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Ian62

(604 posts)
26. TrailBlazer
Mon Dec 31, 2012, 05:38 PM
Dec 2012

Trailblazer was a United States National Security Agency (NSA) program intended to develop a capability to analyze data carried on communications networks like the Internet. It was intended to track entities using communication methods such as cell phones and e-mail.[1][2] It ran over budget, failed to accomplish critical goals, and was cancelled.
NSA whistleblowers J. Kirk Wiebe, William Binney, Ed Loomis, and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence staffer Diane Roark complained to the Department of Defense's Inspector General (IG) about waste, fraud, and abuse in the program, and the fact that a successful operating prototype existed, but was ignored when the Trailblazer program was launched. The complaint was accepted by the IG and an investigation began that lasted until mid-2005 when the final results were issued. The results were largely hidden, as the report given to the public was heavily (90%) redacted, while the original report was heavily classified, thus restricting the ability of most people to see it.
The people who filed the IG complaint were later raided by armed Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents. While the Government threatened to prosecute all who signed the IG report, it ultimately chose to pursue an NSA Senior Executive — Thomas A. Drake — who helped with the report internally to NSA and who had spoken with a reporter about the project. Drake was later charged under the Espionage Act of 1917. His defenders claimed this was retaliation.[3][4] The charges against him were later dropped, and he agreed to plead guilty to having committed a misdemeanor under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, something that Jesselyn Radack of the Government Accountability Project (which helped represent him) called an "act of civil disobedience".[5]

Continued at :-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trailblazer_Project

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Unfortunately, history shows a number of examples of this customerserviceguy Dec 2012 #1
I do not agree that this legislation is 'nothing'. The comparison is strained. The actual question Bluenorthwest Dec 2012 #4
Spying on suspected foreign nationals overseas customerserviceguy Jan 2013 #30
I disagree, this legislation isn't "nothing", MadHound Dec 2012 #6
You have it backwards pscot Dec 2012 #11
Not only can be but was used. zeemike Dec 2012 #15
He may not control the country, but he can still speak out pscot Dec 2012 #20
Well there is a long history of what happens when you piss off the PTB zeemike Dec 2012 #21
Post removed Post removed Jan 2013 #29
I think the fantasy that we Democrats are all on the same side and fighting for the same things woo me with science Dec 2012 #2
It is not about protecting us. It's about...... Hotler Dec 2012 #8
You would think that the majority of people would somehow get a clue... Larry Ogg Dec 2012 #19
See, they Can be Perfectly Bi-Partisan when fredamae Dec 2012 #3
Cheer up! The people that will be the most upset haven't even been born yet green for victory Dec 2012 #5
Those fuckers (Both sides of the isle)..... Hotler Dec 2012 #7
No government will willingly give up power, once granted. X_Digger Dec 2012 #9
Exactly what I told my now Tea Party friends way back when Bush obtained those powers. JoePhilly Dec 2012 #13
The problem with the loss of civil liberties gollygee Dec 2012 #10
"I remember back when Bush started pulling this crap, and we were justifiably outraged" Bad_Ronald Dec 2012 #12
Exactly. Arctic Dave Dec 2012 #14
Oh no, that goes way back zeemike Dec 2012 #17
We have a bunch of politicians who have risen to power under a system of back room deals Dustlawyer Dec 2012 #16
Most of the bi-partisanship is of the FP/WOT kind stupidicus Dec 2012 #18
Does high office result in Old Troop Dec 2012 #22
Sadly so. We have two corporate statist parties, only one is insane. and we accept crumbs ... villager Dec 2012 #23
+1 forestpath Dec 2012 #24
FISA, domestic surveillance & the NSA's new $2bn datacenter Ian62 Dec 2012 #25
TrailBlazer Ian62 Dec 2012 #26
I guess Big Brother is OK as long as your party is in power davidn3600 Dec 2012 #27
Don't worry zipplewrath Dec 2012 #28
Frederick Douglass put it best, IMO. Egalitarian Thug Jan 2013 #31
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»When it comes to civil li...»Reply #26