Sunday, March 18, 2012

Sunday News:

Steinitz: SWIFT Sanctions Could Topple Iranian Economy


Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz said Sunday that SWIFT's decision to halt Iran's ability to use its electronic fund transfer system to make international transfers constitutes a tremendous blow that could potentially lead to the collapse of the Iranian economy.


SWIFT is the world's largest electronic payment system and on Saturday implemented its decision to cut off 30 Iranian banks blacklisted by EU supported economic sanctions. By SWIFT's own admission, the move is "extraordinary" and "unprecedented."

Steinitz stated that the move makes receiving money for billion dollar oil transactions impossible.

The finance minister called SWIFT's decision "dramatic," but said he did not know if it would halt Iran's drive for nuclear weapons.


"SWIFT" Reaction: Iran May Block Oil Exports

Iran may impose a blockade on oil exports that threaten the world’s economies as a reaction to new unprecedented sanctions, says its former intelligence minister Ali Fallahian.

SWIFT’s decision is the harshest sanction placed on Iran in efforts to force the Islamic Republic to cooperate with United Nations nuclear inspectors and open up its nuclear facilities for surveillance to make sure it is not trying to build a nuclear weapon.The Western sanctions against companies dealing with Iran has not spread to China and India, but the SWIFT sanctions will make it harder for them to pay Iran, which has resorted to the barter system for some purchases.

He said that the West should not underestimate Iran’s ability to close the Strait of Hormuz, the shipping channel between Iran and Oman that carries almost all of Iran’s oil exports, which provides a large amount of the world’s oil.

Economists have said that closing the channel could result in doubling the price of oil and cause an international recession.


U.S. Navy In Military Build-up To Battle Strait Of Hormuz Blockade

The US Navy has confirmed it is doubling the number of minesweepers in the Persian Gulf in an apparent move to prepare for a possible standoff with Iran over the crucial oil export route.

An additional four minesweeper and four minesweeping helicopters will join the four ships already patrolling the Persian Gulf.

The overall number of US minesweepers in the region will total eight, America’s head of naval operations Admiral Jonathan Greenert reported.

While saying sanctions and political measures are preferable to respond to Iran’s controversial nuclear program, looks like the US is getting ready for plan B.


Former Intelligence Minister Ali Falahian, Iran’s senior spokesman on sanctions, said Sunday, March 18, that if the US and Europe think they can ignore international law to promote their interests, they should know that Iran will respond in kind everywhere it can. “I suggest that the West take seriously our threat to close the Strait of Hormuz,” he said in Tehran’s first response to the SWIFT decision to sever ties with Iranian banks to enforce European sanctions on its nuclear program.

Anticipating that Iran may kick back hard against the tough penalties building up against its nuclear program, three US aircraft carriers are standing by in the Persian Gulf – The USS Abraham Lincoln, the USS Carl Vinson and the USS Enterprise together with the FrenchCharles de Gaulle and their strike groups.


Thursday, US Navy Chief Adm. Jonathan Greenert said he was doubling the American minesweeping fleet in the Persian Gulf by adding another four vessels as well as mine-hunting helicopters to bolster Persian Gulf security and keep the Strait of Hormuz open to international traffic.

France, Britain, Holland and Germany have also deployed minesweepers in these strategic Gulf waters.


With this news, we turn back to police state USA:



In its April cover story, Wired has an exclusive report on the NSA's Utah Data Center, which is a must read for anyone who believes any privacy is still a possibility in the United States: "A project of immense secrecy, it is the final piece in a complex puzzle assembled over the past decade. Its purpose: to intercept, decipher, analyze, and store vast swaths of the world’s communications as they zap down from satellites and zip through the underground and undersea cables of international, foreign, and domestic networks...


Flowing through its servers and routers and stored in near-bottomless databases will be all forms of communication, including the complete contents of private emails, cell phone calls, and Google searches, as well as all sorts of personal data trails—parking receipts, travel itineraries, bookstore purchases, and other digital “pocket litter.”...


The heavily fortified $2 billion center should be up and running in September 2013." In other words, in just over 1 year, virtually anything one communicates through any traceable medium, or any record of one's existence in the electronic medium, which these days is everything, will unofficially be property of the US government to deal with as it sees fit.


Every American should be aware of this development, but sadly, the vast majority of citizens are completely unaware of this tremendous loss of freedom:


The codename of the project: Stellar Wind.

As Wired says, "there is no doubt that it has transformed itself into the largest, most covert, and potentially most intrusive intelligence agency ever created."

And as former NSA operative William Binney who was a senior NSA crypto-mathematician, and is the basis for the Wired article (which we guess makes him merely the latest whistleblower to step up: is America suddenly experiencing an ethical revulsion?), and quit his job only after he realized that the NSA is now openly trampling the constitution, says as he holds his thumb and forefinger close together. "We are, like, that far from a turnkey totalitarian state."


So what exactly is this enormous infrastructure?

Under construction by contractors with top-secret clearances, the blandly named Utah Data Center is being built for the National Security Agency. A project of immense secrecy, it is the final piece in a complex puzzle assembled over the past decade. Its purpose: to intercept, decipher, analyze, and store vast swaths of the world’s communications as they zap down from satellites and zip through the underground and undersea cables of international, foreign, and domestic networks.


The heavily fortified $2 billion center should be up and running in September 2013. Flowing through its servers and routers and stored in near-bottomless databases will be all forms of communication, including the complete contents of private emails, cell phone calls, and Google searches, as well as all sorts of personal data trails—parking receipts, travel itineraries, bookstore purchases, and other digital “pocket litter.” It is, in some measure, the realization of the “total information awareness” program created during the first term of the Bush administration—an effort that was killed by Congress in 2003 after it caused an outcry over its potential for invading Americans’ privacy.

In the process—and for the first time since Watergate and the other scandals of the Nixon administration—the NSA has turned its surveillance apparatus on the US and its citizens.


It has created a supercomputer of almost unimaginable speed to look for patterns and unscramble codes. Finally, the agency has begun building a place to store all the trillions of words and thoughts and whispers captured in its electronic net. And, of course, it’s all being done in secret. To those on the inside, the old adage that NSA stands for Never Say Anything applies more than ever.



In the heart of Utah’s desert, the National Security Agency is well underway on a project that has been called the nation’s largest, most expensive cyber-security project. Naturally, almost all details about the building’s soon-to-be inner activities are highly classified and no one is talking — officials in Bluffdale where it is being built and the nearby Salt Lake City are kept in the dark. Still, Wired’s Threat Level has gotten some details on the building and provides analysis on some of its expected activity.

Wired reports that the data center will store trillions of “words and thoughts and whispers” swirling on the Web. It states that “[to] those on the inside, the old adage that NSA stands for Never Say Anything applies more than ever.” In addition to public website data storage, Wired reports that it will seek out and house information on the “deep web:”

Wired also includes a former NSA official going on the record for the first time on the secret, domestic spying program Stellar Wind and its role in data communication collection, which when the Bluffdale facility is complete will be stored there. Former senior NSA “crypto-matematician” William Binney, who helped develop NSA’s spying capabilities before leaving in 2001, explains how the NSA deliberately violated the Constitution, which was the reason why he left, in setting up warrentless wiretapping to the extent that they did. Wired reports that much of NSA’s wiretapping practices now were made legal under the FISA Amendments Act of 2008:


The heavily referenced WIRED article is found below:



Also see:






14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Executive Doomsday Order: Obama Authorizes Gov to Seize Farms, Food, Processing Plants, Energy Resources, Transportation, Skilled Laborers During National Emergency
------------------------

http://www.shtfplan.com/headline-news/executive-doomsday-order-obama-authorizes-gov-to-seize-farms-food-processing-plants-energy-resources-transportation-skilled-laborers-during-national-emergency_03182012

Dave DU said...

Well I don't know about you guys but I enjoy my privacy. I must say this is the first bit of news that's raised a red flag for me since Obama made it law to give him the right at willfull assassination. Starting today I will certainly be "weening" myself off all electronic forms of communication. Back to basics is probably the best policy. Bible in hand and good old fashioned prayer and witnessing whilst relying on the Holy Spirits guidance could be the near future for a possibly outlawed Christianity. Who knows Scott your site may be outlawed sooner than you think. Anyway, bottom line lets just hope we're not here

Come Lord Jesus
Dave

Anonymous said...

Hey Dave , maybe I should take that one way trip soon? Hmmmm. My passportis always close by.
Scott-the utah center no surprise there. Our govt has already been intercepting and recording EVERY cell phone call for many many years using a program called bibliography and using the UK to administer it. Thanks to PBS for alerting me way back when. See the left ain't all bad ;) Thanks for including the fact Bush senior tried to stick it up our butts previously! I about pooped myself when he was in office and started talking about 1000 points of light and the new world order. I frantically tried to wake the church up then. But to no avail sadly :( Folks, this is why you have to pray and use discernment! Just because some goober says he is Christian, surely does not mean its so!
there are some things you can do to prepare: use cash for everything (they hate that!) Dont give stores your phone number for purchases Or purchase a burner phone not attached to your name. Use money orders, talk in person, not in the room with your cell phones. Use older appliances , try n get off the grid etc. this annoys me greatly cuz I am not doing anything wrong nor am I breaking any law. OhBummer!
There is so much I want to tell you guys but really, I cant. By the time people wake up, its gonna be widespread disbelief and panic. Prepare for this.
Please Lord Jesus, get us out of here before all rhis evil totalatarian crap actually is implemented. But we should be prepared if he doesnt. At least mentally and emotionally. Physically would be nice but not always possible.
Once again I am surprised. Shuttung down the banks, not thats an idea to cool Irans jets eh? Look someone somewhere has to take the leaders there out because they arent playing nicely with the elitist plans. Oh well!

Unknown said...

If you don't trust the government to read your emails and choose your doctor, don't trust it to send your children to war.

Anonymous said...

ONCE HOSTILITIES begin, it will be
very hard to stop. I am CONVINCED
that the Persian state has atleast
2 weapons ALREADY to fly, with 4
more on the way.

Of course, no one REALLY knows that,
and that is the way it is to be,
so secrets can be used for surprises
later.

Iran likes that kind of game.

they have been ready for QUITE a while. The build up has been
in PROGRESS since the last war
in JUL/AUG 2006.

Please DO NOT FORGET the Russian/GOG element. COS if
the US gets into ANY KIND of
military conflict with Iran, sure
enough, RUSSIA will be right there
to take the Iran side.

And Obama would be WISE to see it.

Stocks are UP again tonite, about
4 pts on the dow. BUT WAVE counts
indicate BIG TROUBLE dead ahead
for bulls. Bulls will be VERY FOOLISH to come out and say they
"KNOW" where top tick is, cos I
DOUBT it.......very much so !!!!

Stephen >>>>>>>>>>>>>

Anonymous said...

I will have to say this, I have been
HOLDING IT BACK but i must say it now ok ??

I know someone in Honolulu here in Hawaii who had a dream re WW3...
and in her dream the church was
STILL HERE when it hit.

Perhaps one SHOULD NOT READ into
this, but it is possible that DURING the fufillment of 17 - 19 Isaiah, and 38/39 Ezekiel the
Christians may STILL BE HERE in
this world.

i think that ONE NEEDS to be prepared for such a scenario.

and NOT JUST ASSUME the rapture will happen that quickly.

It makes SENSE though, since JUST
BEFORE the TRIB period starts there
WILL BE a time of "peace and safety" as the AC tries to calm
everything down......AFTER hostilities in the ME have occurred.

I could be WRONG about this, BUT my friend had this dream, and I
would NOT make up something like
this. Her name is Elizabeth, I
cannot give you her phone number
due to privacy issues.

Stephen >>>>>>>>>>>>>

Anonymous said...

Ok, more news out of the UFM >>>

http://www.ufmsecretariat.org/en/egypt-continues-to-support-the-secretariat-of-the-mediterranean/

enjoy !!!!

Stephen >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Anonymous said...

Scott, I think this is a similar link as the first comment listed about a new law that BO has signed giving the executive branch control of all resources in the US in peace time or crises.

http://www.examiner.com/finance-examiner-in-national/president-obama-signs-executive-order-allowing-for-control-over-all-us-resources

O Lord, be our Rock and strong Tower! We ask for wisdom and discernment in the days to come, but mostly for Your Presence! In the name of Jesus, amen.

Sharon

Jec said...

With so many rules and regulations and what I have leaned lately, the majority of people in America are breaking the law in some form or fashion already. All the gov has to do is dig up what is already on the books and say that you have violated this, that or another and charge you and throw you into jail. I can not live like this. I cannot live my life always looking behind me or covering up my digital foot print. This is like living with huge worry wart growing on the tip of my conscience and this is not what God wants for any of us. We are called to live in peace with Him as He leads, and as we abide in Him being lead by His Spirit by his grace and mercy in these last days.

Besides, I'm sure our plates are loaded down as we face the days ahead. Also, I have been trying to comprehend just what Israel faces with a barrage of artillery falling down litterally like a spring rain on the state of Israel. God's hand has to be there somewhere in the background and in the midst so as to make Israel think she did it all by her self.......saved herself from total destruction, only to bring her through the Gog Magog war?

Look what is going on......US, UN, Europe not wanting to back Israel's desire to take out Iran's Nukes because at this point they do not have their backing, ground or air support, US's refueling jets, bunker buster bombs from the US, and many more Iron Dome defense systems in place. It's like the carrot that is being dangled before them is just beyond their reach for a reason. And that is to back far away from Israel when the last shoe drops and watch her be destroyed, which is not going to happen. Could the rapture of the church be sooner tha any of us can even imagine? I'm beginning to think so.

A wife update: there is a doctor who has said that Cindy has done a 180 degree improvement! Praise God. Thank you all! She is still in medical icu and they are starting therapy soon to strengthen her lower extremities. She still will need constant oxygen though. Thanks again. She is not sleeping well, so please continue to pray. -jec

Anonymous said...

I miss you dr. who!

Anonymous said...

I miss Dr.Who and Dr. No.

Mrs.C said...

Hi Brother Jec, :)
Glad to hear your wife is doing much better, and your in our Prayers. There will indeed be rockets falling on Israel, and Gods Word tells us clearly, that He is there. Within the first three Verses of Isaiah 17, Vs. 1-3 we have the downfall of Damascus, Jordan, and the West Bank. As you say, the artillery will be falling heavily, and God describes to us that His People, at the beginning are winning and they will be doing it on their own, with God as an observer. But then, then, something horrific happens. Yes it is true, Israel will not be completely destroyed, but they will suffer immensely to the point of almost being completely wiped out. God tells us that there will be “desolation”. God allows this to happen to His People, and He tells us why He allows it. It is only at the very end, when all appears to be lost, that God Himself steps forward and saves His People. I believe at this point, when He “rebukes” those evil nations that “rush in” to finish off Israel, that Gods “rebuke” of them will be the fulfillment of His Judgments against these evil nations in Ezekiel Chapters 25-32.
God is bringing Israel to their knees with the Isaiah 17 war, and it is the beginning of His turning back to them. Israel will face the Ezekiel 38 invasion, severely wounded, weak, and completed vulnerable. That is exactly where God wants them. For in Ezekiel 38, it will be God, and ONLY God who will save them from the invading Gog forces. There will be NO credit to any armies, any man made defense, it will be God Himself, and only Him to have ALL the Glory. He will save Israel, and will have restored His Covenant with His People in full. He is returning to His First Born in full, and promises He will never “hide His Face” from them again. He will be with them through the Tribulation. When God returns to His People in full, at that time Brother, we the Church, will be gone! Glory be to God forever!
God Bless!

Unknown said...

It is good to be back. I look forward more exciting and thought provoking discussions

Unknown said...

Who thinks Barry is smart and is following a grand plan and who thinks he is incompetent? My vote is for smart and evil.