Reports of US Embassy ‘spy hub’ hogwash

An international security expert had characterized as “hogwash” all the reports claiming that the US Embassy maintains listening posts or spy hubs in almost every country in the world. The United States really has no need for these so-called “hubs” because surveillance and information gathering activities can be conducted with a vast arsenal of high-tech electronic gadgets, not to mention unmanned drones and satellites hovering in space, the security expert said. And even if they do spy on people, they use “embedded’ operatives, he added.

The fact of the matter is, every government conducts intelligence activities – meaning everybody spies on everybody – but the difference is that the United States is probably a decade ahead of most other countries when it comes to electronic monitoring capabilities. The art (and science) of espionage has changed from decades ago when spies would hide transmitters and recording equipment under their clothes, or when recording and camera devices were hidden in pens. These days, intel agents can operate from the CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia or from the Pentagon in Washington to read emails and text messages or eavesdrop on cellphone conversations – because the scope of America’s information gathering activities has greatly expanded with advanced technology, turning America into a virtual Big Brother who could watch every move of any person of interest.

Obviously, the 9-11 terrorist attack was a major catalyst in America’s decision to enhance its intel gathering capabilities, with the US government creating the office of the Director of National Intelligence to coordinate all activities of the various US intelligence agencies and offices. In the decade that it took before the US finally pinpointed the location of Osama bin Laden, an estimated $1.5 trillion was spent for defense expenditures, with a big bulk going to intelligence technology development.

Let’s not forget – advanced technology played a major role in the raid on the al Qaeda leader’s Abbottabad lair – from the stealth drones to the satellite feed that enabled US President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, then-State Secretary Hillary Clinton and other Pentagon officials to watch the raid live – videos of which have never been released by the US government.

But even with the death of Osama bin Laden in May 2011, the war on terror is far from over, which is why the US continues to be aggressive and seemingly obsessed with maintaining its technological superiority as far as information gathering is concerned – even to the extent of listening to private cellphone conversations and peeking at the text messages of allies – like what happened with German Chancellor Angela Merkel who cancelled her planned trip to the US after discovering that her cellphone was tapped by the NSA. Reports also say the NSA and the US Cyber Command are investing heavily on “offensive cyber weapons” to deter “cyber attacks” (like the ones China has been accused of doing against American companies) and track unconventional weapons as well.

While satellites and navy ships that can harvest transmissions and other electronic activities including wire transfers and other bank transactions is already impressive weapons in the US arsenal of spy gadgetry, drones are by far the most “remarkable” surveillance weapons as far as intelligence operatives are concerned. Just recently, an unmanned CIA drone strike killed Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud somewhere in a Pakistani tribal area notorious for lawlessness. Although Pakistan has condemned the attack as an infringement on its sovereignty, saying it will push back the peace negotiations with the Taliban, the US intelligence community network is definitely relieved because Mehsud has been tagged as the brains behind a 2009 suicide bomb attack (by a Jordanian double agent) on a CIA station in Afghanistan that killed seven Central Intelligence Agency officials.

According to sources, the US Lockheed Martin Company is now developing a “hypersonic robot spy plane” called the Blackbird SR-72 designed for high-altitude surveillance that can be fitted with weapons. The Blackbird, which could reach a speed of Mach 6, would be so fast that an adversary would have no time to hide or react, a Lockheed official was quoted as saying, adding the technology for the SR-72 would be a “game changer.”

The Napoles show: Most highly rated

If all goes well, the appearance of Janet Lim Napoles before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee will push through as scheduled today. People have been waiting for this opportunity to see Janet Napoles and hear what she has to say regarding the P10 billion pork barrel fund scam – and Senator Alan Peter Cayetano was absolutely correct in insisting that Napoles stop employing delaying tactics, telling the alleged “Pork Queen” to answer all questions, because the time has come to tell the truth.

There’s a big likelihood that the Napoles testimony will even surpass the viewership during the televised Corona impeachment trial, with some saying it could even beat the Pacquiao audience share for the upcoming Pacquiao-Rios fight, especially with the live streaming that TV5 is planning via PLDT to allow people to watch the Senate hearing from their laptops and smart gadgets. In any case, the “Napoles Show” is certain to be a top rater.

Spy tidbit: Mafialeaks

A group of tech-savvy Italians recently launched the Mafialeaks website that would allow victims to anonymously report criminal activities of mobsters and organized crime members. The site is geared at shopkeepers forced to pay protection money to gangsters, and people with knowledge of criminal activities.  Information relayed on the web will be directed to a network that maintains anonymity of sources and transmits the info to the police, anti-Mafia judges and even journalists.

Law enforcement officials and judges are optimistic that Mafialeaks could break the wall of secrecy that has allowed Mafia criminal activities to flourish in Italy. Perhaps something like that should be initiated here.

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