jamhar

An interesting article:

On the tiny Mediterranean island of Malta, two Italian hackers have been searching for bugs — not the island’s many beetle varieties, but secret flaws in computer code that governments pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to learn about and exploit.

................

Israel, Britain, Russia, India and Brazil are some of the biggest spenders. North Korea is in the market, as are some Middle Eastern intelligence services. Countries in the Asian Pacific, including Malaysia and Singapore, are buying, too, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/14/world/europe/nations-buying-as-hackers-sell-computer-flaws.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_ae_20130714&_r=0

From the other thread.

Very interesting article. Thanks for the share.

The "Snowden Effect" starting,

N.S.A. Leaks Revive Push in Russia to Control Net

"MOSCOW — Edward J. Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor, fled the United States saying he did not want to live in a surveillance state.

But now the Russians are using his very presence here — on Friday Mr. Snowden said he intended to remain in Russia for some time while seeking asylum elsewhere — to push for tighter controls over the Internet...............

Link nsa-leaks-stir-plans-in-russia-to-control-net.

Edit

Just realized that "lovetotravel" posted the article and link first in the Snowded Asylum thread. My Apologies

You really didn't read the two cases did you? Marissa Alexander was having a verbal only fight with an estranged husband at his house. She went out to her car, got a gun and came back into the house and fired it at him. That's a big no-no and is in no way self defense.

Zimmerman was under physical attack, had his nose broken and his head was being pounded into the pavement. He fired to prevent serious bodily injury or death.

Now, if you can't understand the difference, I hope you're never allowed to own a gun.

Dude, you have the wrong name

because you are ALWAYS SURE

I wasnt there so i cant say

But to be able to shoot an unarmed person

Kill him, and to be able to walk away, seems wrong.

PS, i do own some guns. Wanna go shooting sometimes?

Scratch that, I dont want to go shooting with someone named "neversure"

but seems to be "always sure". I'm a cautious type

This is the mentality that keeps the country divided. If a black person gets convicted, its racism.

I never mentioned race.

But you noticed her skin color right away.

and based on that, you can make a conclusion.

Says a lot.

Zimmerman was there, and the evidence backed him up. You, on the other hand, have no evidence to refute him.

So more people will kill more people now because by doing so they kill the witness.

No, there is always a witness called forensic evidence. There was a lot of it. In Florida as in many states, you may shoot someone to "avoid serious bodily harm." Zimmerman's nose was broken and his head was being pounded into the concrete. He shot Martin to avoid serious bodily harm, and for all he knew, death.

The jury got it right.

So you can shoot a person to death "to prevent bodily harm"

But you get 20 years in prison, if you fire a warning shot?

Link marissa-alexander-gets-20

Marissa Alexander Gets 20 Years For Firing Warning Shot

Things just got a little more complicated.

Pakistan Taliban set up camps in Syria, join anti-Assad war

This cannot end well.

From the LA Times

SANFORD, Fla. -- An employee of the Florida state attorney's office who testified that prosecutors withheld evidence from George Zimmerman's defense team has been fired, a spokeswoman told The Times.

Like I said, Not best outing by the prosecutors.

Hitler was not really a white supremacist. He was a German nationalist.

...

...

But would you contest that he was a racist and an aryan supremacist?

I guess the crime rate in that neighbourhood will drop significantly.

Common misconception, but crime rates in ALL of the US have dropped DRAMATICALLY over the past several decades.

But in this case, Death and harm by accidents may go up significantly.

Guantanamo is under military jurisdiction I thought.

So does a US judge have any jurisdiction over Guantanamo?

The Military is subject to both Military and Civil law, and are certainly not above the law of the land.

Thats a nice general statement.

My question was more on jurisdiction.

Guantanamo is a US military base on foreign land, and we are holding foreign captives.

Guantanamo was chosen for that reason.

So how much jurisdiction does any US judge over a military base on foreign land with non US citizens?

I guess this link provides enough proof about their jurisdiction

You gave me an article from "the voice of russia" as proof?

An interesting point,

in an article titled

"Edward Snowden: Is it illegal for US to block his asylum claim?"

However, many experts noted the irony in Snowden renewing his request for asylum from Russia, which he praised (along with Venezuela, Bolivia, Nicaragua, and Ecuador) for “being the first to stand against human rights violations carried out by the powerful.”

Russia is not generally known as a liberal haven. Human Rights Watch in April documented a Russian crackdown on domestic civil society that the rights group says has led to Russia’s worst human rights climate in the post-Soviet era.

...

...

“Snowden is obviously a very bright young man who no doubt acted in earnest, and he is in quite an international legal pickle given the US espionage charges against him,” he concludes. “But he also shows signs of a disturbingly solipsistic world view that automatically turns his allies into doers of right and his legal pursuers into oppressors, and in which he casts himself heroically as merely someone who has ‘been made stateless and hounded for my act of political expression.' ”

News Article Link

"However, many experts noted the irony in Snowden renewing his request for asylum from Russia, which he praised (along with Venezuela, Bolivia, Nicaragua, and Ecuador) for “being the first to stand against human rights violations carried out by the powerful.”"

Thats really makes me sick.

Just a personal reaction.

Guantanamo is under military jurisdiction I thought.

So does a US judge have any jurisdiction over Guantanamo?

The Military is subject to both Military and Civil law, and are certainly not above the law of the land.

Thats a nice general statement.

My question was more on jurisdiction.

Guantanamo is a US military base on foreign land, and we are holding foreign captives.

Guantanamo was chosen for that reason.

So how much jurisdiction does any US judge over a military base on foreign land with non US citizens?

Interesting point made in an article

We could be talking about whether accessing and monitoring citizen information and communications is constitutional, or whether we should continue to allow a secret court to authorize secret warrants using secret legal opinions.

But we’re not. We’re talking about you! And flight paths between Moscow and Venezuela, and how much of a jerk Glenn Greenwald is. We could at least be talking about whether the Obama administration is right that your leak jeopardized national security. But we’re not talking about that, Ed.

We’re talking about you. I can imagine you’d say, “Well, then stop! Just talk about something else.” But here’s the problem, even if your initial leak didn’t compromise national security, your new cloak-and-dagger game is having real and tangible geopolitical consequences. So, well, we have to talk about … you.

Link to article -melissa-harris-perry-edward-snowden

"The U.S. government should be on its knees every day begging that nothing happen to Snowden, because if something does happen to him, all the information will be revealed and it could be its worst nightmare."

Sounds like a threat in the clear

A true patriot!

Actually it sounds like the snowden camp is getting a little desperate

Any information he has, has to be considered compromised.

And any blackmail, will not stop the information from getting out.

so good luck with the threats.

But as a American, I'm resigned to days, weeks and longer of more embarrassing disclosures.

Just an FYI

Americans arent very good at doing the "on its knees" thing. Just not in our nature.

"Snowden has enough information to cause more damage to the U.S. government in a minute alone than anyone else has ever had in the history of the United States."

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-07-13/greenwald-us-government-should-be-its-knees-every-day-praying-nothing-happens-snowde

Thats seems to be a given.

The US "interests" in getting him back is unprecedented.

Therefore, i'm expecting that he has unprecedented amount of information.

or that he REALLY pissed someone off.

Also, I noticed as of 22 minutes ago, there is still no report of Snowded asking for Russian asylum.

I'm wondering if Putin told him quietly "if you formally apply, You will be kicked out immediately".

I wouldnt put it past him.

The embarrassment, and cost that snowden can cause the US,

will not translate to more trade or wealth to Russia.

Russia only has downside with the snowded issue.

Russia wants out of this situation ASAP.

China will still have a fallout from Snowded situation

but more and more, they are looking pretty bright,

getting him out of HK as quickly as they did.

I'm beginning to form a hypothesis that this may be a case of "let's jerk the farangs around just for grins [smiles?]" and a lot of us have fallen for it.

Maybe it's time for farangs to go chic with the jet-setting monk with the aviator sunglasses and high cash flow. Any volunteers for a shaved head, orange robes with aviator sunglasses and sandals with diamonds on their soles (optional)?

How about starting a business selling jet setting monk tee-shirts, cups, pens, posters and other types of jet setting monk novelty items in Thailand?

Try doing that in Thailand and see how far you`re get. I`m sure they have a law against this practice somewhere in the legal books.

Try doing the same abroad and see how long it would be before the righteous and the do gooders begin crying racism and bigotry and then prosecuting under the race acts.

It`s amazing how attitudes change when the boots on the other foot and the situation affects people personally, especially those on the receiving end of being ridiculed and when the jokes on them.

Thailand is suffering from an acute case of having double standards, they should practice what they preach, otherwise the whole Kingdom is at risk of losing credibility as a civilized, democratic nation within the International eyes of the world.

Not the LOS, but the LDS, the land of double standards, and although I have always defended Thailand up to the hilt over the years, these incidents are quickly making me lose respect for this country. Never thought I see the day when I felt that this.

BJ

I dont know if criticizing TL for the existence of a double standard in TL is fair.

In every country I've visited, there has been some sort of a double standard.

But the glorification of Hitler is not a common thing.

I haven't heard of that except a rare post coming out of the middle east

or the growth of neo-nazis in the new independent soviet republics.

Even more rare are businesses glorifying Hitler.

I think the most relevant thing about this article is the origin itself

Read More: http://www.csmonitor...ensation-Hitler

--The Christian Science Monitor 2013-07-13

CSM is by no means some no named source.

This line of stories may be getting press on more major carriers.

At some point, it will reach critical mass,

and may affect Thai Tourism.

That`s it.

Something will only be done when this starts affecting tour companies and other businesses in their pockets.

........

Agreed BJ

CSMs article was picked up by Yahoo

Link - Yahoo picks up CSMs thailand-popular-sensation-hitler article

Guantanamo is under military jurisdiction I thought.

So does a US judge have any jurisdiction over Guantanamo?

Yep,

Expect a Civil case against Zimmerman soon. Civil cases only requires a preponderance of proof, not a "beyond all reasonable doubt" of proof.

And yes, the prosecutors did not do an adequate job. That happens sometimes.

PS, i'm not a lawyer. Not even close, so if an expert wants to correct me if i'm wrong, by all means do so.

Thanks.

I think the most relevant thing about this article is the origin itself

Read More: http://www.csmonitor...ensation-Hitler

--The Christian Science Monitor 2013-07-13

CSM is by no means some no named source.

This line of stories may be getting press on more major carriers.

At some point, it will reach critical mass,

and may affect Thai Tourism.

I guess he's not in a hurry.

Russia 'has not received' Snowden asylum bid

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23300425

Trying to stay up with point and counterpoint

between the NSA and one of its former analysts is giving me a headache

Army will have nothing to do with Thaksin return: Thanasak

There, you have official confirmation

Thaksin is returning!

Some more people needs to be fired.

"Earlier today, in response to an inquiry from a media outlet, a summer intern acted outside the scope of his authority when he erroneously confirmed the names of the flight crew on the aircraft," the NTSB said.

On Friday, an anchor for Oakland, California, station KTVU read a list of the supposed names of the pilots of the South Korean carrier on its noon broadcast after an employee apparently called the NTSB seeking to verify them.

The names appear to mock the events of the crash. The prank names were: Captain Sum Ting Wong, Wi Tu Lo, Ho Lee Fuk and Bang Ding Ow.

How could someone read those names without realising they were made up? Incredible!

Agreed. The NTSB official needs to be fired or moved. If he is going to confirm the information, he needs to physically confirm the information.

And who ever created these names, I'm hoping some high schooler prank, should be ashamed of what they did. If an adult created it, they should be disciplined.

Unless it was done by someone like the writers for The Simpsons. I could actually see them doing it. Its still not right, but hey, its their job to make a mockery of reality.

Some more people needs to be fired.

"Earlier today, in response to an inquiry from a media outlet, a summer intern acted outside the scope of his authority when he erroneously confirmed the names of the flight crew on the aircraft," the NTSB said.

On Friday, an anchor for Oakland, California, station KTVU read a list of the supposed names of the pilots of the South Korean carrier on its noon broadcast after an employee apparently called the NTSB seeking to verify them.

The names appear to mock the events of the crash. The prank names were: Captain Sum Ting Wong, Wi Tu Lo, Ho Lee Fuk and Bang Ding Ow.

a full interview with Snowden in Russian and English (42 minutes) including Q & A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=cHwOi6-Onl8#at=1225

Thanks for sharing

I was planning to look for it this morning.

Linking and posting the transcript of his statement for those who like print instead.

Hello. My name is Ed Snowden. A little over one month ago, I had family, a home in paradise, and I lived in great comfort. I also had the capability without any warrant to search for, seize, and read your communications. Anyone’s communications at any time. That is the power to change people’s fates.

It is also a serious violation of the law. The 4th and 5th Amendments to the Constitution of my country, Article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and numerous statutes and treaties forbid such systems of massive, pervasive surveillance. While the US Constitution marks these programs as illegal, my government argues that secret court rulings, which the world is not permitted to see, somehow legitimize an illegal affair. These rulings simply corrupt the most basic notion of justice – that it must be seen to be done. The immoral cannot be made moral through the use of secret law.

I believe in the principle declared at Nuremberg in 1945: "Individuals have international duties which transcend the national obligations of obedience. Therefore individual citizens have the duty to violate domestic laws to prevent crimes against peace and humanity from occurring."

Accordingly, I did what I believed right and began a campaign to correct this wrongdoing. I did not seek to enrich myself. I did not seek to sell US secrets. I did not partner with any foreign government to guarantee my safety. Instead, I took what I knew to the public, so what affects all of us can be discussed by all of us in the light of day, and I asked the world for justice.

That moral decision to tell the public about spying that affects all of us has been costly, but it was the right thing to do and I have no regrets.

Since that time, the government and intelligence services of the United States of America have attempted to make an example of me, a warning to all others who might speak out as I have. I have been made stateless and hounded for my act of political expression. The United States Government has placed me on no-fly lists. It demanded Hong Kong return me outside of the framework of its laws, in direct violation of the principle of non-refoulement – the Law of Nations. It has threatened with sanctions countries who would stand up for my human rights and the UN asylum system. It has even taken the unprecedented step of ordering military allies to ground a Latin American president’s plane in search for a political refugee. These dangerous escalations represent a threat not just to the dignity of Latin America, but to the basic rights shared by every person, every nation, to live free from persecution, and to seek and enjoy asylum.

Yet even in the face of this historically disproportionate aggression, countries around the world have offered support and asylum. These nations, including Russia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Nicaragua, and Ecuador have my gratitude and respect for being the first to stand against human rights violations carried out by the powerful rather than the powerless. By refusing to compromise their principles in the face of intimidation, they have earned the respect of the world. It is my intention to travel to each of these countries to extend my personal thanks to their people and leaders.

I announce today my formal acceptance of all offers of support or asylum I have been extended and all others that may be offered in the future. With, for example, the grant of asylum provided by Venezuela’s President Maduro, my asylee status is now formal, and no state has a basis by which to limit or interfere with my right to enjoy that asylum. As we have seen, however, some governments in Western European and North American states have demonstrated a willingness to act outside the law, and this behavior persists today. This unlawful threat makes it impossible for me to travel to Latin America and enjoy the asylum granted there in accordance with our shared rights.

This willingness by powerful states to act extra-legally represents a threat to all of us, and must not be allowed to succeed. Accordingly, I ask for your assistance in requesting guarantees of safe passage from the relevant nations in securing my travel to Latin America, as well as requesting asylum in Russia until such time as these states accede to law and my legal travel is permitted. I will be submitting my request to Russia today, and hope it will be accepted favorably.

If you have any questions, I will answer what I can.

Thank you.

Link to snowden-statement-to rights-groups