<![CDATA[Deep Politics Forum - Activities and Strategies]]> https://deeppoliticsforum.com/fora/ Thu, 25 Jun 2026 21:09:34 +0000 MyBB <![CDATA[This site's work justified by the "10th man" doctrine]]> https://deeppoliticsforum.com/fora/showthread.php?tid=12838 Mon, 07 Jul 2014 12:58:51 +0000 Drew Phipps]]> https://deeppoliticsforum.com/fora/showthread.php?tid=12838
"Following the Yom Kippur War (1973) which took Israeli military intelligence by surprise, institutions were put in place to reduce the chances that group think and overly dominant commanders would prevent diverse opinions from reaching decision makers or from being initiated at all. One of these was a unit often referred to as the devil's advocate office.

As described by Yosef Kupperwasser, who used to head the Research Division of the IDF, in Lesson's From Israel's Intelligence Reforms [1]:
The devil's advocate office ensures that AMAN's intelligence assessments are creative and do not fall prey to group think. The office regularly criticizes products coming from the analysis and production divisions, and writes opinion papers that counter these departments' assessments. The staff in the devil's advocate office is made up of extremely experienced and talented officers who are known to have a creative, "outside the box" way of thinking. Perhaps as important, they are highly regarded by the analysts. As such, strong consideration is given to their conclusions and their memos go directly to the office of the Director of Military Intelligence, as well as to all major decision makers. The devil's advocate office also proactively combats group think and conventional wisdom by writing papers that examine the possibility of a radical and negative change occurring within the security environment. This is done even when the defense establishment does not think that such a development is likely, precisely to explore alternative assumptions and worst-case scenarios.

[1] http://www.brookings.edu/~/media..."

Congrats to all contributors and "out-of-the-box" researchers who come here looking for information. Right or wrong, the work done here is a valuable asset.]]>
"Following the Yom Kippur War (1973) which took Israeli military intelligence by surprise, institutions were put in place to reduce the chances that group think and overly dominant commanders would prevent diverse opinions from reaching decision makers or from being initiated at all. One of these was a unit often referred to as the devil's advocate office.

As described by Yosef Kupperwasser, who used to head the Research Division of the IDF, in Lesson's From Israel's Intelligence Reforms [1]:
The devil's advocate office ensures that AMAN's intelligence assessments are creative and do not fall prey to group think. The office regularly criticizes products coming from the analysis and production divisions, and writes opinion papers that counter these departments' assessments. The staff in the devil's advocate office is made up of extremely experienced and talented officers who are known to have a creative, "outside the box" way of thinking. Perhaps as important, they are highly regarded by the analysts. As such, strong consideration is given to their conclusions and their memos go directly to the office of the Director of Military Intelligence, as well as to all major decision makers. The devil's advocate office also proactively combats group think and conventional wisdom by writing papers that examine the possibility of a radical and negative change occurring within the security environment. This is done even when the defense establishment does not think that such a development is likely, precisely to explore alternative assumptions and worst-case scenarios.

[1] http://www.brookings.edu/~/media..."

Congrats to all contributors and "out-of-the-box" researchers who come here looking for information. Right or wrong, the work done here is a valuable asset.]]> <![CDATA[Dead Child From Drone Strike Photo Large Enough To Be Seen By Satellite]]> https://deeppoliticsforum.com/fora/showthread.php?tid=12400 Mon, 07 Apr 2014 16:18:55 +0000 Peter Lemkin]]> https://deeppoliticsforum.com/fora/showthread.php?tid=12400
[ATTACH=CONFIG]5858[/ATTACH]

.jpg   DroneDeadChild.jpg (Size: 19.78 KB / Downloads: 8) ]]>
[ATTACH=CONFIG]5858[/ATTACH]

.jpg   DroneDeadChild.jpg (Size: 19.78 KB / Downloads: 8) ]]> <![CDATA[I host a small gathering of folks for BOR Thursday nights]]> https://deeppoliticsforum.com/fora/showthread.php?tid=10417 Wed, 13 Mar 2013 16:48:11 +0000 Jim Hackett II]]> https://deeppoliticsforum.com/fora/showthread.php?tid=10417
Discussions are good and open to any view
- except LN - LHO did the job alone and Jack Ruby was another LN doing his job alone too.

A slightly risque poster I made banishes from discussion the WC/HSCA Conclusions as BS. Other than that anything goes.

One positive thing is that the discussions have made me dig a little and even back into the first generation of materials. Being a host I must have my data straight. If not then I am no better than the obfuscation of the enemies.

It does no good if I say: "That's in High Treason", when it isn't. Embarrassment is not the issue. Getting it right is the issue.

Profit of knowledge is gained from the reviews I find I must take on. It is rewarding for all.
It can be important to communicate with those that won't go to Big D but still want to make known their opinions even if only my living room.]]>
Discussions are good and open to any view
- except LN - LHO did the job alone and Jack Ruby was another LN doing his job alone too.

A slightly risque poster I made banishes from discussion the WC/HSCA Conclusions as BS. Other than that anything goes.

One positive thing is that the discussions have made me dig a little and even back into the first generation of materials. Being a host I must have my data straight. If not then I am no better than the obfuscation of the enemies.

It does no good if I say: "That's in High Treason", when it isn't. Embarrassment is not the issue. Getting it right is the issue.

Profit of knowledge is gained from the reviews I find I must take on. It is rewarding for all.
It can be important to communicate with those that won't go to Big D but still want to make known their opinions even if only my living room.]]> <![CDATA[For Bloggers at Risk: Creating a Contingency Plan]]> https://deeppoliticsforum.com/fora/showthread.php?tid=8566 Sat, 24 Dec 2011 02:31:14 +0000 Ed Jewett]]> https://deeppoliticsforum.com/fora/showthread.php?tid=8566 DECEMBER 21, 2011 | BY JILLIAN C. YORK



For Bloggers at Risk: Creating a Contingency Plan




In 2011, we have witnessed the incredible power of bloggers and social media users capturing the world's attention through their activism. At the same time, regimes appear to be quickening the pace of their cat-and-mouse game with netizens, cracking down on speech through the use of surveillance, censorship, and the persecution and detention of bloggers. The increasingly the tech-savvy Syrian regime has been reported to demand login credentials from detainees, for example, while the use of torture in some of the region's prisons continues.

Aware of the threats to their safety, bloggers often devise contingency plans in the event they are detained. Syrian blogger Razan Ghazzawi was on her way to a conference in Jordan several weeks ago when she was arrested (she has since been released). In a premeditated effort to protect her contacts, she shared her passwords with trusted friends outside the country with instructions to change them in the event of an arrest. This way, she would not be able to give up the login credentials to her accounts since she would no longer know them. Other bloggers inform their close contacts of their wished contingency plans, determining in advance whether they would want a campaign for their release. A number of the bloggers arrested this year, in Egypt, Syria, and elsewhere, have connections to international activist networks that have experience creating global campaigns and can easily contact government officials, companies, and human rights organizations.

Assessing individual risk is neither easy nor straightforward. Therefore, all bloggers--whether well-connected or just starting out--should consider creating a plan in the unfortunate event they are detained. That said, there are numerous resources bloggers can use to stay informed when other bloggers in their country are detained, harassed, or surveilled; when their government is monitoring phone conversations or Internet activity; and when detainees are being compelled to give up information, such as passwords, to authorities.

With that in mind, EFF together with Global Voices Advocacy have created a set of questions to consider. This list is by no means exhaustive, but should offer a starting point from which bloggers can develop their own contingency plans.

All bloggers should:
  • Consider providing someone outside the country with the following information:
    • Login credentials to your social media, email, and blog accounts
    • Contact information of family members
    • Information about any health conditions
  • Regularly back up their blog, Facebook, email, and other accounts
  • Consider mirroring your website if you want to ensure it remains up without your attention to it (Global Voices Advocacy offers instructions on mirroring a WordPress blog)
  • Encrypt sensitive files and consider hiding them on a separate drive
  • Consider using tools like Identity Sweeper (for Android users) to secure/erase your mobile data
  • Consider preparing a statement for release in case of arrest-- This can be helpful for international news outlets and human rights organizations
  • Consider recording a short video identifying yourself (biographical info, scope of work) and the risks that you face and share with trusted contacts
  • Develop contacts with human rights and free expression organizations*
  • Think about a strategy/contingency plan for what to do if you're detained (see below)
If you are arrested or detained:
  • Is there a trusted person(s) that you would like to authorize to make major decisions on your behalf--such as whether to conduct a public campaign? If yes, please make sure to discuss your preferences with that person. The following are among the topics you could talk about:
    • What are your preferences for public campaigns? Is there a particular message that you feel strongly represents you and your views?
    • What are the organizations you feel closest to in terms of potentially leading campaigns for your release and/or better treatment?
    • Are there any particular attorney(s) who you know and would like to solicit for your case?
    • Do you have a preference about what to do about your accounts? (i.e. Change the passwords, turn them into campaign accounts or shut them down) Do you trust someone else to make crucial decisions about your accounts if your situation changes?
    • Is there any specific information about you or relevant to your case that you prefer not be made public?
    • Do you have acute or chronic illnesses which require medication or treatment? If yes, what are they? (Asthma, diabetes, heart conditions, etc.)
    • Are there family members that one can contact to sign off on important decisions or speak to the media? If yes, who? Are there family members who you absolutely do not want to speak on your behalf?
When having these conversations, keep in mind that it may be hard for you to foresee every future development. The best course of action may be to have in-depth conversations with trusted friends and family members so that they clearly understand your preferences--and then authorize them to make decisions as they best see fit under evolving conditions. In other words, "delegate with guidance" so that your trusted relations can look out for your best interests and your wishes under evolving circumstances.


*There are numerous organizations out there and we could not possibly name them all. EFF and Global Voices Advocacy are great starts, but we also recommend international organizations Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, FrontLine Defenders, Reporters Without Borders, the Committee to Protect Journalists and Access. If you need assistance finding a local organization in your country, please contact us and we will try to help.


This post was co-authored by EFF and Global Voices Advocacy, with special thanks to Zeynep Tufekci.






Free Speech
International
Privacy











DEEPLINKS TOPICS

]]> DECEMBER 21, 2011 | BY JILLIAN C. YORK



For Bloggers at Risk: Creating a Contingency Plan




In 2011, we have witnessed the incredible power of bloggers and social media users capturing the world's attention through their activism. At the same time, regimes appear to be quickening the pace of their cat-and-mouse game with netizens, cracking down on speech through the use of surveillance, censorship, and the persecution and detention of bloggers. The increasingly the tech-savvy Syrian regime has been reported to demand login credentials from detainees, for example, while the use of torture in some of the region's prisons continues.

Aware of the threats to their safety, bloggers often devise contingency plans in the event they are detained. Syrian blogger Razan Ghazzawi was on her way to a conference in Jordan several weeks ago when she was arrested (she has since been released). In a premeditated effort to protect her contacts, she shared her passwords with trusted friends outside the country with instructions to change them in the event of an arrest. This way, she would not be able to give up the login credentials to her accounts since she would no longer know them. Other bloggers inform their close contacts of their wished contingency plans, determining in advance whether they would want a campaign for their release. A number of the bloggers arrested this year, in Egypt, Syria, and elsewhere, have connections to international activist networks that have experience creating global campaigns and can easily contact government officials, companies, and human rights organizations.

Assessing individual risk is neither easy nor straightforward. Therefore, all bloggers--whether well-connected or just starting out--should consider creating a plan in the unfortunate event they are detained. That said, there are numerous resources bloggers can use to stay informed when other bloggers in their country are detained, harassed, or surveilled; when their government is monitoring phone conversations or Internet activity; and when detainees are being compelled to give up information, such as passwords, to authorities.

With that in mind, EFF together with Global Voices Advocacy have created a set of questions to consider. This list is by no means exhaustive, but should offer a starting point from which bloggers can develop their own contingency plans.

All bloggers should:
  • Consider providing someone outside the country with the following information:
    • Login credentials to your social media, email, and blog accounts
    • Contact information of family members
    • Information about any health conditions
  • Regularly back up their blog, Facebook, email, and other accounts
  • Consider mirroring your website if you want to ensure it remains up without your attention to it (Global Voices Advocacy offers instructions on mirroring a WordPress blog)
  • Encrypt sensitive files and consider hiding them on a separate drive
  • Consider using tools like Identity Sweeper (for Android users) to secure/erase your mobile data
  • Consider preparing a statement for release in case of arrest-- This can be helpful for international news outlets and human rights organizations
  • Consider recording a short video identifying yourself (biographical info, scope of work) and the risks that you face and share with trusted contacts
  • Develop contacts with human rights and free expression organizations*
  • Think about a strategy/contingency plan for what to do if you're detained (see below)
If you are arrested or detained:
  • Is there a trusted person(s) that you would like to authorize to make major decisions on your behalf--such as whether to conduct a public campaign? If yes, please make sure to discuss your preferences with that person. The following are among the topics you could talk about:
    • What are your preferences for public campaigns? Is there a particular message that you feel strongly represents you and your views?
    • What are the organizations you feel closest to in terms of potentially leading campaigns for your release and/or better treatment?
    • Are there any particular attorney(s) who you know and would like to solicit for your case?
    • Do you have a preference about what to do about your accounts? (i.e. Change the passwords, turn them into campaign accounts or shut them down) Do you trust someone else to make crucial decisions about your accounts if your situation changes?
    • Is there any specific information about you or relevant to your case that you prefer not be made public?
    • Do you have acute or chronic illnesses which require medication or treatment? If yes, what are they? (Asthma, diabetes, heart conditions, etc.)
    • Are there family members that one can contact to sign off on important decisions or speak to the media? If yes, who? Are there family members who you absolutely do not want to speak on your behalf?
When having these conversations, keep in mind that it may be hard for you to foresee every future development. The best course of action may be to have in-depth conversations with trusted friends and family members so that they clearly understand your preferences--and then authorize them to make decisions as they best see fit under evolving conditions. In other words, "delegate with guidance" so that your trusted relations can look out for your best interests and your wishes under evolving circumstances.


*There are numerous organizations out there and we could not possibly name them all. EFF and Global Voices Advocacy are great starts, but we also recommend international organizations Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, FrontLine Defenders, Reporters Without Borders, the Committee to Protect Journalists and Access. If you need assistance finding a local organization in your country, please contact us and we will try to help.


This post was co-authored by EFF and Global Voices Advocacy, with special thanks to Zeynep Tufekci.






Free Speech
International
Privacy











DEEPLINKS TOPICS

]]> <![CDATA[Follow events in Greece]]> https://deeppoliticsforum.com/fora/showthread.php?tid=6485 Wed, 25 May 2011 23:41:06 +0000 Magda Hassan]]> https://deeppoliticsforum.com/fora/showthread.php?tid=6485 http://www.zougla.gr/page.ashx?pid=85&playerType=flash
The revolution has moved from Spain to Greece today (though it continues in Spain) but there is a black out in the MSM. You can follow it at the above link. Please pass this along to your networks.]]> http://www.zougla.gr/page.ashx?pid=85&playerType=flash
The revolution has moved from Spain to Greece today (though it continues in Spain) but there is a black out in the MSM. You can follow it at the above link. Please pass this along to your networks.]]> <![CDATA[Please sign an Open Letter to the US government]]> https://deeppoliticsforum.com/fora/showthread.php?tid=5976 Sun, 27 Feb 2011 01:19:29 +0000 Magda Hassan]]> https://deeppoliticsforum.com/fora/showthread.php?tid=5976 Open Letter to the United States Government Regarding WikiLeaks, Julian Assange and the Fundamental Tenets of Democracy and Open Societies
To President Obama, US Senators and Congressmen and women, Attorney General Eric Holder, the Department of Justice, and all of those involved in the attempt to prosecute Julian Assange, founder of the nonprofit news organization WikiLeaks.org:
We are a diverse group of people from around the world who have come together for a common purpose: to defend WikiLeaks, to ask the United States to cease its attempts to manufacture a case against Julian Assange, and to defend democratic principles and our fundamental rights guaranteed therein. We are professionals, homemakers, activists, students, and others who believe that government derives its power from the consent of the governed, as stipulated in the Declaration of Independence, but that citizens can only give meaningful consent if they are fully informed about their government's actions. Nothing more violates American principles, which inspire both those of us who are and are not American citizens, than the idea that "government knows best" and has the right to deceive its own people.
The Wikileaks documents have revealed that the U.S. government has been keeping enormously important information secret from the American people, such as the fact that the U.S. government knew of the mass murder of civilians in Iraq even though it claimed it did not; that the U.S. government failed its legal responsibility as an occupying power by handing civilians over to Iraqi police units knowing they would be tortured and killed, even though it claimed it did not; that U.S. officials believe the Afghan government is corrupt and unpopular, even as they falsely claim to be fighting for democracy in Afghanistan; and that U.S. officials are extremely worried about the safety of Pakistan's nuclear stockpile, a potential matter of life and death that they have kept from the people of the world.
When the N.Y. Times released the Wikileaks "Afghan Logs" on July 25, its headline read: "View Is Bleaker than Official Portrayal of War in Afghanistan." This revealed, according to America's "newspaper of record," that the U.S. Government was hiding the truth from its own people. Is it really right that the proud citizens of America should need Wikileaks to discover vital truths denied them by their own government?
U.S. officials claim they have a right to deceive the American people, and prosecute WikiLeaks and Julian Assange, on the grounds of "national security". But this information is clearly known to America's enemies. It is the American people who have been denied it, information critical to their ability to make an informed decision as to whether or not to support their government's war-making, including putting their sons and daughters at grave risk of death or crippling injuries.
The U.S. Government claim that Wikileaks has endangered national security has been invalidated by its own Defense Secretary, Robert Gates, who has stated "is this embarrassing? Yes. Is it awkward? Yes. Consequences for U.S. foreign policy? I think fairly modest." The German Interior Minister has stated that "WikiLeaks is annoying, but not a threat", and the BBC has reported that "Wikileaks: US allies unruffled by embassy cable leaks."
The result of any U.S. government prosecution of Wikileaks and Julian Assange will be to restrict the truthful information American citizens receive about their government's foreign policy. But the U.S. cannot promote democracy abroad by limiting it at home.
We urge you to halt your undemocratic prosecution of Wikileaks; and to instead learn from it by providing the public with the honest and truthful information upon which democracy depends.
Use this link to sign.]]> Open Letter to the United States Government Regarding WikiLeaks, Julian Assange and the Fundamental Tenets of Democracy and Open Societies
To President Obama, US Senators and Congressmen and women, Attorney General Eric Holder, the Department of Justice, and all of those involved in the attempt to prosecute Julian Assange, founder of the nonprofit news organization WikiLeaks.org:
We are a diverse group of people from around the world who have come together for a common purpose: to defend WikiLeaks, to ask the United States to cease its attempts to manufacture a case against Julian Assange, and to defend democratic principles and our fundamental rights guaranteed therein. We are professionals, homemakers, activists, students, and others who believe that government derives its power from the consent of the governed, as stipulated in the Declaration of Independence, but that citizens can only give meaningful consent if they are fully informed about their government's actions. Nothing more violates American principles, which inspire both those of us who are and are not American citizens, than the idea that "government knows best" and has the right to deceive its own people.
The Wikileaks documents have revealed that the U.S. government has been keeping enormously important information secret from the American people, such as the fact that the U.S. government knew of the mass murder of civilians in Iraq even though it claimed it did not; that the U.S. government failed its legal responsibility as an occupying power by handing civilians over to Iraqi police units knowing they would be tortured and killed, even though it claimed it did not; that U.S. officials believe the Afghan government is corrupt and unpopular, even as they falsely claim to be fighting for democracy in Afghanistan; and that U.S. officials are extremely worried about the safety of Pakistan's nuclear stockpile, a potential matter of life and death that they have kept from the people of the world.
When the N.Y. Times released the Wikileaks "Afghan Logs" on July 25, its headline read: "View Is Bleaker than Official Portrayal of War in Afghanistan." This revealed, according to America's "newspaper of record," that the U.S. Government was hiding the truth from its own people. Is it really right that the proud citizens of America should need Wikileaks to discover vital truths denied them by their own government?
U.S. officials claim they have a right to deceive the American people, and prosecute WikiLeaks and Julian Assange, on the grounds of "national security". But this information is clearly known to America's enemies. It is the American people who have been denied it, information critical to their ability to make an informed decision as to whether or not to support their government's war-making, including putting their sons and daughters at grave risk of death or crippling injuries.
The U.S. Government claim that Wikileaks has endangered national security has been invalidated by its own Defense Secretary, Robert Gates, who has stated "is this embarrassing? Yes. Is it awkward? Yes. Consequences for U.S. foreign policy? I think fairly modest." The German Interior Minister has stated that "WikiLeaks is annoying, but not a threat", and the BBC has reported that "Wikileaks: US allies unruffled by embassy cable leaks."
The result of any U.S. government prosecution of Wikileaks and Julian Assange will be to restrict the truthful information American citizens receive about their government's foreign policy. But the U.S. cannot promote democracy abroad by limiting it at home.
We urge you to halt your undemocratic prosecution of Wikileaks; and to instead learn from it by providing the public with the honest and truthful information upon which democracy depends.
Use this link to sign.]]> <![CDATA[Raise public awareness of the highly damaging proposed corporate tax reforms]]> https://deeppoliticsforum.com/fora/showthread.php?tid=5776 Thu, 10 Feb 2011 22:37:48 +0000 Magda Hassan]]> https://deeppoliticsforum.com/fora/showthread.php?tid=5776 http://38degrees.uservoice.com/forums/78...rvoice.com

Raise public awareness of the highly damaging proposed corporate tax reforms

The government are planning what journalist George Monbiot suggests may be 'the biggest and crudest corporate tax cut in living memory'.
This is not the well publicised cut in the corporation tax rate from 28% to 24% but something far less publicised, yet much more far ranging and destructive to... more

The government are planning what journalist George Monbiot suggests may be 'the biggest and crudest corporate tax cut in living memory'.
This is not the well publicised cut in the corporation tax rate from 28% to 24% but something far less publicised, yet much more far ranging and destructive to the common good.
The plan is to charge UK companies NO TAX on earnings from their foreign branches, whilst still allowing them to claim the expense of funding those branches against tax it pays in the UK.
This will have the effect of UK companies transferring as much of their operations as possible overseas. So not only do we lose out on a huge amount of tax receipts, we lose a huge amount of jobs too.
The scariest part of this is that something this important can be kept so under the radar. This proposal desperately needs to be publicly debated.
See George Monbiot's article in The Guardian for full details: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/...of-century]]> http://38degrees.uservoice.com/forums/78...rvoice.com

Raise public awareness of the highly damaging proposed corporate tax reforms

The government are planning what journalist George Monbiot suggests may be 'the biggest and crudest corporate tax cut in living memory'.
This is not the well publicised cut in the corporation tax rate from 28% to 24% but something far less publicised, yet much more far ranging and destructive to... more

The government are planning what journalist George Monbiot suggests may be 'the biggest and crudest corporate tax cut in living memory'.
This is not the well publicised cut in the corporation tax rate from 28% to 24% but something far less publicised, yet much more far ranging and destructive to the common good.
The plan is to charge UK companies NO TAX on earnings from their foreign branches, whilst still allowing them to claim the expense of funding those branches against tax it pays in the UK.
This will have the effect of UK companies transferring as much of their operations as possible overseas. So not only do we lose out on a huge amount of tax receipts, we lose a huge amount of jobs too.
The scariest part of this is that something this important can be kept so under the radar. This proposal desperately needs to be publicly debated.
See George Monbiot's article in The Guardian for full details: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/...of-century]]> <![CDATA[Stop the Sell Off of Britain's Forests.]]> https://deeppoliticsforum.com/fora/showthread.php?tid=5632 Tue, 01 Feb 2011 01:41:57 +0000 Magda Hassan]]> https://deeppoliticsforum.com/fora/showthread.php?tid=5632 http://38degrees.org.uk/pages/save_our_f...ion_centre
Save Our Forests - Action Centre

The government is planning a massive sell off of our national forests. They could be auctioned and fenced off, run down, logged or turned into golf courses and holiday villages.
We can't let that happen. We need to stop these plans. National treasures like the The Forest of Dean, Sherwood Forest and The New Forest could be sold off. Once they are gone, they will be lost forever.

Sign the petition

A huge petition will force the government to rethink its plans. If we can prove how strongly the public are against this, they will have to back down. Please sign the petition now.
Sign the petition
Donate to save our forests

You can help further the campaign by making a donation to Save Our Forests
Donate
Tell your friends]]> http://38degrees.org.uk/pages/save_our_f...ion_centre
Save Our Forests - Action Centre

The government is planning a massive sell off of our national forests. They could be auctioned and fenced off, run down, logged or turned into golf courses and holiday villages.
We can't let that happen. We need to stop these plans. National treasures like the The Forest of Dean, Sherwood Forest and The New Forest could be sold off. Once they are gone, they will be lost forever.

Sign the petition

A huge petition will force the government to rethink its plans. If we can prove how strongly the public are against this, they will have to back down. Please sign the petition now.
Sign the petition
Donate to save our forests

You can help further the campaign by making a donation to Save Our Forests
Donate
Tell your friends]]> <![CDATA[Get Egypt back on line.]]> https://deeppoliticsforum.com/fora/showthread.php?tid=5596 Sat, 29 Jan 2011 06:20:52 +0000 Magda Hassan]]> https://deeppoliticsforum.com/fora/showthread.php?tid=5596 https://www.accessnow.org/page/s/GetEgyptBackOnline
Get Egypt Back Online

With the help of Vodafone and Orange/France Telecom the Egyptian government shut down the internet and cut the phone lines. Now hundreds of thousands of Egyptians demonstrating in the streets for a peaceful end to decades of tyranny have been plunged into an information blackout. These companies have betrayed their own operating principles and left the people defenseless against the iron fist of the Egyptian regime. Nothing is more important to these companies than the value of their brands. Join us in calling them out on their complicity in human rights abuse and demanding that they immediately restore service to Egypt.

To Vodafone and Orange/France Telecom,

We call on you to immediately open the Egyptian telecommunications networks. We ask that you stand firm against the Egyptian government and allow the people, and your customers, to communicate freely and openly at this vital time.


Sign the petition at the link above and pass the link along to others.
]]> https://www.accessnow.org/page/s/GetEgyptBackOnline
Get Egypt Back Online

With the help of Vodafone and Orange/France Telecom the Egyptian government shut down the internet and cut the phone lines. Now hundreds of thousands of Egyptians demonstrating in the streets for a peaceful end to decades of tyranny have been plunged into an information blackout. These companies have betrayed their own operating principles and left the people defenseless against the iron fist of the Egyptian regime. Nothing is more important to these companies than the value of their brands. Join us in calling them out on their complicity in human rights abuse and demanding that they immediately restore service to Egypt.

To Vodafone and Orange/France Telecom,

We call on you to immediately open the Egyptian telecommunications networks. We ask that you stand firm against the Egyptian government and allow the people, and your customers, to communicate freely and openly at this vital time.


Sign the petition at the link above and pass the link along to others.
]]> <![CDATA[How to Foil a Nationwide Internet Shutdown]]> https://deeppoliticsforum.com/fora/showthread.php?tid=5592 Fri, 28 Jan 2011 23:38:33 +0000 Magda Hassan]]> https://deeppoliticsforum.com/fora/showthread.php?tid=5592 http://lifehacker.com/5746046/%C2%ADhow-...n%EF%BB%BF
The comments following this article at the link are also very informative.
Quote:How to Foil a Nationwide Internet Shutdown

[Image: 500x_1200-title-egypt-internet-shutdown_02.jpg]The Egyptian government cut internet connections across their country to silence protests, leaving nearly all of its citizens without online access. But they weren't entirely successful. When governments shut down broadband and mobile connections, here's what to do.
What's Going on Now?

If you haven't been keeping up with the story, here's the gist. Citizens across Egypt are protesting their government in unprecedented numbers, and its believed that the internet played a major role in the protests. So what did the Egyptian government do? First, they started blocking domain name servers (DNS)the phone book of the internetbut citizens circumvented this limitation by using proxy servers. In reaction, the government cut broadband connections to the web and forced mobile providers to do the same. For more details, read Gizmodo's take on how Egypt turned off the internet. The result: a nationwide internet blackout that's preventing Egyptian citizens from communicating online. To put it bluntly, this sucks. But it's still not good enough. We're going to look at how Egyptian citizens can (and are) circumventing the problem.
Old School Internet

[Image: 340x_1200-oldcomp.jpg]Unless the Egyptian government kills all of the phone lines as well, you might remember one means of getting online that broadband has since relegated to obsolescence: dial-up. While there's no Egyptian ISP that will allow internet access to Egyptian citizens, other countries will, meaning any Egyptian citizen with long-distance calling capabilities can break out their old school 56k modem and dial-up an ISP in another country. (Sure it's going to be a slow connection, but you can survive.)
Several ISPssuch as Budget DialUpoffer dial-up numbers all over the globe. Some ISPs in other countries are offering free access to Egyptians specifically in response to the Egyptian government's actions. According to twitter user @ioerror, French ISP FDN is one of them:
Egypt can use this number for dial up: +33172890150 (login 'toto' password 'toto') - thanks to a French ISP (FDN)#egypt #jan25
Others report that even DSL is still a possibility:
@SultanAlQassemi DIAL-UP ISP IS WORKING. DSL still working#Egypt,Try their Dial up numbers (0777 7770),(0777 7000) SPREAD THE WORD #jan25
[Image: thumb160x_1200-56k-modem.jpg]While dial-up isn't an ideal means of getting online for most of us, it's still a perfectly effective means of connecting when your government shuts down the internet. And until the Egyptian government shuts down all landline accessanother huge step up the censorship ladderthere's not much they can do to completely shut down the internet.

Do you have resources that can help?

If you know of additional options to help Egyptians stay connected and keep the lines of communication open, please share in the comments or contact us directly. We'll keep updating the post with new information as we find it.
Here are the resources you're sending in as we get them:
You can contact Adam Dachis, the author of this post, at adachis@lifehacker.com. You can also follow him on Twitter and Facebook.
]]> http://lifehacker.com/5746046/%C2%ADhow-...n%EF%BB%BF
The comments following this article at the link are also very informative.
Quote:How to Foil a Nationwide Internet Shutdown

[Image: 500x_1200-title-egypt-internet-shutdown_02.jpg]The Egyptian government cut internet connections across their country to silence protests, leaving nearly all of its citizens without online access. But they weren't entirely successful. When governments shut down broadband and mobile connections, here's what to do.
What's Going on Now?

If you haven't been keeping up with the story, here's the gist. Citizens across Egypt are protesting their government in unprecedented numbers, and its believed that the internet played a major role in the protests. So what did the Egyptian government do? First, they started blocking domain name servers (DNS)the phone book of the internetbut citizens circumvented this limitation by using proxy servers. In reaction, the government cut broadband connections to the web and forced mobile providers to do the same. For more details, read Gizmodo's take on how Egypt turned off the internet. The result: a nationwide internet blackout that's preventing Egyptian citizens from communicating online. To put it bluntly, this sucks. But it's still not good enough. We're going to look at how Egyptian citizens can (and are) circumventing the problem.
Old School Internet

[Image: 340x_1200-oldcomp.jpg]Unless the Egyptian government kills all of the phone lines as well, you might remember one means of getting online that broadband has since relegated to obsolescence: dial-up. While there's no Egyptian ISP that will allow internet access to Egyptian citizens, other countries will, meaning any Egyptian citizen with long-distance calling capabilities can break out their old school 56k modem and dial-up an ISP in another country. (Sure it's going to be a slow connection, but you can survive.)
Several ISPssuch as Budget DialUpoffer dial-up numbers all over the globe. Some ISPs in other countries are offering free access to Egyptians specifically in response to the Egyptian government's actions. According to twitter user @ioerror, French ISP FDN is one of them:
Egypt can use this number for dial up: +33172890150 (login 'toto' password 'toto') - thanks to a French ISP (FDN)#egypt #jan25
Others report that even DSL is still a possibility:
@SultanAlQassemi DIAL-UP ISP IS WORKING. DSL still working#Egypt,Try their Dial up numbers (0777 7770),(0777 7000) SPREAD THE WORD #jan25
[Image: thumb160x_1200-56k-modem.jpg]While dial-up isn't an ideal means of getting online for most of us, it's still a perfectly effective means of connecting when your government shuts down the internet. And until the Egyptian government shuts down all landline accessanother huge step up the censorship ladderthere's not much they can do to completely shut down the internet.

Do you have resources that can help?

If you know of additional options to help Egyptians stay connected and keep the lines of communication open, please share in the comments or contact us directly. We'll keep updating the post with new information as we find it.
Here are the resources you're sending in as we get them:
You can contact Adam Dachis, the author of this post, at adachis@lifehacker.com. You can also follow him on Twitter and Facebook.
]]> <![CDATA[How-To Bypass Egypt Block for Facebook & Twitter]]> https://deeppoliticsforum.com/fora/showthread.php?tid=5586 Fri, 28 Jan 2011 11:43:06 +0000 Magda Hassan]]> https://deeppoliticsforum.com/fora/showthread.php?tid=5586 How-To Bypass Egypt Block for Facebook & Twitter

I've Created a FREE VPN Server for ALL Egyptians to bypass Internet Blockage in Egypt and to "Empower The Revolution" of #Jan25
This (Virtual Private Network) VPN Connect creates an Unblockable and Secure Connection to our Server in USA to bypass ALL Internet Blockage in Egypt (Example: Facebook, Twitter and Dostor).
Announcement:
We are currently working like crazy to fix the "Connection" Drops issues, just bear with us and keep re-connecting.
Special Thanks for the team members: @Wael_Aziz and @Sherif_ and @Hend_Hafez
Available Guides:
1. Windows XP
2. Windows Vista
3. Windows 7
4. Mac OS X - Tiger
5. Mac OS X - Leopard
6. iPhone -- Soon
Windows Vista or 7

[Image: 2D]
http://www.texnomic.com/blog/?p=480]]> How-To Bypass Egypt Block for Facebook & Twitter

I've Created a FREE VPN Server for ALL Egyptians to bypass Internet Blockage in Egypt and to "Empower The Revolution" of #Jan25
This (Virtual Private Network) VPN Connect creates an Unblockable and Secure Connection to our Server in USA to bypass ALL Internet Blockage in Egypt (Example: Facebook, Twitter and Dostor).
Announcement:
We are currently working like crazy to fix the "Connection" Drops issues, just bear with us and keep re-connecting.
Special Thanks for the team members: @Wael_Aziz and @Sherif_ and @Hend_Hafez
Available Guides:
1. Windows XP
2. Windows Vista
3. Windows 7
4. Mac OS X - Tiger
5. Mac OS X - Leopard
6. iPhone -- Soon
Windows Vista or 7

[Image: 2D]
http://www.texnomic.com/blog/?p=480]]> <![CDATA[Global Proxy Cloud - Help Egypt break the firewall- Join the Cloud!]]> https://deeppoliticsforum.com/fora/showthread.php?tid=5584 Fri, 28 Jan 2011 10:23:19 +0000 Magda Hassan]]> https://deeppoliticsforum.com/fora/showthread.php?tid=5584 https://www.accessnow.org/proxy-cloud
What is the Global Proxy Cloud?

In recent years, many states have begun to block or filter Internet access. As internet traffic can be centralized at certain state-maintained points for entry into and outside of the country, it is possible for countries to monitor and censor all of their citizens' internet communications. We are concerned with usage of Internet blocking techniques to undermine or prohibit political discourse and free distribution of information and news to both citizens and the outside world.

The Global Proxy Cloud (GPC) is a tool that enables activists to harness the open, unmonitored Internet, enabling the transfer of information from and within local communities behind the firewall to each other, the international media, and the global community. The GPC benefits activists, dissidents, politically censored groups, and curious individuals in heavily censured countries. It is easy to use, with a low technical knowledge threshold to get involved. Created in partnership with the Tor Project, a non-profit devoted allowing people to protect their Internet traffic from analysis, the GPC uses tools that are well-tested, robust, and shown themselves to be capable of accessing banned websites in many different environments.

The GPC works by passing requests to host computers in other, unmonitored locations, which then pass back the requested information to the activist. As the traffic is encrypted, it is not visible to outside parties. It is a peer-to-peer network that is strengthened by the addition of hosts who donate their bandwidth to the cloud. By opening their Internet connection, volunteers increase the size and stability of the GPC, and allow it to aid more activists. The more people in closed societies who have access to the GPC, the more easily information can be spread both into and outside the censored space, and the harder it will be to identify individual users.

Technically-minded individuals can easily access circumvention tools. The GPC endeavours to widen access to these tools, and provide on-the-spot deployment to global hot spots.

How does the Global Proxy Cloud work?

  • Users behind the firewall install software on their computers that connects them to the Global Proxy Cloud.
  • Instead of passing their information and requests straight to the destination sites over a connection that can be blocked or monitored, they are instead re-routed to the cloud.
  • Communications are bounced around many different nodes so they cannot be traced back to their source.
  • Computers in the cloud pass on their data to the destination server, and then return the requested page to the user.

Our partners


[Image: tor-logo-small.png]The Tor Network
The Global Proxy Cloud is powered by the Tor network,
a non-profit devoted to allowing people to protect their Internet traffic from analysis.
To find out more about their work, please visit The Tor website.]]> https://www.accessnow.org/proxy-cloud
What is the Global Proxy Cloud?

In recent years, many states have begun to block or filter Internet access. As internet traffic can be centralized at certain state-maintained points for entry into and outside of the country, it is possible for countries to monitor and censor all of their citizens' internet communications. We are concerned with usage of Internet blocking techniques to undermine or prohibit political discourse and free distribution of information and news to both citizens and the outside world.

The Global Proxy Cloud (GPC) is a tool that enables activists to harness the open, unmonitored Internet, enabling the transfer of information from and within local communities behind the firewall to each other, the international media, and the global community. The GPC benefits activists, dissidents, politically censored groups, and curious individuals in heavily censured countries. It is easy to use, with a low technical knowledge threshold to get involved. Created in partnership with the Tor Project, a non-profit devoted allowing people to protect their Internet traffic from analysis, the GPC uses tools that are well-tested, robust, and shown themselves to be capable of accessing banned websites in many different environments.

The GPC works by passing requests to host computers in other, unmonitored locations, which then pass back the requested information to the activist. As the traffic is encrypted, it is not visible to outside parties. It is a peer-to-peer network that is strengthened by the addition of hosts who donate their bandwidth to the cloud. By opening their Internet connection, volunteers increase the size and stability of the GPC, and allow it to aid more activists. The more people in closed societies who have access to the GPC, the more easily information can be spread both into and outside the censored space, and the harder it will be to identify individual users.

Technically-minded individuals can easily access circumvention tools. The GPC endeavours to widen access to these tools, and provide on-the-spot deployment to global hot spots.

How does the Global Proxy Cloud work?

  • Users behind the firewall install software on their computers that connects them to the Global Proxy Cloud.
  • Instead of passing their information and requests straight to the destination sites over a connection that can be blocked or monitored, they are instead re-routed to the cloud.
  • Communications are bounced around many different nodes so they cannot be traced back to their source.
  • Computers in the cloud pass on their data to the destination server, and then return the requested page to the user.

Our partners


[Image: tor-logo-small.png]The Tor Network
The Global Proxy Cloud is powered by the Tor network,
a non-profit devoted to allowing people to protect their Internet traffic from analysis.
To find out more about their work, please visit The Tor website.]]> <![CDATA[I signed the petition re: Manning and suggest other do as well......latest on Ireland and Leaks]]> https://deeppoliticsforum.com/fora/showthread.php?tid=5496 Thu, 20 Jan 2011 18:19:52 +0000 Peter Lemkin]]> https://deeppoliticsforum.com/fora/showthread.php?tid=5496 Submitted by x7o on Thu, 01/20/2011 - 17:47
http://wlcentral.org/node/999

State department cable reveals possible use of Irish IT infrastructure to pilot unmanned drones in Afghanistan. A recent article in Phoenix Magazine (behind paywall) conjectures that undersea fibre-optic cables channeled through sites in Ireland, revealed in Wikileaks release of 09STATE15113, are in fact part of the U.S. military infrastructure for piloting Predator Drones in Afghanistan from a military base in Nevada. If true, this could be illegal under Irish constitutional commitments to neutrality.


The 09STATE15113 cable was widely discussed in the media, after a former British Defence and Foreign Secretary and chairman of the Commons Intelligence and Security Committee suggested that its publication by Wikileaks might pose a significant threat to U.S. and British national security. These claims were addressed by WL Central, here. The cable itself is an inventory released by the State Department documenting U.S. infrastructural and strategic assets listed under the Department of Homeland Security's National Infrastructure Protection Programme (NIPP).

The cable, signed by Hillary Clinton, proclaims that "[t]he overarching goal of the NIPP is to build a safer, more secure, and more resilient America by enhancing protection of the nation's [Critical Infrastructure]/[Key Resources] to prevent, deter, neutralize or mitigate the effects of deliberate efforts by terrorists to destroy, incapacitate or exploit them; and to strengthen national preparedness, timely response, and rapid recovery in the event of an attack, natural disaster or other emergency." A scan of the inventory of critical infrastructure, however, reveals that the entire world is peppered with sites designated critical to American security. For instance, the three Irish sites listed include a building in an industrial estate on Dublin's north side, owned by Hibernia Atlantic. Hibernia Atlantic was unavailable for comment to the press after the release of the cable:

09STATE15113:

Ireland: Hibernia Atlantic undersea cable landing, Dublin
Ireland Genzyme Ireland Ltd. (filling), Waterford,
Ireland: Thymoglobulin,

The Phoenix article draws attention to the Hibernia site, pointing out that it ought to be a curiosity to Irish Military Intelligence why it is designated in this way by the American government.

Phoenix:

HOPEFULLY, Irish Military Intelligence (G2) has worked out by now why an anonymous building in a Coolock industrual estate is of such importance to the US that it features in the top secret National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP) - published worldwide by Wikileaks. The NIPP lists include the Hibernia Atlantic Cable Network Operations Centre (NOC) at Clonshaugh, Dublin 17.

The Phoenix author goes on to suggest that the U.S. government has paid for the use of the transatlantic undersea fibre-optic cable, in order to facilitate its deployment of unmanned Predator drones in Central Asia.

The General Atomics MQ-1 "Predator" drone is an unmanned forward reconnaissance aircraft, which has been adapted for combat operations, and fitted with Hellfire missiles. It is one of an array of unmanned aircraft used by the United States military. A second, more secret Predator programme is run by the C.I.A. in covert targeted strikes. They have to date been deployed in the Balkans, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq and Yemen.

The use of Predator drones has been criticized even internally within the U.S. military, on account of their role in a number of events with high civilian deaths. A United Nations report raised concerns over whether the use of Predator drones violates international law.

The Predator has nonetheless been the focus of many PR spots on news networks, and has been celebrated in military technology documentaries as a staple of the 21st century American war effort. These often depict Predator drones in Central Asia being flown by satellite link from offices in a military base in Nevada. The Phoenix author makes the argument that the latency on satellite connections is too high for the Predator programme, and that the US military must instead use fibre-optic links to pilot the aircraft.

Phoenix:

In all these reports emphasis was placed on the use of earth satellites to control the killer drones... This secret media spin - that Predators are controlled in their Afghan area of operations through earth satellite links - is a fib aimed at securing the earth-based high speed links like Hibernian Atlantic from attack by jihadists.

Satellite links have one big draw back: they are far out in space (22,000 miles for some) and the speed with which they can transfer data is considerably slower than land-based and under-ocean fibre optic cables. Data takes 500 milliseconds to travel by satellite. But with Hibernian Atlantic's Dublin connection it takes 60 milliseconds to cross the ocean. The effect is called latency: the Coolock connection has low latency, a Nevada-Afghan satellite link has high latency.

An earth based system, of course, is more vulnerable to physical attack. A Holy Warrior who arrived at Sutton (where the Hibernian Atlantic cable comes ashore and from whences its east-bound companion heads to Southport and thence the Middle East) could do untold damage to the Predator campaign in Afghanistan, with little more than a spade and a hatchet. It is this, rather than considerations about Irish neutrality, which is the reason for the Dublin 17 centre being on that top secret list of vital facilities. But now the cat is out of the bag. No wonder the Yanks are so cross with Julian Assange. And no wonder the responsible Irish media has failed to follow up with investigation and publication of yet another example of Irish involvement in Uncle Sam's military exploits.

The possibility that Hibernia Atlantic is a conduit for Predator drone strikes raises a very new slant on a traditional Irish legal problem: what constitutes a breach of Irish constitutional commitments to neutrality. The Irish constitution, ratified during Ireland's neutrality in the Second World War, contains unusually strong restrictions on the participation in international conflicts, and various ancillary statutes build on this provision.

This issue has been the subject of significant legal activism over the history of the state, in recent years most visibly demonstrated in Horgan v. An Taoiseach, a High Court case in which an ex-soldier took a case against the Prime Minister of Ireland. The grounds for this case were that the allowance of the transmission of supplies and troops through Shannon airport, and the use of Irish airspace in U.S. flights to the Middle East and Central Asia as part of the "War on Terror" violated Irish neutrality, and were therefore unconstitutional. Some background for this case is given on WL Central here.

The idea that information infrastructure going through Irish territory, and using an Irish company, might be directly instrumental in the remote conduct of a war in Asia has analogies with the use of Irish airspace, and raises new questions over whether Irish neutrality is being breached.

However, the argument in Phoenix Magazine is hardly conclusive, and appears to assume that all assets listed in the NIPP list in 09STATE15113 are military assets, as opposed to assets important to American interests by more indirect means. 09STATE15113 does not appear to justify this assumption, and leaves open the possibility that a high capacity transatlantic fibre-optic cable might be important to U.S. strategic interests purely because its destruction would have a deleterious effect on certain U.S. industries, and thereby, on the national economy:

09STATE15113:

¶3. (U//FOUO) In addition to a list of critical domestic CI/KR, the NIPP requires compilation and annual update of a comprehensive inventory of CI/KR that are located outside U.S. borders and whose loss could critically impact the public health, economic security, and/or national and homeland security of the United States. DHS in collaboration with State developed the Critical Foreign Dependencies Initiative (CFDI)to identify these critical U.S. foreign dependencies -- foreign CI/KR that may affect systems within the U.S. directly or indirectly. State is coordinating with DHS to develop the 2009 inventory, and the action request in Para. 13 represents the initial step in this process.

¶4. (U//FOUO) The NIPP does not define CI/KR. Homeland Security Presidential Directive 7 (HSPD 7) references definitions in two separate statutes. In the USA Patriot Act of 2001 (42 U.S.C. 5195(e)) "critical infrastructure" is defined as systems and assets, whether physical or virtual, so vital to the United States the incapacitation or destruction of such systems and assets would have a debilitating impact on security, national economic security, national public health or safety, or any combination of those matters. In the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101(9)) "key resources" are defined as publicly or privately controlled resources essential to the minimal operations of the economy and government.

¶5. (U//FOUO) The NIPP identifies 18 CI/KR sectors: agriculture and food; defense industrial base; energy; healthcare and public health; national monuments and icons; banking and finance; drinking water and water treatment systems; chemical; commercial facilities; dams; emergency services; commercial nuclear reactors, materials, and waste; information technology; communications; postal and shipping; transportation and systems; government facilities; and critical manufacturing. Obviously some of these sectors are more likely to have international components than other sectors.
...
Building upon the initial survey completed in 2008, Department requests each post reassess and update information about infrastructure and resources in each host country whose loss could immediately affect the public health, economic security, and/or national and homeland security of the United States.

It remains to be seen whether the possibilities raised by the Phoenix magazine have any correspondence with the facts. 899 diplomatic cables from the Dublin embassy have yet to be released by Wikileaks. Of the eleven that have been released at the time of this post, three have cast new and possibly incriminating light on the Shannon airport case, as has been explored by WL Central here. The prospect that they may cast light on the designation of Irish sites in the NIPP can not be ruled out.]]> Submitted by x7o on Thu, 01/20/2011 - 17:47
http://wlcentral.org/node/999

State department cable reveals possible use of Irish IT infrastructure to pilot unmanned drones in Afghanistan. A recent article in Phoenix Magazine (behind paywall) conjectures that undersea fibre-optic cables channeled through sites in Ireland, revealed in Wikileaks release of 09STATE15113, are in fact part of the U.S. military infrastructure for piloting Predator Drones in Afghanistan from a military base in Nevada. If true, this could be illegal under Irish constitutional commitments to neutrality.


The 09STATE15113 cable was widely discussed in the media, after a former British Defence and Foreign Secretary and chairman of the Commons Intelligence and Security Committee suggested that its publication by Wikileaks might pose a significant threat to U.S. and British national security. These claims were addressed by WL Central, here. The cable itself is an inventory released by the State Department documenting U.S. infrastructural and strategic assets listed under the Department of Homeland Security's National Infrastructure Protection Programme (NIPP).

The cable, signed by Hillary Clinton, proclaims that "[t]he overarching goal of the NIPP is to build a safer, more secure, and more resilient America by enhancing protection of the nation's [Critical Infrastructure]/[Key Resources] to prevent, deter, neutralize or mitigate the effects of deliberate efforts by terrorists to destroy, incapacitate or exploit them; and to strengthen national preparedness, timely response, and rapid recovery in the event of an attack, natural disaster or other emergency." A scan of the inventory of critical infrastructure, however, reveals that the entire world is peppered with sites designated critical to American security. For instance, the three Irish sites listed include a building in an industrial estate on Dublin's north side, owned by Hibernia Atlantic. Hibernia Atlantic was unavailable for comment to the press after the release of the cable:

09STATE15113:

Ireland: Hibernia Atlantic undersea cable landing, Dublin
Ireland Genzyme Ireland Ltd. (filling), Waterford,
Ireland: Thymoglobulin,

The Phoenix article draws attention to the Hibernia site, pointing out that it ought to be a curiosity to Irish Military Intelligence why it is designated in this way by the American government.

Phoenix:

HOPEFULLY, Irish Military Intelligence (G2) has worked out by now why an anonymous building in a Coolock industrual estate is of such importance to the US that it features in the top secret National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP) - published worldwide by Wikileaks. The NIPP lists include the Hibernia Atlantic Cable Network Operations Centre (NOC) at Clonshaugh, Dublin 17.

The Phoenix author goes on to suggest that the U.S. government has paid for the use of the transatlantic undersea fibre-optic cable, in order to facilitate its deployment of unmanned Predator drones in Central Asia.

The General Atomics MQ-1 "Predator" drone is an unmanned forward reconnaissance aircraft, which has been adapted for combat operations, and fitted with Hellfire missiles. It is one of an array of unmanned aircraft used by the United States military. A second, more secret Predator programme is run by the C.I.A. in covert targeted strikes. They have to date been deployed in the Balkans, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq and Yemen.

The use of Predator drones has been criticized even internally within the U.S. military, on account of their role in a number of events with high civilian deaths. A United Nations report raised concerns over whether the use of Predator drones violates international law.

The Predator has nonetheless been the focus of many PR spots on news networks, and has been celebrated in military technology documentaries as a staple of the 21st century American war effort. These often depict Predator drones in Central Asia being flown by satellite link from offices in a military base in Nevada. The Phoenix author makes the argument that the latency on satellite connections is too high for the Predator programme, and that the US military must instead use fibre-optic links to pilot the aircraft.

Phoenix:

In all these reports emphasis was placed on the use of earth satellites to control the killer drones... This secret media spin - that Predators are controlled in their Afghan area of operations through earth satellite links - is a fib aimed at securing the earth-based high speed links like Hibernian Atlantic from attack by jihadists.

Satellite links have one big draw back: they are far out in space (22,000 miles for some) and the speed with which they can transfer data is considerably slower than land-based and under-ocean fibre optic cables. Data takes 500 milliseconds to travel by satellite. But with Hibernian Atlantic's Dublin connection it takes 60 milliseconds to cross the ocean. The effect is called latency: the Coolock connection has low latency, a Nevada-Afghan satellite link has high latency.

An earth based system, of course, is more vulnerable to physical attack. A Holy Warrior who arrived at Sutton (where the Hibernian Atlantic cable comes ashore and from whences its east-bound companion heads to Southport and thence the Middle East) could do untold damage to the Predator campaign in Afghanistan, with little more than a spade and a hatchet. It is this, rather than considerations about Irish neutrality, which is the reason for the Dublin 17 centre being on that top secret list of vital facilities. But now the cat is out of the bag. No wonder the Yanks are so cross with Julian Assange. And no wonder the responsible Irish media has failed to follow up with investigation and publication of yet another example of Irish involvement in Uncle Sam's military exploits.

The possibility that Hibernia Atlantic is a conduit for Predator drone strikes raises a very new slant on a traditional Irish legal problem: what constitutes a breach of Irish constitutional commitments to neutrality. The Irish constitution, ratified during Ireland's neutrality in the Second World War, contains unusually strong restrictions on the participation in international conflicts, and various ancillary statutes build on this provision.

This issue has been the subject of significant legal activism over the history of the state, in recent years most visibly demonstrated in Horgan v. An Taoiseach, a High Court case in which an ex-soldier took a case against the Prime Minister of Ireland. The grounds for this case were that the allowance of the transmission of supplies and troops through Shannon airport, and the use of Irish airspace in U.S. flights to the Middle East and Central Asia as part of the "War on Terror" violated Irish neutrality, and were therefore unconstitutional. Some background for this case is given on WL Central here.

The idea that information infrastructure going through Irish territory, and using an Irish company, might be directly instrumental in the remote conduct of a war in Asia has analogies with the use of Irish airspace, and raises new questions over whether Irish neutrality is being breached.

However, the argument in Phoenix Magazine is hardly conclusive, and appears to assume that all assets listed in the NIPP list in 09STATE15113 are military assets, as opposed to assets important to American interests by more indirect means. 09STATE15113 does not appear to justify this assumption, and leaves open the possibility that a high capacity transatlantic fibre-optic cable might be important to U.S. strategic interests purely because its destruction would have a deleterious effect on certain U.S. industries, and thereby, on the national economy:

09STATE15113:

¶3. (U//FOUO) In addition to a list of critical domestic CI/KR, the NIPP requires compilation and annual update of a comprehensive inventory of CI/KR that are located outside U.S. borders and whose loss could critically impact the public health, economic security, and/or national and homeland security of the United States. DHS in collaboration with State developed the Critical Foreign Dependencies Initiative (CFDI)to identify these critical U.S. foreign dependencies -- foreign CI/KR that may affect systems within the U.S. directly or indirectly. State is coordinating with DHS to develop the 2009 inventory, and the action request in Para. 13 represents the initial step in this process.

¶4. (U//FOUO) The NIPP does not define CI/KR. Homeland Security Presidential Directive 7 (HSPD 7) references definitions in two separate statutes. In the USA Patriot Act of 2001 (42 U.S.C. 5195(e)) "critical infrastructure" is defined as systems and assets, whether physical or virtual, so vital to the United States the incapacitation or destruction of such systems and assets would have a debilitating impact on security, national economic security, national public health or safety, or any combination of those matters. In the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101(9)) "key resources" are defined as publicly or privately controlled resources essential to the minimal operations of the economy and government.

¶5. (U//FOUO) The NIPP identifies 18 CI/KR sectors: agriculture and food; defense industrial base; energy; healthcare and public health; national monuments and icons; banking and finance; drinking water and water treatment systems; chemical; commercial facilities; dams; emergency services; commercial nuclear reactors, materials, and waste; information technology; communications; postal and shipping; transportation and systems; government facilities; and critical manufacturing. Obviously some of these sectors are more likely to have international components than other sectors.
...
Building upon the initial survey completed in 2008, Department requests each post reassess and update information about infrastructure and resources in each host country whose loss could immediately affect the public health, economic security, and/or national and homeland security of the United States.

It remains to be seen whether the possibilities raised by the Phoenix magazine have any correspondence with the facts. 899 diplomatic cables from the Dublin embassy have yet to be released by Wikileaks. Of the eleven that have been released at the time of this post, three have cast new and possibly incriminating light on the Shannon airport case, as has been explored by WL Central here. The prospect that they may cast light on the designation of Irish sites in the NIPP can not be ruled out.]]> <![CDATA[Iceland's Efforts To Become an International Transparency Haven and Free Speech Zone.]]> https://deeppoliticsforum.com/fora/showthread.php?tid=5362 Wed, 12 Jan 2011 10:51:26 +0000 Peter Lemkin]]> https://deeppoliticsforum.com/fora/showthread.php?tid=5362 "I am proud to advise the Icelandic Modern Media Initiative's proposal to create a global safe haven for investigative journalism. I believe this proposal is a strong way of encouraging integrity and responsive government around the world, including in Iceland. In my work investigating corruption I have seen how important it is to have have robust mechanisms to get information out to the public. Iceland, with its fresh perspectives and courageous, independent people seems to be the perfect place to initiate such an effort towards global transparency and justice."
Eva Joly MEP

ICELAND TO BECOME INTERNATIONAL TRANSPARENCY HAVEN

On June 16th the Icelandic Parliament unanimously passed a proposal tasking the government to introduce a new legislative regime to protect and strengthen modern freedom of expression, and the free flow of information in Iceland and around the world. The unanimous vote included all government members.

Birgitta Jonsdottir, the chief sponsor in parliament of the IMMI proposal said: "Iceland will become the inverse of a tax haven; by offering journalists and publishers some of the most powerful protections for free speech and investigative journalism in the world. Tax havens aim is to make everything opaque. Our aim it to make everything transparent." she said.

Highlights from the proposal:
* the Icelandic Prize for Freedom of Expression
* Protection from "libel tourism" and other extrajudicial abuses
* Protection of intermediaries (internet service providers)
* Statute of limitations on publishing liabilities
* Virtual limited liability companies
* Whistle-blower protections
* Source protection
* Source-journalist communications protection
* Limiting prior restraint
* Process protections
* Ultra-modern Freedom of Information Act

Because of the complexity of the legislative changes required, the final legislation will not pass through Parliament at the same date, at least 13 laws need to b e changed and improved in 4 ministries. The Ministry of Education, Science and Culture that will have an over all responsibility of implementing the laws.

Estimated time for the entire IMMI package to be completed is about a year. The creators of the IMMI hope by Iceland's bold steps in the direction of creating a haven for freedom of information, speech and expression, that it will inspire other nations to follow suit by strengthening their own laws in favor of the fundamental cornerstones that are the base of democracies and thwart the trending of gagging, legal harassment and destruction of historical records.

This proposal was created by international collaboration of lawyers and organizations such as Wikileaks, who have a comprehensive understanding about how the current status of affairs are in our world in regard of serious attacks on freedom of information and expression.

The Icelandic Modern Media Initiative is based on turning the tax-haven concept on its head. Instead of pulling together asset hiding and secrecy laws from around the world in order to shelter corruption and financial crime, the IMMI pulls together the best transparency enabling legislation, to create a stronghold for investigative journalists, internet publishers, transparency watchdogs and the public.

The global support for the IMMI underlines the need for a robust environment that supports the world's best journalism and the activities of transparency groups. The flow of information has no borders and most of the media is moving to the internet. That is why the time has come for a modern legislative regime that can promote and defend global freedom of expression, in principle and in practice.]]> "I am proud to advise the Icelandic Modern Media Initiative's proposal to create a global safe haven for investigative journalism. I believe this proposal is a strong way of encouraging integrity and responsive government around the world, including in Iceland. In my work investigating corruption I have seen how important it is to have have robust mechanisms to get information out to the public. Iceland, with its fresh perspectives and courageous, independent people seems to be the perfect place to initiate such an effort towards global transparency and justice."
Eva Joly MEP

ICELAND TO BECOME INTERNATIONAL TRANSPARENCY HAVEN

On June 16th the Icelandic Parliament unanimously passed a proposal tasking the government to introduce a new legislative regime to protect and strengthen modern freedom of expression, and the free flow of information in Iceland and around the world. The unanimous vote included all government members.

Birgitta Jonsdottir, the chief sponsor in parliament of the IMMI proposal said: "Iceland will become the inverse of a tax haven; by offering journalists and publishers some of the most powerful protections for free speech and investigative journalism in the world. Tax havens aim is to make everything opaque. Our aim it to make everything transparent." she said.

Highlights from the proposal:
* the Icelandic Prize for Freedom of Expression
* Protection from "libel tourism" and other extrajudicial abuses
* Protection of intermediaries (internet service providers)
* Statute of limitations on publishing liabilities
* Virtual limited liability companies
* Whistle-blower protections
* Source protection
* Source-journalist communications protection
* Limiting prior restraint
* Process protections
* Ultra-modern Freedom of Information Act

Because of the complexity of the legislative changes required, the final legislation will not pass through Parliament at the same date, at least 13 laws need to b e changed and improved in 4 ministries. The Ministry of Education, Science and Culture that will have an over all responsibility of implementing the laws.

Estimated time for the entire IMMI package to be completed is about a year. The creators of the IMMI hope by Iceland's bold steps in the direction of creating a haven for freedom of information, speech and expression, that it will inspire other nations to follow suit by strengthening their own laws in favor of the fundamental cornerstones that are the base of democracies and thwart the trending of gagging, legal harassment and destruction of historical records.

This proposal was created by international collaboration of lawyers and organizations such as Wikileaks, who have a comprehensive understanding about how the current status of affairs are in our world in regard of serious attacks on freedom of information and expression.

The Icelandic Modern Media Initiative is based on turning the tax-haven concept on its head. Instead of pulling together asset hiding and secrecy laws from around the world in order to shelter corruption and financial crime, the IMMI pulls together the best transparency enabling legislation, to create a stronghold for investigative journalists, internet publishers, transparency watchdogs and the public.

The global support for the IMMI underlines the need for a robust environment that supports the world's best journalism and the activities of transparency groups. The flow of information has no borders and most of the media is moving to the internet. That is why the time has come for a modern legislative regime that can promote and defend global freedom of expression, in principle and in practice.]]> <![CDATA[Help keep the bees buzzing]]> https://deeppoliticsforum.com/fora/showthread.php?tid=5281 Fri, 07 Jan 2011 02:49:31 +0000 Magda Hassan]]> https://deeppoliticsforum.com/fora/showthread.php?tid=5281
[Image: bee_email.jpg]

Bees are dying off worldwide and our entire food chain is in peril. Scientists blame toxic pesticides and four European governments have already banned them. If we get the US and the EU to join the ban, other governments across the world could follow, and save bees from extinction. Sign the petition and forward this urgent appeal:

[Image: sign_english_pink.png]
Silently, billions of bees are dying off and our entire food chain is in danger. Bees don't just make honey, they are a giant, humble workforce, pollinating 90% of the plants we grow.

Multiple scientific studies blame one group of toxic pesticides for their rapid demise, and bee populations have soared in four European countries that have banned these chemicals. But powerful chemical companies are lobbying hard to keep selling this poison. Our best chance to save bees now is to push the US and EU to join the ban -- their action is critical and will have a ripple effect on the rest of the world.

We have no time to lose -- the debate is raging about what to do. This is not just about saving bumble bees, this is about survival. Let's build a giant global buzz calling for the EU and US to outlaw these killer chemicals and save our bees and our food. Sign the emergency petition now, and send it on to everyone and we'll deliver it to key decision makers:

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/save_the_bees/?vl

Bees are vital to life on earth -- every year pollinating plants and crops with an estimated $40bn value, over one third of the food supply in many countries. Without immediate action to save bees we could end up with no fruit, no vegetables, no nuts, no oils and no cotton.

Recent years have seen a steep and disturbing global decline in bee populations -- some bee species are now extinct and others are at just 4% of their previous numbers. Scientists have been scrambling for answers. Some studies claim the decline may be due to a combination of factors including disease, habitat loss and toxic chemicals. But new leading independent research has produced strong evidence blaming neonicotinoid pesticides. France, Italy, Slovenia and even Germany, where the main manufacturer Bayer is based, have banned one of these bee killers. But, Bayer continues to export its poison across the world

This issue is now coming to the boil as major new studies have confirmed the scale of this problem. If we can get European and US decision-makers to take action, others will follow. It won't be easy. A leaked document shows that the US Environmental Protection Agency knew about the pesticide's dangers, but ignored them. The document says Bayer's "highly toxic" product is a "major risk concern to non target insects [honey bees]".

We need to make our voices heard to counter Bayer's very strong influence on policy makers and scientists in both the US and the EU where they fund the studies and sit on policy bodies. The real experts -- the beekeepers and farmers -- want these deadly pesticides prohibited until and unless we have solid, independent studies that show they are safe. Let's support them now. Sign the petition below, then forward this email:

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/save_the_bees/?vl

We can no longer leave our delicate food chain in the hands of research run by the chemical companies and the regulators that are in their pockets. Banning this pesticide will move us closer to a world safe for ourselves and the other species we care about and depend on.

With hope,

Alex, Alice, Iain, David and all at Avaaz

MORE INFORMATION

Bee decline could be down to chemical cocktail interfering with brains
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/20...NTCMP=SRCH

Bee briefing
http://www.soilassociation.org/LinkClick...&tabid=439

$15 Billion Bee Murder Mystery Deepens
http://www.businessinsider.com/colony-co...er-2010-10

"Nicotine Bees" Population Restored With Neonicotinoids Ban
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/05/...ds-ban.php

EPA memo reveals concern that pesticide causes bee deaths
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/gree...y_id=79910

Beekeepers want government to pull pesticide
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/money/beeke...07701.html

British Beekeepers' Association to stop endorsing bee-killing pesticides http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/20...NTCMP=SRCH

Pesticide industry involvement in EU risk assessment puts survival of bees at stake
http://www.corporateeurope.org/agribusin...uture-bees]]>
[Image: bee_email.jpg]

Bees are dying off worldwide and our entire food chain is in peril. Scientists blame toxic pesticides and four European governments have already banned them. If we get the US and the EU to join the ban, other governments across the world could follow, and save bees from extinction. Sign the petition and forward this urgent appeal:

[Image: sign_english_pink.png]
Silently, billions of bees are dying off and our entire food chain is in danger. Bees don't just make honey, they are a giant, humble workforce, pollinating 90% of the plants we grow.

Multiple scientific studies blame one group of toxic pesticides for their rapid demise, and bee populations have soared in four European countries that have banned these chemicals. But powerful chemical companies are lobbying hard to keep selling this poison. Our best chance to save bees now is to push the US and EU to join the ban -- their action is critical and will have a ripple effect on the rest of the world.

We have no time to lose -- the debate is raging about what to do. This is not just about saving bumble bees, this is about survival. Let's build a giant global buzz calling for the EU and US to outlaw these killer chemicals and save our bees and our food. Sign the emergency petition now, and send it on to everyone and we'll deliver it to key decision makers:

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/save_the_bees/?vl

Bees are vital to life on earth -- every year pollinating plants and crops with an estimated $40bn value, over one third of the food supply in many countries. Without immediate action to save bees we could end up with no fruit, no vegetables, no nuts, no oils and no cotton.

Recent years have seen a steep and disturbing global decline in bee populations -- some bee species are now extinct and others are at just 4% of their previous numbers. Scientists have been scrambling for answers. Some studies claim the decline may be due to a combination of factors including disease, habitat loss and toxic chemicals. But new leading independent research has produced strong evidence blaming neonicotinoid pesticides. France, Italy, Slovenia and even Germany, where the main manufacturer Bayer is based, have banned one of these bee killers. But, Bayer continues to export its poison across the world

This issue is now coming to the boil as major new studies have confirmed the scale of this problem. If we can get European and US decision-makers to take action, others will follow. It won't be easy. A leaked document shows that the US Environmental Protection Agency knew about the pesticide's dangers, but ignored them. The document says Bayer's "highly toxic" product is a "major risk concern to non target insects [honey bees]".

We need to make our voices heard to counter Bayer's very strong influence on policy makers and scientists in both the US and the EU where they fund the studies and sit on policy bodies. The real experts -- the beekeepers and farmers -- want these deadly pesticides prohibited until and unless we have solid, independent studies that show they are safe. Let's support them now. Sign the petition below, then forward this email:

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/save_the_bees/?vl

We can no longer leave our delicate food chain in the hands of research run by the chemical companies and the regulators that are in their pockets. Banning this pesticide will move us closer to a world safe for ourselves and the other species we care about and depend on.

With hope,

Alex, Alice, Iain, David and all at Avaaz

MORE INFORMATION

Bee decline could be down to chemical cocktail interfering with brains
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/20...NTCMP=SRCH

Bee briefing
http://www.soilassociation.org/LinkClick...&tabid=439

$15 Billion Bee Murder Mystery Deepens
http://www.businessinsider.com/colony-co...er-2010-10

"Nicotine Bees" Population Restored With Neonicotinoids Ban
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/05/...ds-ban.php

EPA memo reveals concern that pesticide causes bee deaths
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/gree...y_id=79910

Beekeepers want government to pull pesticide
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/money/beeke...07701.html

British Beekeepers' Association to stop endorsing bee-killing pesticides http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/20...NTCMP=SRCH

Pesticide industry involvement in EU risk assessment puts survival of bees at stake
http://www.corporateeurope.org/agribusin...uture-bees]]>