Algeria acquits two former Guantanamo Bay detainees

Two Algerian men held at Guantanamo Bay for seven years on terror charges have been acquitted at a trial on being returned home, state media report.

Faghoul Abdelli and Mohamed Terari were arrested in Afghanistan by Pakistani police after the 11 September 2001 attacks on the US, reports said.

They both denied having any connection to militant groups and said they were “brutally tortured” in US custody.

Algeria’s state prosecutor had called for a 20-year jail term for the men.

US President Barack Obama made closing the detention centre down a key part of his election campaign and set a deadline of January 2010.

But last week he said that date would be missed.

He did not set a specific new deadline for closing the camp, but said it would probably be later in 2010

Officials are trying to determine what to do with some 215 detainees still held at the Cuba prison.

Mr Obama’s administration says it will try some detainees in US courts and repatriate or resettle others not perceived as a threat.

via BBC News – Algeria acquits two former Guantanamo Bay detainees.

The Gitmo torture chambers are still operating? People are held for seven years without a trial, then released and found not guilty? Where is the outrage? Disgusting.

Dualing Big Brothers: Over 1 in 10 in British DNA database, but USA wins

A Big Brother landmark has been passed with ten per cent of the population now stored on the Government’s DNA database.

In total, there are now an astonishing 5,532,847 individual profiles logged on the giant computer system – out of a population of 54million in England and Wales.

Around one million of those included on the system have never been convicted of any crime.

It will fuel the public backlash against the march towards a surveillance state, with polling released today showing eight out of ten voters are now fed-up with the increased use of surveillance powers.

Shadow Home Office Minister James Brokenshire said: ‘The Government has been obsessed with growing the DNA database for the sake of it regardless of guilt or innocence.

‘Despite being told that their approach is unlawful they have been dragging their feet about doing anything about it.

The polling, carried out for the civil liberties pressure group Big Brother Watch by PoliticsHome, found 45 per cent of respondents answered ‘strongly agree’ and 34 per cent ‘somewhat agree’ with the statement: ‘Our freedoms are being eroded by a Big Brother state’.

Only 16 per cent of those asked supported the use of CCTV cameras capable of recording conversations, and 82 per cent disagreed that placing microchips in refuse bins to monitor the waste thrown away by households was an acceptable measure to encourage recycling .

via Britain’s Big Brother landmark: More than one in 10 people now on DNA database | Mail Online.

I have a song about this I wrote years ago. It is called, “I’m growing your clone.”

A person should own his/her DNA, thus making this act by the British government a crime of copy write infringement. A citizen can not copy a SONG, but the Government can pirate your DNA? Think about it…   Your DNA!  Surely a person’s DNA is the closest physical manifestation we currently have of the soul.  (Once they learn how to copy the brain, that will be next, of course.)

If you ask me, people over there should be revolting. Well, some of them are.
There are currently 61 million British citizens (July 2009 estimate) compared to 305 million US citizens (Jan 2009 estimate).  The US may (secretly?) have more actual DNA samples. (Remember when they had plenty of blood but kept asking people to donate after 9/11?)

… U.S. officials said that when the measure is fully implemented, roughly 1.2 million people a year could be added to the national database. – http://www.washingtonpost.com/

A little more research shows that my hunch was correct, and it’s no secret. The US has more samples. This according to the New York Times:

“The F.B.I., with a DNA database of 6.7 million profiles, expects to accelerate its rate of growth from 80,000 new entries a year to 1.2 million by 2012 — a 17-fold increase.

Score: US: 6.7 million DNA profiles. British: 5.5 million DNA profiles.  Biggest Big Brother… the USA! “We’re number one! We’re number one!”

US jails man for sleeping … and bad thoughts … evil thoughts…

An al-Qaeda sleeper agent has been jailed in the US for plotting to provide material support for terrorism.

Ali al-Marri was held two months after the 9/11 attacks. He admitted having regular contact with Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind.

Al-Marri, a dual Saudi-Qatari national, pleaded guilty in May, having spent about six years in US custody. Jailing him for eight years, the judge said he considered it likely al-Marri would attack the US if he could.

US District Judge Michael Mihm said he did not believe al-Marri’s contrition. However, he did not give him the maximum of 15 years in prison, saying he deserved credit for enduring harsh treatment while in custody.

Tearful court appearance

Defence lawyers said al-Marri spent time in isolation, had suffered sensory deprivation and threats to harm his family. Al-Marri wept in court on Thursday as he said he was sorry he had ever helped al-Qaeda. He admitted that he trained in al-Qaeda camps and stayed in al-Qaeda safe houses in Pakistan between 1998 and 2001. He entered the US on 10 September 2001 on a student visa.

While studying, he carried out research into poisons and the location of US dams, waterways and tunnels, prosecutors said. He was arrested in December 2001 and charged with credit card fraud. In 2003 the Bush administration labelled him an “enemy combatant” and held him in a military base in South Carolina. In December 2008 the Supreme Court agreed to review the legality of his detention.

But two months later, after President Barack Obama took office, he was formally charged by a federal court with supporting a foreign terror group.

via BBC NEWS | Americas | US jails al-Qaeda sleeper agent.

Jailing someone who has not harmed another person, based on what you think they might do is itself a crime, and one of extreme arrogance. No judge has the power to read minds. This godlike proclamation of evil intent denies this “sleeper agent” the human right to turn it around and make a good choice. He could use his training to help the US by telling us what to watch out for, for example. I was hoping that fear would stop running the country when Bush left.

Pain Of Torture Can Make Innocent Seem Guilty

The rationale behind torture is that pain will make the guilty confess, but a new study by researchers at Harvard University finds that the pain of torture can make even the innocent seem guilty.

Participants in the study met a woman suspected of cheating to win money. The woman was then “tortured” by having her hand immersed in ice water while study participants listened to the session over an intercom. She never confessed to anything, but the more she suffered during the torture, the guiltier she was perceived to be. …

“Our research suggests that torture may not uncover guilt so much as lead to its perception,” says Gray.

via Pain Of Torture Can Make Innocent Seem Guilty.

Torture does not save lives. It creates false testimonies and false guilt. Didn’t we learn that lesson during the Dark Ages? Didn’t we learn that lesson during the Salem witch trials? Let the people in Gitmo stand trail for their crimes based on the evidence, or let them go so they can try to seek a little peace in their forever damaged minds during the amount of time they may have remaining on earth.

Guantánamo torture: UK wants claims of complicity to be heard in secret

The government wants allegations that it was complicit in the torture by the US of Britons held as terrorism suspects to be heard in secret.

In documents seen by the Guardian, lawyers for the government argue it must be allowed to present evidence to the high court with the public excluded, otherwise Britain’s relations with other countries and its national security could be damaged. The government also wants its evidence kept secret from defence lawyers.

Lawyers for seven men who are now all back in the UK after the US released them without charge will tomorrow go to the high court in London to fight the government’s attempt, which they say is designed to cover the embarrassment of ministers and the security services.

The attempt to have unprecedented secret hearings comes as part of a case brought by four British residents and three UK citizens who were held in Guantánamo Bay. They are suing and allege the government and the security services were complicit in their rendition, unlawful detention and torture. …

The seven men bringing the lawsuit include Binyam Mohamed, who says he was tortured with the knowledge of the British security and intelligence agencies. In a separate but parallel case, the high court is locked in a fierce row with David Miliband, the foreign secretary, over his refusal to disclose CIA information.

Earlier this month, two senior judges dismissed the foreign secretary’s claims that disclosing evidence of unlawful treatment would harm national security and threaten the UK’s vital intelligence-sharing arrangements with the US. Miliband is appealing against the ruling.

In the high court, lawyers acting for the seven will urge Mr Justice Silber to reject MI5 and MI6 arguments that they should be able to rely on secret “closed evidence” to make their case.

The government filed a witness statement from the Treasury solicitor David Mackie outlining its defence. In it he explains the damage ministers and their lawyers believe could be caused if information held by the security services is publicly released. Mackie says in his witness statement that informants and the agencies methods would be jeopardised: “Disclosure of the information … would be likely to assist those whose purpose is to injure the security of the UK and whose actions in the past have shown that they are willing to kill innocent civilians.” …

via Guantánamo torture: UK wants claims of complicity to be heard in secret | World news | The Guardian.

Hiding torture under a cloak of national security is not acceptable.  The threat made in attempt to hide the truth is a false choice. We can keep our countries safe without violating human rights. Lawmakers, end this Bush spawned dark age of detention without charges now.

Snooper’s paradise Internet “Game” to Use CCTV to “Catch Criminals”

Big brother may or may not be watching, but a new form of interactive entertainment will allow participants to leverage Britain’s 4.0 million plus closed circuit cameras in a bid to catch criminals and win money.

According to the Daily Mail, Internet Eyes is scheduled to launch next month and has already drawn the ire of civil rights groups, who worry the activity could lead to civil rights abuses. One member of the opposition, Charles Farrior, labeled it “an appalling idea,” and worried it would create a “snooper’s paradise.”

Those watching cameras—in real-time—will be able to click a button every time they witness something they deem suspicious. Then, a message will be relayed to a camera operator, along with a still image from the camera. The operator will decide whether or not to take action and will notify the “player” if a crime has taken place or not.

Those participating will be blocked out after three incorrect alerts in a month, though additional alert opportunities can be purchased. As a further safeguard, actual locations of the cameras will not be known to those watching at home.

The article notes that Britain has 4.2 million CCTV cameras—one for every 14 inhabitants.

via Internet “Game” to Use CCTV to Catch Criminals | GamePolitics.

Certain members of Britain once again win the not-being-able-to-mind-their-own-business award. Entertainment? Don’t they have any entertainers over there? Please, someone teach them how to play some musical instruments so they have something better to do with their time. Don’t forget, control freakism by certain Brits is why we formed America.

Bus CCTV could predict assaults

CCTV security systems could soon spot an assault on a bus before it happens, according to a major research project.

The system, part of which has already been tested in laboratory conditions, looks for suspicious behaviour associated with crime.

It would be able to send live CCTV pictures to operation rooms, from where controllers would be able to intervene.

The Queens University Belfast team say the software could make a significant impact on crime on transport.

Although much of the work is currently at the theoretical stage, the team from the university’s newly-founded Centre for Secure Information Technologies predict that within five years their software will be able to profile people as they board a bus.

The system would then compare who it thinks these people are, and what they are doing, with more general data on the bus’s location, time of day and historic crime rates.

Once it has sifted this data, it could be able to conclude whether someone is about to commit an assault and send live pictures to controllers.

Dr Paul Miller, head of the research project, said there were millions of CCTV cameras in the UK doing very little to fight crime.

“Their impact on anti-social behaviour and criminal behaviour is negligible – assaults on buses are a major problem and very little CCTV material is analysed in real-time,” he said.

Dr Miller said the 15-strong team were still developing initial databases to identify an individual’s gender and body shape.

via BBC NEWS | Technology | Bus CCTV could predict assaults.

Brilliant. And if the computer deems the person a sufficient threat, built in stun guns could zap them unconscious when they sit in the seat. If they do not sit, or if the person of a particular ethnicity reaches into his or her pocket to get some “gum”, for example, the computer could decide to shoot them in the head, killing them instantly with swivel mounted guns which would be built in to several locations on the bus.  I feel so much safer.

G20 protesters blasted by sonic cannon

US police spark outrage by using wartime acoustic weapon to disperse G20 protesters in Pittsburgh

Friday, 25 September 2009

Only a few hundreds protesters took to the streets of Pittsburgh to mark the opening day of the G20 summit of world leaders, but the police were taking no chances.

Sonic weapons or long-range acoustic devices have been used by the US military overseas, notably against Somali pirates and Iraqi insurgents.

But US security forces turned the piercing sound on their own citizens yesterday to widespread outrage. Pittsburgh officials told the New York Times that it was the first time “sound cannon” had been used publicly.

The sonic weapon appear to be more effective than the Metropolitan police’s highly contentious kettling tactics used against G20 protesters in London. But it is equally controversial.

It is feared the sounds emitted are loud enough to damage eardrums and even cause fatal aneurysms.

via UTV News – G20 protesters blasted by sonic cannon.

Pittsburgh police on Thursday used an audio cannon manufactured by American Technology Corporation (ATCO), a San Diego-based company, to disperse protesters outside the G-20 Summit — the first time its LRAD series device has been used on civilians in the U.S.

An ATC sales representative confirms to DailyFinance that Pittsburgh police used ATC’s Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD). “Yes, we sold one LRAD unit to a government agency — I don’t know which one — which was used in Pittsburgh,” the representative said. American Technology Corp.’s stock was trading up over 15 percent in heavy activity late Friday.
ATC calls itself “a leading innovator of commercial, government, and military directed acoustics product offers” that offers “sound solutions for the commercial, government, and military markets.”

Pittsburgh officials said yesterday they believe this to be the first use of a LRAD “sonic cannon” against civilians in U.S. history.

“The police fired a sound cannon that emitted shrill beeps, causing demonstrators to cover their ears and back up,” The New York Times reported. For years, similar “non-lethal” products designed by ATC have been used at sea by cruise ships to ward off pirates.

“LRAD creates increased stand off and safety zones, supports resolution of uncertain situations, and potentially prevents the use of deadly force,” ATC spokesperson Robert Putnam told DailyFinance. “We believe this is highly preferable to the real instances that happen almost every day around the world where officials use guns and other lethal and non-lethal weapons to disperse protesters.”

Still, Putnam acknowledged the potential for physical harm. “If you stand right next to it for several minutes, you could have hearing damage,” he said. “But it’s your choice.” He added that heavy-duty ear-phones can render the weapon less effective. – dailyfinance

French ‘pass’ piracy legislation

The French National Assembly has passed a draft law that would allow illegal downloaders to be thrown off the net.

The law was narrowly passed by 285 votes to 225.

The French hard-line policy on piracy has drawn worldwide attention as nations around the globe grapple with the issue of piracy.

The ruling majority UMP voted in favour but the Socialist Party has already announced that they will appeal to the Constitutional Court once again.

An earlier version of the bill was ruled unconstitutional and a compromise version was hammered out.

The Constitutional Court insisted that a judge rather than a high authority had to rule on the issue of whether to disconnect users.

The document will only be adopted definitely if a commission – made up of seven senators and seven deputies – can agree a joint version in the next few days.

The legislation is backed by President Nicolas Sarkozy.

The proposed legislation operates under a “three strikes” system. A new state agency would first send illegal file-sharers a warning e-mail, then a letter and finally cut off their connection if they were caught a third time.

While it is backed by the film and record industries, consumer groups have warned that innocent people may get punished.

The European Parliament is currently considering whether cutting off internet access is a breach of human rights.

via BBC NEWS | Technology | French ‘pass’ piracy legislation.

What do you think, is Internet access a human right? I think it should be simply because it is becoming our primary vehicle of education and self expression.

Guatemalan army stole children for adoption, report says

The Guatemalan army stole at least 333 children and sold them for adoption in other countries during the Central American nation’s 36-year civil war, a government report has concluded

Many of those children ended up in the United States, as well as Sweden, Italy and France, said the report’s author and lead investigator, Marco Tulio Alvarez.

In some cases, the report said, parents were killed so the children could be taken and given to government-operated agencies to be adopted abroad. In other instances, the children were abducted without physical harm to the parents.

“This was a great abuse by the state,” Alvarez told CNN on Friday.

Investigators started examining records in May 2008 for a period that spanned from 1977-89, said Alvarez, the director of the Guatemalan Peace Archive, a commission established by President Alvaro Colom.

Of 672 records investigators looked at, Alvarez said, they determined that 333 children had been stolen. The children were taken for financial and political reasons, he said.

Alvarez acknowledges that many more children possibly were taken. Investigators zeroed in on the 1977-89 period because peak adoptions occurred during that time frame, particularly in 1986. They will investigate through 1995 and hope to have another report ready by early next year, he said.

A presidential ministry has determined that about 45,000 people disappeared during the nation’s civil war, which lasted from 1960 to 1996. About 5,000 of those were children, the ministry said. Another 200,000 people died in the conflict between the leftist guerrillas and right-wing governments.

The nation’s public ministry and attorney general’s office will determine whether anyone is prosecuted over the abductions, Alvarez said.

via Guatemalan army stole children for adoption, report says – CNN.com.