3 ms·

Pine Gap

77 points by ra 13y ago

peterpathname 13y ago
the CAAT appeal was stunning. Alhough admitting that Pine Gap was used to target strikes on Iraq, defence insisited that it is not a war base - which made the facility ineligible for the protections from judicial scrutiny afforded under "special undertakings". Rather than admit that a foreign war base operates from the heart of our country, and unwilling (unable!) to answer the defendants' full range of examination, the prior conviction was nullified and the christians against all terrorism walked free. but now the usa is opening more bases around the country, including marines in Darwin and US warships off WA.
- ra 13y ago
  Yeah all this takes on a whole new context in the light of PRISM. I think it was Cory Doctorow who said, "Snowdon took the theory out of conspiracy theory".
  - peterpathname 13y ago
    I haven't seen much from CD on PRISM: got any links?
l33tbro 13y ago
Interesting. I remember once upon a time the Australian govt wanted to shut it down (under Whitlam). But it still goes strong, probably the reason why the ANZUS agreement exists.
dsl 13y ago
Sugar Grove [1] as well as Yakima [2] have been completely closed. From what I hear Menwith Hill and Misawa have been de-staffed and repurposed. I suspect Pine Gap is still maintained for short term operational projects, but the ECHELON SIGINT program has been effectively shut down. (Rightfully so as its purpose was Satellite intercepts, which have largely given way to fiber optic routes) 1. http://cryptome.org/dodi/2013/opnav-5400-2215.pdf http://cryptome.org/dodi/2013/opnav-5400-2215.pdf 2. http://cryptome.org/dodi/2013/opnav-5400-2211.pdf http://cryptome.org/dodi/2013/opnav-5400-2211.pdf
forfengeligfaen 13y ago
Pine Gap gets name checked in Rap News 15 - Big Brother is WWWatching You: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o66FUc61MvU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o66FUc61MvU
pmorici 13y ago
Steve Blank, who writes a start up blog that used to get posted on HN a lot wrote a post a while back talking about how he used to work there. http://steveblank.com/2009/04/13/story-behind-%E2%80%9Cthe-secret-history%E2%80%9D-part-iv-undisclosed-location-library-hours/ http://steveblank.com/2009/04/13/story-behind-%E2%80%9Cthe-s...
- ra 13y ago
  Wow, that's a great read. I've read that post before but had no idea it was about Pine Gap. Thanks for posting.

77 points by ra 13y ago

the CAAT appeal was stunning. Alhough admitting that Pine Gap was used to target strikes on Iraq, defence insisited that it is not a war base - which made the facility ineligible for the protections from judicial scrutiny afforded under "special undertakings". Rather than admit that a foreign war base operates from the heart of our country, and unwilling (unable!) to answer the defendants' full range of examination, the prior conviction was nullified and the christians against all terrorism walked free. but now the usa is opening more bases around the country, including marines in Darwin and US warships off WA.

ra 13y ago
Yeah all this takes on a whole new context in the light of PRISM. I think it was Cory Doctorow who said, "Snowdon took the theory out of conspiracy theory".
- peterpathname 13y ago
  I haven't seen much from CD on PRISM: got any links?

l33tbro 13y ago

Interesting. I remember once upon a time the Australian govt wanted to shut it down (under Whitlam). But it still goes strong, probably the reason why the ANZUS agreement exists.

dsl 13y ago

Sugar Grove [1] as well as Yakima [2] have been completely closed. From what I hear Menwith Hill and Misawa have been de-staffed and repurposed. I suspect Pine Gap is still maintained for short term operational projects, but the ECHELON SIGINT program has been effectively shut down. (Rightfully so as its purpose was Satellite intercepts, which have largely given way to fiber optic routes) 1. http://cryptome.org/dodi/2013/opnav-5400-2215.pdf http://cryptome.org/dodi/2013/opnav-5400-2215.pdf 2. http://cryptome.org/dodi/2013/opnav-5400-2211.pdf http://cryptome.org/dodi/2013/opnav-5400-2211.pdf

forfengeligfaen 13y ago

Pine Gap gets name checked in Rap News 15 - Big Brother is WWWatching You: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o66FUc61MvU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o66FUc61MvU

pmorici 13y ago

Steve Blank, who writes a start up blog that used to get posted on HN a lot wrote a post a while back talking about how he used to work there. http://steveblank.com/2009/04/13/story-behind-%E2%80%9Cthe-secret-history%E2%80%9D-part-iv-undisclosed-location-library-hours/ http://steveblank.com/2009/04/13/story-behind-%E2%80%9Cthe-s...

ra 13y ago
Wow, that's a great read. I've read that post before but had no idea it was about Pine Gap. Thanks for posting.