[The Weekly Standard] The inspector general of the State Department confirmed today in Senate testimony that the State Department network at some point was hacked. He made the comments in response to a question from Georgia senator David Perdue.
Perdue asked, "Do you have evidence that the State Department's network has been attacked, and does that affect you guys?"
"There is evidence it has been attacked, and it has affected us. I can't really go into details because of the nature of the information," said inspector general Steve Linick. Mr. Linick, does the name Xiaoming Gao mean anything to you ?
In a statement, Perdue commented, "Georgians sent me to Washington to make the federal government more effective, transparent, and accountable. Today's hearing is part of our Congressional oversight authority. It is my hope that this first hearing and the bipartisan work of this subcommittee will help uncover ways we can improve and streamline oversight at the State Department in order to support the men and women who serve our country here at home and around the world.
"The Office of the Inspector General was designed to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse, and has laudably found ways to save taxpayers millions of dollars. However, they do not have autonomy or independence to conduct adequate oversight. Given the important mission of the State Department, it's outrageous that Mr. Linick and his team are not given full authority to hold a department of 72,000 employees accountable. As chairman of this subcommittee, my goal is to improve the overall operational effectiveness of the State Department and provide greater transparency and accountability for the American people."
#1
In a related article, Hillary said,"I was aware of the vulnerability of the un-secured ports and possible Trojan Horse back door problem. I took steps with the advice of my Chinese server admin to place the unit in my home to avoid a possible hack"
#2
Warthog ~ Feel free to drop the sarc tag. With a little help from John Brennan system administration types, your statement is very much a plausible scenario.
#3
Thanks B...I started thinking that when I wrote it. It wouldn't surprise me if something along those lines is put forward and only sees the light of day now for "security reasons"
City streets turned bloody over the balmy weekend — an earlier spate of violence than in recent years and a bad omen for what could become a long and violent summer.
Three people were killed and 23 others wounded in 21 shooting incidents between Friday and Sunday, officials said. The violence frayed nerves and prompted a promise of beefed-up police presence.
As of Monday night, no one had been charged with letting off shots, which mostly took place in Brooklyn and the Bronx. And while it’s common for bullets to fly as the weather warms up, the disturbing gunplay in early spring is unusual.
“We will look at where the shootings occurred,” said NYPD chief spokesman Stephen Davis. “We’ll assess that in determining where we employ additional summer resources.”
Summer begins on June 21.
Steven McKoy, 30, became the final victim in the string of weekend violence when two people ambushed him in Brooklyn. One shot him in the stomach and the other blasted him in the head, cops said. There was still light out when he was left dying on an East New York street.
[Daily Caller] Documents obtained by The Daily Caller and interviews with American veterans reveal a shocking government program: The Department of Veterans Affairs is disarming America's veterans by getting them placed on the FBI's criminal background-check list.
The VA sends veterans' personal medical and financial information directly to the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, which can seize their guns in home raids.
Veterans deemed mentally incompetent or financially incapable are finally speaking out about the errors in the system and the fearful harassment they and their families face from the federal government. And it all starts when vets go to the VA to get medical help.
The Daily Caller obtained a "MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION REGARDING THE NATIONAL INSTANT CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK SYSTEM."
The document, dated Feb. 27, 2012, makes clear the VA must send health information to the FBI for its gun background-check database. Might Health and Human Services - Obamacare have a similar MOA ?
"VA will provide an encrypted compact disc exchanged via mail to the FBI no less than quarterly for, inter alia, inclusion in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS)," the memo reads.
The memo defines the NICS database as a list of "persons prohibited under federal law from receiving or possessing firearms."
"Data disclosed by VA to the FBI under the terms of this agreement is to be entered into the NICS Index..."
#1
1. "an encrypted compact disc"
2. "exchanged via mail"
3. "no less than quarterly"
4. "Data ... is to be entered"
5. "document, dated Feb. 27, 2012"
#2
Of course. Like government employees everywhere, they may not be capable of doing their actual job, but they do know how to keep the bureaucracy happy.
Posted by: ed in texas ||
04/22/2015 7:24 Comments ||
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#3
Disarm the Executive Branch of the Federal Government. Also, if debt is a red flag there is no one deeper in debt than the Federal Government are.
The bottom line is the regime is going after well trained people in military tactics who are sworn to protect the constitution.
Doctors in the past asking if patients have guns is a precursor to Obama Care interrogations and reporting of all Americans.
#4
If this generation of American people do not begin to stand up for Freedom and Liberty which are rights endowed by the Creator for every human, the American people no longer deserve basic rights and protection.
#6
If this generation of American people do not begin to stand up for Freedom and Liberty which are rights ........., the American people no longer deserve basic rights and protection.
Posted by Ebbomosh Hupemp2664
Too late Ebbo. They're far too busy Face Looking, twerking and tweeting.
#7
Interesting.
Can this be cross referenced to any formal complaints?
g(r)om, not here. Especially after the government floated that one owning a firearm equals a mental defect. Which I guess being a LEO makes one immune or something. Anyways, I was at a hospital soon after Obamacare and had to re-sign my affirmation of service understandings and in the fine print was a deal that the hospital could share my health information in the event I made a disparaging comment or anything considered a threat against a foreign diplomat or some such bull.
Yeah, I'm the one of those guys who reads those things.
#8
I'm of the opinion that everything the government is doing these days is to keep the citizens from opposing it. It believes it exists to rule, but to govern.
Federal officials are investigating a YouTube video posted on Sunday that shows a law enforcement officer grabbing what looks to be a recording device from a woman's hand and smashing it on the ground. Because Safety.
#1
Nice photo, but my personal fav Federal gestapo pic is the Elián González BORTAC take-down.
Wiki: In the pre-dawn hours of Easter eve, Saturday, April 22, 2000 pursuant to an order issued by a federal magistrate, eight agents of the Border Patrol's elite BORTAC.
[U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement] WASHINGTON -- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) issued a Geographic Targeting Order (GTO) today to 700 businesses in Miami, bringing their transactions under stricter scrutiny while law enforcement look for evidence of trade-based money laundering schemes often used by violent criminal organizations to launder their profits. Probably nothing at all to do with the Cuban community in exile or the upcoming entry into the presidential race of another Bush. Under current regulations, a business that receives more than $10,000 in a single transaction, or several related transactions, must file Form 8300 with Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Treasury tasked with safeguarding financial systems from illicit use and combating money laundering. This GTO lowers that threshold to $3,000 for affected businesses. In addition to filing the form at the lower threshold, businesses must complete reports regarding persons involved in the transaction. The higher level of inspection enhances law enforcement's ability to identify and prosecute money launderers. Similar action no doubt pending with Wells Fargo and Mexican nationals forwarding of millions of USD each year south of the border.
"A GTO is one of many tools available in the fight against money laundering. Past successes show that GTOs can be effective in exposing criminal organizations using legitimate financial institutions and businesses to facilitate their illicit dealings, "said HSI Executive Associate Director Peter Edge. "Homeland Security Investigations is dedicated to disrupting these activities and dismantling these organizations to protect the security of the nation's financial infrastructure."
HSI partnered with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and the Miami Dade State Attorney's Office South Florida Money Laundering Strike Force to issue this GTO, which is focused specifically on electronics exporters near Miami.
"When we issued a similar GTO in the Los Angeles area last year, many speculated about whether we'd be doing the same in other parts of the country," said FinCEN Director Jennifer Shasky Calvery. "We will continue issuing GTOs, as necessary, as well as exercising FinCEN's other unique anti-money laundering authorities, to ensure a transparent financial system that impedes money launderers and other criminals from masking their identity and illicit activity."
Notice of a GTO is sent to businesses via certified mail and failure to cooperate could result in civil and criminal penalties. Businesses covered by the GTO have been served a copy of the order and must begin to comply with the order April 28, 2015. A copy of the order may be found here. Any questions about the order should be directed to the FinCEN Resource Center at 800-767-2825.
#5
Champ is off to Florida and the Everglades for 'Earth Day.' Things are really messed with the Florida environment, sea water, sink holes, gators, foggy glass bottom boats, that sort of thing. More regulations needed.... fewer republicans, especially of the Bush variety.
Iran, China... .North Korea seems the logical next step.
[Ynet] President Barack Obama My friends, we live in the greatest nation in the history of the world. I hope you'll join with me as we try to change it... on Tuesday proposed a 30-year agreement to cooperate with China on nuclear power, a deal that would allow the transfer of material, reactors, components and technology between the two nations, if approved by the US Congress.
[AnNahar] The Sick Man of Europe Turkey ...the only place on the face of the earth that misses the Ottoman Empire.... 's main Kurdish party on Tuesday launched their manifesto for June 7 legislative polls, saying it would be a "sultan's nightmare" for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ... Turkey's version of Mohammed Morsi but they voted him back in so they deserve him... "This manifesto will be the sultan's nightmare but a dream for all the people of Turkey," Figen Yuksekdag, co-chair of the the People's Democratic Party (HDP), told party supporters, as she announced the party manifesto with co-leader Selahattin Demirtas.
Erdogan, who has dominated Turkey for over a decade, first as premier and now as president, is commonly referred to as the "Sultan" after the country's former Ottoman rulers which he admires.
The HDP is only ranked in fourth place in the polls, but will play a key role in an election where the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is aiming for a big enough majority to be able to push through constitutional changes giving the president full executive powers.
The HDP hopes to clear the controversial 10 percent barrier for full representation in the 550-seat parliament. If that happens, then the AKP may find it hard to reach two-thirds of the seats it needs to be able to force through changes to the constitution.
"There will never be a presidential system in our constitution," Yuksekdag said. "We did not change our minds, friends, and we will never do so."
Seeking to draw a distinction with the often dry two rival opposition parties, the party's election material is emblazoned with bright colors and the jaunty slogan "We are going to the Meclis (parliament)".
Uniquely among Turkey's parties, it has has put women's, worker and gay rights at the centre of its election campaign. Half of all its candidates are women, and it has male and female co-leaders.
The party's male co-chair Selahattin Demirtas, who greeted the audience in the long-suppressed Kurdish language, called for a "new beginning".
"We can build a brand-new Turkey only through a radical transformation," he said.
Ironically, part of the reason the HDP is even involved is Erdogan's initiative to give greater rights to Kurds, Turkey's biggest ethnic minority.
But the HDP has in recent weeks bitterly accused the government of dragging its feet in the grinding of the peace processor ending a conflict with armed separatists that has claimed tens of thousands of lives.
"No matter what happens we will defend a solution without weapons and democratic policies," the HDP said in its election manifesto.
As well as courting the Kurdish vote, the HDP is seeking to broaden its appeal to leftist secular Turks attracted by its leftist and pro-women and pro-gay message.
"We are telling the homophobic mindset which does not recognize any color than black and white... to embrace their colors," Yuksekdag said.
It promised to implement a system of male and female co-prime ministers, as is done in the party leadership.
The party also pledged to remove militarist and chauvinistic language from school books, and create a multi-lingual education system.
Promoting a secular agenda, it pledges to abolish the government directorate of religious affairs and mandatory religion courses.
Casting itself as the party of the environment, it pledges to reduce defense expenditure, stop nuclear energy investments, and not allow shopping malls in city center.
Party leaders also promised to apologize to the Armenians and other peoples on behalf of the Turkish state for "genocides and massacres committed in history."
Demirtas, who drew the ire for recognizing the 1915 killings of Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman Empire during World War I years as genocide, promised to "unconditionally reopen the Turkish-Armenian border."
[Dawn] ISLAMABAD: Around 1.8 million children, nearly a tenth of all enrolled students in Pakistain, study in religious seminaries, according to a report launched by the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training on Tuesday.
The report also highlighted that around 35 per cent schools in the country, which don’t have clean drinking facility, 31 schools don’t have toilets and 41 per cent schools don’t have electricity.
The Pakistain Education Statistics 2013-14 report also reveals that there has been no significant change in enrolment at the primary school-level and the number of students enrolled in primary schools is almost at the same level as it was in 2011-12.
According to the report, there are 145,491 primary schools (both private and public), where approximately 17 million students are enrolled. In contrast, nearly 1.84 million students are enrolled in the 14,405 registered madressahs, of which 97 per cent are privately managed and only 393 are run by the public sector.
Continued on Page 49
[AnNahar] Malaysia's government faced calls Tuesday to take action against Moslem protesters who pressured a church to remove its cross, the latest example of rising Islamic intolerance that is fueling religious tensions in the multi-faith country.
A group of about 50 protesters demonstrated Sunday outside the small church in a Kuala Lumpur suburb, saying the Christian symbol above it was an affront to local Moslems, according to Malaysian media.
The cross was removed hours later and there were no reports of violence.
The incident caused outrage among Moslems and non-Moslems alike, amid festering anxiety over Islamic intolerance in the traditionally moderate country.
A group of more than three dozen high-ranking -- and mostly Moslem -- former civil servants and diplomats on Tuesday led the calls for action with a statement labeling the demonstration a "mindless act of hatred and intolerance."
"We call upon the authorities to take firm action against the protesters," said the group, known as the "G25" for the number of its founding members and which was formed last year to push back against intolerance.
Failure to act "will embolden religious bully boys," they added.
Malaysia's ethnic Malay Moslem majority has largely coexisted peacefully with the country's sizable numbers of Christians, Hindus and other faiths under a system ensuring Moslem dominance.
But vocal Islamists and Malay nationalists have in recent years ratcheted up the rhetoric against a perceived "threat" from non-Moslems.
Their actions are often condoned by the Moslem-led government of Prime Minister Najib Razak, which has increasingly catered to its Malay Islamic base after 58 years in power as voter support shifts to a reform-minded opposition.
Last year Malaysia's highest court upheld a government ban on a Catholic newspaper's longtime use of the Arabic word "Allah" to refer to the Christian creator, a case that heightened religious divisions.
The cross protest also has provided the first test of a toughened law against "seditious" speech.
Najib's government this month outraged the opposition and rights groups by amending the already feared Sedition Act to include stiffer penalties, saying the changes were needed to prevent speech that threatens religious harmony.
Critics have voiced suspicion that the government's real motive is to strengthen its leverage against opponents.
Najib's government already has hurled sedition charges at dozens of opposition politicians, activists, and other critics over the past year as it seeks to tighten its grip.
Some opposition members have called for the government to prove its sincerity on sedition by using the law against the Moslem protesters.
But despite the religious nature of the cross protest, it was unclear whether the demonstrators would face any action, with top government officials issuing contradictory statements.
h/t Instapundit
"We'll observe Earth Day when the EPA observes the law," the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB), which represents 350,000 small and independent business owners, said today. "The President could do something meaningful tomorrow by sending the Waters Rule back to the EPA to be analyzed for its impact on small businesses," said NFIB Senior Manager of Regulatory Policy Dan Bosch.
#2
The last thing he wants is for you small businesses is to succeed. You need to fail and realize you belong on the welfare dole. Get in line looser.
Posted by: 49 Pan ||
04/22/2015 19:46 Comments ||
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#3
* FYI see DEFENCE.PK/FORUMS > JAPAN TO BUILD 250-MILES LONG, FOUR-STORY HIGH SEA WALL [barrier] TO STOP TSUNAMIS.
Iff 1960's-1970's Guam Taotamonas + my childhood dreams or visions prove true [again], so also will the UK + other Countries, even Guam-CNMI albeit on a smaller scale, to stop agz GWCC = the Sun/Solar changes.
Myself = Guam only felt slightly more than a second's worth of ground rumblings vee the 6.8-mag EQ which struck Japan + Taiwan this week - MORE IMPORTANT WAS THE BACKGROUND REALITY DISTORTIONS = "BEND" IN REALITY CAUSED BY SOLAR EM WAVES VEE WEEKEND SOLAR FLARE.
Saw andor felt it during Typhoon "Maysak", + ditto again this week wid the abovesame EQ + weekend Solar Flare = Geomagnetic Storm which was weaker than during "Maysak".
ITS BOTH FREAKY + AWESOME/BEAUTIFUL TO SEE HARD MAN-MADE PHYSICAL STRUCTURES, ETC. EASILY
"BEND/WARP" IN VARIOUS PARABOLIC ANDOR MULTI-BOLIC PROPORTIONAL SHAPES, YET SEEMINGLY SUFFER NO DAMAGE OR DESTRUCTION PER SE WHILE RETURNING TO "NORMAL".
Also witnessed or observed local "red light" spectrums in discommodate places.
AFAIC only one natural force or phenom can do all this above, + that's the SUN.
#1
The State Department confirmed Xiaoming Gao worked for the Office of Language Services over a four-year period beginning in June 2010. This would have covered the tenures of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and sitting Secretary John Kerry.
Here, make this go away. Get her out of Foggy Bottom. Yea, keep her TDY! That's the ticket. The last thing we need is anther Edward Snowden disaster, and don't contact me at this e-mail addy again. I'll send you a new one.
As the U.S. Supreme Court readies to hear arguments in favor of same-sex marriage on Tuesday, April 28, Republican presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, urged pastors across America to preach and pray against it because "marriage was God's idea, and He will preserve it, with or without us."
"We know that marriage is intended to be sacred, beautiful, and nourishing. If you do not influence your congregation's understanding of marriage, who will fill the void? Hollywood? Divorce courts?" asked Cruz in a letter sent to tens of thousands of pastors highlighted by CBN News.
"Prayer moves our God to intervene in history. Prayer softens our hearts and brings us into alignment with the heart of God. The church has not shared the truth about marriage well: it is time to repent and commit ourselves to courage on this front," said Cruz.
"Regardless of what happens in the Supreme Court, or anywhere else, we know that the truth will never be obsolete. The union of man and woman in marriage will always be relevant. People will continue to need marriage, and to desire it — because we are made in the image of God, creatures who value authentic companionship and intimate connection," he added.
The letter encourages pastors to preach about biblical marriage on April 26 and lead prayer services to uphold the institution on April 28.
Washington (CNN): It didn’t happen on 4/20 — marijuana’s high holy day — but expect Michele Leonhart to step down soon as administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. officials familiar with the matter say.
Obama administration officials long ago soured on Leonhart, a career DEA agent who broke ground at the agency when she rose into leadership as the first woman to head a field office. In recent years, she has angered the administration for appearing to resist federal rules relaxing enforcement on marijuana as states have moved to legalize the drug for medicinal and recreational use.
More recently, she came under fire for her poor performance in a congressional hearing on an inspector general report that found instances of DEA agents having sex parties in Colombia with prostitutes paid for by drug cartels. The report cited light punishments for the agents and Leonhart seemed at a loss about what she could do about it.
#2
she has angered the administration for appearing to resist federal rules relaxing enforcement on marijuana as states have moved to legalize the drug
"O" is making it safe for members of his Choom Gang toke up with impunity. Got to think of the legacy (sarc).
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
[The Weekly Standard] The inspector general of the State Department confirmed today in Senate testimony that the State Department network at some point was hacked. He made the comments in response to a question from Georgia senator David Perdue. 
City streets turned bloody over the balmy weekend — an earlier spate of violence than in recent years and a bad omen for what could become a long and violent summer.
Nice photo, but my personal fav Federal gestapo pic is the Elián González BORTAC take-down. 
As the U.S. Supreme Court readies to hear arguments in favor of same-sex marriage on Tuesday, April 28, Republican presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, urged pastors across America to preach and pray against it because "marriage was God's idea, and He will preserve it, with or without us."
Washington (CNN): It didn’t happen on 4/20 — marijuana’s high holy day — but expect Michele Leonhart to step down soon as administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. officials familiar with the matter say.
