That is absolute bullshit on the face of it. As a minimum they have what is being published in every newspaper around the world, which isn't trivial, especially since they often pursue independent lines of stories. You wouldn't try to deny that would you? And that is assuming that they either don't have a source inside the papers that is a volunteer, a plant, or bought for a few million dollars. Who is vetting the people in the newspapers? I'm pretty sure they don't have Top Secret clearances. That also assumes that the Russians, Chinese, or the intelligence agencies of other nations haven't simply engaged in a break-in to steal the information. And that is all before you even get to the question of Snowden being disgruntled long before he stole the information and the possibility that he was actively working with the Russians or Chinese. Snowden was apparently lying for years before he stole that information, and his contacts with the Russians and Chinese in Hong Kong leave many questions. It was no surprise to the Russians when Snowden landed in Russia. Snowden or his handlers is engaged in a minor magic act, a little misdirection, a few documents pulled out of the hat with the right banter, and everyone in the audience is a true believer. He did make that rabbit appear from nowhere! He really is a true magician! He really did do it for us!
Meanwhile, today in Russia, Snowden asked Putin on TV: Snowden: Do you spy like the US? Putin: Of course not! That isn't legal in Russia. And we don't have the means of the rich West. And it is all tightly controlled by the government and courts.
So you are saying your ignorance of the evidence convinces you of your position?
Apparently you aren't familiar with termites.
And even better, you apparently don't seem to have the imagination to see how knowledge of where and how surveillance systems operate could allow you to avoid them or mitigate against them? And you claim to be a system architect?
Russia has just admitted that it really did move members of its armed forces into Crimea prior to the annexation. How do you think they managed that without people catching on?
You can thank the Democratic Congress for the massively increased spending just as you can thank the Republican Congress that Clinton had for the fiscal discipline.
Unions are tricky things. Yes, they have fought for many improvements for workers, but there have also been problems with corruption and pursuing agendas either unrelated to the worker's interests or even against them. The automotive worker's unions had helped drive jobs out of Detroit and helped lead to the ruin of more than one institution. The public employee unions are an entire saga in themselves.
Carter was the last President; after him, it has been a complete sham.
That's a crock if ever I've seen one.
One reason he had it so bad is because he went up stream against a system that was near death.
Carter had it tough because he wasn't really up to the job and was a slow learner when dealing with the Soviets. Oddly enough Obama is reliving that with the Russians.
blind faith that "the old way is always the best way" is just nostalgia playing tricks on your mind.
It isn't necessarily a question of "the old way" but rather the proven way. Look at the flip side - communism. It was tried over, and over, and over and kept producing bloody disasters of mass oppression, mass murder, economic ruin. And yet today there are still communists! They want to keep trying despite killing 100,000,000 people in the last century.
The radicals of the movements springing up in the 60s weren't any better even when they weren't communists. They wanted to tear down society with no real plan to rebuild. Their spiritual heir in many ways is the "Occupy" movement which failed so miserably.
The Congress passed an Authorization for Use of Military Force against Iraq. Legally it is equivalent to a declaration of war. The Supreme Court decided that long ago. The Constitution continues in force.
It is true that China is becoming more nationalistic again. Unfortunately some of that is connected to territorial claims of lands and waters currently held by someone else. That isn't good.
That is a load of bull. The US Congress approved both the 1991 military action to remove Saddam's forces from Kuwait, and the 2003 military action to remove Saddam from power. The US public backed both actions at the time. In 1998 Bill Clinton signed the Iraq Liberation Change Act passed by Congress.
That isn't how this started. Lavabit had apparently complied with much more limited surveillance demands in the past, but then decided they weren't going to do that any more. Since they wouldn't comply with the narrow demand things escalated, Lavabit didn't comply, and things escalated again. Eventually Lavabit was hit with contempt and produced this outcome. This one rests on Lavabit. It appears likely they defied the law to help Snowden, and they are their customers lost out.
One other thing, the US has started the effort to repair the damage from Snowden's betrayal. It is going to cost billions of dollars and take years. If you are a US citizen you will be paying for that. The US will be vulnerable for probably decades, as will US allies. Going to Congress would have avoided all of that.
Is there any chance that you could remember that thought should your country ever come under nuclear attack or occupation, or you find yourself caught in a terrorist WMD attack, or possibly on a hijacked airliner? Thanks.
Going to Congress would have been responsible. Snowden when far, far beyond being responsible. He betrayed his country in an anti-democratic fashion.
First you call me Nazi, now you're back to "NSA shill." More crooked words from you, more lies as you continue your assault on the truth like the fascist you are. You have to rely upon name calling instead of argument because the simple straight facts are so devastating to your position. The simple fact is that the NSA is nothing more than a US government intelligence under the Department of Defense that looks for a list of things given to it by the rest of the government. It isn't the secret police. It isn't the Stasi. It doesn't have arrest powers. Congress holds its purse strings and writes the laws it must comply with. The President appoints its leaders. It has to answer to the courts. It plays a vital role in protecting the US. And ultimately that is why you can't stand it: it protects the United States and it is part of the military. You can't stand the "status quo" and want the country moved in an extreme direction. "Omabaisaneocon"??? Really? Like many extremists you are content to use the protections of the Constitution as both shield and club to conduct "lawfare" until your faction has the power to alter things more to its liking.
General George Washington was a spy master that the head of British intelligence complained "out spied" him. Benjamin Franking opened the mail of other colonists for intelligence purposes. You ignore that history because it is inconvenient. You are against US intelligence vital to protecting the country. You are at best a self-hating American and an example of Oikophobia if not an outright anti-American, and in either case a fascist.
Slashdot Mirror
Russia & China got nothing from Snowden.
That is absolute bullshit on the face of it. As a minimum they have what is being published in every newspaper around the world, which isn't trivial, especially since they often pursue independent lines of stories. You wouldn't try to deny that would you? And that is assuming that they either don't have a source inside the papers that is a volunteer, a plant, or bought for a few million dollars. Who is vetting the people in the newspapers? I'm pretty sure they don't have Top Secret clearances. That also assumes that the Russians, Chinese, or the intelligence agencies of other nations haven't simply engaged in a break-in to steal the information. And that is all before you even get to the question of Snowden being disgruntled long before he stole the information and the possibility that he was actively working with the Russians or Chinese. Snowden was apparently lying for years before he stole that information, and his contacts with the Russians and Chinese in Hong Kong leave many questions. It was no surprise to the Russians when Snowden landed in Russia. Snowden or his handlers is engaged in a minor magic act, a little misdirection, a few documents pulled out of the hat with the right banter, and everyone in the audience is a true believer. He did make that rabbit appear from nowhere! He really is a true magician! He really did do it for us!
Meanwhile, today in Russia, Snowden asked Putin on TV:
Snowden: Do you spy like the US?
Putin: Of course not! That isn't legal in Russia. And we don't have the means of the rich West. And it is all tightly controlled by the government and courts.
There is a sucker born every minute.
So you are saying your ignorance of the evidence convinces you of your position?
Apparently you aren't familiar with termites.
And even better, you apparently don't seem to have the imagination to see how knowledge of where and how surveillance systems operate could allow you to avoid them or mitigate against them? And you claim to be a system architect?
Russia has just admitted that it really did move members of its armed forces into Crimea prior to the annexation. How do you think they managed that without people catching on?
It's the same Constitution. It is just that some people don't understand it and how it applies. You may be in that category.
You can thank the Democratic Congress for the massively increased spending just as you can thank the Republican Congress that Clinton had for the fiscal discipline.
You could try moving to Vermont.
Vermont's Single-Payer Dream
I assume it must be the drugs talking because that certainly isn't true.
Unions are tricky things. Yes, they have fought for many improvements for workers, but there have also been problems with corruption and pursuing agendas either unrelated to the worker's interests or even against them. The automotive worker's unions had helped drive jobs out of Detroit and helped lead to the ruin of more than one institution. The public employee unions are an entire saga in themselves.
Carter was the last President; after him, it has been a complete sham.
That's a crock if ever I've seen one.
One reason he had it so bad is because he went up stream against a system that was near death.
Carter had it tough because he wasn't really up to the job and was a slow learner when dealing with the Soviets. Oddly enough Obama is reliving that with the Russians.
Actually that sounds about right for some targets.
I am happy to agree with you. You are correct. Much of life comes down to personal choices.
blind faith that "the old way is always the best way" is just nostalgia playing tricks on your mind.
It isn't necessarily a question of "the old way" but rather the proven way. Look at the flip side - communism. It was tried over, and over, and over and kept producing bloody disasters of mass oppression, mass murder, economic ruin. And yet today there are still communists! They want to keep trying despite killing 100,000,000 people in the last century.
The radicals of the movements springing up in the 60s weren't any better even when they weren't communists. They wanted to tear down society with no real plan to rebuild. Their spiritual heir in many ways is the "Occupy" movement which failed so miserably.
In the United States of America, the commoners are totally cut off from the decision making process.
The United States is a republic. I'm sure that you've heard that.
What will be done will change if enough voters care enough to take action in the voting booths in the primaries and general election.
The Congress passed an Authorization for Use of Military Force against Iraq. Legally it is equivalent to a declaration of war. The Supreme Court decided that long ago. The Constitution continues in force.
It is true that China is becoming more nationalistic again. Unfortunately some of that is connected to territorial claims of lands and waters currently held by someone else. That isn't good.
It was in some of the older articles on the matter. You'll have to look it up, I don't have time at the moment.
That is a load of bull. The US Congress approved both the 1991 military action to remove Saddam's forces from Kuwait, and the 2003 military action to remove Saddam from power. The US public backed both actions at the time. In 1998 Bill Clinton signed the Iraq Liberation Change Act passed by Congress.
Finally! Something we can agree on! ;)
And another troll comment from the fascist crank anagama for whom Obama is to the extreme right.
And here we see the fascist anagama continuing his campaign of lies against me.
Their business plan was premised on a promise they couldn't legally keep. Not a good position to be in.
That isn't how this started. Lavabit had apparently complied with much more limited surveillance demands in the past, but then decided they weren't going to do that any more. Since they wouldn't comply with the narrow demand things escalated, Lavabit didn't comply, and things escalated again. Eventually Lavabit was hit with contempt and produced this outcome. This one rests on Lavabit. It appears likely they defied the law to help Snowden, and they are their customers lost out.
One other thing, the US has started the effort to repair the damage from Snowden's betrayal. It is going to cost billions of dollars and take years. If you are a US citizen you will be paying for that. The US will be vulnerable for probably decades, as will US allies. Going to Congress would have avoided all of that.
Is there any chance that you could remember that thought should your country ever come under nuclear attack or occupation, or you find yourself caught in a terrorist WMD attack, or possibly on a hijacked airliner? Thanks.
Going to Congress would have been responsible. Snowden when far, far beyond being responsible. He betrayed his country in an anti-democratic fashion.
I guess you think we shouldn't discuss Iran's nuclear program or Chinese aggression against its neighbors and threats of nuclear war either.
First you call me Nazi, now you're back to "NSA shill." More crooked words from you, more lies as you continue your assault on the truth like the fascist you are. You have to rely upon name calling instead of argument because the simple straight facts are so devastating to your position. The simple fact is that the NSA is nothing more than a US government intelligence under the Department of Defense that looks for a list of things given to it by the rest of the government. It isn't the secret police. It isn't the Stasi. It doesn't have arrest powers. Congress holds its purse strings and writes the laws it must comply with. The President appoints its leaders. It has to answer to the courts. It plays a vital role in protecting the US. And ultimately that is why you can't stand it: it protects the United States and it is part of the military. You can't stand the "status quo" and want the country moved in an extreme direction. "Omabaisaneocon"??? Really? Like many extremists you are content to use the protections of the Constitution as both shield and club to conduct "lawfare" until your faction has the power to alter things more to its liking.
General George Washington was a spy master that the head of British intelligence complained "out spied" him. Benjamin Franking opened the mail of other colonists for intelligence purposes. You ignore that history because it is inconvenient. You are against US intelligence vital to protecting the country. You are at best a self-hating American and an example of Oikophobia if not an outright anti-American, and in either case a fascist.