Comments for Secrecy News http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy Secrecy News from the FAS Project on Government Secrecy Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:24:51 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 Comment on JASON Cautions on Predicting Terrorist Events by Dale Harris http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/2009/11/rare_events.html/comment-page-1#comment-5614 Dale Harris Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:24:51 +0000 http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/?p=2903#comment-5614 "Taxpayer funded incomprehensibility." The word you are looking for is "science." “Taxpayer funded incomprehensibility.”

The word you are looking for is “science.”

]]> Comment on JASON Cautions on Predicting Terrorist Events by George Smith http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/2009/11/rare_events.html/comment-page-1#comment-5602 George Smith Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:27:53 +0000 http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/?p=2903#comment-5602 <a HREF="http://www.dickdestiny.com/blog/2009/11/taxpayer-funded-incomprehensibility.html" rel="nofollow">Taxpayer funded incomprehensibility.</A> Taxpayer funded incomprehensibility.

]]> Comment on Tsien Hsue-shen and the Secret of Time Travel by Peter http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/2008/01/tsien_hsue-shen_and_the_secret.html/comment-page-1#comment-5592 Peter Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:11:31 +0000 http://fasweb.beacontec.com/blog/secrecy/2008/01/tsien_hsue-shen_and_the_secret.html#comment-5592 The bottom line is Dr. Tsien was falsely accused, and treated wrongly, because of the McCarthyism in the 50's. That's unfortunate. The bottom line is Dr. Tsien was falsely accused, and treated wrongly, because of the McCarthyism in the 50’s. That’s unfortunate.

]]> Comment on Obama Boosts White House Intel Advisory Board by Philip Henika http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/2009/10/obama_piab.html/comment-page-1#comment-5582 Philip Henika Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:40:29 +0000 http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/?p=2891#comment-5582 Mr. Cerra: Here is the citation (1) and a quote that piqued my curiosity re: 'real time' prevention of terrorist plots. Another contemporary 'real time' example was CNN reporting on 'real time' events during the Iran election protests. CNN responsibly included disclaimers i.e. independent verification of people and events takes time away from 'real time' - right? (1) http://gsn.nti.org/gsn/nw_20090909_2698.php Foiled Plot Offers Clues to Recent Absence of Major Terror Attacks on West Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009 By James Kitfield National Journal ""Without going into the details of a specific case, I will tell you that if we want to succeed in this fight against Islamic radical terrorism, we have to work together in sharing information and strategies, and we have to do it in real time, because this type of information has little value if we share it only after attacks have already taken place," Camacho, Spain's counterterrorism chief, emphasized. That is the lesson not only of the Barcelona and Madrid plots, he says, but also of the 9/11 attacks in the United States." Mr. Cerra:

Here is the citation (1) and a quote that piqued my curiosity re: ‘real time’ prevention of terrorist plots. Another contemporary ‘real time’ example was CNN reporting on ‘real time’ events during the Iran election protests. CNN responsibly included disclaimers i.e. independent verification of people and events takes time away from ‘real time’ – right?

(1) http://gsn.nti.org/gsn/nw_20090909_2698.php

Foiled Plot Offers Clues to Recent Absence of Major Terror Attacks on West
Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009
By James Kitfield
National Journal

“”Without going into the details of a specific case, I will tell you that if we want to succeed in this fight against Islamic radical terrorism, we have to work together in sharing information and strategies, and we have to do it in real time, because this type of information has little value if we share it only after attacks have already taken place,” Camacho, Spain’s counterterrorism chief, emphasized. That is the lesson not only of the Barcelona and Madrid plots, he says, but also of the 9/11 attacks in the United States.”

]]> Comment on Obama Boosts White House Intel Advisory Board by Robert Cerra http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/2009/10/obama_piab.html/comment-page-1#comment-5572 Robert Cerra Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:40:07 +0000 http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/?p=2891#comment-5572 THe PIAB and the IOB are very encouraging developments, but what we really need is for the Obama Administration to just be honest with the American people and tell the CIA and the rest of them to simply remain in their offcices and refrain from conducting any intelligence gathering operations and when necessary report any possible violations of law to their superiors. I agree with Mr Dredd we need to get those pesky military types under control. Mr Henika needs to rethink his ideas of interrupting a terrroist plot. Common sense suggests that the CIA is at or near the CYA mode as they react to all the recent inquiries, investigations and oversights thrown in their path. THe PIAB and the IOB are very encouraging developments, but what we really need is for the Obama Administration to just be honest with the American people and tell the CIA and the rest of them to simply remain in their offcices and refrain from conducting any intelligence gathering operations and when necessary report any possible violations of law to their superiors.

I agree with Mr Dredd we need to get those pesky military types under control. Mr Henika needs to rethink his ideas of interrupting a terrroist plot. Common sense suggests that the CIA is at or near the CYA mode as they react to all the recent inquiries, investigations and oversights thrown in their path.

]]> Comment on Invention Secrecy at Highest in a Decade by Zorkmid http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/2009/10/invention_secrecy_2009.html/comment-page-1#comment-5569 Zorkmid Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:48:39 +0000 http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/?p=2870#comment-5569 Unfortunately the phrase “detrimental to the national security", could and probably does cover a lot of technological ground and ANYTHING which might pose a threat to the existing order (read: the oil companies!) would wind up being restricted. Big companies (*you know those guys who are too big to fail?) are undoubtedly being protected on the grounds that any sudden paradigm shift in the energy market would be unsettling to the economy. Bad logic of course, but look at the morons we elect to government: Are they Scientists? Mathematicians? Noooo! We elected a government of lawyers, political science majors and other ninnies! These are the people who couldn't cut math or the hard sciences, they ended up being the leaders because people are stupid enough to vote for them! CONSIDER THIS WHEN NEXT YOU VOTE! Unfortunately the phrase “detrimental to the national security”, could and probably does cover a lot of technological ground and ANYTHING which might pose a threat to the existing order (read: the oil companies!) would wind up being restricted. Big companies (*you know those guys who are too big to fail?) are undoubtedly being protected on the grounds that any sudden paradigm shift in the energy market would be unsettling to the economy. Bad logic of course, but look at the morons we elect to government: Are they Scientists? Mathematicians? Noooo! We elected a government of lawyers, political science majors and other ninnies!

These are the people who couldn’t cut math or the hard sciences, they ended up being the leaders because people are stupid enough to vote for them! CONSIDER THIS WHEN NEXT YOU VOTE!

]]> Comment on A New History of the National Security Agency by Milan http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/2009/06/nsa_history.html/comment-page-1#comment-5565 Milan Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:16:45 +0000 http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/?p=2601#comment-5565 I have also <a href="http://www.sindark.com/2009/11/02/the-secret-sentry/" rel="nofollow">reviewed the book</a>, and identified a few additional errors. While it was an interesting read, I would have appreciated more technical details on the tradecraft employed within the NSA - though perhaps that is too much to ask for, given the secrecy of the organization. I have also reviewed the book, and identified a few additional errors.

While it was an interesting read, I would have appreciated more technical details on the tradecraft employed within the NSA – though perhaps that is too much to ask for, given the secrecy of the organization.

]]> Comment on Nozette and Nuclear Rocketry by Tangurena http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/2009/10/nozette.html/comment-page-1#comment-5554 Tangurena Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:08:56 +0000 http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/?p=2865#comment-5554 Anthony, he pleaded guilty earlier this year to overbilling NASA to the tune of $265K and then bragging to a colleague that he'd flee to India or Israel if it looked like he was going to spend time in jail. Washington Post article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/25/AR2009102502055.html Anthony, he pleaded guilty earlier this year to overbilling NASA to the tune of $265K and then bragging to a colleague that he’d flee to India or Israel if it looked like he was going to spend time in jail.

Washington Post article:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/25/AR2009102502055.html

]]> Comment on Obama Boosts White House Intel Advisory Board by Philip Henika http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/2009/10/obama_piab.html/comment-page-1#comment-5503 Philip Henika Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:48:08 +0000 http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/?p=2891#comment-5503 Steven: There are an increasing number of citations re: an improved ability of domestic and foreign Intel Agencies to foil e.g. Al Qaeda plots. In some cases, it has been suggested that investigations of Al Qaeda plots have generated sufficient details for 'real time' prevention. Madeleine Gruen has posted a detailed timeline for the activities of N. Zazi at the Counterterrorism Blog in what has been called the most significant plot since 9/11. Therefore, I am surprised that "no matters of substance were discussed and no questions from the press were taken at the meeting." So, one my questions is: does Intel oversight include the possible ramifications of 'real time' prevention which I suspect may also intrude, in real time, on privacy issues? Steven:

There are an increasing number of citations re: an improved ability of domestic and foreign Intel Agencies to foil e.g. Al Qaeda plots. In some cases, it has been suggested that investigations of Al Qaeda plots have generated sufficient details for ‘real time’ prevention. Madeleine Gruen has posted a detailed timeline for the activities of N. Zazi at the Counterterrorism Blog in what has been called the most significant plot since 9/11. Therefore, I am surprised that “no matters of substance were discussed and no questions from the press were taken at the meeting.” So, one my questions is: does Intel oversight include the possible ramifications of ‘real time’ prevention which I suspect may also intrude, in real time, on privacy issues?

]]> Comment on Obama Boosts White House Intel Advisory Board by Dredd http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/2009/10/obama_piab.html/comment-page-1#comment-5501 Dredd Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:32:12 +0000 http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/?p=2891#comment-5501 One problem with this is that the military come under military law in many instances, which protects them from civilian prosecutions sometimes. They <a href="http://blogdredd.blogspot.com/2009/10/army-intelligence-watching-tubes.html" rel="nofollow">study and watch many things</a>, including wiggle room. One problem with this is that the military come under military law in many instances, which protects them from civilian prosecutions sometimes.

They study and watch many things, including wiggle room.

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