American Spy Satellites To Snoop On U.S.

The Skinny: Department Of Homeland Security OKs Expanded Domestic Use Of Spies In The Sky

(CBS)  The Skinny is Keach Hagey's take on the top news of the day and the best of the Internet.

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The Wall Street Journal reports that the Department of Homeland Security has approved a measure to allow federal civilian agencies and law enforcement to turn American spy satellites on their own citizens for the first time.

Until now, the highly sensitive satellites were aimed mostly at other countries, usually ones we didn't really trust. Occasionally, geologists and NASA scientists got to use them to make things like topographical maps. Letting domestic security folks use them to spy is, the Journal says, "uncharted territory."

Officials have been mulling the plan for a couple years, but often bumped up against questions about whether this kind of snooping would violate the Posse Comitatus Act, which bars military for engaging in law-enforcement activity within the U.S., since the satellites are built for and owned by the Defense Department.

The decision was made three months ago by Director of National Intelligence Michael McConnel, and OKed in May by DHS chief Michael Chertoff.

Access to the satellite will be controlled by a new Homeland Security branch, the National Applications Office. As Charles Allen, the DHS's chief intelligence officer who will head up the new program, summed up cryptically, "It is an idea whose time has come."

Naturally, privacy groups are freaking out. Sentences like this one probably don't help. "The full capabilities of these systems are unknown outside the intelligence community, because they are among the most closely held secrets in government."

One privacy advocate complained that it was this secrecy that was the real problem.

"You are talking about enormous power," said Gregory Nojeim, senior counsel and director of the Project on Freedom, Security and Technology for the Center for Democracy and Technology, a nonprofit group advocating privacy rights in the digital age. "Not only is the surveillance they are contemplating intrusive and omnipresent, it's also invisible. And that's what makes this so dangerous."

Sneak Peak At Petraeus's September Report

Wait 'till September, wait 'till September, wait 'till September. Republicans spent much of the summer begging other lawmakers and the American public to reserve judgment on the troop surge until Gen. David Petraeus presented his September report.

But for those who can't wait, there's a report in the Los Angeles Times this morning attempting an educated guess at what the September report might say.

According to unnamed officials interviewed by the paper, Gen. David Petreus is expected to propose a "partial pullback" in his September report which would authorize U.S. commanders to withdraw troops "from places that have become less violent."

This might mean withdrawing from Ninveveh province in northern Iraq and Al Anbar in the west, according to unnamed officials, but it "does not necessarily follow that Petraeus would call for reducing the overall number of troops in the country."

Bigtime Baksheesh In U.S. Contracts In Iraq

USA Today reports that a federal crackdown on corruption involving U.S. contracts in Iraq produced a record number of criminal and administrative cases last month, including the largest bribery case.

Pentagon auditors have questioned $4 billion in contractors' bills for work in Iraq. So far, 29 people have been charged or convicted, 7 of them last month. During the last week of July alone, investigators accounted for four arrests, including those of Army Maj. John Crockerham, his wife and sister for allegedly taking $9.6 million in bribes.


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[neoconrcrazy]

If this doesn't net us at least 50 bona-fide American or foreign terrorists in our country in the next 12 months - then it's all bush-it!

[opedanderson]

Terrorists? They don't care about terrorists! They just want to know who is doing what with whom at which time.

It's all about control freaks given the ultimate tools to practice their fetish.

[oakishpines]

you're either talking to the people
that blow up space shuttle
because someone told them to

or the prople that blow up space shuttles
because the just want to

or the people that blow up people
that blow up space shuttles
because someone told them to

or the people that blow up people
that blow up space shuttles
because they just want to

or you're talking to the people
that don't blow up anything:
the people that, most of the time,
dance get well feed world songs
rallied around the sick beds
drifiting the tems millions spore bloom
weed dragon trail fickle first aid
lunch farm cottage studiio trails


it's self-explanatory, the market share

with 300 different folk
on each of the 300 county
trail group front pages

each army occupys a tiny measure

and the get well feed world folk
occupy an unlimited measure


there may be a
get sick tax world group
at every trail crossing

but the trails are occupied
by the get well feed world folk
that do who they want to

(that was a joke,
i've almost never seen
a porno get sick tax world group
at a trail crossing,
who would do that?)

[gunownerdan]

"Today we need a nation of minute men; citizens who are not only prepared to take up arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as a basic purpose of their daily life and who are willing to consciously work and sacrifice for that freedom. The cause of liberty, the cause of American, cannot succeed with any lesser effort."
-- President John F. Kennedy, January 29, 1961

[pepperp1]

Pentagon auditors have questioned $4 billion in contractors' bills for work in Iraq. So far, 29 people have been charged or convicted, 7 of them last month. During the last week of July alone, investigators accounted for four arrests, including those of Army Maj. John Crockerham, his wife and sister for allegedly taking $9.6 million in bribes.

Are they in jail? Federal prision.

[olebd]

Come and watch me, I've got nothing to hide. Well, there are a few bedroom fetishes but, other than that, it's Averageville. I may have to work on my dance routine if I'm going to be filmed.

[cbs_oliver]

When someone keeps me in the dark and lies to me regularly then I assume they are not loyal to me.

Unfortunately, recent events strongly suggest the US military has some other loyalty than to the citizens.

So who are they loyal to and what is their agenda?

What's really going on?

[jumkey]

"both" sides Fartknocker? Hardly. The only ones who want this are YOUR side, the big-government authoritarians.

You just don't want anyone watching YOU.

Thanks for destroying America you bozo.

[searingtruth]

The Republican and Democratic parties have delivered us into the hands of darkness.
ST


"When everything is secret, everything is legal."
SearingTruth

"The telescreen received and transmitted simultaneously. Any sound that Winston made, above the level of a very low whisper, would be picked up by it; moreover, so long as he remained within the field of vision which the metal plaque commanded, he could be seen as well as heard. There was of course no way of knowing whether you were being watched at any given moment. How often, or on what system, the Thought Police plugged in on any individual wire was guesswork. It was even conceivable that they watched everybody all the time. But at any rate they could plug in your wire whenever they wanted to. You had to live - did live, from habit that became instinct - in the assumption that every sound you made was overheard, and except in darkness, every movement scrutinised."
George Orwell, 1984

A Future of the Brave - www.searingtruth.com

[bigmacmcc]

I got news for you. Spy satellites have been taking pictures of the US since at least 1976 and probably before that as well.

[opedanderson]

SMILE, everybody!

[infidel_us]

Unfortunately, recent events strongly suggest the US military has some other loyalty than to the citizens.
Posted by CBS_Oliver at 10:38 AM : Aug 15, 2007

Really? With you bewetting libs "supporting the troops but not the war", cutting their funding, announcing that the "war in Iraq is LOST", do you think they might harbor a little grudge against libs? Nah, couldn't be.

[harp1963]

I wonder what Franklin, Jefferson, Adams, and the rest of the founding fathers would think of our REPUBLICAN government creating a system that allows this garbage. The Brits have retaken us from within.

[tuckerndfw]

If they are going to be used to spy on Americans, then they must be subject to public oversight.

Not a problem so long as the Pentagon is taken out of the picture. And, whatever they produce is made public.

[infidel_us]

I wonder what Franklin, Jefferson, Adams, and the rest of the founding fathers would think of our REPUBLICAN government creating a system that allows this garbage. Posted by harp1963 at 11:02 AM : Aug 15, 2007

Probably the same thing they would think of the ireparable damage done by liberals, the MSM, and activist judges over the last 50 years.

This has left us in far worse shape than anything Bush did. In fact, it's teh VERY reason we are so hated by these muslim fascists.

Libs ARE the "great Satan" of our time.

[sevenveils]

Big Deal! Private sector spy satellites have been used for national spying for great big number of years by civilian government agencies and even businesses. The private sector products are in high demand, even for the very agencies that have their own satellites.

Before you go outside put your best face on because you are on camera. Smile!

[wogerwabbit]

Gen. David Petreus is expected to propose a "partial pullback" in his September report which would authorize U.S. commanders to withdraw troops "from places that have become less violent."

And then the Viet Cong will move back in and we'll have to "liberate" the areas again.

Oops... wrong war.

[wdrussell1]

As the right wingers line up to give away more of our rights.

[red164]

This has left us in far worse shape than anything Bush did. In fact, it's teh VERY reason we are so hated by these muslim fascists.

Libs ARE the "great Satan" of our time.

Posted by infidel_us at 11:14 AM : Aug 15, 2007

Such a stiff infidel_us both parties play you for a sucker you%u2019re a useful tool just like the other partisan pukes.


CFR Stacks The Deck With Both Democrat And Republican Presidential Candidates

MichaelVail
ThoughtCriminal.org
Wednesday Aug 15, 2007

most presidential candidates in the 2008 election are CFR members. Candidates do not advertise their CFR membership to the public. They pose as "liberals" and "conservatives" to control all aspects of the debate. The CFR has stacked the deck for the 2008 election with several members in the race from both sides of the aisle:

Democrat CFR Candidates:

Barack Obama

Hillary Clinton

John Edwards

Chris Dodd

Bill Richardson

Republican CFR Candidates:

Mitt Romney

Rudy Giuliani

John McCain

Fred Thompson

Newt Gingrich

The mainstream media's self-proclaimed "top tier" candidates are united in their CFR membership, while an unwitting public perceives political diversity. Congressman Ron Paul is the only "top tier" candidate who is not a member of the CFR.

2004 was the year of the Skull & Bones presidential candidates, and now 2008 seems to be the year of the CFR presidential candidates. Democrat or Republican, it matters not which rook they choose to elect.

[csmarker1970]

Surprise, surprise... *yawn*...

[hifidavid]

Big Deal !!
They are not looking for you anyway, besides, there are cameras on almost every street already. More are being added every day so what is one more camera in space gonna matter? Another example of media paranoid reporting.

[red164]

Although many politicians hold membership, It must be noted that the Council on Foreign Relations is a non-governmental organization. The CFR's membership is a union of politicians, bankers, and scholars, with several large businesses holding additional corporate memberships. Corporate members include:


Halliburton of Dubai

British Petroleum

Dutch Royal Shell

Exxon Mobile

General Electric (NBC)

Chevron

Lockheed Martin

Merck Pharmaceuticals

News Corp (FOX)

Bloomberg

IBM

Time Warner

JP Morgan/ Chase Manhattan

& several other major financial institutions

Members are united in their interventionist intentions with the goal of a consolidated global governance. The CFR's mission is to influence policy through the reach of its members and publications.
http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/august2007/150807CFR.htm

[zoltaric]

What are you doing that you don't want a satellite to see? Picking your nose?

[dtsingin]

I cannot believe that we as americans can sit by and let this happen......Big Brother will be watching us...it will only get worse...soon they will have spy cameras in eveyone's home...maybe through your computer or your television...we will no longer have any rights as citizens, it will become a policed united states and we will not be able to make up our own minds about anything, they will be making up our minds for us. What can we do??????????????

[barbaraf4]

It had to be only a matter of time. If you aren't breaking the law, what do you have to fear? Of course, THEY are the ones deciding what is and is not illegal, so be afraid, be very afraid.

[infidel_us]

Before you go outside put your best face on because you are on camera. Smile!
Posted by Sevenveils at 11:25 AM : Aug 15, 2007

Fo sho! Ever hear of Google Earth? I'll bet these same bedwetters think it's cool!

[red164]

Big Deal !!
They are not looking for you anyway, besides, there are cameras on almost every street already. More are being added every day so what is one more camera in space gonna matter? Another example of media paranoid reporting.

Posted by HIFiDavid at 11:46 AM : Aug 15, 2007

Many prominent publications are influenced and controlled by the CFR:


Time

Newsweek

US News & World Report

Atlantic Monthly

Forbes

& several major publishing houses


Members of the CFR in the media intend to inject it's pro-globalist arguments into the mainstream consciousness. Although the CFR is self-described as a non-partisan association, it unabashedly promotes a one-world-government agenda without regard for US sovereignty or the desires of the American people.

The goals of the CFR is best described by its very own members. Bill Clinton's Georgetown mentor and CFR member Carroll Quigley states: "The Council on Foreign Relations is the American branch of a society which originated in England... (and) ...believes national boundaries should be obliterated and one world rule established.".

[red164]

Quigley also admits that the two-party system allows for both groups to be controlled at the highest level but operate like bitter rivals.


Quigley differs from many of his CFR colleagues in that he believes their plan for a new world order should be more publicly disclosed. In his book Tragedy and Hope, Quigley concedes he is unique among his peers in that he believes the new world order plan of global government's "role in history is significant enough to be known". Quigley also admits that the two-party system allows for both groups to be controlled at the highest level but operate like bitter rivals. As Quigley says, this gives the voters the chance to "throw the rascals out at any election without leading to any profound of extreme shifts in policy.". Controlling Washington elite allowed private central banks to " dominate the political system... ...and economy of world as a whole" and implement a new system of "feudalist fashion" through "secret agreements". Although he believes the CFR's intentions should be more public, Quigley understands the average person doesn't understand feudalism or serfdom and will never read his book.

Surprisingly, many of its own members admit the CFR goal is to subvert the democratic process.

[red164]

The mainstream media's self-proclaimed "top tier" candidates are united in their CFR membership, while an unwitting public perceives political diversity. The unwitting public has been conditioned to instinctively deny such a mass deception could ever be hidden in plain view. Presidential Candidate & Congressman Ron Paul is the only "top tier" candidate who is not a member of the CFR.



Quigley also admits that the two-party system allows for both groups to be controlled at the highest level but operate like bitter rivals

infidel_us you sucker, suck up, now suck up.


Quigley also admits that the two-party system allows for both groups to be controlled at the highest level but operate like bitter rivals

[red164]

Big Deal !!
They are not looking for you anyway, besides, there are cameras on almost every street already. More are being added every day so what is one more camera in space gonna matter? Another example of media paranoid reporting.

Posted by HIFiDavid at 11:46 AM : Aug 15, 2007

HIFiDavid, Now where did you want that mark on your forehead or neck?

[red164]

infidel_us sucker, suck up, now suck up.


infidel_us sucker, suck up, now suck up.

Quigley also admits that the two-party system allows for both groups to be controlled at the highest level but operate like bitter rivals


Quigley also admits that the two-party system allows for both groups to be controlled at the highest level but operate like bitter rivals

The mainstream media's self-proclaimed "top tier" candidates are united in their CFR membership, while an unwitting public perceives political diversity. The unwitting public has been conditioned to instinctively deny such a mass deception could ever be hidden in plain view. Presidential Candidate & Congressman Ron Paul is the only "top tier" candidate who is not a member of the CFR.

Quigley differs from many of his CFR colleagues in that he believes their plan for a new world order should be more publicly disclosed. In his book Tragedy and Hope, Quigley concedes he is unique among his peers in that he believes the new world order plan of global government's "role in history is significant enough to be known".

As Quigley says, this gives the voters the chance to "throw the rascals out at any election without leading to any profound of extreme shifts in policy.". Controlling Washington elite allowed private central banks to " dominate the political system... ...and economy of world as a whole" and implement a new system of "feudalist fashion" through "secret agreements".

[steeepe]

It starts with body fluid testing at work, progresses to satellite surveillance, and ends with implanted chips. It's gradual, and no one notices that an Orwellian future has arrived. Maybe not too alarming, unless you can't trust the government, and with criminals like Cheney in charge, you can't trust the government.

[bareemperor]

With the mercenary Cheney Army outnumbering our own armed forces in Iraq, who is the enemy?

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/081507L.shtml

[nativewoman]

Announcement:

Greetings, Comrades.

Please have your papers available for inspection at all times.

Forced entry into your homes and forced removal of persons from said homes for unstated reasons will not be questioned in any way by the people of this country.

The people of this country are no longer guaranteed any rights or freedoms. The Constitution has now been abolished in its entirety.

The people shall at all times bend unquestioningly to the will of the ruler.

End of announcement.

[fizzal-2009]

Hope they will be able too keep an eye on those twp. and school district vehicles because i have already seen them parked at the grocery store with the engine running for an hour shopping for grocery,s

[mnelsonix]

I bet they've used these "eyes in the skies" before on US targets. Warrentless wire taps, surveillance cameras in public places, and private search engine data perusal...duh...they've used 'em on us.

Big brother is here and he is here to stay.

Good bye sweet America.

[thinkharder-]

This really is just another case of media pandering to the paranoid. These satallite cameras are really of very little to no consequence for typical Americans. Granted, one can't help but feel like "Big Brother" is looking over our shoulders a bit, but these cameras are more of a threat to those in this country with less than reputable intentions. We are already being taped at just about every intersection we walk across, every public building we enter...so be it. Those who have something to hide should worry...those of us who do not, have no fear. This is really no different than any religous person's view that "God is watching."

I'll tell you what I don't like about this, and bear in mind that I proudly consider myself one of those, as infidel_us likes to put it, a bedwetting liberal, although I am a republican...sometimes I feel like the only one. What I don't like is the media trying its best to rouse an already fickle mob of Americans. This is presented as if the Governent is going to be peeking in our bedroom windows, and checking every backyard garden to make sure there''s noweed growing in it. This kind of concern is foolish. These satallites, being rediculously expensive to re-position and maintain, will be looking in on known trouble spots for terrorist types...they will not be hecking to see if you're wearing the same underwear two days in a row.

[talkingham]

Oh u can be sure they've had their hands in this cookie jar before, but this will broadent the use a bit. It's pretty tempting for these guys to spy on their wives and girlfriends or for political purposes like "Enemy of the State" which focused on this nearly 10 years ago. Nothing new here, move along, nothing to discuss here.

[red164]

Posted by ThinkHarder- at 12:59 PM : Aug 15, 2007
Posted by talkingham at 01:03 PM : Aug 15, 2007


Both of you have promote the forehead or neck.

[adventurepa]

If you thought this government was beyond snooping on it's own citizens, well you were wrong.
When is enough - Enough?
When will this ever be brought up in any of the debates?

[red164]

Posted by Winstrv at 01:20 PM : Aug 15, 2007

Of course you won't complain when they put that mark on your forehead also, because you need to buy soap because you have nothing to hide.

[undermyboot]

"If you are innocent you have nothing to fear..."

Saturday! Off to Home Depot. Garden needs fertilizer. Need 50 gals diesel for the ol' backup gen. Hurricane season. Driving, your buddy calls. He's back from a Europe trip with the wife- a great time & even made a side trip to ancient Petra in Jordan. He had a hard time getting hold of you. You explain that your phone was stolen, so you're using a temporary throwaway. You say, "Hey, let's hit the range! I just bought this beautiful high power rifle for the 1000 yard competition."

At Homeland Security, an alert pops up. Someone bought lots of diesel & fertilizer. Mix the two and- boom. He also bought a throwaway cell phone, as terrorists are known to do. ATF reports he bought a high power rifle. NSA "relationships" software shows this person has contact with someone who just came back from the middle-east. His grandparents were from Jordan! Hmmm.

Your boss receives a visit from the FBI. "Sorry sir, we can't tell you exactly why we are investigating your employee. It's a national security matter. You understand that, under the Patriot Act, you cannot tell ___anything about our questions. Now tell us what kind of American ___ is?" There goes your promotion & maybe your job. You'll never know why. Similar things happen at your bank (forget that loan), with your friends & family (why are they acting strange?), your doctor, your NRA buddies, your kids' school,... But hey, nothing to worry about 'cause you did nothing wrong. Right morons?

[undermyboot]

Thinkharder can't think. What a maroon.
These "if you have nothing to fear then let them do anything to your privacy they want" morons deserve to live in Red China, Russia, or any other authoritarian regime. They are not Americans. The true Americans understand that it is the government who should fear the people, not the other way around. With enough information, ANYONE (yes, even you "perfect" azzholes) can be made to look guilty.

Our forefathers understood that safety at the price of liberty was too high a price. This is why they wrote a Constitution, which you f*ckups want to eviscerate. Cowards.

"If ye love safety greater than liberty, the tranquility of servitude greater than the animating contest for freedom, go home from us in peace. We seek not your counsel, nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you; and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen." -- Samuel Adams

Lick away traitors.

[sgtrds]

Another great reason to stand outside and flip the bird! You watching Bush?? This "F*uck you!" has your name on it!

[sgtrds]

What are you doing that you don't want a satellite to see? Picking your nose?

Posted by zoltaric at 11:48 AM : Aug 15, 2007

Don't be so smug. Eveytime you have fun with your daughter on the old couch by your still they'll see that too.

[undermyboot]

The new constitution-r*ping agency will be called the "National Applications Office". Orwell could not have made up a better name.

"The two enemies of the people are criminals and government, so let us tie the second down with the chains of the Constitution so the second will not become the legalized version of the first."-- Thomas Jefferson

"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of freedoms of the people by gradual and silent encroachment of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." -- James Madison

Get on your knees cowards. Lick the boot of your masters. Deceive yourself that you have liberty. Your rationalizations and fear mongering convince no one but yourselves. You deserve the police state you are giving birth to. Morons and cowards all.

"[Oppose] with manly firmness [any] invasions on the rights of the people." -- Thomas Jefferson: Draft Virginia Constitution, 1776. Papers, 1:338

Again, it will be up to patriots to rescue you from your own stupidity.

[gunownerdan]

"If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy." -- James Madison

"The means of defense against foreign danger historically have become the instruments of tyranny at home." -- James Madison

"I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments by those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." -- James Madison

"As nightfall does not come all at once, neither does oppression. In both instances, there is a twilight when everything remains seemingly unchanged. And it is in such twilight that we all must be most aware of change in the air - however slight - lest we become unwitting victims of the darkness."
-- Justice William O. Douglas

"Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. This is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifist for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in every country."
- Hermann Goering, Hitler's Reich-Marshall
at the Nuremberg Trials after WWII

[gopack443]

"Access to the satellite will be controlled by a new Homeland Security branch, the National Applications Office"

What happened to republics wanting smaller government? I could vote for less government but then again it's hard to believe there is such a thing as republicans or democrats anymore.

Where do I sign up for my chip?

[gunownerdan]

Meanwhile as our government is begining to spy on its own citizens, "Osama Bin Laden" is still free and planning his next terror attack.
Why aren't the satellites being used to find Bin Laden? Because he is too important to our warmongering leaders, they need a bogeyman to keep us frightened and willing to give up more and more of our constitutional rights.

[olebd]

You know they'll only hire low-wage schmucks to run the cameras and all they will be trying to zoom in on is pretty girls in various stages of undress. LOL