Ethics – Page 194 – Public Intelligence Blog

I have been mulling over your post, 2013 Robert Steele Reflections on NATO 4.0 — Key Challenges AND Solutions [Written for NATO ACT Innovation Hub].

My sense, for myself, is that we have moved into a new cognitive space in which issues of comprehensibility, credibility and deliverability become fundamental in a context in which attention time is limited.

I no longer think that rational articulations can be either comprehended or delivered — other than use of missiles, if that is to be framed as rational.

Little attention is given to the decision-making dynamics and what to do with those who disagree — other than to design them out

Also of relevance is how to design in that which others perceive as having been designed out.

I think the scope for dialogue on such matters is now very limited. It is interesting to note the messy range of comments on any proposed scheme in a newspaper article. There is no scope or suggestion to map those in any meaningful way. The assumption is that some are “wrong” and some are “right” — with each variously labeling the other. No use is made of argument mapping techniques. Why is the interesting question.

Continue reading “Anthony Judge: Can NATO Learn to Think for Itself?”

2013/07/162013/07/16

Winslow Wheeler: Graphics Lie — and Tell the Truth — Actual Pentagon Budget Part II

03 Economy, 10 Security, DoD, Ethics, Government, Ineptitude, Military

“If Congress goes along [by approving President Obama's 2014 DOD budget request], Pentagon spending levels will exceed any previous high by any other president in any year in peace or in war since the death of President Roosevelt in 1945, except for President George W. Bush from 2006 to 2008.”

“…current military spending is lapping at historic highs, not lows.”

How can that be? The explanation follows; it is also at Time's Battleland blog.

Correcting the Pentagon's Distorted Budget History

The Defense Budget Is Even Larger Than You Think: part two of two

Given the warped measures that high-spending advocates and the Defense Department use to calibrate past, present and future defense spending (described here Monday), it is important to find an independent, objective yardstick to measure Pentagon spending trends accurately.

Unfortunately, there isn't one.

If there were, this debate would be over, and I could retire.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis in the Commerce Department might be tasked with the job of finding one, but it actually plays a major role in devising the Pentagon's self-serving measures of inflation. The Office of Management and Budget has its own deflators that are only slightly different.

Both embrace the proposition that a large portion of cost growth in Pentagon spending should be counted as inflation: the Pentagon experiences more inflation than other agencies and should get more money-the argument goes.

In the 1980s, the Congressional Military Reform Caucus argued that the Pentagon should be held to an independent but analogous measure of inflation, and identified the Producer Price Index as most appropriate. Others, especially the Defense Department, disagreed.

The differences will not be resolved here, but the question remains: what would the Pentagon's budget history look like if it lived by the rules followed by most everyone else – especially the rest of the federal government, and the American economy?

Continue reading “Winslow Wheeler: Graphics Lie — and Tell the Truth — Actual Pentagon Budget Part II”

2013/07/152013/07/15

Yoda: US Government Made News Approved for Public — Robert Steele Comments

Advanced Cyber/IO, Ethics, Government

Complex, force is.

U.S. Repeals Propaganda Ban, Spreads Government-Made News To Americans

Posted By John Hudson Sunday, July 14, 2013 – 7:06 PM Share

For decades, a so-called anti-propaganda law prevented the U.S. government's mammoth broadcasting arm from delivering programming to American audiences. But on July 2, that came silently to an end with the implementation of a new reform passed in January. The result: an unleashing of thousands of hours per week of government-funded radio and TV programs for domestic U.S. consumption in a reform initially criticized as a green light for U.S. domestic propaganda efforts. So what just happened?

Continue reading “Yoda: US Government Made News Approved for Public — Robert Steele Comments”

2013/07/122013/07/12

1988 Early Warning on Loss of Integrity in US Defense & Intelligence via Foreign Ownership & Outsourcing

Ethics, Government, Military

PDF: 1988-10 Problems Posed by Foreign Ownership of Defense Industries (Oct-1. 1988)

2013/07/122013/07/12

SmartPlanet: China Invests $1.1B in Nigeria — While Others Destabilize Africa

02 China, 03 Economy, Commerce, Ethics, Government

China invests $1.1 billion in Nigerian infrastructure

Less than two weeks ago, U.S. President Barack Obama traveled to Africa where he announced a $7 billion energy plan and welcomed development competition on the continent. “I want everybody playing in Africa,” he said.

And it didn’t take long for China to show that it’s playing, and winning. On Wednesday China announced an investment of $1.1 billion in Nigeria’s infrastructure, in the form of low-interest loans. According to Al Jazeera, the loan will help pay for airport terminals in four cities, a light-rail line in the capital city of Abuja, roads, and energy infrastructure. And that’s on top of the $1.7 billion in contracts that Chinese companies have won to build up the country’s roads.

Continue reading “SmartPlanet: China Invests $1.1B in Nigeria — While Others Destabilize Africa”

2013/07/122013/07/12

Neal Rauhauser: Steele on NATO, AIPAC Replaces US IC — Steele Comments

Corruption, Ethics, Government, Military

Some months ago I had the great pleasure of adding OSINT godfather Robert David Steele as a LinkedIn contact. We’ve progressed from that to occasional phone calls and regular emails, pointing out interesting technology and events to each other.

NATO 4.0: Key Challenges AND Solutions was published with this short note, asking for broad consideration of the future of an OSINT agency, with NATO [and SOCOM] being a better home for it than the U.S. intelligence community.

Dear old friend or colleague,

I turn 61 this month — what an interesting 20 years it has been. Below is a post that I have thought about for some time.

I am quite certain that if General Breedlove and Admiral McRaven were to be properly briefed, that we could get the Open Source Agency and with it, funding for two Multinational Decision Support Centres as mentioned in the article.

As we all know I have no money, no power, and no influence — so I leave it to those of you who might wish to stir the pot, to make something of this little post of mine. I have in mind the southern tip of Italy, so we can sail up either coast.

Semper Fidelis,
Robert

I agree with Robert in that I think there will be an OSINT agency functionality as he described, but I disagree that such an animal will be monolithic, funded, or even sanctioned. Here is my reasoning.

Continue reading “Neal Rauhauser: Steele on NATO, AIPAC Replaces US IC — Steele Comments”

2013/07/102013/07/10

BIG EVENT: 31 Jul – 4 Aug Geestmerambacht, The Netherlands OHM2013 — Observe – Hack – Make

Civil Society, Collective Intelligence, Cultural Intelligence, Earth Intelligence, Ethics, Gift Intelligence, Hacking, Peace Intelligence

About OHM2013

OHM2013 – Observe. Hack. Make. is a 5-day international outdoor technology and security conference. OHM2013 is currently requesting proposals for content.

A motley bunch of around 3000 hackers, free-thinkers, philosophers, activists, geeks, scientists, artists, creative minds and others will convene from all over the world for this informal meeting of minds to contemplate, reflect, share, criticize, look ahead, code, build, and more.

An otherwise unassuming stretch of land, just 30km (20mi) North of Amsterdam, will be transformed into a colourful oasis of light providing a backdrop for this unique event. It is an immersive experience, with an emphasis on interaction.

The four-yearly Dutch hacker camps provide a very open, friendly and relaxed atmosphere, with a high level of knowledge. The campsite is buzzing with energy, ideas and projects, not least because people from various backgrounds are interacting. It is a non-commercial community event where every visitor is also a volunteer.

Event Home Page and Call for Participation

Maps: OHM GIS – OpenStreetMap – Google Maps

Please Circulate Freely (txt version) (PDF version):

ROBERT STEELE: This is legitimate hacking's third wind (ham radio was the first, cyber and social engineering the second). This takes hacking to a new level, with an emphasis on “Do It Yourself” and thus fullfils the guidance from Buckminster Fuller: do not seek to repair a pathologically damaged system, instead create a new system to replace it, and route around the old system. I have proposed a lecture and a workshop (originally commissioned for the Wales Intelligence Conference in 2013), and am seeking donations to cover travel — estimated $1,500. I particularly solicit donations for pre-conference and post-conference sessions, in person or via Skype, anywhere in Europe including the UK that will help cover travel including side trips, and perhaps a bit more to support the work of our 501c3. I am on stand-by for Afghanistan and believe they won't move on replacing the KIA/WIA until September for a 1 October start date.

2013 Intelligence Future — The Third Era of Local to Global Intelligence Robert Steele Overview & Workshop 2.7

See Also:

Public Intelligence 3.6

Steele on Hackers at PBS

Who Is Robert D. Steele?