Source: BBC
Iran has arrested "nuclear spies" on suspicion of being behind cyber attacks on its nuclear programme, Iranian state media report.
Press TV says "a number" of people have been apprehended as part of an operation by Iran to counter "massive enemy schemes".
The report comes after the complex worm Stuxnet infected staff computers at Iran's first nuclear power station at Bushehr.
No details of the arrests were given.
'Destructive moves'
Iranian Intelligence Minister Heidar Moslehi was cited by Press TV as saying his ministry was capable of countering any threats.
"We are always facing destructive activities by these [espionage] services, and, of course, we have arrested a number of nuclear spies to block the enemy's destructive moves," Mr Moslehi said.
But he did not say how many people were detained, or specify whether the cyber attack referred to the Stuxnet virus.
While the worm also affected computers India, Indonesia and the US, it has spread the most in Iran.
Reports suggest that the Stuxnet virus mutated in Iran and infected 30,000 computers.
It is believed to be the first worm designed to target major infrastructure facilities.
Iran's Russian-built Bushehr plant will start generating power in January, two months later than planned, but officials have said the delay was not due to the virus.
Some experts have said the virus was designed to target Tehran's nuclear programme, with some saying the complexity could only have been created by a state.
Iran has been subject to four rounds of UN sanctions because of its uranium enrichment programme, which is separate from Bushehr.
The West fears Tehran wants to build a nuclear weapon, but Iran insists its plans are for peaceful energy production.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Pennsylvania Homeland Security Director 'made a very significant mistake in judgment,' Gov. Ed Rendell says
Source: Penn Live
The resignation of Pennsylvania’s Office of Homeland Security Director James Powers is unlikely to quell the furor that has erupted in the wake of news that his office hired a private contractor that monitored the activities and online conversations of lawful citizen groups.
Gov. Ed Rendell announced Friday that Powers will step down Oct. 8, saying “Jim is a good man who made a very significant mistake in judgment."
Sen. Lisa Baker, R-Luzerne, chair of the senate committee investigating the issue, said the resignation “opens the door to some badly needed changes, but restoring credibility to the operation now looks to be a monumental task.”
For more than three weeks, Powers has been at the center of the scandal, which made national headlines.
The information collected by the private contractor was distributed three times a week to law enforcement officials around the state, as well as to private companies, including those drilling in the Marcellus Shale.
The Gas Drilling Awareness Coalition of Luzerne County, one of the groups monitored in the Homeland Security “intelligence” bulletins, has filed suit in federal court. Others have indicated they plan to do the same.
Sen. Jim Ferlo, D-Allegheny, has encouraged all groups listed in the reports to file complaints with the State Ethics Commission, the state Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Department of Justice, civil rights division.
An event Ferlo hosted in Allegheny County was included in the bulletins. Ferlo said Powers and his boss, Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency director Robert French, should be prosecuted.
After The Patriot-News reported the story, Rendell apologized publicly and said the contract with the private firm doing the monitoring would not be renewed when it expires Oct. 25.
Scott Davis, founder of PARevolution.com, is planning a rally at the Capitol Oct. 25 to celebrate the end of the contract. Davis has issued an open invitation to all groups listed in the bulletins.
The bulletins “are proof that the government is watching what we’re doing,” said Davis, adding there are ongoing issues even after Powers’ resignation and the end of the contract.
During a senate hearing last week, it was revealed the state police are poised to take over the intelligence work previously contracted to identify threats to critical infrastructure.
“What role are they taking over, and are they going to be doing the same thing?” Davis asked.
Senate testimony revealed the state police knew there were “severe problems” with the Homeland Security bulletins as early as December of last year. Internal e-mails show they were concerned — in at least one instance — about Powers coordinating local law enforcement efforts in preparation for a lawful gathering of Second Amendment activists.
Rendell’s chief of staff, Steve Crawford, later criticized State Police Commissioner Frank Pawlowski for “the state police’s decision to harbor apprehension about such a serious matter for more than nine months now without calling it to the attention of top officials in the administration who were in a position to address the situation.”
Pawlowski, French and Powers were all on the task force Rendell created to find an alternative to the intelligence-gathering contract.
The resignation of Pennsylvania’s Office of Homeland Security Director James Powers is unlikely to quell the furor that has erupted in the wake of news that his office hired a private contractor that monitored the activities and online conversations of lawful citizen groups.
Gov. Ed Rendell announced Friday that Powers will step down Oct. 8, saying “Jim is a good man who made a very significant mistake in judgment."
Sen. Lisa Baker, R-Luzerne, chair of the senate committee investigating the issue, said the resignation “opens the door to some badly needed changes, but restoring credibility to the operation now looks to be a monumental task.”
For more than three weeks, Powers has been at the center of the scandal, which made national headlines.
The information collected by the private contractor was distributed three times a week to law enforcement officials around the state, as well as to private companies, including those drilling in the Marcellus Shale.
The Gas Drilling Awareness Coalition of Luzerne County, one of the groups monitored in the Homeland Security “intelligence” bulletins, has filed suit in federal court. Others have indicated they plan to do the same.
Sen. Jim Ferlo, D-Allegheny, has encouraged all groups listed in the reports to file complaints with the State Ethics Commission, the state Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Department of Justice, civil rights division.
An event Ferlo hosted in Allegheny County was included in the bulletins. Ferlo said Powers and his boss, Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency director Robert French, should be prosecuted.
After The Patriot-News reported the story, Rendell apologized publicly and said the contract with the private firm doing the monitoring would not be renewed when it expires Oct. 25.
Scott Davis, founder of PARevolution.com, is planning a rally at the Capitol Oct. 25 to celebrate the end of the contract. Davis has issued an open invitation to all groups listed in the bulletins.
The bulletins “are proof that the government is watching what we’re doing,” said Davis, adding there are ongoing issues even after Powers’ resignation and the end of the contract.
During a senate hearing last week, it was revealed the state police are poised to take over the intelligence work previously contracted to identify threats to critical infrastructure.
“What role are they taking over, and are they going to be doing the same thing?” Davis asked.
Senate testimony revealed the state police knew there were “severe problems” with the Homeland Security bulletins as early as December of last year. Internal e-mails show they were concerned — in at least one instance — about Powers coordinating local law enforcement efforts in preparation for a lawful gathering of Second Amendment activists.
Rendell’s chief of staff, Steve Crawford, later criticized State Police Commissioner Frank Pawlowski for “the state police’s decision to harbor apprehension about such a serious matter for more than nine months now without calling it to the attention of top officials in the administration who were in a position to address the situation.”
Pawlowski, French and Powers were all on the task force Rendell created to find an alternative to the intelligence-gathering contract.
Pa. Homeland Security Boss Resigns
Source: JTA
(JTA) -- Pennsylvania's homeland security director quit in the wake of revelations that he hired an Israeli-American agency that reported peaceful protests as potential terrorist threats.
Jim Powers resigned two weeks after Gov. Ed Rendell said that he was "deeply embarrassed" by revelations of a $125,000 contract with the Philadelphia-based Institute of Terrorism Research and Response.
Rendell announced the resignation at a news conference last Friday, although for weeks he had insisted that he wanted Powers to stay.
"Jim is a good man who made a very significant mistake in judgment," the governor said at the news conference.
Rendell terminated the contract with ITRR immediately upon learning of it.
The state's Office of Homeland Security contracted the institute to track threats, then relayed its reports to many law enforcement and private groups.
Its "alerts" included an animal rights protest, a natural gas drilling protest, a gay and lesbian festival, and a rally to support a Rendell-backed campaign for boosted education funding.
Powers subsequently apologized to the groups. State security officials who had been privy to the bulletins described them as amateurish.
The institute, which claims to have a Jerusalem office, is run by directors who among other claims list experience in Israel's security services. It also runs training programs in Israel.
(JTA) -- Pennsylvania's homeland security director quit in the wake of revelations that he hired an Israeli-American agency that reported peaceful protests as potential terrorist threats.
Jim Powers resigned two weeks after Gov. Ed Rendell said that he was "deeply embarrassed" by revelations of a $125,000 contract with the Philadelphia-based Institute of Terrorism Research and Response.
Rendell announced the resignation at a news conference last Friday, although for weeks he had insisted that he wanted Powers to stay.
"Jim is a good man who made a very significant mistake in judgment," the governor said at the news conference.
Rendell terminated the contract with ITRR immediately upon learning of it.
The state's Office of Homeland Security contracted the institute to track threats, then relayed its reports to many law enforcement and private groups.
Its "alerts" included an animal rights protest, a natural gas drilling protest, a gay and lesbian festival, and a rally to support a Rendell-backed campaign for boosted education funding.
Powers subsequently apologized to the groups. State security officials who had been privy to the bulletins described them as amateurish.
The institute, which claims to have a Jerusalem office, is run by directors who among other claims list experience in Israel's security services. It also runs training programs in Israel.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Obey The Global Warming Thugs Or They Will Kill You
From a crowd that preaches "tolerance" they certainly don't seem to tolerate dissent very well. Even when the mountain of evidence has PROVEN global warming to be man made, a man made complete fabrication.
America Can Do No Wrong
That is certainly the opinion of the majority of American citizens who have no clue what goes on around the world.
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