December 16, 2011

There were 3 posts published on December 16, 2011 (this is page 1 of 1).

U.S. Restricts Firm for Web Filter Sale to Syria – WSJ.com

I saw this story and it reminded me of an opportunity I recently turned down to help sell Internet-monitoring gear to a friendly Arab country. The folks involved were nice and the deal was said to be brokered by the Department of State. Among other things, I had reservations about my work possibly preventing an “Arab Spring”-type event, preventing a people from obtaining their rights.

The Department of Commerce is placing restrictions on a person and a company in the United Arab Emirates for supplying Syria with Internet-filtering devices made by California-based Blue Coat Systems Inc.

On Thursday, Commerce said it put Waseem Jawad and the Ras Al Khaimah-based company Info Tech, also known as Infotec, on a list of people and institutions determined to “have engaged in activities contrary to U.S. national security and/or foreign policy interests.”

The measure restricts Mr. Jawad and Info Tech from receiving or transferring items that fall under U.S. export controls.

via U.S. Restricts Firm for Web Filter Sale to Syria – WSJ.com.

Visit from a shipmate

Orlando with his ambitious daughter, Leah


Through the magic of Facebook, I connected recently with a shipmate who now lives in North Carolina. Orlando Brown and I served together in OZ Division on the USS Elliot (DD-967) from 1989 until 1992 (though he left a few months before I did). While I served only one enlistment, Orlando stayed in to retire as a Chief Petty Officer.

As division mates we went through a lot together, including a few questionable division officers and division chiefs. You get to know people really well when you’re around them almost constantly for three years. He and the other shipmates in our division are like brothers to me. Always will be.
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Dear Congress, It’s No Longer OK To Not Know How The Internet Works

The House tried to pass the “Stop Online Internet Piracy” bill out of committee today, only to run out of time. It wasn’t due to the lack of trying on the part of Rep. Mel Watt (D-NC). Rep. Watt acknowledges that he doesn’t understand the ramifications of the bill he is sponsoring, yet feels the need to press on, regardless.

It’s quite embarrassing, especially as a North Carolinian. As one commenter put it, Congress trying to regulate the Internet is like trying to build a bridge without an engineer. This misguided attack on America’s First Amendment must be stopped.

It’s of course perfectly standard for members of Congress to not be exceptionally proficient in technological matters. But for some committee members, the issue did not stop at mere ignorance. Rather, it seemed there was in many cases an outright refusal to understand what is undoubtedly a complex issue dealing with highly-sensitive technologies.

When the security issue was brought up, Rep. Mel Watt of North Carolina seemed particularly comfortable about his own lack of understanding. Grinningly admitting “I’m not a nerd” before the committee, he nevertheless went on to dismiss without facts or justification the very evidence he didn’t understand and then downplay the need for a panel of experts. Rep. Maxine Waters of California followed up by saying that any discussion of security concerns is “wasting time” and that the bill should move forward without question, busted internets be damned.

via Dear Congress, It’s No Longer OK To Not Know How The Internet Works | Motherboard.