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France 'has vast data surveillance' - french daily Le Monde report


BBC News
Thu, 04 Jul 2013 00:00 UTC
DGSE data
© AFP
The DGSE data is said to be accessed by other French intelligence agencies
France's foreign intelligence service intercepts computer and telephone data on a vast scale, like the controversial US Prism programme, according to the French daily Le Monde.

The data is stored on a supercomputer at the headquarters of the DGSE intelligence service, the paper says.

The operation is "outside the law, and beyond any proper supervision", Le Monde says.

Other French intelligence agencies allegedly access the data secretly.

It is not clear however whether the DGSE surveillance goes as far as Prism. So far French officials have not commented on Le Monde's allegations.

The DGSE allegedly analyses the "metadata" - not the contents of e-mails and other communications, but the data revealing who is speaking to whom, when and where.

Connections inside France and between France and other countries are all monitored, Le Monde reports.

The paper alleges the data is being stored on three basement floors of the DGSE building in Paris. The secret service is the French equivalent of Britain's MI6.
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Vader

Obama in Africa: He's there to exploit, not liberate

Stephen Lendman
Global Research
Fri, 28 Jun 2013 11:13 UTC
Image
On June 26, it said Obama "arrived in Senegal, the first stop of a three-nation African trip, focused on supporting democratic progress, and increasing US trade and investment."

It's his second African trip. He visited earlier as a freshman Illinois senator. He told Kenyans, "I want you all to know that as your ally, your friend and your brother, I will be there in every way I can."

He lied. America comes to exploit. At issue is controlling Africa's rich resources.

Obama's visiting Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania. He'll return July 3. Why these countries? More on this below.

Controversy accompanies Obama. His one-week trip costs an estimated $100 million. At the same time, force-fed austerity harms growing millions at home. Poverty, high unemployment, hunger, and homelessness go unaddressed.

Obamanomics enriches corporate favorites and wealthy elites. Popular needs go begging to do so. Obama demands sacrifice. It's forced on America's most disadvantaged, unwanted and uncared for.

Foreign travel costs plenty. Hundreds of secret service, staff and others accompany Obama. Travel, accommodations, security and other costs are enormous.

Military cargo planes brought 56 vehicles. They include 14 limousines and three trucks. They're specially built for security.

Bulletproof glass will replace hotel windows where Obama and his family stay. Entire floors are needed to accommodate security and staff traveling with him.
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Chess

Belgium's King Albert abdicates on grounds of ill-health or to receive an allowance?

Bruno Waterfield
Telegraph.co.uk
Wed, 03 Jul 2013 09:22 UTC
King Albert II of Belgium has announced his abdication, the first time a Belgian monarch has voluntarily stepped down, amid ill health and a court case over his alleged paternity of an illegitimate daughter.
Image
© Reuters
Belgium's King Albert
In an unexpected address to the nation, the king, aged 79, announced that he would formally abdicate in favour of his son, Crown Prince Philippe on July 21, Belgium's national day.
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Bad Guys

Law is no longer of any consequence for US & allies: Naked Power Remains

Craig Murray
craigmurray.org
Wed, 03 Jul 2013 00:00 UTC
The forcing down of the Bolivian President's jet was a clear breach of the Vienna Convention by Spain and Portugal, which closed their airspace to this Head of State while on a diplomatic mission. It has never been thought necessary to write down in a Treaty that Heads of State enjoy diplomatic immunity while engaged in diplomacy, as their representatives only enjoy diplomatic immunity as cyphers for their Head of State. But it is a hitherto unchallenged precept of customary international law, indeed arguably the oldest provision of international law.

To the US and its allies, international law is no longer of any consequence. I can see no evidence that anyone in an official position has even noted the illegality of repeated Israeli air and missile strikes against Syria. Snowden, Manning and Assange all exposed illegality on a massive scale, and no action whatsoever has been taken against any of the criminals they exposed. Instead they are being hounded out of all meaningful life and ability to function in society.

I have repeatedly posted, and have been saying in public speeches for ten years, that under the UK/US intelligence sharing agreements the NSA spies on UK citizens and GCHQ spies on US citizens and they swap the information. As they use a shared technological infrastructure, the division is simply a fiction to get round the law in each country restricting those agencies from spying on their own citizens.

I have also frequently remarked how extraordinary it is that the media keep this "secret", which they have all known for years.
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Black Magic

Psychopaths run the world


Examiner.com
Sat, 29 Jun 2013 00:00 UTC
psychopathy
© Sott.net
Most people think of a psychopath as a rare creature found only in the lowest levels of society. However, the reverse is true. They are not rare, but actually quite common, and you are more likely to find psychopaths in the boardroom than on the wrong side of the tracks. The reason is that, the more competitive a particular environment is, the more ruthless the use of the Cheating Strategy becomes. Within the highest circles of power and wealth, a lack of pity and remorse is practically a prerequisite to success, and only the psychopathic mentality can thrive. Living at the expense of the rest of humanity would be an impossible situation in a rational society."

In his book, "Defense Against the Psychopath," author Stefan Verstappen outlines the greatest and stealthiest danger in the human jungle. Leaders throughout history - the people we vote for - are rarely moral leaders. For them, lying is as easy and natural as breathing. They have this extraordinary ability to deceive and manipulate others for their own benefit. Masters at keeping people confused and off balance, they are easily able to take advantage of and traumatize life. Their acting skills are unbelievably masterful.

Comment: For more in depth information on the devastation wrought by the pathological deviants in charge, read:
The Pathocrats
Is the world run by Psychopaths?
Capitalism: A System Run By and For Psychopaths
On the Nature of Psychopathy: A Thought Experiment

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USA

Has Washington's arrogance and bullying undone its empire?

Dr. Paul Craig Roberts
Paul Craig Roberts IPE
Mon, 01 Jul 2013 00:00 UTC
US Empire
© Duncan Long
No one likes a bully, and Washington's NATO puppets have been bullied for six decades. British prime ministers, German chancellors, and French presidents have to salute and say "yes sir."

They all hate it, but they love Washington's money; so they prostitute themselves and their countries for Washington's money. Even a person of Winston Churchill's stature had to suck up to Washington in order to get his bills and his country's bills paid.

But what the bought European leaders are finding is that Washington doesn't pay enough for the prostitution required. One year out of office Tony Blair was worth $35 million dollars. But that's not enough to get Blair on the waiting list for $50 million 200 foot yachts, to have a chalet in Gstaad, $50 million penthouses in Paris and New York, and a private plane to fly between them, or to wear a $736,000 Franck Muller watch on his wrist, sign his name with a $700,000 Mont Blanc jewel-encrusted pen, and drink $10,000 "martinis on a rock" (gin or vodka poured over a diamond) at New York's Algonquin Hotel.

In a world in which every member of the Forbes Four Hundred is a billionaire plus or multi-billionaire, $35,000,000 just doesn't cut it. In 2006 the manager of one hedge fund was paid $1,700,000,000 for one year's thieving. Another 25 were paid $575,000,000 for their skills in front-running trades. $35 million is probably the annual budget for their household servants.
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V

Chile: Students clash with riot police


Banoosh
Fri, 28 Jun 2013 18:42 UTC
Image
Hundreds of people gathered in the plazas of the Chilean capital on Wednesday night, banging pots and pans in support of student demands. The demonstration followed a day of protests and violence. Battles between riot police and small groups of hooded protesters also continued into the night, with water cannons being used to try and disperse them. People of all ages took to the streets, banging metal poles with stones, and saucepans and pots with spoons.

The protests began early on Wednesday and police have so far arrested 102 people and four officers have been injured. The protest, timed ahead of Sunday's presidential primaries, is aimed at demanding wider distribution of Chile's copper wealth. It also calls for reform of the education system that would put the state back in control of the mostly-privatized public universities.
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Vader

West war of terror comes out of closet

Jim W. Dean
Veterans Today
Thu, 27 Jun 2013 18:34 UTC
Image

The bodies continue to pile up – but there is a never ending supply so no one cares
Western publics sit like deer in the headlights, unable to move despite the illegal night hunter about to shoot them through the head.

But it also could be said we are shooting ourselves in the head.

I use that dramatic analogy because that seems to be exactly what is happening to us. A new generation of terror is being created right before our very eyes using our own tax dollars to do so, and the effort led by those sworn to protect us...people we elected.

Image

Western supported Syrian rebels taking care of PoWs
Let's review the current Syrian mess and how some very evil people, maybe an evil empire really, saw a way to exploit the situation to launch a new generation of terror not only in the Mid East but the Caucus region and Europe and North Africa.

The devastation that this will bring upon those areas is so certain I can only conclude that it is actually the purpose of the whole effort. The motivation seems a bit hazy as there is no real understandable beneficial motive for the people of these countries...like a real security threat. A war for commercial interests is the only feasible reason.
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Bad Guys

U.S. and UK Alliance to occupy Afghanistan indefinitely

Nicholas Watt
Guardian
Sat, 29 Jun 2013 18:28 UTC
Image
© Shamil Zhumatov/Reuters
British troops in Helmand. Nato combat forces are due to withdraw from Afghanistan by the end of 2014.
Senior military sources say Nato will continue to play major role as Afghan forces are unprepared for 2014 withdrawal

International forces will provide logistical advice to the Afghan military up until 2020 after concluding that Afghanistan's national security forces will be unprepared for full operations when Nato combat troops withdraw from the country at the end of 2014.

As David Cameron paid a visit to British troops in Helmand province on Armed Forces Day, senior military sources indicated that Nato would need to play a major role in Afghanistan until the end of the decade.

The prime minister said British forces were reaching the final phase of the 12-year campaign. But senior British military sources said the Afghan forces would need advice on providing close air support, the distribution of food and fuel and on medevac facilities.

British military commanders have been able to make their assessments after Nato handed control of security for the whole of the country to Afghan forces this month. The commanders have concluded that a great deal has been achieved but that Afghan forces will not have built their capacity to full operational levels by the time Nato combat troops leave at the end of 2014.
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Red Flag

Fear, panic grip Libyan capital as unknown fighters wage battle in Tripoli

Jomana Karadsheh
CNN
Thu, 27 Jun 2013 18:23 UTC
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Residents of Benghazi bury the bodies of the demonstrators that were killed during clashes on June 8.
A tense calm prevailed over Libya's capital Thursday after days of chaos left at least seven people dead -- including a 12-year-old boy.

But it's unclear if the violence is really over -- or even who the warring groups are.

Sounds of heavy gunfire and explosions echoed across Tripoli on Wednesday night, sending waves of confusion and panic as residents weren't sure who was behind the attacks.

Medical sources in Abu Saleem Hospital said two people, including a 12-year-old boy, died Wednesday from injuries sustained in the clashes, the state news agency LANA reported. The hospital also said it was treating a number of injured from the violence.

LANA said it was not clear what groups were involved in Wednesday's fighting. It quoted witnesses as saying the densely populated Abu Saleem area was in a state of "panic and fear" as fighting closed off main roads in the area, including the one leading to the international airport.
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