid you didn't get this correct, and the rest of your post is pretty much off as well.
The Right Cares - Charitable numbers
I think most of the smart IT people are beginning to view the U.S. as a threat to their business.
Your link leads to an article complaining about shutting down "websites involved in copyright infringement, the sale of counterfeit goods or child pornography", among other things. I doubt most smart IT people are involved in criminal enterprises. If most of the "smart" people you know are, maybe you should think about moving to a different part of the industry. And when I say different, I mean legal.
I think it's time to hold the FBI to the same standards that they would hold the rest of us. If I went in waving a gun around and demanding to walk away with somebody else's server, they'd throw my ass in jail.
Apparently they waived something much more powerful than a gun - a warrant. It lets them do that.
If they want access to a particular client's content, they can go through the same process as a DMCA takedown request or a backup request would. They make a request, the company yanks that customer's access, then clones that customer's data onto a new drive, then hands them the drive.
Seizing evidence based on a warrant is just a tad different than a DMCA takedown, or a backup. Surprisingly enough, you don't get to decide what they can take. I suggest you speak to an attorney before refusing to comply with a warrant.
There's simply no excuse for such sloppy investigative work. If they screwed up so royally with the servers, you have to wonder how many grievous errors they made in other areas that would lead to the evidence being declared tainted, criminals going free, etc.
Since it seems they didn't comply with your views they probably avoided a number of grievous errors since it doesn't appear to me that you understand chain of custody, evidence handling, or digital forensics for use as evidence in legal proceedings.
On the other hand you probably build a heck of a server and perform backups with the best of them.