Sunday Morning News and Views, Part I

Western coverage of riots in the streets of Syria have been staged on movie sets built to resemble Syria, and there are satellite photos and other physical evidence of this vast western conspiracy. So says Syria's Internet...on almost all major sites and search engines.

The Syrian Electronic Army, a little group of pro-government web vigilantes is at it again, hacking into the web sites of people like Brad Pitt and Oprah Winfrey. This army of young Syrians is part of the larger propaganda war waged online. It began as a gross roots rebellion by Syrians, similar to what happened in Egypt and elsewhere in the Middle East. But it have evolved into a bombardment by government propaganda and misinformation, plus spying on citizens. Web security is no joke. Jillian York, at the Electronic Frontier, says the Syrian regime is using "deep packet" monitoring, likely with the assistance of Iran. Syrian intelligence has become more effective in arresting anti-government activists and anticipating demonstrations, which could be due to more effective monitoring techniques. When they identify a web blogger or a source of a Facebook, Twitter or e-mail message, that person can be arrested and made to give up friends. The result is that when you are on-line you can never be sure if the person or source on the other side is your friend or some Syrian unofficial agent. Iran, with the support of China, has been implicated in many international hacking and computer spying activities. Similar Internet pirating and warfare has been reported in many of the Iran aligned Middle Eastern Nations.

The Palestinian push for statehood recognition has sparked fears of new violence in the West Bank. Neither Palestinians nor Israelis appear content with the security provided by their own governments. "Neighborhood Security Watch" groups have been formed by both groups. While settlers are trained by the IDF, Palestinians are forming teams to monitor, document and detain settlers they believe will seek out price tag attacks.

While the world focused on Palesteins push to be accepted into the UN, a major story went pretty much untold. Africa's newest nation -- South Sudan -- was also there,for the first time as a member state, and used the meetings to press for action in achieving peace with its old foe and neighbor, Sudan.

It's a story of Gypsies, tramps and thieves, and of hard working carpenters, iron workers and tradesmen, who just happen to live an alternate lifestyle. A group of semi-nomadic Irish, known as "Irish Travelers," have been ordered to leave the former scrap yard east of London, where they have been living for the past decade. Their eviction has been delayed due to legal wrangling. There are an estimated 15,000 to 30,000 Travelers in Britain where they claim discrimination.

Mike Danton, an NHL hockey player who was convicted in a murder-for-hire scheme and served prison time, Danton is now playing in Sweden. When a fellow player collapsed during a game, first-aid skills Danton learned while in prison helped save his teammate's life.

 

It's not good news from Washington, as for the next year instead of legislating most politicians will be positioning for election, or to see their party win the White House. The party of "No"is showing no compromise or change, the Tea Party is heating up its rhetoric, media is enjoying the ratings boost of pointing out every flaw in Democrat stands while ripping at Republican candidates who appear to be a long way to finding one solid candidate who can take the White House for that party. As the president pushes his jobs bill, no one "on the hill"


As Republican Senator Lamar Alexander -- a seasoned deal-maker in the Senate -- announces his intention to step down from a key leadership role, there's a question going around Washington: Are the best deal-brokers giving up? If so, what does that mean for the future of political compromise? Can a mediated slogan based well financed by blind box billionares and corporations government actually meet the needs of its people? Are people demanding their way or the high way? If so, what about those on the opposite side of the issues? Do their voices and votes count? Can the US have a workable government ever again?