redefiler

I think Apple's resistance to the FBI's backdooring demands in the San Bernardino terror case will serve them well in this scandal.

In light of this information about serious intelligence agency malfeasance they were right to take the high moral stance.  The government can't be trusted not to create and foster exploits, much less maintain security on their secret hacking methods and personnel.

I really hope there has been no collusion between Apple and this illegal CIA hacking group. 

apple jockey said:

It always comes back to Obama for you guys. Doesn't even matter to you that Putin now has his boys in the White House. The Republicans in Congress just blindly follow cause power is all that matters. How low will you righties go? You have no dignity, ethics or love for our country, it seems. Reagan would vomit over you dogs! Trump is a great representative for all that is wrong about conservatism in this epic.

You're gaslighting.  Obama not only allowed universal surveillance without any probably cause, then he authorized an unaccountable CIA division to supplant the NSA and develop then diseminate malware and exploits, and then to leave it stupidly unclassied as to avoid any government oversight.

That has nothing to do with Trump, Republicans, Democrats or Russians.   This is purely Obama's own mess and those around him who participated.  Partisan democrats who continue to support him, are going to look increasingly foolish.  I suggest you take some time to check your perspective and do some deep soul searching.  You're on the side against the people, all people.

SpamSandwich said:

redefiler said:

Big problems from this:

1. CIA effectively ran a counter NSA department, when those functions are by law given to the NSA.  This was done long ago to ensure that no one agency had too much spying power.  This specific change was an Obama directive.

2. They Obama admin entered into a cooperative agreement with technology companies in 2010 to inform them of exploits, and then completely reneged on that arrangement.

3.  This counter NSA group at CIA purposely left all of their weaponized software exploits as "unclassified" to circumvent procedures and legalities when using highly sensitive, classified weapons and state secrets directly or through any surrogates.  This is not only highly illegal, totally shady but incredibly careless.

4. CIA cultivated a highly destructive arsenal in secret and against the law/their agency directive, and then completely failed to protect it.

5.  Obama admin's knowledge and usage of these tools, along with their incredibly poor history with respect to US citizens' privacy rights/rule of law regarding evidence collection, but also clandestine activities in spying on other countries, but also domestic press (including reporters at both CNN & FoxNews).

6. Former Obama admin officials and supporters frequent vague claims of Russian hacking as a default response for information leaks and exposed embarrassing behavior by the admin, Clinton campaign and DNC.

It's quite clear that the CIA and NSA are extralegal entities that effectively answer to no one. Think about it. They have the dirt on anyone and everyone before they even consider running for office or applying for a government job.

Both CIA and NSA work directly  for the chief executive.  Obama gave them extralegal powers to collect data on everyone, and then directed them to create this mess.  That's called a pattern of behavior.  He enjoyed using their powers to go after reporters and world leaders, he doesn't get to selectively claim non-involvement now.  It's 100% his shit show.  He could have dialed back the Patriot Act from the Bush era, but that's not how he chose to play it with his intelligence directives. 

Further it it was his state departmeny that voided Snowden's passport, while he was in the Moscow airport for a connecting flight.  That's either total incompetence on the former Admin's part, or deliberate.  The political wonks are going to wonk, and the partisan political zealots are still fully entranced, but there's no upside for Obama here.  He's been incredibly arrogant and stupid about laying blame and making excuses for his mistakes so far.

Big problems from this:

1. CIA effectively ran a counter NSA department, when those functions are by law given to the NSA.  This was done long ago to ensure that no one agency had too much spying power.  This specific change was an Obama directive.

2. They Obama admin entered into a cooperative agreement with technology companies in 2010 to inform them of exploits, and then completely reneged on that arrangement.

3.  This counter NSA group at CIA purposely left all of their weaponized software exploits as "unclassified" to circumvent procedures and legalities when using highly sensitive, classified weapons and state secrets directly or through any surrogates.  This is not only highly illegal, totally shady but incredibly careless.

4. CIA cultivated a highly destructive arsenal in secret and against the law/their agency directive, and then completely failed to protect it.

5.  Obama admin's knowledge and usage of these tools, along with their incredibly poor history with respect to US citizens' privacy rights/rule of law regarding evidence collection, but also clandestine activities in spying on other countries, but also domestic press (including reporters at both CNN & FoxNews).

6. Former Obama admin officials and supporters frequent vague claims of Russian hacking as a default response for information leaks and exposed embarrassing behavior by the admin, Clinton campaign and DNC.

iantimmy123 said:

Just waiting now for the idiotic statements saying that more guns would have prevented this.

The rest of the world just looks in total bemusement at why Americans still think it's safe for guns to be so common and easily accessible. But then if the country didn't learn from mass shootings in schools, they never will. 

Oh cool, because I was waiting for some simpleton to bring up the same old ignorant, quivering gun fears.  Might want to read up on how well French (or even California) gun laws have helped with preventing shootings and terror.  Not even waiting for the bodies to cool, before 'firing up' your political agenda, stay classy Timmy.

But we get it, you're a wimp and you just keep on waving that little yellow flag, tiger.