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>The FBI asked the AP not to disclose the names of the fake companies it uncovered, saying that would saddle taxpayers with the expense of creating new cover co
by deathhand 11y ago
>The FBI asked the AP not to disclose the names of the fake companies it uncovered, saying that would saddle taxpayers with the expense of creating new cover companies to shield the government’s involvement, and could endanger the planes and integrity of the surveillance missions. The AP declined the FBI’s request because the companies’ names – as well as common addresses linked to the Justice Department – are listed on public documents and in government databases.
Glad to see AP still has gumption.
- shit_parade2 11y agoIf only that gumption extended to the US tax payer footing the bill to be spied upon.
- kenbellows 11y ago... are you suggesting that the entire US population refuse to pay any taxes until surveillance issues are fixed? Because that's a terrible idea.
- tertius 11y agoStopping tax payments isn't the only way to protest.
- toomuchtodo 11y agoI'd love to hear ideas on this. I am dismayed, nay, infuriated that we waste taxpayer dollars in such a manner when the returns have been found to be non-existent. Yet, I read about atrocities committed every day by ISIS and the US government sits back and does little. This is not the world I want to live in, and I have no idea how to solve these non-technical problems. EDIT: Regarding downvotes and the replies as of 1433272217: If ISIS wants us to engage them, we just sit back and allow them to rape whole villages and sell women into the sex trade? You don't go to war for oil. You go to war for human rights and to prevent the slaughter and abuse of innocent people.
- jessaustin 11y agoYet, I read about atrocities committed every day by ISIS and the US government sits back and does little. Perhaps this is venturing into political territory, but what "returns" would you expect from an expedition into Syria to engage ISIS?
- dragonwriter 11y agoYeah, consider that ISIS is a product of the last time the US decided it needed to do more to rearrange the political situation in the region.
- toomuchtodo 11y agoIf ISIS is a product of US foreign policy, than the responsibility falls square on the US government to clean up its mess.
- Karunamon 11y agoOnly if that's a thing they're capable of doing in the first place. Which, to be perfectly honest, I'm not sure they are. It seems like any time the US military gets involved in something nowadays, the surrounding people end up worse off than when they started.
- jessaustin 11y agoIf "nowadays" means "over the last fifty years" then I agree. Amazingly enough, this seems to correspond with the time period over which the military-industrial complex has held a monopoly over the civic and political discourse in USA. I wonder, could we be killing people primarily to support the armaments industry?
- godgod 11y agoits impossible to clean up the mess when the US government continues to fund and arm ISIS which is Obama's private little army keeping Iran in check. Ever notice how ISIS is only bombed when they get outside the lines? Ever notice how ISIS keeps getting air drops of weapons on "accident?"
- jessaustin 11y agoBest idea I've read on HN in days. b^)
- tn13 11y agoDemand an upper limit on total government spending as a % of GDP + upper limit for marginal tax rates for all individuals. Given the popularity of welfare very likely government will be forced to bring sense into its spending. That is the only way. Other way is to use your second amendment rights.
- lazaroclapp 11y agoWhat happens if you want government to spend money on things in general (infrastructure, healthcare, national and international aid in case of disasters, reasonable defense projects), just not on spying on civilians?
- tn13 11y agoAs I said put an upper limit, I did not say do away with government spending. Let the government manage in that much money by spending more judiciously then sucking our hard earned wealth. They can start for example by selling off the luxurious homes that our Congressman end up having for free. For any other cause let people contribute out of their own volition.Which works much better.
- walshemj 11y agoNo they will cut benefits starting with single people just like the UK where you don't get any of this feather bedding of 99 week social security. 180 days is your lot - oh and you had better be spending 40 hours a week applying for jobs and be abele to prove it or that gets stopped
- tn13 11y agoThat is even better.
- baddox 11y agoI wouldn't suggest that such a plan is remotely likely, but a massive organized tax protest would be interesting and probably even beneficial.
- istvan__ 11y agoTotally agree. The first country where people do this will write history about who is really in charge in a country.
- happyscrappy 11y agoAren't they already doing this in Greece?
- ianstallings 11y agoThat's already happened - December 16, 1773.
- istvan__ 11y agoThat is slightly different but similar. I am expecting a sovereign country's citizens to do something like that, as far as I know that did not happen yet.
- techdragon 11y agoGumption will be when they write the follow up article and print the names of the new she'll companies and continue to expose this disgusting behaviour.
- andreyf 11y agoGumption? They're just calling out sloppy work. Either you don't need secret cover companies, or they shouldn't be uncoverable via public data.
- fredgrott 11y agohow hard let's see: -use lawyer to open up LLC as trust in Nevada as we can have those things not listed publiclally Is FBI new at this?
- CyberDildonics 11y agoWhat a bunch of assholes.