Wilderness Of Mirrors

David Freddoso at The Examiner thinks that a story claiming that Wikileaks is a government plot is a tin foil hat theory. I'm not so sure.

Document dumps with lots of verifiable facts plus a few ringers is a standard and very old way to plant false information where it will do some good (the intel folks hope).

Is that what happened in this case? Who knows?

But in tin foil hat territory it is not.

Of course if you are working with the intel folks calling such a theory "tin foil hat" territory is a very good move.

Which just gets you into a Wilderness of Mirrors. There is a book by that name that I highly recommend:

Wilderness of Mirrors: Intrigue, Deception, and the Secrets that Destroyed Two of the Cold War's Most Important Agents

Another very good book on the subject dealing with intelligence and counter intelligence in WW2 that I can also highly recommend is:

Bodyguard of Lies

H/T Instapundit

Cross Posted at Classical Values

TSA Agents Smuggle Bombs Into Airports

It is true. TSA Agents are smuggling bombs into airports to test the system.

Someone please tell me this doesn't actually happen. "Hi Mr. Passenger. I'm a TSA manager. You know I'm not lying to you because of this official-looking laminated badge I have. We need you to help us test airport security. Here's a 'fake' bomb that we'd like you to carry through security in your luggage. Another TSA manager will, um, meet you at your destination. Give the fake bomb to him when you land.

Well it hasn't happened yet. But could it? Suppose some jihadi joins the TSA? With their most excellent screening procedures for new agents. They must be good. Look at the people doing the "job". And then suppose the TSA jihadi substitutes a real bomb for the fake one? The fun will never cease.

The Romans, who supposedly knew a thing or two about security have a question:

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

The Drug War Exception

There is a heck of a lot of complaining about the latest body groping rules implemented by the TSA. The thing is we gave up ownership of our bodies a long time ago when we let urine screening for employment pass without a murmur. All for the greater good to be sure. The Drug War exception to the 4th Amendment has just expanded a little. Why the outrage?

Well some people have been outraged for a while. And they have written books:

Smoke and Mirrors: The War on Drugs and the Politics of Failure
Drug Hate and the Corruption of American Justice

Civil Liberties Vs. National Security In A Post 9/11 World

Cross Posted at Classical Values

A Change in Strategy

I have been giving the war a lot of thought. Progress is coming in Iraq a painful inch at a time. It is a process which will not be done again for a while.

So as much as I think Democracy Promotion should still be a major part of our strategy, for the time being it cannot be primary. Our primary focus needs to be on the clash of cultures. To win that clash the West needs more exposure in the East. How do you get it? Television, radio, cell phones, and the 'Net. And what is the #1 requirement for those bits of equipment? Electricity. Even the advance of cell phones requires electricity for the towers and rechargers.

Electricity and street lights do quite a lot to reduce crime at night. Making people feel more secure and in fact be more secure. Lights in the home. Lights in the street.