Journal: Google digital evil or digital child?

Technologies
Google Evil--Bad Google
Google Evil--Bad Google

To begin on a positive note: Google has both computational mathematics that are out of this world, an order of magnitude better than anything IBM or the other usual suspects can muster, and it has cracked the cloud storage and heat and throughput issues in a way that is now an almost insurmountable barrier to entry for corporations (China and India are emergent and Brazil and Russia might have some anti-Google surprises in the making).

Google lacks human and intelligence-oriented leadership, and suffers from the usual problems associated with a bureaucracy that grew too fast on the fantasy cash from credulous investors.  “Zooglers” is the term of art now used for Google people that have vested and leave to create new capabilities that “surf” on Google while doing things the Google bureaucracy could not countenance as an internal active.

Then there is evil Google.  Click on the Google Evil-Bad Google logo for a page of links, or choose from among the links below.  We know Larry Page personally, through the Silicon Valley Hackers Conference.  He is a nice person, an engineer, with zero ethics in the sense that dorks do not know anything about etiquette.  Eric Schmidt is the new monopolist in town, and Eric Schmidt has absolutely zero interest in the public interest.

Continue reading “Journal: Google digital evil or digital child?”

Review: The Folly of War–American Foreign Policy, 1898-2005

6 Star Top 10%, Congress (Failure, Reform), Executive (Partisan Failure, Reform), Strategy, Values, Ethics, Sustainable Evolution, War & Face of Battle

Folly of War5.0 out of 5 stars Truly Brilliant, Reflects a Sea Change in Scholarship

July 31, 2007

Donald E. Schmidt

There are some fine reviews, so my primary purpose in posting this review is to flag it for the folks that keep an eye on what I read.

My one complaint is the tiny font size. I had to get special glasses from the supermarket to read this book, a $15 cost that should not have been necessary. The publisher made a serious mistake on the font size and I urge that all future printings be at least 11 font. This entire book is in a font normally used for obscure notes, and it takes dedication to get through this. Such valuable material should NOT be so parsimonesouly treated by a publisher, who should have known better.

I am among those that believe that war is a racket and that we live in an unconquerable world where the only possible positive outcome comes from combining the wealth of networks with the new craft of intelligence and free distance learning as well as on demand answers via cell phone, in order to empower the five billion at the base of the pyramid. Only they can create infinite wealth that stabilizes the entire planet in a sustainable fashion.

This author has ventured where few have had the imagination, persistence, or integrity to go. He has taken on the military-industrial establishment, the banks, the rule by secrecy and scarcity mandarins, and he has nailed it. This is a Nobel Prize level effort and I for one am deeply impressed.

His organization is superb, and even his fanciful conversation among all our Presidents is provocative. This is not “turgid text,” this is the fabric of history restored and rewoven.

Shortly Medard Gabel will have a book come out entitled “Seven Billion Billionaries,” and I urge one and all to buy that book along with this one. They are two sides of the coin. This book is focused on the folly of war (which today costs $900 billion a year across all nations, with the USA being the most spendthrift), while Medard's focuses on the inexpensiveness and achievability of peace and prosperity–in his carefully documented manuscript, every bit the equal of this author's, he shows how $230 billion a year–LESS than a third of what we spend on our varied militaries, could resolve every single one of the high level threats to mankind identified by LtGen Dr. Brent Scowcroft, USAF (Ret), and the other members of this United Nations panel.

I hope this book is put into the digital domain prompty, for the wealth of information it contains will be made all the more valuable as we move to an era of transparent budgets, digital democracy, and constant oversight from the people whose money has been wasted so cruelly all these years.

See my many lists for other recommended readings. Below are a handful of books that complement this one.
War Is a Racket: The Anti-War Classic by America's Most Decorated General, Two Other Anti=Interventionist Tracts, and Photographs from the Horror of It
The Unconquerable World: Power, Nonviolence, and the Will of the People
The New Craft of Intelligence: Personal, Public, & Political–Citizen's Action Handbook for Fighting Terrorism, Genocide, Disease, Toxic Bombs, & Corruption
Designing Web-Based Training: How to Teach Anyone Anything Anywhere Anytime
Blessed Unrest: How the Largest Movement in the World Came into Being and Why No One Saw It Coming
The Sorrows of Empire: Militarism, Secrecy, and the End of the Republic (The American Empire Project)
Rogue Nation: American Unilateralism and the Failure of Good Intentions
Wilson's Ghost: Reducing the Risk of Conflict, Killing, and Catastrophe in the 21st Century
Deliver Us from Evil: Peacekeepers, Warlords and a World of Endless Conflict
The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism

Vote on Review
Vote on Review

Reader Training Archive on Public Intelligence (1992-2006)

Methods & Process
Original
Original

1997

US

Reader Admin Cover, Appreciation, Foreword, Contents

1997

US

Reader Basch Secrets of the SuperSearchers: A Personal and Practical Perspective

1997

FR

Reader Baumard Learned Nations: Competitive Advantages Through Knowledge Strategies

1997

FR

Reader Bonthous Culture: The Missing Intelligence Variable

1997

UK

Reader Collier Toward the Global Information Industry and a New Information Paradigm

1997

US

Reader Donahue National Funding Directions for Open Source Intelligence

1997

US

Reader Fedanzo A Genetic View of National Intelligence

1997

US

Reader Fedanzo Implementing OSINT Through a Distributed Contribution Model

1997

US

Reader Herring The Role of Intelligence in Formulating Strategy

1997

US

Reader Hlava Selected Professional or Trade Associations in Information

1997

US

Reader Karraker (WIRED) Highways of the Mind

1997

US

Reader Kees Advanced Information Processing & Analysis

1997

SE

Reader Leijonhelm Economic Intelligence Cooperation Between Government and Industry

1997

US

Reader Markowitz Community Open Source Strategic Plan (COSPO)

1997

US

Reader McGill Private Sector Role in Collecting, Processing, & Disseminating Intelligence

1997

US

Reader MITRE Open Source Research Processing Initiative

1997

US

Reader Peters After the Revolution

1997

US

Reader Rheingold Tools for Thinking–Thinking New Thoughts

1997

US

Reader Schmidt A History of Failure, A Future of Opportunity: Reinventions and Deja Vu

1997

US

Reader Shepard Intelligence Analysis in the Year 2002: A Concept of Operations

1997

US

Reader Sibbit Commercial Remote Sensing: Open Source Imagery Intelligence

1997

US

Reader Steele ACCESS: Theory and Practice of Intelligence in the Age of Information

1997

US

Reader Steele Commercial Imagery (OSS Notices Extract)

1997

US

Reader Steele Draft Legislation: The National Information Strategy Act of 1994

1997

US

Reader Steele E3i: Ethics, Ecology, Evolution, and Intelligence

1997

US

Reader Steele HAC Surveys Open Source Intelligence (OSS Notices Extract)

1997

US

Reader Steele Information Concepts & Doctrine for the Future

1997

US

Reader Steele Intelligence Building Blocks (OSS Notices Extract)

1997

US

Reader Steele Lip Service, Great Pretenders, & OSINT (OSS Notices Extract)

1997

US

Reader Steele Mapping, Charting, & Geodesy Deficiencies (OSS Notices Extract)

1997

US

Reader Steele National Intelligence: The Community Tomorrow? (SASA at NSA)

1997

US

Reader Steele Open Source Intelligence: What Is It? Why Is It Important to the Military?

1997

US

Reader Steele OSINT: Graphical Overviews

1997

US

Reader Steele Private Enterprise Intelligence: Its Potential Contribution to Nat’l Security

1997

US

Reader Steele Reinventing Intelligence: The Advantages of Open Source Intelligence

1997

US

Reader Steele Talking Points for the Public Interest Summit

1997

US

Reader Steele Testimony to Commission on Eliminating Excessive Secrecy in Govt

1997

US

Reader Steele Toward High-Performance Organizations: A Strategic Role for Groupware

1997

US

Reader Studeman Teaching the Giant to Dance: Contradictions & Opportunities within the IC

1997

US

Reader Toffler Global Security & Global Competitiveness (OSS '03 Keynote)

1995

US

Reader Markowitz COSPO: Community Open Source Program Office Strategic Plan

1995

US

Reader Peters After the Revolution

1995

US

Reader Steele House Appropriations Committee Surveys Open Source Intelligence

1995

US

Reader Steele Intelligence Building Blocks

1995

US

Reader Steele Lip Service, Great Pretenders, and Open Source Intelligence

1995

US

Reader Steele Mapping, Charting, & Geodesy Deficiencies

1995

US

Reader Steele National Intelligence: The Community Tomorrow? (At NSA, 1995)

1995

US

Reader Steele OSINT: What Is It?  Why Is It Important to the Military?

1994

US

Reader Basch Secrets of the Super-Searchers

1994

UK

Reader Collier Toward a Global Information Industry and New Information Paradigm

1994

US

Reader Englebart Toward High Performance Organizations

1994

US

Reader Steele Draft Legislation: National Security Act of 1994

1994

US

Reader Steele Private Enterprise Intelligence: Its Potential Contribution to Nat’l Sec

1994

US

Reader Steele Talking Point for the Public Interest Summit

1993

US

Reader McGill Private Sector Role in Collecting, Processing, Disseming Intelligence

1993

FR

Reader Schmidt A History of Failure, A Future of Opportunity: Reinvention & Deja Vu

1993

US

Reader Steele Reinventing Intelligence: The Advantages of OSINT

Policy Archives on Public Intelligence (1992-2006)

Policy

2006

US

Policy DoD QDR Shift in Focus 18 Years After Gray and Steele Recommended Same

2006

US

Policy Markowitz Defense Science Board Report on Transitions (NGO, OSINT)

2006

US

Policy Peters Counterrevolution in Military Affairs

2006

US

Policy Steele Terms of Reference for Intelligence Reform 1.1

2006

US

Policy Steele In Search of a Leader (Four Essential Reforms)

2006

US

Policy Steele Electoral Refrom as Precursor to Intelligence Reform

2006

US

Policy Tsuruoka Managing for the Future: Interview with Alvin Toffler

2005

US

Policy Andregg Ethics and the IC: Breaking the Laws of God and Man

2005

UK

Policy BASIC Think Tank Report on US Intelligence Incompetence

2005

EU

Policy EU European Union Proposed Multi-National Intelligence Service

2005

US

Policy Godson Culture of Lawfullness

2005

US

Policy Steele ON INTELLIGENCE: Overview in Aftermath of 9-11

2005

US

Policy Steele Op-Ed on Condi Rice’s Active Deception

2005

US

Policy Steele Cease and desist letter on Naquin

2005

US

Policy Tama Princeton Review on Intelligence Reform

2004

US

Policy Alexander Army G-2 Accepts OSINT as Separate Discipline

2004

US

Policy Andregg Insanity of Planned Intelligence “Reforms”

2004

AU

Policy Anon & Steele Update on OSINT in Australia

2004

FR

Policy Clerc Cognitive Knowledge for Nations

2004

US

Policy Cordesman Questions & Answers on Intelligence Reform

2004

US

Policy Cordesman & Steele Questions & Answers on Intelligence Reform

2004

US

Policy Simmons Congressman Simmons Letter to General Schoomaker on OSINT

2004

US

Policy Steele DoD OSINT Program: One Man’s View of What Is Needed

2004

US

Policy Steele Transcript of Steele at Secretary of State’s Open Forum 24 March 2004

2004

NL

Policy Tongeren (van) Need for Global Alliance for Human Security (Complete)

2004

NL

Policy Tongeren (van) Need for Global Alliance for Human Security (Overview)

2003

US

Policy Czech Steady State Revolution and National Security

2003

CA

Policy Fyffe Intelligence Sharing and OSINT

2003

CA

Policy Fyffe Intelligence Sharing and OSINT (Summary)

2003

UN

Policy Lewis Creating the Global Brain

2003

US

Policy Markowitz OSINT in Support of All Source

2003

US

Policy Markowitz Open Source Intelligence Investment Strategy

2003

US

Policy Steele Open Letter to Ambassadors Accredited to the USA

2003

BE

Policy Truyens Intelligent vs. Intelligence: That Is The Question

2002

Italy

Policy Politi 11th of September and the Future of European Intelligence

2001

US

Policy Heibel Intelligence Training: What Is It?  Who Needs It?

2001

US

Policy Heibel Value of Intelligence & Intelligence Training to Any Organization

2001

US

Policy Oakley Use of Civilian & Military Power for Engagement & Intervention

2000

US

Policy Berkowitz An Alternative View of the Future of Intellligence

2000

RU

Policy Budzko Russian View of Electronic Open Sources and How to Exploit Them

2000

US

Policy Ermarth OSINT: A Fresh Look at the Past and the Future

2000

IT

Policy Politi The Birth of OSINT in Italy

1999

US

Policy Allen (ADCI/C) OSINT as a Foundation for All-Source Collection Management

1999

UK

Policy Rolington Changing Messages in Western Knowledge Over 400 Years (Slides)

1999

UK

Policy Rolington Changing Messages in Western Knowledge Over 400 Years (Text)

1999

UK

Policy Steele Snakes in the Grass: Open Source Doctrine

1998

US

Policy Donahue Balancing Spending Among Spies, Satellites, and Schoolboys

1997

FR

Policy Botbol The OSINT Revolution: Early Failures and Future Prospects

1997

US

Policy Felsher Viability & Survivability of US Remote Sensing as Function of Policy

1997

US

Policy Steele Intelligence in the Balance: Opening Remarks at OSS ‘97

1997

US

Policy Sutton Global Coverage ($1.5B/Year Needed for Lower Tier OSINT)

1997

US

Policy Tsuruoka Asian Perceptions of What Is and Is Not Legal in Economic Intelligence

1997

UK

Policy Tyrrell Proposals to Develop a NATO/PfP OSINT Capability

1996

FR

Policy Clerc Economic and Financial Intelligence: The French Model

1996

US

Policy Kahin What Is Intellectual Property?

1996

US

Policy Steele Creating a Smart Nation (Govt Info Q and also CYBERWAR Chapter)

1996

US

Policy Steele InfoPeace: OSINT as a Policy Option & Operational Alternative

1996

US

Policy Steele Open Sources and the Virtual Intelligence Community

1996

US

Policy Steele Protecting the Civilian Infrastructure as an Aspect of Information Warfare

1996

US

Policy Zuckerman The Central Role of Open Source Economic Intelligence

1995

US

Policy Prusak Seven Myths of the Information Age

1995

US

Policy Steele Conference Executive Summary C/HPSCI and former DCI Colby

1995

US

Policy Steele Creating a Smart Nation: Strategy, Policy, Intelligence, & Information

1995

US

Policy Steele SMART NATIONS: NI Strategies and Virtual Intelligence Communities

1994

US

Policy Ogdin & Giser Cyber-Glut, and What To Do About It

1994

FR

Policy Schmidt Open Source Solutions 1994: The State of Intelligence

1994

US

Policy Schwartau Letter on NII Security

1994

US

Policy Schwartau et al Cross-Walk of 3 Experts' Spending $1 Billion per Year for NII Security

1994

US

Policy Steele Communications, Content, Coordination, and C4 Security: Talking Points

1994

US

Policy Steele Correspondence to Mr. Marty Harris, NII Commission

1994

US

Policy Steele DATA MINING: Don't Buy or Build Your Shovel Until You Know What…

1994

US

Policy Steele Expansion of Questions Posed by Senator John Warner to Aspin-Brown

1994

US

Policy Steele Letter to the Open Source Lunch Club on PFIAB Being Useless

1994

US

Policy Steele National and Corporate Security in the Age of Information

1994

US

Policy Steele Private Enterprise Intelligence: Its Potential Contribution to Nat’l Sec.

1993

FR

Policy Beaumard France: Think-tank to Anticipate & Regulate Economic Intelligence Issues

1993

FR

Policy Beaumard Learned Nations: Competitive Advantages Via Knowledge Strategies

1993

US

Policy Brenner Law and Policy of Telecommunications and Computer Database Networks

1993

US

Policy Castagna Review of Reich, The Work of Nations

1993

AU

Policy Chantler Need for Australia to Develop a Strategic Policy on OSI

1993

US

Policy Cisler Community Computer Networks

1993

US

Policy Civille The Spirit of Access: Equity, NREN, and the NII

1993

US

Policy Fedanzo A Genetic View of National Intelligence

1993

US

Policy Haver Intelligence Aim Veers to Amassing Overt Information

1993

JP

Policy Kumon Japan and the United States in the Information Age

1993

SE

Policy Leijonhelm Economic Intelligence Cooperation Between Government Industry

1993

US

Policy Love Comments on the Clinton Administration's ‘Vision' Statement for the NII

1993

US

Policy Petersen A New Twenty-First Century Role for the Intelligence Community

1993

GE

Policy Schmidt History of Failure, Future of Opportunity: Reinventions and Deja Vu

1993

US

Policy Steele A Critical Evaluation of U.S. National Security Capabilities

1993

US

Policy Steele ACCESS: Theory and Practice of Intelligence in the Age of Information

1993

US

Policy Steele Executive Order 12356, ‘National Security Information'

1993

US

Policy Steele Reinventing Intelligence in the Age of Information (TP for DCI)

1993

US

Policy Steele Reinventing Intelligence: The Advantages of OSINT

1993

US

Policy Steele Role of Grey Lit & Non-Traditional Agencies in Informing Policy Makers

1993

US

Policy Toffler (Both) Knowledge Strategies, Intellience Restructuring,  Global Competitiveness

1993

US

Policy Wallner Overview of IC Open Source Requirements and Capabilities

1993

US

Policy Wood The IC and the Open Source Information Challenge

1992

US

Policy Barlow EFF and the National Public Network (NPN)

1992

US

Policy Castagna Review of Toffler’s PowerShift

1992

SE

Policy Dedijer Open Source Solutions: Intelligence and Secrecy

1992

US

Policy Gage Open Sources, Open Systems

1992

US

Policy Greenwald Unrepresented Nations & Peoples Organization: Diplomacy's Cutting Edge

1992

US

Policy Hughes An Affordable Approach to Networking America's Schools

1992

US

Policy Kahin New Legal Paradigms for Multi-Media Information in Cyberspace

1992

US

Policy Kahn Outline of a Global Knowledge Architecture, Visions and Possibilities

1992

US

Policy Steele E3i: Ethics, Ecology, Evolution, and Intelligence

1992

US

Policy Steele Inaugural Remarks Opening 1st International Conference

1992

US

Policy Steele Information Concepts & Doctrine for the Future

1992

US

Policy Steele OSINT Clarifies Global Threats: Offers Partial Remedy to Budget Cuts

1992

US

Policy Steele Review Strassmann, Information PayOff

1992

US

Policy Wood Remarks, Don't Be Suspicious of Contractors

1991

US

Policy JFK Working Group National Intelligence and the American Enterprise: Possibilities

1991

US

Policy Karraker Highways of the Mind

1991

US

Policy Steele How to Avoid Strategic Intelligence Failures in the Future

1990

US

Policy Steele Recasting National Security in a Changing World

1957

US

Policy Wright Project for a World Intelligence Center