Hey Froggy,
That's so serious valuable intel to public, hopefully that cl.ph. merchants: will be very aware of these cl-ph. insurgencies...my beloved USN-Seal*Chief D. Healy didn't die in vain in Afghanistan
Honestly, I don't know about these reports. I DO know that pre-paid cells are currently kicking standard cell plans in the ass with everyone but business people who require thousands of minutes a month and large families who save with a single plan. My wife and I just switched from Sprint to a pre-pay, and are now paying about $7 a month as opposed to SIXTY on our old plan. We're your standard 30-something middle class types, and we -barely- qualified for credit to GET the Sprint phones to begin with. Prepay? No credit, no contract, no problem, phones are $40 or less and you get minutes everywhere.
Do I think they're being used by criminals and/or terrorists? Absolutely, but I don't think the NSA leak would speed that. Why? The NSA eavesdropping, to my understanding, works from the outside in. They monitor traffic heading out to known terrorist hotspots, then trace them back to the US phone. While having a prepay keeps them from identifying the US speakers as easily, I don't see why the type of phone they use matters when it comes to collecting intel and locating the general location of the US side of the conversation. Even the crappy Sleeper Cell show on Showtime, that played well before the NSA leak, had the members of the cell switching prepay phones and phone cards, so the connection doesn't stick.
Just be sure not to misunderstand: the NSA leak sucks for a long list of reasons...this may not be one of them, though, and could result in a ton of false leads as men who appear to be Middle Eastern (and knowing most Americans, that means they could be anything from Italian to Armenian to Mexican) buy pre-pay phones for their families or friends.
The Constitution will be obeyed First and Formost. Without this, we have no country to defend.
Austin,
Don't forget that these phones can and HAVE been used as triggering devices for IEDs (see Madrid bombings). The fact that they are being purchased, in cash, 100 to 150 at a time is highly suspicious. According to reports, at least one of the people caught in Midland Texas has ties to a terrorist group.
Salminio,
The Constitution is not a suicide pact! ...LIFE, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness... you'll notice that LIFE is first, because without it, the rest isn't possible. Somewhere in the oath of office it mentions "all enemies, foreign AND domestic" Defending our country does NOT stop at our borders. It never has.
Carol
Please excuse. My bad.
Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness is in the Declaration of Independence. Still doesn't change the point however.
Carol
For a variety of reasons, none of which I will get into, the use of different handsets, different SIM cards, or prepaid phone cards does not protect anyone from eavesdropping. Once you are identified as some one to keep an eye on, there is very little you can do to protect your communications. This leak makes a lot of people's jobs more difficult, but the bottom line plain and simple is that no terrorist is safe anywhere in the world.
No wonder Lefty's hate Wal-Mart...
Greetings! I took a sick day from work yesterday (when you're a pro ski patroller, being sick at work is a big deal), so i had some time to play around in photoshop with a Tracfone ad.
BTW, i've been using their service for a year now, and other than a few issues, it's much better than paying for regular service if you don't use your cell much.
Keep up the great work Froggy!
I don't doubt these phones bode ill for our Homeland Security. So do the idiots running it and recently apppointed to it...I'm honestly not sure which is worse. You yourself have made the point that DHS is a hideous joke.
Interesting that employees of Target committed such a patriotic act, considering the company is owned by the family of America Hater Senator Mark Dayton.
OK, I guess I've offially been consumed by cynicism. 
Knowingly publishishing classified information is a Federal crime and both the Editor and Publisher of the New York Times ought to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. They have compromised our national security. Mark my words, their actions are going to get Americans killed. It would be like a newspaper publishing the details of the breaking of the Japanese naval code prior to the battle of Midway. That would have been an act of treason.
Nice job, Mark.
"FBI says no terror link to group trying to buy cell phones"
http://www.kristv.com/Global/sto...361894&
nav=Bsmh
"Officers also searched their van and found 60 cell phones and marijuana, and one person in the group was arrested on a drug possession charge, according to the police report.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents later charged one man with an immigration violation, and two others were released after producing appropriate documents, said Bill Vanderland, agent in charge of Midland's FBI office.
Agents at the time said members of the group were linked to suspected terrorist cells in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, but Vanderland said Thursday that was not the case."
As in the case of college kid who blew himself up. Ordinary citizens and beat police are stepping up to the task of dealing with the terrorist threat. This may all be a bunch of druggies trying to keep in touch with their mothers, but the clerks and the police have done the right thing.
I'm sure some of these cells are being bought for nefarious things, but as to terror ties...maybe but not definite.
When I worked at Radio Shack a few years back, middle-eastern and mexican people would buy huge stacks of them as well. It was usually to get one for everyone in their family/social group or in some cases it was cheaper just to start a new prepaid plan than buy more minutes for an existing one.
They're popular amongst drug-running groups and local gangs as well.
Off-topic somewhat (but not really)...Matt, did you see this from Greyhawk re: Katherine Stethem's family statement concerning the release of Robert Stethem's murderer?
There is outrage in that family and I know just how they feel. I'm glad she's keeping her brother-in-law's memory alive in the blogosphere.
Hey Froggy,
Did you see where Marine Sgt. Mark Seavey took Congreeman John Murtha to task. If not see my post today.
Regards,
Seaspook
Usually this stuff gets written up as the evils of profiling (well Poor Justin takes a whack of making that argument). The fact is most (I'd bet over 95%) of consumers will never feel compelled to purchase 60 pre-paid phones at one time. When it happens, those people should be scrutinized. Especially if they have that much money but are dumb enough to purchase bulk items from a department store.
There are valid reasons for pre-paid phone cells. I don't think anyone is saying they should be banned. Fertilizer and gasoline also have valid reasons, but when purchased in bulk, people should be concerned.
Two comments-
Seaspook, please don't take this the wrong way, but Sgt. Seavey returned from Afghanistan, not Iraq. Rep. Murtha's comments I think have largely been taken the wrong way and politicized (the part about leaving Iraq). As for low morale in the military, one Marine in Afghanistan does not represent over a hundred thousand members of the Armed Forces in Iraq. Sgt. Seavey should be proud of his service, but he does not need to attack Rep. Murtha, he is a fellow Marine and Vietnam veteran.
I think Carol Johnson brings up an excellent point about the Constitution. Our laws are flexible and adaptable to present situations whatever they may be. We need to ask the question why, over four years after the World Trade Center attacks, do we need secret domestic eavesdropping to prevent terrorism in our country. Soemthing about that just does not add up to me.
We need to ask the question why, over four years after the World Trade Center attacks, do we need secret domestic eavesdropping to prevent terrorism in our country. Soemthing about that just does not add up to me.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The reason 'Soemthing' about that doesn't add up to you is you have not thought seriously about the nature of terrorism. Historical examples show that it takes years of conflict to stop. With our modern technology, example CELLPHONES, the terrorist's effectiveness is magnified. Too bad we will have to lose a city or two before it adds up to all of our fellow citizens.
Robert N.: I don't see how you can say that Murtha's comments have been "taken the wrong way and politicized." He has basked in the media attention that he's received since calling for a withdrawal of our forces from Iraq. Moreover, it is HE who has politicized the issue, and the more he talks the more extreme his comments get.
Seaspook: Thanks for the link to Marine Sgt. Mark Seavey's comments. Recently, when the House majority forced a debate and vote on Murtha's absurd proposal, I called my congressman to urge him to vote against the withdrawal of our troops from Iraq until the job is done. My congressman is a hopeless liberal democrat, so I held out no hope that my request would mean anything to him. Nonetheless, he and the majority of his cowardly liberals in the House voted against the proposal because they knew to do otherwise would be political suicide.
Yesterday, I received a lengthy letter from the congressman's office thanking me for my call and then launching into 3 page vitriolic attack on the President, the War, the SecDef, you name it. In that letter he referred to Murtha as a hero and "one tough Marine." In response, I think I'll send him a copy of Sgt. Seavey's remarks. Thanks again for the timely link.
arrowhead
Robert N.: I don't see how you can say that Murtha's comments have been "taken the wrong way and politicized." He has basked in the media attention that he's received since calling for a withdrawal of our forces from Iraq. Moreover, it is HE who has politicized the issue, and the more he talks the more extreme his comments get.
Seaspook: Thanks for the link to Marine Sgt. Mark Seavey's comments. Recently, when the House majority forced a debate and vote on Murtha's absurd proposal, I called my congressman to urge him to vote against the withdrawal of our troops from Iraq until the job is done. My congressman is a hopeless liberal democrat, so I held out no hope that my request would mean anything to him. Nonetheless, he and the majority of his cowardly liberals in the House voted against the proposal because they knew to do otherwise would be political suicide.
Yesterday, I received a lengthy letter from the congressman's office thanking me for my call and then launching into 3 page vitriolic attack on the President, the War, the SecDef, you name it. In that letter he referred to Murtha as a hero and "one tough Marine." In response, I think I'll send him a copy of Sgt. Seavey's remarks. Thanks again for the timely link.
arrowhead
Robert N.: I don't see how you can say that Murtha's comments have been "taken the wrong way and politicized." He has basked in the media attention that he's received since calling for a withdrawal of our forces from Iraq. Moreover, it is HE who has politicized the issue, and the more he talks the more extreme his comments get.
Seaspook: Thanks for the link to Marine Sgt. Mark Seavey's comments. Recently, when the House majority forced a debate and vote on Murtha's absurd proposal, I called my congressman to urge him to vote against the withdrawal of our troops from Iraq until the job is done. My congressman is a hopeless liberal democrat, so I held out no hope that my request would mean anything to him. Nonetheless, he and the majority of his cowardly liberals in the House voted against the proposal because they knew to do otherwise would be political suicide.
Yesterday, I received a lengthy letter from the congressman's office thanking me for my call and then launching into 3 page vitriolic attack on the President, the War, the SecDef, you name it. In that letter he referred to Murtha as a hero and "one tough Marine." In response, I think I'll send him a copy of Sgt. Seavey's remarks. Thanks again for the timely link.
arrowhead
I don't know how my comments got posted 3 times. SORRY.
Robert N,
The simple truth of the matter is, when the 9/11 commission screamed about not connecting the dots, what were they actually saying? IF CONNECTING THE DOTS MEANS THAT SOMEONE OR GROUP WHO IS ALREADY HERE SHOULD BE SURVEILLED BECAUSE THEY WERE IN CONTACT WITH AL QAEDA IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY, THEN THEY REALLY NEED TO BE SURVEILLED!!
Our President AND our entire government are SWORN to protect us!!! They have taken solemn oaths of office...to preserve, protect and defend the "Constitution" of the United States of America, the first three words of which says "WE THE PEOPLE". The Constitution is much more than an abstract piece of paper. "We the People" have always been inseparable from the document which defines us and makes us special.
Carol
Carol I thin Pelosi,Boxer,Shumer,and the rest of the white flag brigade needs to reread the Constitution again and actually take serious its words instead of dumping on it like they've been doing and trying to do.
My comments probably came out the wrong way. I just don't think Rep. Murtha is as bad as some people think. Both President Bush and Vice President Cheney have said they respect him, they just don't agree with his ideas on Iraq. He never said anything about an immediate withdrawal from Iraq. Nobody is perfect, but he is a fellow Marine and he is not some liberal idiot who does not support our Armed Forces.
Lisa,
You got that right! Of course, they think that the constitution is something you can "USE" to make and score points against your opponents and your constituents for that matter. They have NO IDEA about how to protect that precious document and the "People" who it represents. Thank you for your comments.
Carol
Froggy, Laguratonous ?sp? (the torture guy from frontline) was on hardball today.
Just so that everyone's clear:
Murtha is a scumbag.
I list this as evidence:
http://www.blackfive.net/main/
20...ff_murthas.html
http://www.floppingaces.net/2006...006/01/14/1222/
Also, I believe SGT Mark Seavey is in the Army.
Related to previous topic, just thought I would share for anyone not familiar with it....
You guys may already be aware, but the Military Channel frequently re-runs a 3 or 4 hour series on the early weeks of Seal Training. Including Welcome to Buds, The Only Easy Day was Yesterday, Hellweek, then something else related to initial Scuba training. Check every Sunday looking for them as they are like nothing I've ever seen, just the first few days are unbelievable. On top of the physical training, then to have to do surf passage first in daylight then at night in cold ass water, then they just make them lay in the water with the waves passing over them, then back into the boats for more surf passage, then they move along to rock portage (day and night).
"The Only Easy Day was Yesterday" is right.
I don't remember if it was a 1 mile swim or what, but that's just downright scary, as the instructors have to watch for the early symptoms of hypothermia and all that entails.
"It pays to be a winner"
Sir:
Kudos, and many thanks for the link. I am Military Channel addict, so I have no doubt whatsoever of our ability to win on the battlefield against any enemy. I have also read all three of Dick Couch's books, so I do not think I need to even state the level of respect I have for you, sir, and what you have endured to master your craft.
Even here at hone, on your computer, you are a formidable weapon, and we need all the men and women like you that we can get. While I am supremely confident that our military can win any war on the battlefield if we perservere, our enemies are all to aware that the only way that we can lose is to quit at home. And for this fight, it is the enemy, big media, who has the hardware.
It is men like you who are on the front lines in the War at home, and you are an inspiration to the rest of us.
The ACLU is probably subsidizing these purchases.
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