Internet Anthropologist Think Tank: 9/27/09 - 10/4/09

  • Search our BLOG


  • HOME
    Terrorist Names SEARCH:
    Loading

    Saturday, October 03, 2009

    ops and Intel, 10.03.09



    Pakistani Taliban chief may be dead: US official

    AFP - ‎1 hour ago‎
    Hakimullah's brother, Kalimullah Mehsud, was also killed on Monday in a battle in the lawless insurgent stronghold of North Waziristan, which borders ...

    next G

    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

    FBI, homeland security directors say anti-terrorism measures working

    Dallas Morning News - Marjorie Korn - ‎Oct 1, 2009‎
    Napolitano said her department's anti-terrorism efforts have included reaching out to communities of foreign-born people living in the US to prevent ...

    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

    FBI Director: Al Qaeda-Linked Somali Group Could Attack US

    FOXNews - Catherine Herridge - ‎18 hours ago‎
    For the first time, the FBI director has stated on the record that the Al Qaeda-linked groupal-Shabaab is no longer content to strike within the East ...

    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

    Iraqi forces seize 140 insurgent suspects in Mosul

    Reuters - Khalid al-Ansary, Tim Cocks - ‎3 hours ago‎
    BAGHDAD, Oct 3 (Reuters) - Iraqi troops have arrested 140 suspected al Qaeda members and other Sunni Arab militants in the past four days in raids on the ...
    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


    Expect many more victories againstterrorist with the many spies with in their ranks.

    G



    .STILL NO LABELS.....

    Terrorist Names SEARCH:
    Loading

    US troops killed by Afghan troop???

    We are picking up noise and chatter
    about US troops killed by
    an Afghani trooper attached to their
    unit.

    UN ABLE TO CONFIRM.Confirmed.

    Tracking.

    G

    unable to post labels, ?? GOOGLE WHATS UP?

    Sat Oct 3, 2009 6:39pm IST
    Email | Print | | Single Page
    [-] Text [+]

    KABUL (Reuters) - An Afghan soldier on guard at a joint base with U.S. troops shot dead two American servicemen and wounded two others as they slept, a provincial official said on Saturday.

    Shahedullah Shahed, spokesman for the governor of Wardak province west of Kabul, said the shooting took place after a combined team of Afghan and U.S. forces had returned from a joint operation late on Friday.

    "The Americans were in the middle of sleep when an Afghan soldier on duty opened fire on them," Shahed said.

    "We have no clue as to why he shot them."

    A statement from NATO-led forces said two American soldiers died from injuries suffered in a "hostile attack" in eastern Afghanistan on Friday. A press officer for the Western troops said he could give no further details of the incident.

    SOURCE:

    hat tip bartender team.

    Terrorist Names SEARCH:
    Loading

    Friday, October 02, 2009

    Our Genius readers 10.02.09

    NO lables??? Google?





    Terrorist Names SEARCH:
    Loading

    Confidence in the WWW is at risk, $5 million


    Confidence in the WWW is at risk
    By Gerald Internet Anthropologist Think Tank



    The group, whose members include such big names as Microsoft, Yahoo, eBay, WalMart and EMC's RSA security division, said in its report for the first half of 2009 that hackers and phishers have turned the Internet into the Wild West, targeting PCs, company Web sites and mobile devices with scams that are as creative as they are destructive to personal and corporate data security.

    "The Internet has never been more dangerous," said APWG chairman David Jevans. "In the first half of 2009, phishing escalated to some of the highest levels we've ever seen. Of even greater concern is the skyrocketing sophistication and proliferation of malicious software designed to steal online passwords and user names."

    The report (available here in PDF format) found that the number of detected malicious anti-malware programs and fake security software applications that actually infect user machines surged up 585 percent between January and the end of June.

    New phishing Web sites detected in June rose to 49,084 -- the most since the 55,643 sites discovered in April 2007 and the second-highest number recorded since APWG began reporting on phishing sites. The number of hijacked brands and Web sites an all-time high of 310 in March.

    APWG researchers working at Panda Labs' research lab counted more than 152,000 different strains of bogus anti-malware apps in June, up from slightly more than 22,000 such applications in January.

    The number of compromised PCs also continued soaring. The report found that more than 11.9 million computers were infected in the first half of this year, up a staggering 66 percent from the same period last year.

    SOURCE:

    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

    Our warning from 06.09.08 G.

    Internet Anthropologist Think Tank: Security:hyper endemic Epidemic:

    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

    DHS Recruiting 1,000 Cybersecurity Experts

    The security problems require a Macro not Micro solution.G

    FCC Panel: Cybersecurity Needs Incentives

    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

    A reward of $5 million dollars for a security break through dealing with these problems Open to anyone and all.

    Year after year the security of the Internet gets worse.

    Year after year we get less secure.

    Year after year the thefts and losses grow.

    An award fund for security break throughs,

    would fund and maybe turn this security loss around.


    Gerald

    Tactical Internet Systems analyst

    .

    NOTE: gOOGLE LABLES HAS CRASHED, MALFUNCTIONING ( "ERROR:A BLOG MAY HAVE AT MOST 2000 LABLES, FAILS TO POST WITH ANY LABELS.

    .



    Terrorist Names SEARCH:
    Loading

    The decade of the SPYS.




    The decade of the SPYS.
    Paradigm Intel, formation.
    By Gerald Internet Anthropologist Think Tank

    One of the most successful weapons
    against the terrorist have been the spys
    among their ranks.


    While Iran has proven to be remarkable
    resilient to penetration there have been
    some success, They seem to have
    know about the new nuclear plant for
    some time.

    Iran getting a nuke is unreasonable.
    Some have argued, Thomas P.M. Barnett,


    It may be time for a new paradigm,
    the old one has been flogged to death.
    Sanctions just don't work, I think N.Korea
    is an excellent example of the failure of the
    current paradigm. The sanctions have been
    so successful their people are starving
    How much harder can one hit a country
    with sanctions. N Korea went right ahead
    and built and tested two nukes.

    An successful attack on Iran will force them
    to negotiate. It not only will buy a few years
    but changes the power paradigm.

    The Arab Nations won't yell to loud about
    a Shia Nation's nukes being taken out.

    If USA doesn't take out Iran's Nukes the only
    option Israel is left with is a small one time attack force.

    "In August 2003, the Israeli Air Force demonstrated the strategic capability to strike far-off targets such as Iran by flying three F-15 jets to Poland, 1,600 nautical miles away. Israel can launch and refuel two to three full squadrons of combat aircraft for a single set of strikes against Iran, and provide suitable refueling. Israel could also provide fighter escorts and has considerable electronic-warfare capability to suppress Iran's aging air defenses."
    THREE FULL SQUADRONS COULD DO AN EFFECTIVE EMP STRIKE
    ( Non-nuclear electromagnetic pulse, G )
    THAT WOULD COVER MOST OF IRAN.

    An EMP attack would take out the power grid, the Nuke plants,
    all computers and vehicles, and bring Iran's economy to its knees.

    Israel has the capability to catastrophically strike Iran if US
    doesn't do a conventional all encompassing strike.

    has never dealt with the 13th Imam paradigm before.

    And that risk, the risk of a suicide nuclear attack
    by a state actor should not be ignored.

    And this new EMP paradigm would certanly give
    teeth to the anti-proliferation paradigm.

    Israel's Military strike is not to be dismissed.
    We have a psychotic regime threating to
    wipe out Israel. And working on the capability to do so.
    And a religious paradigm supporting the atomic attack.
    Iran has stated its intentions, what more does Israel need.
    What more does the world need?

    The big choice is does the world deal with a state
    terrorist regime that is
    a nuclear or non-nuclear Iran in the future.



    Gerald
    Anthropologist

    .


    .









    Labels:

    Terrorist Names SEARCH:
    Loading

    Thursday, October 01, 2009

    National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), 10.01.09




    September 30, 2009
    Hearing before the Senate
    Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
    Eight Years After 9/11: Confronting the Terrorist Threat to the Homeland
    Mike Leiter
    Director
    National Counterterrorism Center


    Introduction
    Chairman Lieberman, Ranking Member Collins, distinguished Members of the Committee,
    thank you for the opportunity today to discuss the current state of the terrorist threat to the
    Homeland and the U.S. Government’s efforts to address the threat. I am pleased to join
    Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and Director of the Federal Bureau of
    Investigation (FBI) Robert Mueller—two of the National Counterterrorism Center’s (NCTC)
    closest and most critical partners.

    Nature of the Terrorist Threat
    The Current Threat from Al-Qa‘ida. Al-Qa‘ida is under more pressure, is facing more
    challenges, and is a more vulnerable organization than at any time since the attacks on 11
    September 2001. For eight years, the United States and its allies have mounted a robust and
    multi-front offensive against al-Qa‘ida, as well as sustained an effective defensive program,
    making it more difficult—although still quite possible—for terrorists to attack the US Homeland
    and US interests abroad.

    • Most importantly, al-Qa‘ida’s safehaven -- where they are hosted by Taliban and
    Pakistani militants -- in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) is shrinking and
    becoming less secure, complicating the group’s ability to plan, train, and move within
    Pakistan’s tribal areas.

    • Al-Qa‘ida has suffered significant leadership losses during the past 18 months,
    interrupting training and plotting, potentially disrupting plots that are under way, and
    leaving leadership vacuums that are increasingly difficult to fill.

    Despite our counterterrorism (CT) progress, al-Qa‘ida and its affiliates and allies remain resilient
    and adaptive enemies intent on attacking US and Western interests—with al-Qa‘ida’s core in
    Pakistan representing the most dangerous component of the larger al-Qa‘ida network. We assess
    that this core is actively engaged in operational plotting and continues recruiting, training, and
    transporting operatives, to include individuals from Western Europe and North America.

    • Three years ago the British, with United States help, disrupted a plot in its late stages that
    could have killed thousands of people flying from Europe to the US Homeland. Two
    years ago we helped disrupt a credible plot in Germany that was very near execution.

    • The recent arrest and indictment of Najibullah Zazi on a charge of conspiracy to use
    weapons of mass destruction (explosive bombs) against persons or property in the United
    States is an example of the strong teamwork needed between local police departments
    and federal departments and agencies that is critical to protecting our country from
    potential terrorist attacks. As stated in the indictment, Zazi is alleged to have knowingly
    and intentionally conspired with others to use explosive bombs and other similar devices
    against persons or property within the United States

    • We assess that al-Qa‘ida continues to pursue plans for Homeland attacks and is likely
    focusing on prominent political, economic, and infrastructure targets designed to produce
    mass casualties, visually dramatic destruction, significant economic aftershocks, and/or
    fear among the population. The group also likely remains interested in targeting mass
    transit systems, and other public venues, viewed as relatively soft targets as evidenced by
    past al-Qa‘ida attacks in London.

    Al-Qa‘ida Affiliates. As al-Qa‘ida’s affiliates continue to develop and evolve, the threat posed
    by many of these groups to US interests abroad, and potentially to the Homeland, has grown.
    The affiliates possess local roots and autonomous command structures and represent a talent pool
    that al-Qa‘ida core may tap to augment operational efforts. The affiliates have proven capable of
    attacking Western targets in their regions and they aspire to expand operations further.

    Yemen. We have witnessed the reemergence of al-Qa‘ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP),
    with Yemen as a key battleground and potential regional base of operations from which al-
    Qa‘ida can plan attacks, train recruits, and facilitate the movement of operatives. We are
    concerned that if AQAP strengthens, al-Qa‘ida leaders could use the group and the growing
    presence of foreign fighters in the region to supplement its transnational operations capability.

    Al-Qa‘ida Operatives in Somalia and Al-Shabaab. East Africa is an important locale for
    al-Qa‘ida. The leaders of the Somalia-based insurgent and terrorist group al-Shabaab are
    working with a limited number of East Africa-based al-Qa‘ida operatives. Al-Shabaab has
    actively conducted terrorist style attacks in Somalia against the Somali Government and its
    perceived allies or supporters, including African Union peacekeepers. Al-Shabaab’s rank and
    file fighters—who are predominantly interested in removing the current government of Somalia
    vice pursuing al-Qa’ida’s global agenda—have gained control over specific locations in central
    and southern Somalia, in an effort to create an Islamic state throughout greater Somalia.

    Training programs run by al-Shabaab in southern Somalia have attracted hundreds of violent
    extremists from across the globe, to include dozens of recruits from the United States. We assess
    that U.S. persons – the majority of whom are ethnic Somali -- who have traveled to Somalia to
    fight and train with al-Shabaab have been primarily motivated by nationalism and identification
    with the Somali cause, rather than by al-Qa’ida’s global agenda. However, the potential for al-
    Qa‘ida operatives in Somalia to commission Americans to return to the United States and launch
    attacks against the Homeland remains of significant concern. The recent death of East
    Africa-based senior al-Qa‘ida operative Saleh Nabhan could disrupt for the time being al-
    Qa’ida’s linkage with al-Shabaab and hinder external attack planning in the region.

    • Although al-Shabaab has not yet conducted an attack outside of Somalia, we have
    identified several potential transnational terrorist plots involving individuals trained in
    Somalia. For example, Australian police in August arrested four men involved in
    plotting an attack against an Australian Army base, two of whom reportedly trained at
    camp in Somalia.

    North Africa and the Trans-Sahara. AQIM has expanded its operational presence in North
    Africa beyond Algeria, using a safehaven in Northern Mali and increasing low-level operations
    in Mauritania and has conducted more than a dozen attacks against Western interests in the
    region. We have seen increased interest by the group to conduct attacks in Europe—to include
    public statements threatening France and other European powers—as well as the United States.

    AQIM’s increased focus on kidnap-for ransom operations, particularly of Western hostages, has
    allowed for the group’s expansion, helping fund recruitment, training, propaganda and terrorist
    attacks.

    Iraq. Counterterrorism success in Iraq has lowered the external threat from al-Qa‘ida in Iraq
    (AQI)—a key al-Qa‘ida affiliate in the region—and has damaged the al-Qa‘ida brand, with many
    donors reticent to support the kinds of gruesome attacks that became the hallmark of AQI.
    Although AQI’s leaders continue to publicly threaten the West, to include the Homeland, we
    assess that their ability to do so has been substantially diminished by Coalition military and Iraqi
    security operations. However, the group remains the largest and most operationally active of al-
    Qa‘ida’s affiliates and continues to threaten Coalition forces in the region.

    Lashkar-e-Tayyiba. Pakistan-based Sunni extremist group Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LT)—an
    al-Qa‘ida ally—poses a threat to a range of interests in South Asia. Their attacks in Kashmir and
    India have had a destabilizing effect on the region, increasing tensions and brinkmanship
    between New Delhi and Islamabad. The group’s attack last year in Mumbai, India, resulted in
    US and Western casualties, and the group continues to plan attacks in India that could harm US
    citizens and damage US interests. LT’s involvement in attacks in Afghanistan against US and
    Coalition forces and provision of support to the Taliban and al-Qa‘ida extremists there pose a
    threat to US and Coalition interests. We assess that LT—or LT-trained individuals—could pose
    a direct threat to the Homeland, especially should they collude with al-Qa‘ida operatives.

    Homegrown Violent Extremists. Homegrown Muslim extremists who have little if any
    connection to known terrorist organizations have not launched a successful attack in the United
    States. The handful of homegrown extremists who have sought to strike within the Homeland
    since 9/11 have lacked the necessary tradecraft and capability to conduct or facilitate
    sophisticated attacks.

    Al-Qa‘ida’s Media Campaign. Al-Qa‘ida propaganda statements this year have provided
    valuable insight into the group’s strategic intentions and have reiterated their commitment to
    attacking US and Western interests worldwide. Public al-Qa‘ida statements rarely contain a
    specific threat or telegraph attack planning.

    • The recently released statement that threatens Germany with near-term attacks if the
    election fails to favor the candidate who will withdraw German troops from Afghanistan
    is an exception to standard al-Qa‘ida practice as it features a specific threat timed to
    influence the German elections scheduled for 27 September.

    • Al-Qa‘ida statements have addressed three main themes this year—first, the group’s
    continued desire to attack US interests; second, the group’s claim that it has inspired or
    partnered with emerging and sometimes more successful fronts in Somalia, the Sahel, and
    the Arabian Peninsula, which it says serves the same purpose and achieves the same aims
    as past major operations; and third, al-Qa‘ida’s claim that its actions on and since 9/11
    have caused significant damage to the US economy.

    • Al-Qa‘ida has also released a number of statements this year directed at Pakistan. We
    assess that this is in direct response to Pakistani military actions against their safehavens
    in the tribal areas and nearby settled areas such as the Swat Valley. Despite increasing
    pressure on their safehaven this year, al-Sahab, the al-Qa‘ida media arm, is still rapidly
    producing propaganda and will probably outpace lasts year’s production.

    Violent Shia Extremists. While not aligned with al-Qa‘ida, we assess that Lebanese Hizballah
    remains capable of conducting terrorist attacks on US and Western interests, particularly in the
    Middle East. It continues to train and sponsor terrorist groups in Iraq that threaten the lives of
    US and Coalition forces, and supports Palestinian terrorist groups’ efforts to attack Israel and
    jeopardize the Middle East Peace Process. Although its primary focus is Israel, the group holds
    the United States responsible for Israeli policies in the region and would likely consider attacks
    on US interests, to include the Homeland, if it perceived a direct threat from the United States to
    itself or Iran. Hizballah’s Secretary General, in justifying the group’s use of violence against
    fellow Lebanese citizens last year, characterized any threat to Hizballah’s armed status and its
    independent communications network as redlines.

    WMD-Terrorism. The threat of WMD terrorism to the Homeland remains a grave concern.
    Documents recovered in Afghanistan indicated that al-Qa‘ida was pursuing a sophisticated
    biological weapons program and testing chemical agents. Since 9/11, we have successfully
    disrupted these and other terrorist efforts to develop a WMD capability. However, al-Qa‘ida and
    other groups continue to seek such a capability for use against the Homeland and US interests
    overseas. While terrorists face technical hurdles to developing and employing WMD, the
    consequences of a successful attack force us to consider every possible threat against the
    Homeland, even those considered low probability.

    Coordination of Counterterrorism Efforts
    US Government Strategy to Counter Terrorism. The 9/11 Commission, reflecting on the
    paucity of joint action and planning that characterized the US Government’s approach to
    terrorism before the 2001 attacks, recommended the creation of a “a civilian-led unified joint
    command for CT,” combining both strategic intelligence and joint operational planning. The
    Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA) brought this
    recommendation to life through legislation, creating NCTC and its strategic operational planning
    authorities. For the first time, an organization outside the Executive Office of the President was
    given the responsibility for government-wide coordination of planning and integration of
    department and agency actions involving “all elements of national power,” including
    “diplomatic, financial, military, intelligence, Homeland security, and law enforcement activities
    within and among agencies.”

    Pursuant to this authority, the Director of NCTC is responsible for providing strategic CT plans
    and for effectively integrating CT intelligence and operations across agency boundaries, both
    inside and outside the US.
    The baseline US Government strategy for countering terrorism is the NCTC-authored and
    Presidentially-approved National Implementation Plan for Counterterrorism (NIP). The NIP
    consists of four “pillars” that correspond to national policy: 1) protect and defend against
    terrorists; 2) attack their capacity to operate; 3) work diligently to undermine the spread of
    violent extremism and retard radicalization around the world; and 4) prevent terrorists from
    utilizing WMD.

    The NIP establishes a firm strategic foundation for action by requiring that each department and
    agency work collectively to achieve the endstates described in the objectives and sub-objectives
    of each pillar. However, without a sustained, focused effort to implement the NIP—a process
    that brings together lead and partner departments and agencies and the NSC to actively work to
    overcome the operational, legal, resource, and policy impediments to achieving the NIP’s
    strategic objectives—the plan would be of limited value. Although I am unable to speak to all of
    our efforts or provide extensive detail in an unclassified setting, below I offer a few examples of
    the more granular synchronization efforts we are pursuing in conjunction with the White House
    and Departments and Agencies throughout the US Government.

    Interagency Task Force (ITF). The ITF, established in June 2007, is charged with ensuring that
    US Government CT activities—and the resources to support them—are correlated rapidly with a
    constantly evolving threat picture and level of risk. The ITF may focus, as directed by the NSC,
    on an individual threat, but more typically it seeks to develop and coordinate overall strategic
    interagency action appropriate to the aggregate threat picture. Led by NCTC, the ITF comprises
    a core group of department and agency representatives who constantly examine current
    intelligence to ensure ongoing prevention efforts are synergistically executed. If additional,
    more alarming intelligence is obtained, the ITF formulates domestic and overseas options for
    senior policy makers to enable an appropriately tailored US Government response to any given
    threat.

    Exercises. NCTC also develops and facilitates national and local exercises to improve domestic
    preparedness at all levels of the US Government, as well as that of our international partners.
    The most recent capabilities review exercise hosted by NCTC tested the federal response to a
    Mumbai-style attack in an urban environment. These exercise “lessons learned” have been
    shared, in coordination with DHS and FBI, with other federal, state and local authorities in an
    effort to bring our law enforcement and homeland security communities closer together.
    Global Engagement. NCTC continues to play a large role in interagency efforts to counter
    violent extremism, both around the world and at home. For example, NCTC coordinated the
    development of a strategic communications strategy for the interagency to support efforts led by
    the President’s Special Representative on Afghanistan and Pakistan (SRAP) and Central
    Command in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Working with these partners, plus others in the State
    Department, Department of Defense, and the Intelligence Community, NCTC produced a
    coordinated interagency plan that is now being used by, the State Department and commanders
    in the field.

    NCTC has also developed an analytical tool that is providing, for the first time, a deep look at
    ongoing US Government programs that seek to build ties with the Afghan and Pakistani people.
    This tool is helping senior government leaders evaluate the efforts that have been made in the
    past and identify new types of programs that should be pursued.
    On the domestic front, NCTC enables, informs and supports federal, state and local government
    efforts to engage with communities across our country. Central to this effort is NCTC’s
    leadership of an interagency group to coordinate engagement projects and activities conducted
    by the FBI, DHS, State, Justice, Treasury and others. In particular, NCTC has worked diligently
    through this group with its partner agencies to enhance the level of engagement between the US
    Government and Somali Americans and build communities that are increasingly resistant to the
    threat posed by extremism.

    Afghanistan/Pakistan. Working closely with SRAP, NCTC has coordinated CT-related
    planning efforts designed to support development and implementation of a broader US
    Government strategy in this key region. NCTC led an interagency effort to refine specific
    counterterrorism objectives and develop measures of performance, as well as to identify and
    synchronize associated department and agency actions and initiatives to achieve these strategic
    objectives. NCTC also assisted departments and agencies with identifying associated resource
    requirements and implementation timelines.

    Region-specific efforts. Outside of South Asia, NCTC is working with our interagency
    partners—such as the Departments of Defense, State, Justice, and Treasury, and key members of
    the Intelligence Community—to develop and coordinate the implementation of plans designed to
    disrupt and diminish the capability of specific terrorist organizations and their networks, and to
    eliminate identified regional safehavens. Planning efforts include the development of whole-ofgovernment
    strategic objectives; interagency synchronization of initiatives designed to achieve
    those objectives; the identification of necessary resources and key milestones; and development
    of potential foreign partner actions.

    Budget. Working with our mission partners, we have helped develop a methodology for
    departments and agencies to use in aligning their resources for counterterrorism. As a result, we
    were able to align CT resources to the strategic objectives of the National Implementation Plan,
    as well as provide recommendations for new areas of emphasis in the FY11 budget build.
    Subsequently, OMB and the NSC issued budgetary guidance to the interagency to implement
    these recommendations.

    Assessments. In order to successfully guide development of strategies and plans to counter an
    active and agile enemy, NCTC monitors and assesses overall NIP implementation as well as the
    impact of subordinate CT plans and guidance. NCTC’s strategic impact assessments are
    designed to provide a tangible and well-understood “feedback loop” to CT planners and policy
    makers that takes a wide variety of vital factors into consideration, including strategic and
    operational outcomes arising from US Government and partner nation counterterrorism programs
    and activities; developments in enemy strategy and actions; and changes in the operating
    environment. The goal is to provide a useful tool that may be used to refine and guide the next
    generation of CT strategy and plans.

    Conclusion
    Chairman Lieberman and Ranking Member Collins, I want to conclude by recognizing this
    Committee for the role it played in the creation of the National Counterterrorism Center.
    Without your leadership the strides we have jointly made to counter the terrorist threat would not
    be possible. Your continued support is critical to the Center’s mission to lead our nation’s effort
    to combat terrorism at home and abroad by analyzing the threat, sharing that information with
    out partners, and integrating all instruments of national power to ensure unity of effort. I look
    forward to continuing our work together in the years to come.

    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

    Note the absence of any mention of Iran.

    Gerald


    .

    Labels: ,

    Terrorist Names SEARCH:
    Loading

    Congress's Masters


    Can Americans take control of Congress
    from the Lobbyists?

    American Politics have become a world embarrassment and dangerous.

    "THEY", The Republicans or the Lobbyist arm of the Insurance Companys
    have been using the play book from Al Qaeda.

    SPIN, PROPAGANDA:
    al Qaeda.... enough spin on current events to make one dizzy.
    I find it amazing how wanabee Jahaids accept them without
    question or even checking the news.

    It seems the American public are as gullible ans the Jahiddies.
    American propaganda about "The Death Panels", and a multitude of
    lies about Medical treatment for all Americans.

    THE BIG LIE:
    Al Qaeda has convinced the Ummah that dead Jahiddies is
    a good thing, suicide is a good thing. Martyrs.

    In America 'they' have convinced the public that 'health
    care for all Americans' is a bad thing.

    ACTUALIZING THE NUTZ:
    AQ has their demographic all to themselves, 15 to 30 yr old Muslims,
    they get one side, promised 72 virgins, praise, acclaim, montary
    rewards for their family and paradise in heaven, and an adventure
    with guns and bombs any boyscout would love. All boys love explosions and guns.
    AQ is activating and targeting the Nutz.

    Again in America the dangerous part is activitating the nutz, 'they' are targeting
    them with spin and propaganda, you've seen some of the town meetings.
    People showing up with sidearms and weapons to political events.

    This is dangerous stuff.

    What s the payoff?
    My research indicates you can buy a Congressman or woman for
    around $1.5 million dollars.
    Banks or Insurance Companys,
    stand to make trillions.
    Insurance Company profits have gone up 400%,
    ( since the year, 2000 G)
    Insurance policy's have gone up 200%
    And they have made 200% from refusing treatment
    and bouncing the sick from their policys AND capping
    payments.

    30% OF ALL INSURANCE POLICY PAYMENTS GO
    TO INSURANCE COMPANYS PROFITS.
    Gambling Corps in Las Vegas don't make that much.
    Shouldn't your Insurance premiums be a better investment
    than a Las Vegas bet??

    Republicans seem to have lost all integrity
    Knowingly lying, and spreading fear, and scaring
    seniors.

    And the Democrats have a SUPER MAJORITY.
    The super majority of the worlds super Power.
    And they can't seem to tie their own shoes.
    NO guts or balls.

    Bounced both Ins. bills and passed
    a $50 million for sex abstance Bill
    which has been proven ineffective.

    And claim they are proud of the progress.

    The Democrats seem to be as incompentent
    as the Republicans are dangerous and without
    conscience.

    Congress bought and sold, approving Loan

    The Corporate banks toxic paper
    and no CEO's arrested, the laws are the
    same, the banks can still do it all over again.

    And not passing Medical care bill for
    all Americans, Guess which got $1.5
    million from the health and Insurance industrys.

    Doesn't any one see this SHAME?

    Can Americans take control of Congress
    from the Lobbyists?


    Gerald
    Anthropologist

    Paradigm Intel says:
    If the Dems. can't get good Insurance
    reform passed then some were secretly
    bought off. G




    .PROOF:

    In June 2007, Wendell Potter was head of corporate communications at Cigna, one of the largest health insurance companies in America, when he attended the U.S. premiere of Michael Moore’s Sicko. Potter was part of the team charged with discrediting Moore’s film,

    Wendell Potter: When the Clinton plan collapsed [in 1994], there was an effort to pass legislation that would give enrollees in managed care more protections. The industry saw this as anti-managed care legislation, so they established a group called the Health Benefits Coalition. The Health Benefits Coalition, with the funding it got from the insurance industry, killed off the effort to get a Patient’s Bill of Rights passed. A more recent example of a front group I was involved with was trying to blunt the effect of [Michael Moore’s documentary]Sicko. Through a PR firm, the industry created a front group to disseminate misleading information about the healthcare systems featured in Sicko—particularly in Canada, the U.K., and France. This front group was set up specifically to try to counter [Moore’s positive depiction of them].

    Guernica: So in other words, corporate bureaucrats have a profit incentive to deny care to people who are enrolled in their plans.

    Wendell Potter: Absolutely. It doesn’t have to be stated directly to them that you will be paid a particular bonus if you deny X number of claims; it’s known, and it’s part of the culture.

    Guernica: What about the long wait times we’re warned about, and that government-run healthcare would be one step on the path to socialism? Is there any legitimacy to these claims?

    Wendell Potter: No. In fact, we can look at the wait times in this country as more horrific than anything you’ll see in the Canadian system, for example. For elective procedures in many of these countries, yes, you might wait longer for some elective procedure. You might wait longer for an MRI than you would in this country because, on a per capita basis, there are often more machines here than in some of those other systems. But life expectancy in almost every one of these other countries is greater than ours. People do not have to wait long for urgent or necessary care. In fact, in many countries it’s more likely that you would be able to get a same-day appointment with a doctor than here.

    Guernica: How do you know?

    Wendell Potter: I’ve traveled abroad a lot and I’ve studied them. I’ve been a student of statistics of these other systems, so I do know this, and yes, I have been there.

    Guernica: Then there are the Blue Dog Democrats and their role in holding up legislation. What’s their motivation?

    Wendell Potter: The industry has contributed so heavily to the Republicans over the years that they are pretty much assured that every single Republican in Congress will vote exactly the way they want on any issue pertaining to healthcare. This has not occurred just with campaign contributions. It’s also ideology. The industry has been very determined to carve out its niche on the right side of the political spectrum and, along with the business community, be advocates of a free-market approach to any aspect of our economy—and make sure that there is minimal regulation of any economic sector. So there is a great ideological kinship between the insurance industry and the Republican Party. And this is close to the ideology of the Blue Dog Democrats, who tend to be in border states of the south or where there are more Republicans. Industry has been feeding the Blue Dogs talking points and working overtime to make sure they see things from their philosophical and business perspectives.

    Wendell Potter: The reason I started speaking out is I knew the insurance industry would come out with guns blazing to kill reform. I knew the tactics they’d be using and buzzwords they’d be repeating—especially through their shills in Congress, media and business. It’s the same old playbook. I know it because I essentially helped write it. I knew that when the time came, they’d be unleashing that crap.

    Guernica: But what about programs like Medicare and the Veteran’s Administration? These are large, extremely effective, government-run programs that have been around a long time, despite the slippery slope rhetoric.

    Wendell Potter: The health insurance industry knows this. That is why they’re so careful with language. Medicare is far more popular than almost any private health insurance program in the country. And people in other programs you mentioned are certainly very grateful. But many of them don’t know that it’s a public program.

    Guernica: This is an industry that allows people to die so it can increase profits. I would think that it would be difficult to respect people who remain in that industry.

    Guernica: Let’s talk about these contentious town hall meetings. What role, if any, does the industry play in causing the disruptive, or what Senator Claire McCaskill called “rude” behavior?

    Wendell Potter: One of the big PR firms [for] the insurance industry is APCOWorldwide. They’ve represented the industry for quite a long time. They’re skilled at setting up front groups to spread disinformation to challenge proposals. So they will get talking points into the hands of conservative radio talk show hosts and editorial writers at conservative publications. It all comes from the health insurance industry, but they spread this stuff in such a way that their fingerprints are not directly on it. A guy named Bill Pierce works for APCO; he is an executive there. He used to work as a spokesman for Blue Cross Blue Shield and the Bush Administration. So if you called the number for Healthcare America, you would be connected with Bill Pierce’s office atAPCO... The tragic thing about these town hall meetings is how some of these angry citizens are being manipulated. When you see these stories about the meetings and how the participants are so concerned about government takeover of our healthcare system, they use the very words that were fed to them by the health insurance industry, not realizing that that’s where they came from, not realizing that they are unwitting pawns of the industry. Because they hear that stuff from people they believe are credible, like Rush Limbaugh or Glenn Beck.

    Wendell Potter: I am very aware of the efforts the industry goes to to bus people to Washington. It’s one of the most sophisticated grass-roots operations you will find in any industry. They have a long list of senior citizens, for example, who are enrolled in the Medicare Advantage plan. Insurance companies will pay for these people to fly to Washington for a day of citizen lobbying. [The senior citizens] will give the impression that they are there speaking on their own, but it’s completely orchestrated by the industry. What these seniors don’t know is that the only way they would lose their Medicare HMO is if the insurance company dumps them because they don’t think they’re profitable enough anymore. That happened back in the nineties, Cigna did it, Aetna did it—all the insurance companies that participated in the Medicare HMOprogram did it. That’s when Congress reduced the reimbursements a little bit, these big insurance companies dumped seniors by the millions...

    SOURCE:



    DOD could hire this

    talent for Afpak hearts &

    minds, Info War.

    .


    Labels: