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fwd: DARPA GC
by dan＠geer.org 14 Apr '16

14 Apr '16

DARPA will hold the world's first all-computer Capture the Flag tournament in which automated systems may take the first steps toward a defensible, connected future. DARPA's goal for the Cyber Grand Challenge (CGC) is to spur an automation revolution in computer security so machines can discover, confirm and fix software flaws within seconds, instead of waiting up to a year as is typical under the current human-centric system. DARPA believes these capabilities are essential if the nation and world are to take full advantage of the increasingly interlinked big-data revolution while protecting data and processes-especially as more and more devices, including vehicles and homes, get connected to the "Internet of Things". Seven teams from across the United States have qualified to compete in the Final Event. Nearly $4 million in prizes are at stake-along with the chance to help revolutionize the future of cybersecurity. The winning team will receive $2 million; second place will earn $1 million; and third place will earn $750,000. The CGC Final Event will take place August 4, 2016, live on stage co-located with the DEF CON 24 conference in Las Vegas. For more information, please visit: http://www.cybergrandchallenge.com DARPA: Cyber Grand Challenge Final Event WHAT: The World's First All Machine Hacking Tournament WHEN: Thursday, August 4, 2016 (5:00pm - 8:00pm PCT) WHERE: Paris Hotel and Conference Center, Las Vegas, NV To learn more about the Cyber Grand Challenge, check out DARPA Program Manager Mike Walker on 60 Minutes (https://youtu.be/OVV_k73z3E0) and his DEF CON presentation about DARPA's fully automated capture the flag hacking tournament (https://youtu.be/gnyCbU7jGYA) Cyber Grand Challenge Finals are a free event open to the public; no attendance fee is required but visitors wishing to stay for DEF CON note: The DEF CON conference requires an attendance fee - please go to defcon.org for more details. Please pass on to those who may be interested. http://www.cybergrandchallenge.com/ DARPA Adaptive Execution Office - Cyber Grand Challenge Team For additional questions/inquires please contact : AEO-CGC-Team(a)darpa.mil

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Re: cypherpunks Digest, Vol 34, Issue 18
by Muntu Debugger 14 Apr '16

14 Apr '16

Change in climate <http://www.ipage.com/join/index.bml?AffID=837795&LinkName=weblink> is very noticeable, but there is something we can DO!! <http://www.ipage.com/join/index.bml?AffID=837795&LinkName=weblink> On Wed, Apr 13, 2016 at 7:00 PM, <cypherpunks-request(a)cpunks.org> wrote: > Send cypherpunks mailing list submissions to > cypherpunks(a)cpunks.org > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > https://cpunks.org/mailman/listinfo/cypherpunks > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > cypherpunks-request(a)cpunks.org > > You can reach the person managing the list at > cypherpunks-owner(a)cpunks.org > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of cypherpunks digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Re: Do you notice significant persistent change in climate? > (Ted Smith) > 2. The Feudal Economy Is A Government-Spying-Compliant Economy - > Uber Edition (Rayzer) > 3. #FBIvApple: Cellbrite was just a ruse. "The Greys" cracked > it. (Rayzer) > 4. Re: #FBIvApple: Cellbrite was just a ruse. "The Greys" > cracked it. (Jack Liddy) > 5. Re: The Feudal Economy Is A Government-Spying-Compliant > Economy - Uber Edition (Georgi Guninski) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2016 12:43:09 -0400 > From: Ted Smith <tedks(a)riseup.net> > To: cypherpunks(a)cpunks.org > Subject: Re: Do you notice significant persistent change in climate? > Message-ID: <1460479389.3610.0.camel(a)riseup.net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > I try to live as cypherpunk a lifestyle as possible, so I rarely > venture out of doors. Why both with climate when we have climate > control? > > On Wed, 2016-04-06 at 15:49 +0300, Georgi Guninski wrote: > > Do you notice significant persistent change in climate during your > > lifetime? > > > > Also increase in major natural disasters (not counting m$ products/ > > services)? > > > > I do in Bulgaria, SE Europe. > -- > Sent from Ubuntu > >

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Method FBI used to crack iPhone likely effects recent phones
by Nathan Andrew Fain 14 Apr '16

14 Apr '16

https://deadhacker.com/2016/03/25/the-terrorists-phone/ tldr; NAND proxy to prevent wipe. Instigate fake phantom wipe to reset counter+delay for passcode attempts. This was published only a few days before the news that the FBI cracked the iPhone. So it is highly unlikely that the information disclosed was used by their hackers. But based on recent information the attack described in that post, in my obviously biased opinion, seems increasingly probable. Also so far I found nothing in the iOS Security documentation that indicates this attack will NOT work on most recent iPhones. Though it could be that I simply missed an important detail.

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#FBIvApple: Cellbrite was just a ruse. "The Greys" cracked it.
by Rayzer 14 Apr '16

14 Apr '16

The FBI hired shady grey digital mercenaries (my apologies if I butthurt anyone on this list or their friends) to crack the San Bernardino shooter's iPhone. Washington Post: The people who helped the U.S. government come from the sometimes shadowy world of hackers and security researchers who profit from finding flaws in companies’ software or systems. Some hackers, known as “white hats,” disclose the vulnerabilities to the firms responsible for the software or to the public so they can be fixed and are generally regarded as ethical. Others, called “black hats,” use the information to hack networks and steal people’s personal information. At least one of the people who helped the FBI in the San Bernardino case falls into a third category, often considered ethically murky: researchers who sell flaws — for instance, to governments or to companies that make surveillance tools. This last group, dubbed “gray hats,” More: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/fbi-paid-professiona… -- RR "Through counter-intelligence it should be possible to pinpoint potential trouble-makers ... And neutralize them, neutralize them, neutralize them"

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When is it necessary to take up arms?
by Zenaan Harkness 13 Apr '16

13 Apr '16

Certainly, when your life, and the lives of many in your community, are simultaneously going to be threatened - this type of situation is known to some in recent times. When is necessary to take up arms: "The leader of the resistance of Donbass defends his decision to arm his supporters. “Raging Ukro-Nazis were beginning to destroy Soviet monuments. Were we supposed to dutifully wait until this crazy beast came to us? Or were we to lay down our heads before the heirs of the Hitlerites and their indigenous henchmen?(…) Time quickly showed that we were right. In Odessa, where the “Kuliovo Field” movement decided not to take up weapons in hand and did not worry about the force of the authorities but instead hoped to peacefully collect signatures for the autonomy of Novorossiya, their people were simply burned alive. In Zaporozhye, a rally was brutally broken up by force.” " Part 1: http://www.fort-russ.com/2016/04/review-torch-of-novorossiya-part-1.html Part 2: http://www.fort-russ.com/2016/04/review-of-gubarevs-tell-all-torch-of.html There are reenactments, footage of actual events, many photos and details of mass graves etc, of the brutal events in Ukraine, Donbass and Crimea. Lest anyone suggest we live in a civilized world where peace and daisies will save us all.

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The Feudal Economy Is A Government-Spying-Compliant Economy - Uber Edition
by Rayzer 13 Apr '16

13 Apr '16

Uber says it gave US agencies data on more than 12M users... Reuters via Daily Star ... Lebanon: Uber Technologies Inc. Tuesday released its first ever transparency report detailing the information requested by not only U.S. law enforcement agencies, but also by regulators. The ride-sharing company said that between July and December 2015, it had provided information on more than 12 million riders and drivers to various U.S. agencies. http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/World/2016/Apr-12/347017-uber-says-gave-us… -- RR "Through counter-intelligence it should be possible to pinpoint potential trouble-makers ... And neutralize them, neutralize them, neutralize them"

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American Rule Of Law
by juan 11 Apr '16

11 Apr '16

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_forfeiture_in_the_United_States http://www.nybooks.com/articles/2014/11/20/why-innocent-people-plead-guilty/ http://www.innocenceproject.org/news-events-exonerations/2015/why-are-peopl… https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_security_letter https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parallel_construction https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2013/08/dea-and-nsa-team-intelligence-launder… ...off the top of my head

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Re: cypherpunks Digest, Vol 34, Issue 14
by Muntu Debugger 11 Apr '16

11 Apr '16

You are the light of the world <http://goo.gl/GUFmfr> . No form of sickness or disease can dwell in a body that has the Spirit of God! On Sun, Apr 10, 2016 at 1:33 AM, <cypherpunks-request(a)cpunks.org> wrote: > Send cypherpunks mailing list submissions to > cypherpunks(a)cpunks.org > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > https://cpunks.org/mailman/listinfo/cypherpunks > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > cypherpunks-request(a)cpunks.org > > You can reach the person managing the list at > cypherpunks-owner(a)cpunks.org > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of cypherpunks digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Re: When is it necessary to take up arms? (Zenaan Harkness) > 2. Creating The Devil In Their Own Image (Zenaan Harkness) > 3. US Military Chopper Transfers ISIL Leaders from Fallujah to > Unknown Location - 21 February 2016 (Zenaan Harkness) > 4. Reminders of why USAgov and NATO must be dismantled > (Zenaan Harkness) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Sat, 9 Apr 2016 22:29:27 +0000 > From: Zenaan Harkness <zen(a)freedbms.net> > To: cypherpunks(a)cpunks.org > Subject: Re: When is it necessary to take up arms? > Message-ID: > < > CAOsGNSTGJD0XOPdk_H8mPaLG7gr1Krn46KULCu52cRD3FXugzA(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 > > On 4/9/16, listo factor <listofactor(a)mail.ru> wrote: > > On 04/09/2016 07:57 AM, Zenaan Harkness wrote: > >> Serious analysis interposed with the lighter side of Ukraine's current > >> predicaments: > > > > Interesting. For those attracted to the study of Russian-Ukrainian > > relationship, I also propose the following: > > > > https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holodomor > > Equally serious, but unfortunately it lacks any "lighter side". > > Stalin's USSR did a lot of pretty bad stuff from what I understand, > and this is just one example of which the drum was recently beaten due > to the CIA's Ukrainian Maidan (to drum up anti Russian sentiment of > course). > > Putin's Russia is worlds away from Stalin's USSR, in time, intentions, > deeds, and the experiences of the nation's people - Russians have been > through hell and back like few in 'the West' ever have; I am most > interested in contemporary reality for obvious reasons. > > The contradictions, deceptions and lies in the Western MSM dialogue > are shameful. The CIA's coups are shameful. The West's sanctions > against Russia are shameful (notwithstanding that Western firms, > Western farmers and the Western financial system are all taking the > greatest hits from those "sanctions"). Compare America's foreign > minister Kerry's current "Russia played a constructive role in Syria" > with modern history: > > http://russia-insider.com/en/john-kerry-would-be-butcher-syria-forced-prais… > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Sat, 9 Apr 2016 22:30:31 +0000 > From: Zenaan Harkness <zen(a)freedbms.net> > To: cypherpunks(a)cpunks.org > Subject: Creating The Devil In Their Own Image > Message-ID: > <CAOsGNSQ5QO1fxYR=k8XRp3sip5B9Tui= > Jn1oVpbQ6gGCktV8og(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 > > in reply to: cypherpunks(a)cpunks.org, > > http://thesaker.is/creating-the-devil-in-their-own-image/ > > Creating The Devil In Their Own Image > February 21, 2016 > > > This comment was chosen by Mod HS from the post “International > Military Review – Syria, Feb. 18, 2016”. The moderator believes this > comment reflects the West’s obsession with President Vladimir Putin > and how their media demonizes him. The commenter, mmiriww, responds > to the article written by Sharon Tennison. where she shares her > thoughts as the Ukraine situation worsened. Unconscionable > misinformation and hype was being poured on Russia and Vladimir Putin. > Journalists and pundits scoured the Internet and thesauruses to come > up with fiendish new epithets to describe both. Wherever Sharon makes > presentations across America, she finds the first question ominously > asked during Q&A is always, “What about Putin?”. > > > Comment by mmiriww > Is Putin incorruptible? A U.S. insider’s view of the Russian > president’s character and his country’s transformation. > “What about Putin” > > It’s time to share my thoughts which follow: Putin obviously has his > faults and makes mistakes. Based on my earlier experience with him, > and the experiences of trusted people, including U.S. officials who > have worked closely with him over a period of years, Putin most likely > is a straight, reliable and exceptionally inventive man. He is > obviously a long-term thinker and planner and has proven to be an > excellent analyst and strategist. He is a leader who can quietly work > toward his goals under mounds of accusations and myths that have been > steadily leveled at him since he became Russia’s second president. > I’ve stood by silently watching the demonization of Putin grow since > it began in the early 2000s – – Like others who have had direct > experience with this little known man, I’ve tried to no avail to avoid > being labeled a “Putin apologist”. If one is even neutral about him, > they are considered “soft on Putin” by pundits, news hounds and > average citizens who get their news from CNN, Fox and MSNBC.I don’t > pretend to be an expert, just a program developer in the USSR and > Russia for the past 30 years. But during this time, I’ve have had far > more direct, on-ground contact with Russians of all stripes across 11 > time zones than any of the Western reporters or for that matter any of > Washington’s officials. I’ve been in country long enough to ponder > Russian history and culture deeply, to study their psychology and > conditioning, and to understand the marked differences between > American and Russian mentalities which so complicate our political > relations with their leaders. As with personalities in a family or a > civic club or in a city hall, it takes understanding and compromise to > be able to create workable relationships when basic conditionings are > different. Washington has been notoriously disinterested in > understanding these differences and attempting to meet Russia > halfway.In addition to my personal experience with Putin, I’ve had > discussions with numerous American officials and U.S. businessmen who > have had years of experience working with him – – I believe it is safe > to say that none would describe him as “brutal” or “thuggish”, or the > other slanderous adjectives and nouns that are repeatedly used in > western media. > > I met Putin years before he ever dreamed of being president of Russia, > as did many of us working in St.Petersburg during the 1990s. Since all > of the slander started, I’ve become nearly obsessed with understanding > his character. I think I’ve read every major speech he has given > (including the full texts of his annual hours-long telephone > “talk-ins” with Russian citizens). I’ve been trying to ascertain > whether he has changed for the worse since being elevated to the > presidency, or whether he is a straight character cast into a role he > never anticipated – – and is using sheer wits to try to do the best he > can to deal with Washington under extremely difficult circumstances. > If the latter is the case, and I think it is, he should get high marks > for his performance over the past 14 years. It’s not by accident that > Forbes declared him the most Powerful Leader of 2013, replacing Obama > who was given the title for 2012. The following is my one personal > experience with Putin. > > The year was 1992… > > It was two years after the implosion of communism; the place was > St.Petersburg. For years I had been creating programs to open up > relations between the two countries and hopefully to help Soviet > people to get beyond their entrenched top-down mentalities. A new > program possibility emerged in my head. Since I expected it might > require a signature from the Marienskii City Hall, an appointment was > made. My friend Volodya Shestakov and I showed up at a side door > entrance to the Marienskii building. We found ourselves in a small, > dull brown office, facing a rather trim nondescript man in a brown > suit. He inquired about my reason for coming in. After scanning the > proposal I provided he began asking intelligent questions. After each > of my answers, he asked the next relevant question. I became aware > that this interviewer was different from other Soviet bureaucrats who > always seemed to fall into chummy conversations with foreigners with > hopes of obtaining bribes in exchange for the Americans’ requests. CCI > stood on the principle that we would never, never give bribes. This > bureaucrat was open, inquiring, and impersonal in demeanor. After more > than an hour of careful questions and answers, he quietly explained > that he had tried hard to determine if the proposal was legal, then > said that unfortunately at the time it was not. A few good words about > the proposal were uttered. That was all. He simply and kindly showed > us to the door. Out on the sidewalk, I said to my colleague, “Volodya, > this is the first time we have ever dealt with a Soviet bureaucrat who > didn’t ask us for a trip to the US or something valuable!” I remember > looking at his business card in the sunlight – – it read Vladimir > Vladimirovich Putin. > > 1994 > > Putin as Deputy Mayor of St. Petersburg in the early 90s. > > U.S. Consul General Jack Gosnell put in an SOS call to me in > St.Petersburg. He had 14 Congress members and the new American > Ambassador to Russia, Thomas Pickering, coming to St.Petersburg in the > next three days. He needed immediate help. I scurried over to the > Consulate and learned that Jack intended me to brief this auspicious > delegation and the incoming ambassador. I was stunned but he insisted. > They were coming from Moscow and were furious about how U.S. funding > was being wasted there. Jack wanted them to hear the “good news” about > CCI’s programs that were showing fine results. In the next 24 hours > Jack and I also set up “home” meetings in a dozen Russian > entrepreneurs’ small apartments for the arriving dignitaries > (St.Petersburg State Department people were aghast, since it had never > been done before – – but Jack overruled). Only later in 2000, did I > learn of Jack’s former three-year experience with Vladimir Putin in > the 1990s while the latter was running the city for Mayor Sobchak. > More on this further down. > > December 31, 1999 > > With no warning, at the turn of the year, President Boris Yeltsin made > the announcement to the world that from the next day forward he was > vacating his office and leaving Russia in the hands of an unknown > Vladimir Putin. On hearing the news, I thought surely not the Putin I > remembered – – he could never lead Russia. The next day a NYT article > included a photo. Yes, it was the same Putin I’d met years ago! I was > shocked and dismayed, telling friends, “This is a disaster for Russia, > I’ve spent time with this guy, he is too introverted and too > intelligent – – he will never be able to relate to Russia’s masses.” > Further, I lamented: “For Russia to get up off of its knees, two > things must happen: 1) The arrogant young oligarchs have to be removed > by force from the Kremlin, and 2) A way must be found to remove the > regional bosses (governors) from their fiefdoms across Russia’s 89 > regions”. It was clear to me that the man in the brown suit would > never have the instincts or guts to tackle Russia’s overriding twin > challenges. > > February 2000 > > Almost immediately Putin began putting Russia’s oligarchs on edge. In > February a question about the oligarchs came up; he clarified with a > question and his answer: “What should be the relationship with the > so-called oligarchs? The same as anyone else. The same as the owner of > a small bakery or a shoe repair shop.” This was the first signal that > the tycoons would no longer be able to flaunt government regulations > or count on special access in the Kremlin. It also made the West’s > capitalists nervous. After all, these oligarchs were wealthy > untouchable businessmen – – good capitalists, never mind that they got > their enterprises illegally and were putting their profits in offshore > banks. > > Four months later Putin called a meeting with the oligarchs and gave > them his deal: They could keep their illegally-gained wealth-producing > Soviet enterprises and they would not be nationalized …. IF taxes were > paid on their revenues and if they personally stayed out of politics. > This was the first of Putin’s “elegant solutions” to the near > impossible challenges facing the new Russia. But the deal also put > Putin in crosshairs with US media and officials who then began to > champion the oligarchs, particularly Mikhail Khodorkovsky. The latter > became highly political, didn’t pay taxes, and prior to being > apprehended and jailed was in the process of selling a major portion > of Russia’s largest private oil company, Yukos Oil, to Exxon Mobil. > Unfortunately, to U.S. media and governing structures, Khodorkovsky > became a martyr (and remains so up to today). > > March 2000 > > I arrived in St.Petersburg. A Russian friend (a psychologist) since > 1983 came for our usual visit. My first question was, “Lena what do > you think about your new president?” She laughed and retorted, > “Volodya! I went to school with him!” She began to describe Putin as a > quiet youngster, poor, fond of martial arts, who stood up for kids > being bullied on the playgrounds. She remembered him as a patriotic > youth who applied for the KGB prematurely after graduating secondary > school (they sent him away and told him to get an education). He went > to law school, later reapplied and was accepted. I must have grimaced > at this, because Lena said, “Sharon in those days we all admired the > KGB and believed that those who worked there were patriots and were > keeping the country safe. We thought it was natural for Volodya to > choose this career. My next question was, “What do you think he will > do with Yeltsin’s criminals in the Kremlin?” Putting on her > psychologist hat, she pondered and replied, “If left to his normal > behaviors, he will watch them for a while to be sure what is going on, > then he will throw up some flares to let them know that he is > watching. If they don’t respond, he will address them personally, then > if the behaviors don’t change – – some will be in prison in a couple > of years.” I congratulated her via email when her predictions began to > show up in real time. > > Throughout the 2000s > > St.Petersburg’s many CCI alumni were being interviewed to determine > how the PEP business training program was working and how we could > make the U.S. experience more valuable for their new small businesses. > Most believed that the program had been enormously important, even > life changing. Last, each was asked, “So what do you think of your new > president?” None responded negatively, even though at that time > entrepreneurs hated Russia’s bureaucrats. Most answered similarly, > “Putin registered my business a few years ago”. Next question, “So, > how much did it cost you?” To a person they replied, “Putin didn’t > charge anything”. One said, “We went to Putin’s desk because the > others providing registrations at the Marienskii were getting ‘rich on > their seats.’” > > Late 2000 > > Into Putin’s first year as Russia’s president, US officials seemed to > me to be suspect that he would be antithetical to America’s interests > – – his every move was called into question in American media. I > couldn’t understand why and was chronicling these happenings in my > computer and newsletters. > > Year 2001 > > Jack Gosnell (former USCG mentioned earlier) explained his > relationship with Putin when the latter was deputy mayor of > St.Petersburg. The two of them worked closely to create joint ventures > and other ways to promote relations between the two countries. Jack > related that Putin was always straight up, courteous and helpful. When > Putin’s wife, Ludmila, was in a severe auto accident, Jack took the > liberty (before informing Putin) to arrange hospitalization and > airline travel for her to get medical care in Finland. When Jack told > Putin, he reported that the latter was overcome by the generous offer, > but ended saying that he couldn’t accept this favor, that Ludmila > would have to recover in a Russian hospital. She did – – although > medical care in Russia was abominably bad in the 1990s. > > A senior CSIS officer I was friends with in the 2000s worked closely > with Putin on a number of joint ventures during the 1990s. He reported > that he had no dealings with Putin that were questionable, that he > respected him and believed he was getting an undeserved dour > reputation from U.S. media. Matter of fact, he closed the door at CSIS > when we started talking about Putin. I guessed his comments wouldn’t > be acceptable if others were listening. > > Another former U.S. official who will go unidentified, also reported > working closely with Putin, saying there was never any hint of > bribery, pressuring, nothing but respectable behaviors and > helpfulness. > > I had two encounters in 2013 with State Department officials regarding > Putin: > > At the first one, I felt free to ask the question I had previously > yearned to get answered: “When did Putin become unacceptable to > Washington officials and why? Without hesitating the answer came back: > “‘The knives were drawn’ when it was announced that Putin would be the > next president.” I questioned WHY? The answer: “I could never find out > why – – maybe because he was KGB.” I offered that Bush #I, was head of > the CIA. The reply was, “That would have made no difference, he was > our guy.” > > The second was a former State Department official with whom I recently > shared a radio interview on Russia. Afterward when we were chatting, I > remarked, “You might be interested to know that I’ve collected > experiences of Putin from numerous people, some over a period of > years, and they all say they had no negative experiences with Putin > and there was no evidence of taking bribes”. He firmly replied, “No > one has ever been able to come up with a bribery charge against > Putin.” > > >From 2001 up to today, I’ve watched the negative U.S. media mounting > against Putin …. even accusations of assassinations, poisonings, and > comparing him to Hitler. No one yet has come up with any concrete > evidence for these allegations. During this time, I’ve traveled > throughout Russia several times every year, and have watched the > country slowly change under Putin’s watch. Taxes were lowered, > inflation lessened, and laws slowly put in place. Schools and > hospitals began improving. Small businesses were growing, agriculture > was showing improvement, and stores were becoming stocked with food. > Alcohol challenges were less obvious, smoking was banned from > buildings, and life expectancy began increasing. Highways were being > laid across the country, new rails and modern trains appeared even in > far out places, and the banking industry was becoming dependable. > Russia was beginning to look like a decent country – – certainly not > where Russians hoped it to be long term, but improving incrementally > for the first time in their memories. > > My 2013/14 Trips to Russia Modern Russia, thriving > > In addition to St.Petersburg and Moscow, in September I traveled out > to the Ural Mountains, spent time in Ekaterinburg, Chelyabinsk and > Perm. We traveled between cities via autos and rail – – the fields and > forests look healthy, small towns sport new paint and construction. > Today’s Russians look like Americans (we get the same clothing from > China). Old concrete Khrushchev block houses are giving way to new > multi-story private residential complexes which are lovely. High-rise > business centers, fine hotels and great restaurants are now common > place – – and ordinary Russians frequent these places. Two and three > story private homes rim these Russian cities far from Moscow. We > visited new museums, municipal buildings and huge super markets. > Streets are in good repair, highways are new and well marked now, > service stations looks like those dotting American highways. In > January I went to Novosibirsk out in Siberia where similar new > architecture was noted. Streets were kept navigable with constant > snowplowing, modern lighting kept the city bright all night, lots of > new traffic lights (with seconds counting down to light change) have > appeared. It is astounding to me how much progress Russia has made in > the past 14 years since an unknown man with no experience walked into > Russia’s presidency and took over a country that was flat on its > belly. > > So why do our leaders and media demean and demonize Putin and Russia??? > > Like Lady MacBeth, do they protest too much? > > Psychologists tell us that people (and countries?) project off on > others what they don’t want to face in themselves. Others carry our > “shadow” when we refuse to own it. We confer on others the very traits > that we are horrified to acknowledge in ourselves. > > Could this be why we constantly find fault with Putin and Russia? > > Could it be that we project on to Putin the sins of ourselves and our > leaders? > > Could it be that we condemn Russia’s corruption, acting like the > corruption within our corporate world doesn’t exist? > > Could it be that we condemn their human rights and LGBT issues, not > facing the fact that we haven’t solved our own? > > Could it be that we accuse Russia of “reconstituting the USSR” – – > because of what we do to remain the world’s “hegemon”? > > Could it be that we project nationalist behaviors on Russia, because > that is what we have become and we don’t want to face it? > > Could it be that we project warmongering off on Russia, because of > what we have done over the past several administrations? > > There is a well known code of ethics among us: Is it the Truth, Is it > Fair, Does it build Friendship and Goodwill, and Will it be Beneficial > for All Concerned? > > It seems to me that if our nation’s leaders would commit to using > these four principles in international relations, the world would > operate in a completely different manner, and human beings across this > planet would live in better conditions than they do today. > > Sharon Tennison > > > http://www.sott.net/article/278407-Is-Putin-incorruptible-US-insiders-view-… > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: Sat, 9 Apr 2016 22:31:57 +0000 > From: Zenaan Harkness <zen(a)freedbms.net> > To: cypherpunks(a)cpunks.org > Subject: US Military Chopper Transfers ISIL Leaders from Fallujah to > Unknown Location - 21 February 2016 > Message-ID: > < > CAOsGNST0nEaxwsPS8WnTAr6+wkzsGx7qP_rysP2hZB7yjrxxpQ(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 > > America 'encouraging' Iraq into allowing permanent US military bases in > Iraq. > > America the 'global cop' is also America the 'schoolyard bully'. > > Bloody and shameful. > > > ---- > > http://www.islamicinvitationturkey.com/2016/02/21/source-us-military-choppe… > > US Military Chopper Transfers ISIL Leaders from Fallujah to Unknown > Location - 21 February 2016 > > Informed sources disclosed that a US-made helicopter has taken several > senior ISIL leaders out of Anbar province in Western Iraq to an > unknown location. > > “A US chopper landed in a farm near the main road linking > al-Saqlaviyeh to Fallujah in Anbar province and took off after one > hour with ISIL leaders on board,” the Arabic-language Sama Baghdad > news website quoted informed Iraqi sources in Fallujah city as saying > on Sunday. > > The sources noted that several ISIL leaders had gathered in Fallujah > farm as if they had been informed of the helicopter’s imminent landing > in the farm. > > In a relevant development on February 13, senior Iraqi security > sources lashed out at the US and its regional allies for supporting > Takfiri terrorists in Iraq, and said that Washington is the main cause > of ISIL’s survival in his country. > > “We have compelling evidence that a US helicopter landed in Albu Arim > palms of Fallujah city to take out the ISIL leaders who were in > contact with the Americans,” a senior Iraqi security official, > speaking on the condition of anonymity, told FNA. > > He noted that other US aircraft were flying over the region to protect > the airplane which was boarding the ISIL leaders, adding, “The US took > out the ISIL leaders in order to rescue them from possible attacks by > the Iraqi Army and security forces.” > > In relevant remarks in October, Spokesman of Iraq’s Kata’ib Hezbollah > (Hezbollah Battalions) popular forces Jafar al-Hosseini disclosing > that captured ISIL leaders have acknowledged receiving logistical > backup and intelligence support from the US. > > “As the ISIL commanders captured in Iraqi popular forces’ recent > military operations have confessed, the US supports for the terrorist > groups are not limited to the dispatch of logistical support,” > Al-Hosseini told FNA. > > He reiterated that the US has provided the ISIL with intelligence > about the Iraqi forces’ positions and targets. > > “ISIL commanders trusted the US officials who had assured them that > the Iraqi forces would not attack Fallujah because the US had urged > the Iraqi government to prevent the popular forces from entering > Fallujah and raid Beiji instead; hence the terrorists left Fallujah > for Beiji to stay on the alert in there,” Al-Hosseini added. > > Al-Hosseini had also stated on Wednesday that his forces plan to win > back the city of Ramadi only after expelling the American forces from > Anbar province. > > “Our forces have two operations underway; first seizing Ramadi from > ISIL and second keeping away the American forces from Anbar province,” > al-Hosseini told FNA. > > He underlined that preventing the US forces from getting close to > Anbar province will expedite operations for winning back the province, > specially after the military operations in Salahuddin province that > led to the liberation of the city of Beiji. > > Iraqi officials have on different occasions blasted the US and its > allies for supplying the ISIL in Syria with arms and ammunition under > the pretext of fighting the Takfiri terrorist group. > > Also in October, the Iraqi army and volunteer forces discovered > US-made military hardware and ammunition, including anti-armor > missiles, in terrorists’ positions and trenches captured during the > operations in the Fallujah region in Al-Anbar province. > > The Iraqi forces found a huge volume of advanced TOW-II missiles from > the Takfiri terrorists in al-Karama city of Fallujah. > > The missiles were brand new and the ISIL had transferred them to > Fallujah to use them against the Iraqi army’s armored units. > > On October 10, the Iraqi forces discovered US-made military hardware > and ammunition from terrorists in Beiji. > > “The military hardware and weapons had been airdropped by the US-led > warplanes and choppers for the ISIL in the nearby areas of Beiji,” > military sources told FNA. > > In February 2015, an Iraqi provincial official lashed out at the > western countries and their regional allies for supporting Takfiri > terrorists in Iraq, revealing that the US airplanes still continue to > airdrop weapons and foodstuff for the ISIL terrorists. > > “The US planes have dropped weapons for the ISIL terrorists in the > areas under ISIL control and even in those areas that have been > recently liberated from the ISIL control to encourage the terrorists > to return to those places,” Coordinator of Iraqi popular forces Jafar > al-Jaberi told FNA. > > He noted that eyewitnesses in Al-Havijeh of Kirkuk province had > witnessed the US airplanes dropping several suspicious parcels for > ISIL terrorists in the province. > > “Two coalition planes were also seen above the town of Al-Khas in > Diyala and they carried the Takfiri terrorists to the region that has > recently been liberated from the ISIL control,” Al-Jaberi said. > > Also in February 2015, a senior lawmaker disclosed that Iraq’s army > has shot down two British planes as they were carrying weapons for the > ISIL terrorists in Al-Anbar province. > > “The Iraqi Parliament’s National Security and Defense Committee has > access to the photos of both planes that are British and have crashed > while they were carrying weapons for the ISIL,” Head of the committee > Hakem al-Zameli said. > > He said the Iraqi parliament has asked London for explanations in this > regard. > > The senior Iraqi legislator further unveiled that the government in > Baghdad is receiving daily reports from people and security forces in > al-Anbar province on numerous flights by the US-led coalition planes > that airdrop weapons and supplies for ISIL in terrorist-held areas. > > The Iraqi lawmaker further noted the cause of such western aids to the > terrorist group, and explained that the US prefers a chaotic situation > in Anbar Province which is near the cities of Karbala and Baghdad as > it does not want the ISIL crisis to come to an end. > > Also in February 2015, a senior Iraqi provincial official lashed out > at the western countries and their regional allies for supporting > Takfiri terrorists in Iraq, revealing that US and Israeli-made weapons > have been discovered from the areas purged of ISIL terrorists. > > “We have discovered weapons made in the US, European countries and > Israel from the areas liberated from ISIL’s control in Al-Baqdadi > region,” the Al-Ahad news website quoted Head of Al-Anbar Provincial > Council Khalaf Tarmouz as saying. > > He noted that the weapons made by the European countries and Israel > were discovered from the terrorists in the Eastern parts of the city > of Ramadi. > > Meantime, Head of Iraqi Parliament’s National Security and Defense > Committee Hakem al-Zameli also disclosed that the anti-ISIL > coalition’s planes have dropped weapons and foodstuff for the ISIL in > Salahuddin, Al-Anbar and Diyala provinces. > > In January 2015, al-Zameli underlined that the coalition is the main > cause of ISIL’s survival in Iraq. > > “There are proofs and evidence for the US-led coalition’s military aid > to ISIL terrorists through air(dropped cargoes),” he told FNA at the > time. > > He noted that the members of his committee have already proved that > the US planes have dropped advanced weaponry, including anti-aircraft > weapons, for the ISIL, and that it has set up an investigation > committee to probe into the matter. > > “The US drops weapons for the ISIL on the excuse of not knowing about > the whereabouts of the ISIL positions and it is trying to distort the > reality with its allegations. > > He noted that the committee had collected the data and the evidence > provided by eyewitnesses, including Iraqi army officers and the > popular forces, and said, “These documents are given to the > investigation committee … and the necessary measures will be taken to > protect the Iraqi airspace.” > > Also in January 2015, another senior Iraqi legislator reiterated that > the US-led coalition is the main cause of ISIL’s survival in Iraq. > > “The international coalition is only an excuse for protecting the ISIL > and helping the terrorist group with equipment and weapons,” Jome > Divan, who is member of the al-Sadr bloc in the Iraqi parliament, > said. > > He said the coalition’s support for the ISIL is now evident to > everyone, and continued, “The coalition has not targeted ISIL’s main > positions in Iraq.” > > In Late December 2014, Iraqi Parliamentary Security and Defense > Commission MP disclosed that a US plane supplied the ISIL terrorist > organization with arms and ammunition in Salahuddin province. > > MP Majid al-Gharawi stated that the available information pointed out > that US planes are supplying ISIL organization, not only in Salahuddin > province, but also other provinces, Iraq TradeLink reported. > > He added that the US and the international coalition are “not serious > in fighting against the ISIL organization, because they have the > technological power to determine the presence of ISIL gunmen and > destroy them in one month”. > > Gharawi added that “the US is trying to expand the time of the war > against the ISIL to get guarantees from the Iraqi government to have > its bases in Mosul and Anbar provinces.” > > Salahuddin security commission also disclosed that “unknown planes > threw arms and ammunition to the ISIL gunmen Southeast of Tikrit > city”. > Bu Konuyu Sosyal Medyada Paylaş > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 4 > Date: Sat, 9 Apr 2016 22:33:19 +0000 > From: Zenaan Harkness <zen(a)freedbms.net> > To: cypherpunks(a)cpunks.org > Subject: Reminders of why USAgov and NATO must be dismantled > Message-ID: > <CAOsGNSQs= > YN5skuSvDPpz8A_st9LtpiGUb3zJOWBt3rgqQRL4g(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 > > > http://russia-insider.com/en/kosovo-evil-little-war-almost-all-us-candidate… > " > Kosovo: An Evil Little War (Almost) All US Candidates Liked > Nebojsa Malic > Originally appeared at RT ( > https://www.rt.com/op-edge/337034-kosovo-us-candidates-war/ ) > > Although the 2016 presidential election is still in the primaries > phase, contenders have already brought up America’s failed foreign > wars. Hillary Clinton is taking flak over Libya, and Donald Trump has > irked the GOP by bringing up Iraq. But what of Kosovo? > > The US-led NATO operation that began on March 24, 1999 was launched > under the “responsibility to protect” doctrine asserted by President > Bill Clinton and UK Prime Minister Tony Blair. For 78 days, NATO > targeted what was then the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia – which > later split into Serbia and Montenegro – over alleged atrocities > against ethnic Albanians in the southern province of Kosovo. > Yugoslavia was accused of “ethnic cleansing” and “genocide” as bombs > rained on bridges, trains, hospitals, homes, the power grid and even > refugee convoys. > > NATO’s actions directly violated the UN Charter (articles 53 and 103), > its own charter, the 1975 Helsinki Final Act and the 1980 Vienna > Convention on the Law of Treaties. The war was a crime against peace, > pure and simple. > > Though overwhelmed, Yugoslavia did not surrender; the June 1999 > armistice only allowed NATO to occupy Kosovo under UN peacekeeping > authority, granted by Resolution 1244 – which the Alliance has been > violating ever since. > > US Secretary of State at the time, Madeleine Albright, was considered > the most outspoken champion of the “Kosovo War.” She is now a vocal > supporter of candidate Clinton, condemning ( > https://www.rt.com/usa/331671-clinton-steinem-albright-backlash/ ) > women who don’t vote for her to a “special place in Hell.” > > Clinton visited the renegade province in October 2012, as the outgoing > Secretary of State. She stood with the ‘Kosovan’ government leaders – > once considered terrorists, before receiving US backing – and > proclaimed unequivocal US support for Kosovo’s independence, > proclaimed four years prior. > > “For me, my family and my fellow Americans this is more than a foreign > policy issue, it is personal,” Clinton said. Given the Kosovo > Albanians had renamed a major street in their capital ‘Bill Clinton > Avenue’ and erected a massive gilded monument to Hillary’s husband, > her comments were hardly a surprise. > > She is unlikely to be condemned for those remarks by her rival for the > Democratic presidential nomination, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. > While arguing that Congress should have a say in authorizing the > intervention, Sanders entirely bought into the mainstream narrative > about the conflict, seeing it as a case of the evil Serbian “dictator” > Slobodan Milosevic oppressing the unarmed ethnic Albanians. He saw > “supporting the NATO airstrikes on Serbia as justified on humanitarian > grounds” ( http://feelthebern.org/bernie-sanders-on-nato/#kosovo-crisis > ). > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8S19u91Dfs > > One Sanders aide, Jeremy Brecher, resigned in May 1999 ( > > http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/bernie-sanders-troubling-history-supp… > ) arguing against the intervention as it unfolded, since the “goal of > US policy is not to save the Kosovars from ongoing destruction.” > > Trouble is there was no “destruction.” Contrary to NATO claims of > 100,000 or more Albanians purportedly massacred by the Serbs, postwar > investigators found fewer than 5,000 deaths – 1,500 of which happened > after NATO occupied the province and the Albanian pogroms began. > > Western media, eager to preserve the narrative of noble NATO defeating > the evil Serbs, dismissed the terror as “revenge killings.” NATO > troops thus looked on as their Albanian protégés terrorized, torched, > bombed and pillaged across the province for years, forcing some > 250,000 Serbs, Jews, Roma, and other groups into exile. > > After George W. Bush was re-elected in 2004, his administration > adopted the Clinton-era agenda for the Balkans, including backing an > independent Albanian state in Kosovo. None of the Republicans, save > 2012 contender Ron Paul, have criticized the Kosovo War since. > > Billionaire businessman Donald Trump actually has been critical – > though back in 1999, long before he became the Republican front-runner > and the bane of the GOP establishment. In October that year, Trump was > a guest on Larry King’s CNN show, criticizing ( > http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1999/10/08/trump.transcript/ ) > the Clintons’ handling of the Kosovo War after a fashion. > > “But look at what we’ve done to that land and to those people and > the deaths that we’ve caused,” Trump told King. “They bombed the hell > out of a country, out of a whole area, everyone is fleeing in every > different way, and nobody knows what’s happening, and the deaths are > going on by the thousands.” > > The problem with Trump, then as now, is that he is maddeningly vague. > So, these remarks could be interpreted as referring to the terror > going on at that very moment – the persecution of non-Albanians under > NATO’s approving eye – or the exodus of Albanians earlier that year, > during the NATO bombing. Only Trump would know which, and he hasn’t > offered a clarification. > > Though he has the most delegates and leads in the national polls for > the Republican nomination, the GOP establishment is furious with Trump > because he dared call ( > https://www.rt.com/op-edge/332416-trump-iraq-us-elections/ ) George W. > Bush a liar and describe the invasion of Iraq as a “big fat mistake.” > According to the British historian Kate Hudson ( > http://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/aug/14/usa.kosovo ), however, > the 2003 invasion was just a continuation of the “pattern of > aggression,” following the precedent set with Kosovo. > > #MarchPogrom of Serbs in #Kosovo happened under UN & NATO > administration. Crime without punishment for 11th year. > pic.twitter.com/sy9c4GlndW > — Anti-Serbism Monitor (@AntiSerbism) > March 17, 2015 ( > https://twitter.com/AntiSerbism/status/577732537344221184 ) > > Last week Secretary of State John Kerry reluctantly branded ( > https://www.rt.com/usa/335971-isis-genocide-iraq-syria/ ) the actions > of Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) in Iraq and Syria > “genocidal” towards the Christians, Yazidis, Shiites and other groups. > He cited examples of how IS destroyed churches, cemeteries and > monuments, and murdered people simply because of who they were. > > It was March 17, eight years to the day since 50,000 Albanians began a > three-day pogrom in Kosovo, doing the very same things – while their > activists in the US were raising funds for the very same John Kerry, > as he ran for president as the Democratic candidate. > " > > > > ---------------- > > http://russia-insider.com/en/politics/karadjic-told-me-i-saved-serbs-genoci… > " > Karadjic Told Me: 'I Saved Serbs From Genocide. God Knows We Are Right' > Personal reflections on a Serb leader who was sentenced to 40 years in > prison for crimes against humanity > Daria Aslamova (Komsomolskay Pravda) > > Photo: Radovan Karadjic and Daria Aslamova, 1993 > http://russia-insider.com/sites/insider/files/lfkf.jpg > > Translated by Julia Rakhmetova and Rhod Mackenzie > > The author is a veteran war correspondent who reported from numerous > hot spots throughout the world > > This man gave me my first professional tape recorder (his own). With > this man I drank wine at night in the town of Pale near Sarajevo in > March, 1993, during the Bosnian War, with him reading me his poems in > Serbian. A poet and psychiatrist, the Serbian politician Radovan > Karadjic was sentenced ( http://www.kp.ru/daily/26508.4/3377436/ ) to > 40 years' imprisonment by a duplicitous International Criminal > Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia for ‘crimes against humanity’ ( > https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crimes_against_humanity ). > > They even blamed him for ‘genocide ( > https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genocide ) against Bosnian Muslims ( > https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bosniaks )’ in the town of Srebrenica > when he had nothing to do with it. He was a politician, not a general. > (By the way, when the ‘world community’ refers to the massacre of > Muslim men in Srebrenica, it forgets that it was in reprisal for the > murder of Serbian villagers in neighboring towns and villages). > > There was a cruel civil war taking place in Bosnia back then, which > began with shootings at a Serbian wedding party in Sarajevo. Bosnian > Muslims got help from the West and the Muslim world, but no one helped > the Serbs. Even Russia, though making loud statements, refused to > supply arms. > > The Bosnian Muslims received $2 billion (!) to purchase arms over the > 3 years of the war, and 4,500 Al-Qaeda jihadists came to the country > thanks to the US, including Osama Ben Laden. They cut off Serbs’ heads > and threw them like cabbages into a basket. We have shocking > photographs http://www.kp.ru/share/i/4/1084796/big.png (not > recommended for people under 18 and sensitive adults) of those > murders. The murderers are still alive and recruiting new young > terrorists around the world, including for ISIS. When arrested, they > were provided with new passports. And now for that interview with > Karadjic. > > "My job was great”, - he said. “Thousands of Serbs were liberated > and avoided genocide. Our biggest mistake was poor propaganda. The > world is against us because we were proud and didn’t want to be > humiliated by making excuses. We let this happen, and now the world > considers Serbs evil incarnate. > > Yes, it’s bad for us. But as a psychiatrist, I can say that the > law that applies to an individual, such as ‘stay alone and you will > become mature’, also applies to a nation. Forced isolation will break > him down if he is spiritually weak, or he will rise above it, if he is > worth it. Now the Serbs are alone but this will bring them spiritual > growth and wisdom. God knows we are in the right.” > > Sometimes it seems to me that he’s talking about us Russians. > " > > > > ------------------------------ > > Subject: Digest Footer > > _______________________________________________ > cypherpunks mailing list > cypherpunks(a)cpunks.org > https://cpunks.org/mailman/listinfo/cypherpunks > > > ------------------------------ > > End of cypherpunks Digest, Vol 34, Issue 14 > ******************************************* >

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Mighty USA brings freedom to the world => Circles of Hell: Shocking Film of Ukraine War Crimes, Sadistic Torture
by Zenaan Harkness 09 Apr '16

09 Apr '16

All hail the mighty USA - liberating nations from fascist forces, Maidan is alive. <warning to the sarcasm impaired: sarcasm intended> http://russia-insider.com/en/circles-hell-shocking-film-ukraine-war-crimes-… And the USA debates whether to support Saudi Arabia and Turkey in their intent to "liberate" Syria. Just as well Saudi Arabia chairs one of the UN Human Rights Commission bodies... grave torture and executions might otherwise be swept under the political rug in the name of cheap oil and endless U$Dollar hegemony... All hail, USA!

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American/USGovMil intentions
by Zenaan Harkness 09 Apr '16

09 Apr '16

Let's hope this one does not come true: On America's intentions: http://journal-neo.org/2016/02/17/washington-s-machiavellian-game-in-syria/ " An ominous wire report sent a shiver down my spine when I read it. On January 28, US Army Lieutenant General Sean MacFarland, head of the US-led coalition against Daesh (ISIL) in Iraq and Syria, said that the US military was on site at the Mosul Dam to assess “the potential” for the collapse. Were it to be blown up, it would send a flood of water down the heavily populated Tigris river valley. “The likelihood of the dam collapsing is something we are trying to determine right now… all we know is when it goes, it’s going to go fast and that’s bad,” MacFarland told reporters in Baghdad. The US State Department estimates up to 500,000 people could be killed and over one million rendered homeless should Iraq’s biggest dam collapse. "

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