Free Republic

Summary: The Reform Government Surveillance group, an alliance between eight major technology firms, aims to persuade the U.S. government to stop undermining the privacy rights of the general public. Household names including Apple and Google have formally called for changes to U.S. surveillance practices and policy, arguing that current operations undermine the freedom of people. Eight companies, Google, Apple, Facebook, Twitter, AOL, Microsoft, Yahoo and LinkedIn have formed an alliance called the Reform Government Surveillance group. Although usually fierce competitors, the group have come together in agreement over the U.S. government's spying programs -- brought to light by former National...

Accident in Iraq kills three Ft. Lewis soldiers By Hal Bernton Seattle Times staff reporter Three soldiers from the Fort Lewis-based Stryker brigade died last night in north-central Iraq when the collapse of a roadside embankment sent two of their vehicles tumbling into an irrigation canal, according to Army officials. It's a sober start for the brigade that arrived in Iraq only a few days ago for a 12-month tour of duty with its armored, eight-wheeled Stryker vehicles. These are the first new Army fighting vehicles in 20 years and have been assigned to combat patrols north of Baghdad, where...