Native New Yorker, Seneca Tribe Eat The Chip

PR NEWSWIRE- [Dept. Of Homeland Propaganda]

The Department of Homeland Security and the Seneca Nation of Indians today formalized an agreement to develop a Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)-compliant Enhanced Tribal Card (ETC) -- signed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Assistant Commissioner Thomas S. Winkowski and Seneca Nation President Barry E. Snyder, Sr., at a ceremony at Liberty Park in Niagara Falls, N.Y.

The ETC establishes identity, tribal membership and citizenship for the purpose of entering the United States by land or sea -- enhancing safety and security of U.S. borders while facilitating legitimate travel and trade. The agreement represents Secretary Napolitano's ongoing commitment to close coordination with tribal partners across the nation on security initiatives -- and underscores the mutual commitment of DHS and the Seneca Nation to enhance border security and combat threats of terrorism and transnational crime through secure identification.

Since the beginning of the year, CBP has also signed agreements with the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho and the Pascua Yaqui of Arizona. CBP is currently working with approximately 25 additional tribes across the country on the ETC initiative.

Feds push new national identification card program after "Real ID" flops

c/o Scientific American

Pass ID is expected to retain many elements of Real ID, such as requiring a digital photograph, signature and machine-readable features such as a bar code, The Washington Post reported in June. States also will still need to verify applicants' identities and legal status by checking federal immigration, Social Security and State Department databases. One concern is that states, after footing the bill to set up these national ID programs, may also have to pay ongoing fees to continue accessing these databases (anywhere from five to 50 cents per transaction), Molly Ramsdell, senior policy director of the NCSL's state-federal relations division, said during Wednesday's briefing.

But Pass ID would eliminate the need for states to create new databases linked through a national data hub that would allow all states to store and cross-check such information, according to the Post. Pass ID would also cut the requirement that motor vehicle departments verify birth certificates with originating agencies.

If Pass ID becomes law, Homeland Security would have nine months to write new regulations, and states would have five years to reissue all licenses, with completion expected in 2016. (The Real ID program would have achieved this by the end of 2017.) :::MORE HERE:::

Obama Privacy Grades Far From Stellar

Health Data Mgmt News

The Electronic Privacy Information Center, a Washington-based research and advocacy organization, has graded the performance of the Obama Administration on privacy issues during its early months.

EPIC lauded stronger provisions in the HITECH Act within the economic stimulus law that strengthen the HIPAA privacy and security rules, and awarded an A- for medical privacy efforts. "EPIC gives the Administration full credit for creating important privacy safeguards as part of the network for electronic health records. The privacy language in the HITECH Act makes the bill one of the best privacy laws in years. Still, implementation of privacy safeguards remains a key challenge," according to the organization.

Cybersecurity got a B grade. "The President's commitment to safeguard privacy and network communications in the difficult area of cybersecurity is commendable. But a battle looms over efforts by Congress to extend the government's control of the Internet. The President should have named a point person on cybersecurity to represent his views in that coming debate."

On consumer privacy, EPIC gives the administration an Incomplete grade and calls for strengthening the Federal Trade Commission. "At this time, the Obama Administration has introduced no new consumer privacy legislation and has left two of the five FTC Commissioner slots unfilled. Proposals are also moving forward that would make government information available to the private sector for advertising and marketing."

EPIC's grade for civil liberties is C+. "The Obama Administration inherited many troubling programs from the Bush Administration: the Patriot Act, Fusion Centers, No Fly Lists, E_Verify, and REAL ID. So far, there appears to be little change with the new Administration. There is a modified version of REAL ID called "PASS ID." The Patriot Act is still law. No Fly Lists and Fusion Centers are being expanded." The organization did note progress in some areas, "as well as open government and judicial appointments."

AZ Moves towards permanent DHS checkpoint

This is from Freedom's Phoenix

Terry Bressi
520-203-4843
Website: Checkpoint USA
Blog: Roadblock Revelations
Date: 09-10-2009
Subject: Arizona's Top News


Before continuing, it should be noted the intent of the Border Patrol and the Department of Homeland Security has always been to force a permanent checkpoint down the throats of Southern Arizonans regardless of the level of public outcry or the conclusions of the GAO report:

Homeland Security Chooses Site For Illegal Drug Checkpoint:

"The agency said it will wait to make a decision about the permanent checkpoint until the group's findings are released but countered that, from the Border Patrol's perspective, the work group wasn't formed to debate permanent checkpoints but rather to get input about ways to make it most effective, Fitzpatrick said.

'The Border Patrol is in the business of border security,' Fitzpatrick said. 'We've been doing this for 83 years. That's our job. We're the experts on this.'"

Perhaps this is one of the reasons why the GAO report is so obviously biased in favor of establishing the checkpoint, even to the point of ignoring some of its own findings and purposefully limiting the scope of the study.

Back to the actual meeting, Checkpoint USA was on hand to record the meeting and is now making it available to the general public. This is part 3 and highlights a presentation on the GAO report by Richard Stana with the Government Accountability Office (GAO). :::MORE HERE:::

Our Piece of 9-11 Disaster Capital Pie

BTC - The 9-11 tragedy has become THE disaster capital town wolf-crier excuse for federally sanctioned extortion of the people. We are forced to pay to have ourselves surveilled (FISA, Patrot Act) or tagged like pallets of computers or live cattle (Executive Orders for federal emergencies, Real ID).

Well, as a free market hawk I can promote and sell my own post 9-11 disaster capital solutions.

Please purchase our SPECIAL "PORK FREE" TRUTH EDITION T-SHIRT.

Dated 9-11-09 to celebrate your fiscal independent spirit, because YES YOU CAN live without the government's intervention.

Answering the call for Sanford's resignation

From TPM

The momentum is building for a potential impeachment of Gov. Mark Sanford (R-SC), the Palmetto Scoop reports, with 60 House Republicans signing a letter calling on him to resign.

"Your decision to abandon our state for five days, with no defined order of succession and with no known way to contact you, is inexcusable," the letter says, later adding: "But perhaps even more disturbing than the abandonment of your post and the multiple ethics allegations against you is the extreme amount of stress, uncertainty, an negative scrutiny that the citizens of South Carolina, our government and our party have had to endure due to your behavior."

BTC Commentary

As I was travelling yesterday I had a very sad moment of reflection about the loss the Liberty movement would suffer if Mark Sanford were to lose his chair. Fortunately, my racist super friend The Southern Avenger covered the motivation behind the magnanimous push for Governor Sanford's impeachment. Thus, proving "once again" South Carolina really says it best when it comes to their government. I don't get to pick my heroes moral flaws.

When South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford admitted his infidelity, many in the GOP establishment at both the state and national level were happy to witness the possible downfall of a prominent conservative who made them look bad by comparison.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sUVY-pZPCk

BTC co-advocates on CindySheehansSoapbox.com

BTC EXCLUSIVE- Barcodes, microchip nano-implants, and RFID embedded licenses containing DNA laminates don't discriminate based on race, creed, religion, background or political efficacy.

Some of the most dedicated and vocal opponents of Real ID are right wing liberty minded Republicans, minarchists, 9-11 Truth subscribers and Alex Jones fans who listen to survivalist advertising for precious metals and solar generators. Caucasian christian republicans are not the only ones who will inherit the "mark of the beast". Real ID is dangerous to all Americans. Whether their favorite politicians are championing that fact or not is important.

CHANGE is becoming unbelievable as Obama assumes more of the Bush positions every day on privacy and domestic intelligence efforts by climbing into the Internet. With Democrats dominating essentially every branch of the U.S. government, their representation on this issue becomes a focal point for anyone with federal legislative agendas.

We put in a call to the social conscience of the Anti- War movement, author, peace mom and celebrated activist Cindy Sheehan to compare notes on diversity as to who will be affected by a future with a Real ID compliant license and subsequent immigration policies overextended.

Cindy represents the survivors of an American war whose death and destruction has no bottom. Those who return from Iraq and the Iraqi nation itself struggle for misunderstanding.

Today I met Tony; a homeless veteran of the Iraq war who had problems holding down a job because of PTSD. He didn't know the local Iraq Veterans Against the War, but he knew who Cindy Sheehan was.

Thankfully, we were welcomed onto the program to discuss more about Real ID, provide solutions and information for agendas and progress in todays federal forum.

Please listen to Cindy's next program on Cindy Sheehans Soapboax on demand.

Meanwhile back at the Border Governors Conference...

BTC - Here's a bit of gossip on the Border Governor's Conference, a conference of state governors on the U.S. Mexican border consisting of Arizona, New Mexico, California and Texas. Corresponding Mexican states are Chihuahua, Baja, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, Sonora and Tamaulipas. What could they POSSIBLY want to discuss? [Border cards & EDLs, the fence, Mexico's new identity mandate etc. etc.]

Texas Governor Rick Perry wasn't there.

So what does that mean? State residents who are mindful of Perry's foul ups and misplaced loyaties to extranational interests (SPAIN) are hawkish among conservative voters and might want to push him in a corner about ... immigration issues... during an election year.

Grits for Breakfast's Scott Henson discusses the ancient martial art of Weasel style where the Border y VIOLENCIA meet - AYE! AYE! AYE!

Native Americans dissatisfied with Obama’s border policy

Tribal leaders, including St. Regis Mohawk Chief James Ransom, have pointed out to DHS that it’s not desirable or affordable for many tribes to pay for enhanced tribal cards that would be permitted as border crossing documentation.

DHS insists Napolitano is providing more than ‘lip service’

c/o Indian Country Today

By Rob Capriccioso
Story Published: Sep 8, 2009

Checkpoint: Sovereignty and border security , 3 of a 5 part series

WASHINGTON – The George W. Bush administration wasn’t exactly known for its care and concern on border issues affecting tribes. Some Native Americans thought the scenario would change under the Obama administration. But change has yet to come.

Early on, the administration started out with what many viewed as a positive gesture, with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano directly reaching out to tribes promising consultation.

Since the establishment of the department in late-2002, it has overseen many border issues of concern to tribes. The department’s main goals are to protect the United States from terrorist attacks and to respond to natural disasters.

At the winter session of the National Congress of American Indians in early March, Napolitano released a draft consultation policy and solicited input from NCAI and tribes, especially those hit by natural disasters and located along the borders.

“For tribes that are on the borders of Mexico and Canada, we need to work together in a special way because we have tribes and families on both sides of the borders,” she said.

“As we tighten up requirements to show lawful presence and immigration status and the like, we need to take into account how tribes will be a little bit different. We need to build that into the consultation policy from the outset.”

The words were quite welcome to tribal leaders, who had just spent a few difficult years dealing with former secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff, a Bush appointee.

Of particular concern to some tribes, Chertoff waived the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act and other federal laws to speed construction of a border fence between the U.S. and Mexico. NAGPRA is a 1990 federal law, which created a legal process for federal agencies and institutions that receive federal funding to return American Indian human remains and cultural items to their respective tribes or lineal descendants. ::: MORE HERE:::