Category: Journal ISSN 1078-1935

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Worth a Look: A Colossal Wreck: A Road Trip Through Political Scandal, Corruption, And American Culture

Worth A Look
Amazon Page
Amazon Page

A Colossal Wreck: A Road Trip Through Political Scandal, Corruption, And American Culture

Andrew Cockburn (RIP)

Forthcoming 13 September 2013 — Pre-Order Now Open

Cockburn, a radical journalist and Nation columnist who died in July 2012, casts a jaundiced, jolly eye on passing scenery in this stimulating if erratic miscellany. In these short, sharp pieces, Cockburn (Corruptions of Empire) covers 18 years of U.S. politics and history, from Monicagate through Occupy Wall Street; recounts travels through America; eulogizes family and friends (and damns nemesis Christopher Hitchens for constant public drunkenness and brutish rudeness); and expounds his idiosyncratic version of left-wing politics. Cockburn issues his usual scabrous denunciations—of American military adventures, Wall Street, every Democrat from the Clintons to the slithery Obama, and of anyone who was spineless enough to vote for them. Meanwhile he embraces gun culture and conservative populism, which he finds more temperamentally congenial than the politically correct left in the U.S. Cockburn's stylish prose is full of erudition, ribald gossip, and pithy insight, but under hard scrutiny, it's not always convincing, reliable, or coherent. He calls Gerald Ford America's greatest president and swats down dubious conspiracy theories only to float his own. (He blames ex-New York Governor Elliot Spitzer's call-girl scandal on a right-wing plot.) No matter, Cockburn's gleefully contrarian punditry makes for an entertaining read. (Sept.)

Books in Print Along Similar Lines:

Review: Deer Hunting with Jesus–Dispatches from America’s Class War

Review: Griftopia–Bubble Machines, Vampire Squids, and the Long Con That Is Breaking America

See Also:

Worth a Look: Book Review Lists (Negative Status-Quo)

Worth a Look: Book Reviews on Corruption 2.0

Worth a Look: Book Reviews on Democracy Lost & Found

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Chuck Spinney: Insane Insider Threat Program in Context of Morally and Mentally Bankrupt US Intelligence System

07 Other Atrocities, 09 Justice, 10 Security, 11 Society, Corruption, Government, Idiocy, Ineptitude, IO Impotency, Military
Chuck Spinney
Chuck Spinney

Attached herewith is an essay I just wrote for Counterpunch.

For you convenience  I have also attached a very important McClatchy report on the Orwellian Insider Threat Program being promoted by the Obama Administration.

The lead co-author, Jonathan Landay, is one of the few mainstream reporters who has been onto the lunacy unleashed by 9-11 from the git go.

My intent in the essay is to place this dangerous craziness in a somewhat larger larger context of our morally and mentally bankrupt intelligence system … judge for yourself whether or not I have been successful.

WEEKEND EDITION
JULY 12-14, 2013
Signature Targeting Comes Home to Roost

by FRANKLIN C. SPINNEY, Counterpunch

Isla di Elba, Italia

At the core of the drone program is the theory of signature targeting.  It is a theory based on the idea that analysts can discern “enemy combatants” from an analysis of outward indicators of patterns of behaviour.

Continue reading “Chuck Spinney: Insane Insider Threat Program in Context of Morally and Mentally Bankrupt US Intelligence System”

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

02 China, 03 Economy, Commerce, Ethics, Government

smartplanet logoChina 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”

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Berto Jongman: YouTube (48:52) Definitive Trial and Virtual Conviction of NSA

07 Other Atrocities, 10 Transnational Crime, Corruption, Government, Military
Berto Jongman
Berto Jongman

DEFCON 20: Bigger Monster, Weaker Chains: The National Security Agency and the Constitution”>DEFCON 20: Bigger Monster, Weaker Chains: The National Security Agency and the Constitution

Published on Nov 17, 2012

Speakers: JAMEEL JAFFER DEPUTY LEGAL DIRECTOR, AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION
WILLIAM BINNEY FORMER OFFICIAL, NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY
JAMES BAMFORD INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST
ALEX ABDO STAFF ATTORNEY, AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION

The panel will be moderated by the Deputy Director of the ACLU, Jameel Jaffer.

The National Security Agency, the largest, most powerful spy agency in the world, has taken in an estimated 15 to 20 trillion communications since 9/11, often in defiance of the Constitution and Congressional statutes. The NSA’s goal, some say, is to collect virtually all of our electronic communications to allow mass data mining reminiscent of the notorious and now reportedly-defunct program, Total Information Awareness. The limits on the agency’s authority to sweep up and analyze this information are critical to our safety and our privacy. The NSA is investing vast amounts in increasing its data storage, code-breaking and analysis capabilities, frequently claiming the investments are for foreign intelligence or “cybersecurity” purposes. However, instead of keeping its equipment trained on terrorism suspects or foreign governments, the NSA is increasingly monitoring the communications of innocent people. Longtime NSA official and whistleblower Bill Binney will join investigative journalist and NSA expert James Bamford and ACLU lawyer Alex Abdo to explore the NSA’s goals, reach, and capabilities, and the legality (or illegality) of its actions.

For more information visit: http://bit.ly/defcon20_information
To download the video visit: http://bit.ly/defcon20_videos
Playlist DEFCON 20: http://bit.ly/defcon20_playlist

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Berto Jongman: 2013 Ballistic and Cruise Missile Threat Assessment

04 Inter-State Conflict
Berto Jongman
Berto Jongman

2013 Ballistic and Cruise Missile Threat Assessment

July 10, 2013

Air Force ISR Agency

The National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC), in partnership with the Defense Intelligence Agency's Missile and Space Intelligence Center and the Navy's Office of Naval Intelligence produced the 2013 Ballistic and Cruise Missile Threat assessment. This assessment is an update to the 2009 edition of the same name.

This collaborative, unclassified assessment uses a combination of images, assessments and projections to characterize the current global ballistic and cruise missile threat environment. This product will serve as an educational communications tool as well as a method to discuss global ballistic and cruise missile threats.

Visit the Air Force ISR website to download the full report.

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

Corruption, Ethics, Government, Military
Neal Rauhauser
Neal Rauhauser

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”