Big Brother is watching--all one million of you.
The watch list of terrorism suspects recently passed 1 million names--which translates into about 400,000 people, according to NewsMax.
Are there really nearly a half-million terrorists among us?
The number of times we've agreed with the American Civil Liberties Union can be counted on one hand, but this appears to be one of those rare occasions: the list is too big to be effective.
The list is one of the "most effective tools" implemented after 9-11. The Bush administration disagreed. The Department of Homeland Security is like any other government bureaucracy: more interested in job security than effectiveness.
Prior to September 11, the no-fly list had just 16 people on it.
Either the DHS is so effective and have discovered 1 million (minus 16) new terrorist names in the last 7 years. Or, more likely, the list has a lot of people on it "just to be on the safe side".
Which is fine--unless your name is on the list by mistake. Which happens more frequently than is publicized.
Otherwise, how to go about checking out the 1 million? Are terrorists sprouting like weeds? Is the DHS lazy about checking out these thousands of potential terrorists? Does anyone care?
"America's new million-record watch list is a perfect symbol for what's wrong with this administration's approach to security: it's unfair, out-of-control, a waste of resources (and) treats the rights of the innocent as an afterthought," ACLU technology director Barry Steinhardt said in a release.
President George W. Bush ordered in the current list in September 2003 as a way to wrap several growing terrorism watchlists into a single government database compiled and overseen by the FBI, through a Terrorist Screening Center.
Suspected terrorists or people believed to have links to terrorism are included on the list, which can be used by a wide range of government agencies in security screening. About 50,000 individuals are included on the Transportation Security Administration "no-fly" or "selectee" lists that subject them to travel bans, arrest or additional screening.
Ted Kennedy, civil rights leader Rep. John Lewis and Cat Stevens (now Yusuf Islam) have all had their troubles with their names being on watch lists. One can understand Senator Kennedy having problems if the watch list contained names of members of Congress spouting nonsense--but Senator Kennedy a terrorist?
He's not that ambitious.
[Terrorism Screening Center spokeman, Chad Kolton], cited a report last year by the Government Accountability Office that said there was general agreement within the federal government that the watch list had helped to combat terrorism.
"The list is very effective. In fact it's one of the most effective counterterrorism tools that our country has," he said.
About 400,000 individuals are included on the list, about 95 percent of whom are not U.S. citizens or residents, Kolton said. The watch list also includes separate entries with aliases, fake passports and fake birth dates, bringing the total number of records to more than 1 million, he said.
TSA spokeman Christopher White said Kennedy and Lewis were never on the list, and that problems they reported were due to their misidentification with names properly on it.
One of the least effective ways of identifying ineffective government programs would be to survey government bureaucrats; yet, "general agreement within the federal government" that the list is effective seems to indicate the use of that benchmark.
When new government agencies or programs or regulations or laws are proposed, critics rightly point out the bad things that can happen with nearly all things government. Proponents pooh-pooh the critics' claims, many times calling them preposterous.
It's not that poorly-constructed government programs, agencies, regulations or laws start out as being malicious--it's that they become that way due to the very inefficiencies of large government.
The watch list is a perfect example of this.
The watch list is "very effective"--unless your name mistakenly winds up on it.
1 million names on the watch list and the refusal to profile targeted groups of air travelers--while there are thousands of unknown persons passing through a still-unsecured southern border--makes no sense.
Except to those running government bureaucracies.
by Mondoreb
image: propaganda posters
Source:
* Terror Watch List: Over 1 Million Names and Growing
* U.S. Terrorism Watch List Tops 1 Million
Keffiyeh Kapitalism:
Pontiac Is Latest Corporation To Allow Terror Symbolism In Ad
from The Posthumous Luger
The keffiyeh (Arabic: كوفية, kūfīyä; plural: كوفيات, kūfīyāt), shmagh, shemagh or yashmag (شماغ, šmāġ), ghutra (غترة, ġuträ), hatta (حطّة, ḥaṭṭä) or mashada (مشدة) is a traditional headdress of Arab men, made of a square of cloth ("scarf"), usually cotton, folded and wrapped in various styles around the head. It is commonly found in arid climate areas to provide protection from direct sun exposure, as well as for occasional use in protecting the mouth and eyes from blown dust and sand.
I just saw this ad run on television for the first time this afternoon, but it has apparently been on the air for a few weeks. The pitchman is a rapper named “Shwayze”, who, according to his site, grew up in a Malibu trailer park. Where I can only presume that David Geffen’s imperialist annexing of public beachfront spurred Shwayze’s appreciation for Islamic terror.
All New Pontiac Vibe Commercial
- Featuring Shwayze - video powered by Metacafe
To contact Pontiac: http://www.pontiac.com/helpcenter/index.jsp?tabName=contactus
To contact the production company:
The spot was directed by “Stylewar” (whom I believe is a Lightworker!) of Smuggler production company. Executive producers are Brian Carmody and Patrick Milling Smith. Tell them what you think here:
323 817 3300
212 337 3327
Brian Carmody: carmody@smugglersite.com
Patrick Milling Smith: millingsmith@smugglersite.com
by Posthumous Luger
Sources/images:
* michaeltotten
* keffiyeh
* Keffiyeh Kapitalism: Pontiac Is Latest Corporation To Allow Terror Symbolism In Ad
DBKP.com - Bigger, Better!.
Back to DBKP at Blogger Front Page
On this date:
POLITICS
On Dec. 8, 1987, President Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev signed a treaty at the White House calling for destruction of intermediate-range nuclear missiles.
WAR!
In 1776, during the Revolutionary War, George Washington's retreating army crossed the Delaware River from New Jersey into Pennsylvania.
In 1863, President Lincoln announced his plan for the reconstruction of the South.
In 1941, the United States entered World War II as Congress declared war against Japan, a day after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
In 1949, the Chinese Nationalist government moved from the Chinese mainland to Formosa as the Communists pressed their attacks.
RELIGION
In 1854, Pope Pius IX proclaimed the Catholic dogma of the Immaculate Conception, which holds that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was free of original sin from the moment of her own conception.
TERRORISM
In 1982, a man demanding an end to nuclear weapons held the Washington Monument hostage, threatening to blow it up with explosives he claimed were inside a van. After a 10-hour standoff, Norman D. Mayer was shot dead by police; it turned out there were no explosives.
In 2006, a gunman went on a rampage inside a downtown Chicago law firm, killing three people before being shot dead himself by police.
LABOR
In 1886, the American Federation of Labor was founded in Columbus, Ohio.
ASSASSINATION
In 1980, rock star John Lennon was shot to death outside his New York City apartment building by Mark David Chapman.
DISASTERS
Ten years ago: Federal hearings opened in Baltimore into the TWA Flight 800 disaster which had claimed 230 lives.
SCANDAL
In 2006, the House ethics committee concluded that Republican lawmakers and aides failed for a decade to protect male pages from sexual overtures by former Rep. Mark Foley, but that they broke no rules and should not be punished.
TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS
Actor-director Maximilian Schell is 77. Actor David Carradine is 71. Actor James MacArthur is 70. Flutist James Galway is 68. Singer Jerry Butler is 68. Pop musician Bobby Elliott (The Hollies) is 65. Actor John Rubinstein is 61. Rock singer-musician Gregg Allman is 60. Reggae singer Toots Hibbert (Toots and the Maytals) is 59. Actress Kim Basinger is 54. Rock musician Warren Cuccurullo is 51. Rock musician Phil Collen (Def Leppard) is 50. Country singer Marty Raybon is 48. Rock musician Marty Friedman is 45. Actor Wendell Pierce is 44. Actress Teri Hatcher is 43. Rapper Bushwick Bill (The Geto Boys) is 41. Singer Sinead O'Connor is 41. Actor Matthew Laborteaux is 41. Rock musician Ryan Newell (Sister Hazel) is 35. Actor Dominic Monaghan is 31. Actor Ian Somerhalder is 29. Actress AnnaSophia Robb is 14.
Saturday, Dec. 8, the 342nd day of 2007. There are 23 days left in the year.
Source: AP - Today in History December 8 2007
compiled by Mondoreb
[image:denzilsportal]
Death by 1000 Papercuts Front Page.
by Little Baby Ginn
[Click on strips to enlarge them.]
* <Infidel Warrior Babes #14: Trigger Girlie's Adventure, Part II
* Infidel Warrior Babes #12:
Death by 1000 Papercuts Front Page.
Good thing the British keep a stiff upper lip. Otherwise, they'd be laughing themselves silly at their schizophenic government's policies.
Talk about mixed signals.
The multiculturally-inclined are warning Brits not to offend anyone. Meanwhile, another division of the government puts "terror signs" on buildings and stadiums and pleads with citizens to "be vigilant".
More on the latest tool in the fight against terror from the Mirror's
Public Buildings Get Terror Signs:Posters warning people what to do in a bomb attack are to be put in shopping centres and airports, it was revealed yesterday.
How best to act in case of a nuclear attack? The Brown government could have saved a lot of pounds by just reprinting that old poster from the 60s and 70s: "In case of nuclear attack, put your head between your legs and kiss your ass goodbye.
Senior security sources want the signs where they think terrorists might strike. The "target sites" also include sports stadiums.
They would be similar to the fire procedure notices seen in most public buildings telling people what to do in a blaze.
But instead they would advise people how best to act if there was a bomb - or chemical, biological or nuclear attacks.
But government bureaucrats are serious about protecting the country agsinst terror. How? By giving the potential bomb victims a list of instructions?The emergency notices will have a list of instructions.
Be vigilant and report anything suspicious. Good advice it would appear.
These include to stay inside if a blast goes off outside a building, in case there is a second bomb in the area, and to stay away from windows, lifts and outer doors to avoid more blasts.
The chemical, biological and radiological attack posters warn people about the dangers of contamination and how to avoid spreading it.
They will also remind people the best defence against terrorism is vigilance and urge everyone to report anything suspicious.
But not too suspicious. The government is always on guard against potential backlash against Muslims. This occurs every time a British Muslim is caught with plans, bombs or both.
The signs the British people notice far more are those they see of increasing lawlessness and chaos They are warned against paying too close attention. Another name for the terror sign program may be familiar: CYA.
The government hopes the terror signs on buildings will make people feel safer.
Average Brits may disagree: last year nearly 400,000 fled England for safer, saner climes. The ones who left get their chance to start over in places where more common sense about terror prevails.
The ones left behind get terror signs.
by Mondoreb
Death by 1000 Papercuts Front Page.
I was over at My Republican Blog and saw this 1 minute video, featuring Jeff Dunham & Walter.
Back to Front Page.
Moammar Gadhafi a jihad target?
How soon they forget.
Gadhafi is one of the subjects of a video issued by al-Qaida #2 man, Ayman al-Zawahri. Gadhafi's Libya, which was on the US list of "terror-sponsoring states" for years, is now the target of terror.
View the video here from Yahoo.
al-Zawahri also went after Palestinian leader, Mahmud Abbas, calling for his overthrow. He also called for a Holy War against French, Spanish and U.S. interests in North Africa.
Yahoo News:Al-Qaida's No. 2 figure harshly criticized Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi in a new audio tape Saturday, accusing him of being an enemy of Islam and threatening a wave of attacks against the North African country because it improved relations with the U.S.
In the 28-minute audio tape called "Unity of the Ranks," Ayman al-Zawahri also announced that the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group was joining ranks with al-Qaida.
From Dow-Jones Newswire:Al-Qaida number two Ayman al-Zawahiri called for the overthrow of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas saying he had turned the movement into an " annex of the CIA," in an audiotape message released Saturday.
"I call on those who, among the members of Fatah and the (Fatah-linked armed) Al-Aqsa Brigades, who still have a little dignity, to fight their leadership which has transformed their movement into an annex of the CIA and a division of Mossad," Zawahiri said in the tape posted on the internet.
More from Dow-Jones:"The Islamic nation is witnessing a blessed step ... The brothers are escalating the confrontation against the enemies of Islam: Gadhafi and his masters, the Washington crusaders," al-Zawahri said in the audio tape. The recording could not be independently verified, but it appeared on a Web site commonly used by insurgents and carried the logo of al-Qaida's media production house, as-Sahab.
The recording also carried a message from Abu Laith al-Libi, a Libyan al-Qaida commander in Afghanistan who accused Gadhafi of decades of tyranny.
Back to YahooNews:He [al-Zawahri] said Fatah members should "return to their religion and rally to the support of their brothers, the mujahedeen (fighters), in Palestine and elsewhere in the Muslim world," Zawahiri said in the recording, the authenticity of which could not immediately be verified.
As Gateway Pundit puts it, "They've lost the war. Now, they've lost their minds."
al-Zawahri seems a bit out of sorts. Things might not be going all that well for the al-Qaida poobah. Things aren't going well in Iraq or Afghanistan, with al-Qaida taking it on the chin from Coalition and U.S. forces.
al-Qaida's grumpy: wonder if the mainstream media will mention it or the reasons for this latest video.
by Mondoreb & Little Baby Ginn
Back to Front Page.
