Journal ISSN 1078-1935 – Page 2799 – Public Intelligence Blog

The 2010 Right Livelihood Awards go to four recipients who will share the € 200.000 cash award:

NNIMMO BASSEY (Nigeria) receives an Award “for revealing the full ecological and human horrors of oil production and for his inspired work to strengthen the environmental movement in Nigeria and globally”.

Bishop ERWIN KRÄUTLER (Brazil) is honoured “for a lifetime of work for the human and environmental rights of indigenous peoples and for his tireless efforts to save the Amazon forest from destruction”.

SHRIKRISHNA UPADHYAY and the organisation SAPPROS (Nepal) are recognised “for demonstrating over many years the power of community mobilisation to address the multiple causes of poverty even when threatened by political violence and instability”.

The organisation PHYSICIANS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS-ISRAEL (Israel) is awarded “for their indomitable spirit in working for the right to health for all people in Israel and Palestine”.

QuoteJakob von Uexkull, Founder and Co-Chair of the Right Livelihood Awards, noted after the jury decision:

“True change starts at the grassroots level: physicians who did not wait for politicians before acting to end unnecessary suffering in the Middle East; villagers who work themselves out of poverty; and environmental movements which unite the victims of ecological devastation. Combine this work on the ground with targeted advocacy, for example for the constitutional rights of indigenous people, and you understand why this year’s Right Livelihood Award Laureates yet again offer role models, whose work and commitment can be replicated throughout the world.”

2010/09/302010/09/30

Journal: The Domestic Politics of Afghanistan

08 Wild Cards, 10 Security, Corruption, Government

Marcus-Aurelius-150x150 — Marcus Aurelius Recommends

Following editorial appeared in today's Washington Post, commenting on a series of three excerpts of Bob Woodward's new book, “Obama's Wars.” Invite your attention to highlighted portions, particularly the final one, “,,, the president had treated the military as another political constituency that had to be accommodated …” Anybody wanna speculate how that's making the guys on combat outposts in Afghanistan feel today?

Washington Post September 29, 2010 Pg. 20

The War Over The War

Bob Woodward's new book portrays an administration deeply divided over Afghanistan

Phi Beta Iota: The entire piece is below the line. We normally do not do this, but the Post is losing its mind again and demanding registration while also switching headlines and using a mediocre search engine. The President is a failure largely for lack of integrity: 1) he sold out during the campaign to the providers of the $500 million that was not from small donors; 2) he allowed David Axelrod and Rahm Emanuel to dictate White House policy; 3) he failed to fix intelligence or get a grip on strategic perspectives of any kind; 4) he did not trust his instincts–this is a smart man afraid of Wall Street and the carpetbaggers. He has blown a historic opportunity for change, but our colleague Harrison Owen would say this was meant to be, for he has done what Dick Cheney could not do: shown the Democratic Party to be the twisted ignorant unethical beast that it is, the lite counterpart to the twisted ignorant unethical Republican Party.

Continue reading “Journal: The Domestic Politics of Afghanistan”

2010/09/292011/01/03

VMyths: Truth About Computer Security Hysteria

Commerce, Commercial Intelligence, Computer/online security, Cyberscams, malware, spam, Government, Hacking, Media, Misinformation & Propaganda, Power Behind-the-Scenes/Special Interests

http://vmyths.com/about

Vmyths traces its roots to a “Computer Virus Myths treatise” first published in 1988. It evolved into the critically acclaimed “Computer Virus Myths home page” in 1995, then it moved to Vmyths.com in 2000. Its name has changed over the years, but Vmyths remains true to its original goal: the eradication of computer security hysteria.

Vmyths sells the truth about computer security hysteria. We take no prisoners; we pull no punches; and we refuse computer security ads in order to maintain our independence.

Our editors:

Rob Rosenberger edits Vmyths and writes as a columnist. He is one of the “original” virus experts from the 1980s, and the first to focus on virus hysteria. Red Herring magazine describes him as “one of the most visible and cursed critics in computer security” today, and PC World magazine says he “is merciless with self-appointed virus experts and the credulous publications that quote them.” Rosenberger was one of only a dozen industry experts invited to the White House’s first-ever antivirus summit meeting in December 2000.

George C. Smith, Ph.D. serves as Vmyths‘ editor-at-large. He also writes as a columnist. His seminal book, The Virus Creation Labs, documents the insane early history of the antivirus world. He also published the critically acclaimed Crypt newsletter. The San Jose Mercury News recommends Smith’s work to “those who insist on at least a modicum of fact, accuracy and clear thinking in their tech news.”

Continue reading “VMyths: Truth About Computer Security Hysteria”

2010/09/29

Journal: Congressional Report Card

Corruption, Government

Congress punts tough choice until after election

By ANDREW TAYLOR and LAURIE KELLMAN (AP) – 1 hour ago

WASHINGTON — A deeply unpopular Congress is bolting for the campaign trail without finishing its most basic job — approving a budget for the government year that begins on Friday. Lawmakers also are postponing a major fight over taxes, two embarrassing ethics cases and other political hot potatoes until angry and frustrated voters render their verdict in the Nov. 2 elections.

. . . . . .

One foot out the door, the House and Senate convened just long enough to vote on a “continuing resolution,” a stopgap measure to keep the government in operating funds for the next two months and avoid a pre-election federal shutdown.

. . . . . .

Only two of a dozen annual appropriations bills have passed the House this year and none has passed the Senate as Democratic leaders have opted against lengthy floor debates and politically difficult votes on spending.

Read balance of article…

2010/09/292010/09/29

Worth a Look: Old Guard Sums Up Strategic Situation

Government, Non-Governmental, Worth A Look

‘Global Security Governance and the Emerging Distribution of Power’

The 8th Annual IISS Global Strategic Review (GSR) has successfully concluded in Geneva. The GSR ran from 10-12 September 2010.

Phi Beta Iota: These are the same people that brought us the Global Governance 2025 report in partnership with the CIA. All of the presentations are readily available at the conference website.

2010/09/292010/09/29

Journal: Huffington Post Hot on Trail of Spy Money Allegedly Paid to Wikileaks

Blog Wisdom, Intelligence (government), Misinformation & Propaganda

Story Plus Emails Online

29 September 2010

The Huffington Post Spying Game

Cryptome was interviewed by telephone today by Keith Thomson, a reporter for The Huffington Post. After a bit of palaver Keith said a confidential source claimed a Chinese spy agency had given Wikileaks $20 million. What did Cryptome think about that?

We said that kind of money is usually given by spy agencies to publications like The Huffington Post rather than an offbeat like Wikileaks. Could be, though: according to reports Wikileaks has joined with major publications to provide the kind of information for which spies would pay $20 million.

Read full note, additional speculation, and see emails online.

Phi Beta Iota: We seriously doubt the Chinese are giving money to Wikileaks. They are good enough to have penetrated it without permission, and realistically, there just is not much there.

2010/09/29

Worth a Look: Arno Reuser OSINT Wizard

Methods & Process, Worth A Look

We came across this while trolling for worthwhile new stuff on OSINT; finding none, we thought to post this as a reminder that the OSINT Wizard lives and works in The Netherlands, and is open for business.

Remember the two cardinal rules:

1. Governments are the beneficiaries of OSINT done by others, not the benefactors.

2. OSINT is the old new idea. It still needs development, but the new new idea is M4IS2.

Rumor has it that Reuser and Steele will be doing something together, very dangerous, very hush hush…..tell no one.

Category: Journal ISSN 1078-1935

Worth a Look: Right Livelihood Awards