Pentagon Readies Massive Spying System

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

[justshutupandtakeit]

Funny but my credit card info. gives a reference number for a purchase at a particular store. Some stores ask for name and phone number already.

Correctly pointing out that the IRS computer system has problems does not mean that other agencies don't go to the moon or drop bombs precisely where they wish.

[justshutupandtakeit]

Funny you would say that when most evidence indicates the sheeple have been awakening from their slumbers.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[dirtboy]

Funny but my credit card info. gives a reference number for a purchase at a particular store. Some stores ask for name and phone number already.

And terrorists would be so cooperative as to willingly provide such information as well? To ensure that potential terrorists are spotted, providing traceable information would have to become compulsary, not voluntary.

Correctly pointing out that the IRS computer system has problems does not mean that other agencies don't go to the moon or drop bombs precisely where they wish.

The government has a very sorry history when it comes to systems. The Pentagon can't even keep track of its civilian contractors, yet thinks it can keep track of a complete dossier of every civilian and immigrant into this country? It's completely bogus.

[dirtboy]

My comment was on your Hillary remark not an opinion as to whether this was a workable concept.

The two are often quite related. We all know that the vast majority of gun laws are ineffective or even counterproductive. Yet libs push them with gusto. Why? As incrementalism towards their eventual goal of gun confiscation. In a similar manner, this system can't work as it is being promoted. In the best case scenario, it simply means the Pentagon doesn't realize what it would take to accomplish what they want to do. But there is also a good chance that, either accidentally or by design, that a system like TIA, having failed as a modelling database, will instead be used as a lookup database against citizens. That to me is the primary danger of the proposal here.

[Fred Mertz]

I'm reading your stuff, dirtboy. Keep posting.

[dirtboy]

Thanks, Fred. I'm outta here for today, but I'll check on these threads tomorrow.

[buffyt]

EXACTLY! I do not fear "W". But when Hillary becomes president in 2008 LOOK OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Duramaximus]

"If there ever is a President Hillary you won't have to worry about any of this since it will mean that the electorate is totally braindead and the commies are in TOTAL control."

And if you don't believe that just have a look at the future under Hildebeast by gazing over at the Peoples Republik of Kalifornia.

[Jesse]

"and changed the name of the project to help allay privacy concerns "

I feel so much better about it now.

Doublespeak.

[TruthNtegrity]

Of course, there are other aspects to this theory - that the data exists to detect the patterns, that the data can be gathered in something resembling realtime, and that the fedgov has the legal authority to gather this data. From what I have seen, the answers to THOSE questions is no, no, and no, respectively.

I remember a system that was under prototype development back in early 80's. The goal was to link multiple databases from numerous 3-letter agencies, and come up with a system that would "deduce" the same result from extracted information. So, 3 linked mini-compters are programmed and given a problem to solve. At the same time, a human is given the same problem. Human, accessing several databases, using his memory and analysis (ok, the guy had God-given talents for memory that most don't have) had the solution in 16 hours. Three days later we walked in and turned off the computers. End of project.

Putting together obscure and seemingly unrelated pieces of material has always been the purview of the human brain, that no computer can match.

I wonder how many millions in "development" money of our hard-earned and forced over tax dollars will go to this project. As a make-work for engineers and IT types, I can only hope that it provides employment for Americans, and not more H1-B's (another pet peeve of mine).

But, it will ultimately fail. Without the application of many human minds to the problem, no comptuer system is going to come up with the pattern analyses required.

[dirtboy]

Putting together obscure and seemingly unrelated pieces of material has always been the purview of the human brain, that no computer can match.

Yep. The billions that this system would cost would be better spent hiring more analysts and coming up with systems to get paper-based intel into an electronic format. And something that wouldn't cost money would be to fire any mid-level bureaucrat who obstructs the free flow of information from analysts to decision makers because of PC or other such concerns.