FBI to Create Spy System: AP

By David Wallechinsky and Noel Brinkerhoff

 

United States - The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is creating a spy system that will allow it to monitor social media websites, including Facebook and Twitter.

 

FBI analysts are hoping to pick up tips about future terrorist threats by examining “publicly available” material from Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites, as well as national and local television news, including Fox News, CNN and MSNBC. The bureau intends to zero in on keywords relating to terrorism, surveillance operations, online crime and other criminal matters. It also hopes to better “track hurricane paths and timelines for landfall and other natural disasters.”

 

Applicants who believe they can provide the system the FBI is seeking must be able to view tweets in at least 12 languages and translate them into English. They must also have the “Ability to display video feeds from traffic cameras to monitor traffic patterns, obstructions, bottle necks, protestors, and flash mobs.”

 

The Central Intelligence Agency has already been spying on Facebook and Twitter, as well as news outlets, as part of its effort to glean intelligence on upcoming threats or overseas upheaval, such as revolutions, before they begin. Doug Naquin, director of the CIA’s Open Source Center, told the Associated Press that the best analysts are those who, like the heroine of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, know “how to find stuff other people don’t know exists.”

Lawrence O'Donnell Knocks One Out of the Park

I haven't really watched mainstream news in a long time - sorry Rachel, Ed, and Lawrence I love you but I find what you guys don't cover to be pretty important too - but things like this make me want to do so.  I will let Lawrence himself say the words for me.  This needs to be taken to heart with ALL police stations not just now, when the heat is on them, but forever and globally.

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However these words must not just go for the press, but for ordinary citizens. By taping the actions of the police they are able to make sure the police do not violate anyone's rights yet not interfere with their job.  They also document the officers who do go beyond that line and start their own crimes.

Ever since the Rodney King beating was taped there have been laws put into place stating it is against the law to tape police officials. In the areas where this has not been the case, the police instead lie to civilians and tell them they are not allowed to do it despite the fact recording police is a sometimes the only way to make sure they don't go outside their boundaries.

If it wasn't  for taped events like the Rodney King beating, the police intimidation in Miami on Memorial Day earlier this year,  or the execution of Oscar Grant (and it WAS an execution), people would be less likely to believe these events happen.  One of the many things the Occupy Movement has brought to light, and they are many, is that police as a whole have no problem trying to stop people from recording what they're doing.  Now the ball is in the court of the police everywhere.  Stop preventing people from taping you whether they're press or civilian.

Senate to Vote on Bill Allowing Unlawful Detainments

Washington D.C. - RT and Democracy Now, unlike CNN, Fox, or MSNBC, reported on a piece of legislation that allows the government to detain anyone they deem a terrorist both domestically and abroad.

Go ahead and re-read that.

If this bill gets through the Senate - it already passed the House in May - it will mean the United States government is declaring the entire world, including the country itself, as a battlefield.

The Obama Administration threatened to veto the bill but knowing the Republican Party they will say he is weak on defense.  With his approval numbers getting worse as time passes, the mainstream news acting like it's true, and the President's obvious lack of a spine, people will believe it although it's not only not true, but accept the narrative as well without looking at the provision that caused him to veto it.

What's really telling is a provision in section 1031, which states:

(b) Applicability to United States Citizens and Lawful Resident Aliens-

(1) UNITED STATES CITIZENS- The requirement to detain a person in military custody under this section does not extend to citizens of the United States.

(2) LAWFUL RESIDENT ALIENS- The requirement to detain a person in military custody under this section does not extend to a lawful resident alien of the United States on the basis of conduct taking place within the United States, except to the extent permitted by the Constitution of the United States.

 For those of you saying "The Republicans are crazy," I have news for you.

Update: Be sure to sign the petition as well as write, phone, protest in front of, or occupy in order to get your point across.

Another update: The Senate voted against the Udall Amendment, which would ban this from happening yet let the rest of the legislation pass. Can you say "police state" everyone?

It was proposed by Michigan Democrat and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Armed Services Carl Levin.

Commentary: State Immigration Laws Don't Work

This article on MSNBC, while asking a very good question, blatantly misses a bigger problem.

For a long time I've been talking and debating immigration issues with friends, family, and stranger.  During that time I find most people are for kicking out illegal immigrants.  To be clear I'm not for kicking them out at all.  In fact I think there should be some kind of amnesty (the dreaded "A" word most people avoid) for those who serve or want to serve in the military, those who went/go to college, or have proof they've paid into the system in some way (say receipts for rent or bills slips) for a certain amount of time (for the sake of argument five years).  A lot of the time people don't agree with me, saying they broke the law (ironically I know for a FACT these same people have broken the law in some way as I've witnessed them do it). Most of the time I come back with "What about the jobs they leave?" These questions are answered with one of two answers:

• "Americans will do them" - Many times I get this one and I tend to say something like "I admit I wouldn't do the jobs and most Americans wouldn't." The reason I say this is because I not only wouldn't want it, but to be more exact I have a horrible series of allergies.  Other people wouldn't do it because it doesn't pay enough, as the MSNBC article demonstrates, it's not what they want to do, it's too hard for them, etc.  Every once in a while I get someone saying they would do it and I tell them to go to Take Our Jobs and prove me wrong.  I don't say it to be a smart-ass, I really want them to prove me wrong.  Sadly nobody I know has taken up the offer yet.
• "The immigrants are taking the jobs and when we throw them out we'll have them again" - One of my "favorites." Besides the fact the laws - in place in states like Georgia, Alabama, and Arizona - were proven to be wrong, there is the fact immigrants are NOT "taking jobs" from anyone.  Rather they are taking jobs Americans don't want.  I find it hard to believe anyone, even the people picking doing the unwanted jobs, want to work there forever.  No sane person would ever want to do such a thing.  They are taking the jobs which are available because they tend to not be monitored as strictly, usually or don't have the skills necessary (I highly doubt they're coming here to get cushy Microsoft jobs for example).

 If people think "kicking out the illegals" is the right idea then they have to think about what will happen.  Sadly in this country nobody does and as a result we've kicked them out of several states but the jobs are not being filled by anyone.  As a result Georgia for example has had fruit and vegetables falling off and rotting at an insane rate earlier this year.  Mexican people (lets be honest they're just going after Mexicans and those who "look like them", not whites or blacks), even ones who are here legally, are leaving all they know, taking their kids out of school, and going elsewhere.  The local farmers and economy suffer, people suffer through their pocketbooks, and nothing good comes from the event.

So what would be a better solution? Lets start with the  businesses, which is a bigger problem than the border.  You cannot blame the people for trying to get a job so they can get a better life for themselves, but you can blame the companies hiring them.  Fine them, heavily, when you catch them.  With the new jobs have more pay or provide better benefits for the workers.  There's a saying that you don't be mean to the people who make your food.  You should also give them some of the best care possible.  Failure to do so will increase the likelihood someone will end up infecting food, getting a piece of their body cut off, or dying at the job.  With a good security net beneath them they are able to get the care they need or have extra money for desires/necessities.  Combined with the amnesty deal I mentioned earlier you are sure to have a stable and happier workforce as well as have a group of people who come to the United States get security while contributing to society like everyone else.  I know the issue isn't a cut-and-dry one but surely it is better than our record-number deportation rate and empty jobs waiting to be filled.

Keep in mind this not not what I would want but my idea would probably make a lot of Americans run away screaming so I'll keep it to myself.