War on Terrorism

Bad MATRIX

This entry was posted in Constitution Culture Domestic Terrorism Drug Laws Law Law Enforcement Patriot Act War on Terrorism on by

Some of you may have thought I was being a bit paranoid in my earlier post Canadian Big Brother. Especially since congress cut off funding for Total Information Awareness.
But ashcroft’s Justice Department figures to hell with congress. If we can’t get TIA we’ll go for MATRIX or in normal speak: Multistate Anti-Terrorism Information Exchange. Justice and Homeland Security are providing funding for what started out as a state based system in Florida:

The U.S. Justice Department recently provided $4 million and the Department of Homeland Security has pledged another $8 million to expand the MATRIX program nationally. Homeland Security will also provide the computer network for information-sharing among the states.

Still not bothered? Try this:

Phil Ramer, special agent in charge of Florida�s statewide intelligence told a Washington Post reporter in early August that the system could be intrusive and pledged to use it with restraint. “It’s scary. It could be abused. I mean, I can call up everything about you, your pictures and pictures of your neighbors.”

Whew, I feel quite comforted by Phil’s promise to use the system with restraint. But what about Ralph or Mary tomorrow?
Why not link in the Canadian’s Bar Watch info, or, you take your pick of the information source. If Matrix, TIA or other similar systems stay in place their operators will figure out a way to include that information.
Yep, use cash. Start becoming as invisible as you can.

w saves a buck

This entry was posted in bush Federal Government Iraq War on Terrorism on by

Apparently revervists called to active duty should not expect to get the same level of medical treatment as active duty personnel. They may not even get treated at all.
But, they will get all expenses paid living quarters:

Most soldiers in medical hold at Fort Stewart stay in rows of rectangular, gray, single-story cinder block barracks without bathrooms or air conditioning. They are dark and sweltering in the southern Georgia heat and humidity. Around 60 soldiers cram in the bunk beds in each barrack.
Soldiers make their way by walking or using crutches through the sandy dirt to a communal bathroom, where they have propped office partitions between otherwise open toilets for privacy. A row of leaky sinks sits on an opposite wall. The latrine smells of urine and is full of bugs, because many windows have no screens. Showering is in a communal, cinder block room. Soldiers say they have to buy their own toilet paper.

I do hope this story is proven wrong.
Via The Agonist.

The Supremes

This entry was posted in Constitution Domestic Terrorism Drug Laws Law War on Terrorism on by

They’ve announced the cases they are going to hear this session. For those of you tired of reading the many so, so serious posts on many of the cases head over to the Happy Furry Puppy place to read some serious but laced with humor commentary:

The Goddamned Pledge of Allegiance vs. Some Godless Atheist Commie Freak. You don’t really want to know what I think about this, other than you know that it’s going to be used as a political clubbing tool… as evidenced by subtle-as-a-flying-mallet Press Secretary Scott McClellan yesterday:

Well, head over to read what mcClellan said and what the Furry Puppy person does think about it.

What are we fighting for?

This entry was posted in bush Domestic Terrorism Iraq US Foreign Policy War on Terrorism on by

If this is it:

US soldiers driving bulldozers, with jazz blaring from loudspeakers, have uprooted ancient groves of date palms as well as orange and lemon trees in central Iraq as part of a new policy of collective punishment of farmers who do not give information about guerrillas attacking US troops.

then the rebuilding effort is truly broken and misnamed.
This terrorism is not something that any legitimate government supports.
For more detail and links see Electrolite and Whiskey Bar. Be sure to read the comment threads.
Via Mark Kleiman.