We Had A Good Run, Didnt We? So Long, America
Finally, the government is privitizing domestic spying. I feel so safe now. When I think of America, I usually envision large companies sifting through all of my information, my home and hopefully, my unmentionables. Thankfully, this dream is coming true. Up until this point, information from domestic spy satellites was only used by scientific agencies. After 9/11, the NSA was given powers that allowed it to monitor domestic communications without getting those pesky warrants. And now the Bush administration is blowing it out!
Under a proposal being reviewed by Congress, a National Applications Office will be established to coordinate how the Department of Homeland Security and domestic law enforcement and rescue agencies use imagery and communications intelligence picked up by U.S. spy satellites. If the plan goes forward, the NAO will create the legal mechanism for an unprecedented degree of domestic intelligence gathering that would make the United States one of the world's most closely monitored nations.
Sweet. Monitor the shit out of us. We used to have this stupid law that confined intelligence collection to foreign countries and battlefields. Not anymore. And let's make sure private companies are a huge part of it, because they never do anything wrong and have continually shown throughout history that they can be trusted.
The intelligence-sharing system to be managed by the NAO will rely heavily on private contractors, including Boeing, BAE Systems, L-3 Communications and Science Applications International Corporation.
Mmmmm, safety. Nothing makes me feel safer than knowing BAE Systems has my back. Also my front. And my unmentionables.
Last month all the private domestic spy companies went to the intelligence conference in San Antonio and lobbied intelligence officials, in a giant, disgusting, display of everything that is wrong with our country. But, hey, those companies are the ones who told the government that we needed to expand our domestic spying, so bravo.
A study group was put together by a couple of government agencies and they thought it would be a great idea to use former intelligence officers. Many of them just happened to be employed by private intelligence companies, like Booz Allen. Guess what crazy conclusion they came up with?
Not surprisingly, its contractor-advisers called for a major expansion in the domestic use of the spy satellites that they sell to the government. Since the end of the Cold War and particularly since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, they said, the "threats to the nation have changed, and there is a growing interest in making available the special capabilities of the intelligence community to all parts of the government, to include homeland security and law enforcement entities and on a higher priority basis."
Word. We think you should give us money to do stuff. Lots of stuff. Oh, did I mention were going to need lots of money? To do that stuff we said should be done? Thanks for asking. Hey, you know that thing I said we should be doing with that satellite? Turns out I can totally do that. And it will only cost millions of dollars. How weird is it that I am the guy who is able to do what I said needed to be done? For money?
The domestic spying contracts are worth billions of dollars and this is a brand new business. The new plan was revealed in August and caught some people off guard. Bennie G. Thompson, a Democratic member of Congress from Mississippi and the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee was surprised when he read about it in the Wall Street Journal.
There was no briefing, no hearing, and no phone call from anyone on your staff to any member of this committee of why, how or when satellite imagery would be shared with police and sheriffs' officers nationwide.
Well, that is probably because most Americans dont want to be spied on. Duh. Actually, maybe Im just being an alarmist and blowing this all out of proportion.
"It will terrify you if you really understand the capabilities of satellites," warned Jane Harman, a Democratic member of Congress from California. "Even if this program is well-designed and executed, someone somewhere else could hijack it.
Oh.
So far the NAO has been delayed. It was supposed to kick off on October 1st, but annoying Congress members and civil rights hippies have been making noise. Of course, later we will learn that the Bush administration did not delay the program. And then when we try to investigate, we wont be able to because all the information is classified. This entire program will always be classified, which is awesome, because it is watching us.
America is going forward, and as we do so, we must remain keenly aware of the threats to our country.
Those in authority should take appropriate precautions to protect our citizens. But we will not allow this enemy to win the war by changing our way of life or restricting our freedoms.
- George W. Bush, September 12, 2001.
PAGE:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
... 14
Comments
SirPsychoSexy
Ridgewood, NJ
January 2004
DEC 09, 2007 10:56 AM
defaultx
I'm lost
February 2006
DEC 09, 2007 11:05 AM
xazapdmytinu
Fort Collins, CO
July 2007
DEC 09, 2007 11:08 AM
tadkil
Duluth, GA
September 2004
DEC 09, 2007 11:11 AM
shapeshifter23
San Francisco, CA
September 2005
DEC 09, 2007 11:17 AM
towelb0y
Emeryville, CA
March 2004
DEC 09, 2007 11:21 AM
Priest_
USA
January 2007
DEC 09, 2007 11:22 AM
shapeshifter23
San Francisco, CA
September 2005
DEC 09, 2007 11:27 AM
Varuka_Salt
I'm lost
October 2006
DEC 09, 2007 11:32 AM
FearTheReaper
NEWSWIRE
I'm lost
DEC 09, 2007 11:34 AM
meggle
Berkeley, CA
November 2002
DEC 09, 2007 11:34 AM
Varuka_Salt
I'm lost
October 2006
DEC 09, 2007 11:43 AM
freshprncebelair
Ellicott City, MD
June 2004
DEC 09, 2007 11:49 AM
King_Mob
I'm lost
September 2005
DEC 09, 2007 12:00 PM
Wendy
SUICIDEGIRL
Israel
DEC 09, 2007 12:43 PM
PAGE:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
... 14