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Do you believe that the NSA can type your real name into a computer and get a list of your anonymous online identities including "HappyTexan"? If so are you OK with this level of surveillance?
If NSA, DHS, or other fed agencies have trouble identifying false online identities, I know a few 14 year-old hackers who'd help them just for the fun of it.
I have no problem with exploring social media postings by foreign applicants for U.S. visas.
Whether that would have signaled Malik is unknown. No, it won't catch everyone who may have bad intentions. If it prevents one Malik from getting a visa, the last thing I'm concerned about is invading a foreign visa applicant's social media privacy. National security vs a terrorist didn't friend me on Facebook ?
Why is NSA scanning all this information if they don't use it, or share it?
Evidently they just store the data and need a request (warrant?) from an intelligence agency to share the data. So it's appears to be pretty much after the fact in most cases, if they received a request on this couple in advance they could have provided the information.
So we are back to the point that there needs to be something substantial to make the request, with over a million people between Visas and the watch list that's a considerable amount of work.
Quote:
In the spirit of openness and transparency, here is a partial list of current and planned future data collection targets:
Incoming transactional data is analyzed against a continually evolving threat matrix and is assigned an action code. The vast majority of these transactions are routed directly to a permanent static storage state. In fact, for most Americans, your data is never accessed or viewed by anyone within the US Government unless some future event triggers an inquiry.
Hindsight being 20/20, Yes, it could have been prevented for the following reason.
1. Tashifee Marlik, passed three background checks by U.S. immigration officials as she moved to the United States from Pakistan. None uncovered what she had made no efforts to hide. She talked openly on social media about her views on Violent jihad. SHE SUPPORTED IT.
I guess many would just view her as another "moderate" muslim with strong opinions against foreign policy. Huh? I always believe the moderate Muslims should be REDEFINED.
2. To obtain the K-1 visa and the conditional green card that permitted her to live in the United States, Malik had to undergo background checks by the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security, but authorities apparently turned up nothing that gave them pause.
makes you wonder if K-1 visa should be overhauled.
The FBI said Friday the shooting officially was being investigated as an act of terrorism, following reports authorities believed Malik pledged allegiance to Islamic State group leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and posted a statement online pledging support for the militant organization.
Lawyers and immigration experts describe the K-1 visa process as anything but lenient. The Shankers applied for the K-1 in spring 2001, but didn’t receive an interview until six months later. The visa took an additional several months after that to be approved, but Pradheep Shanker said he suspected it would have taken longer if he hadn’t been in contact with a U.S. senator to help expedite the process.
K1 was created in the early 70's and overhauled in the 80's when it was estimated that one-third of all intended marriages were fake to establish legal residency, green card and eventually citizenship. Historical vetting has primarily focused on detecting fraudulent marital intentions, not terrorism.
Farooq was already radicalized prior to seeking a bride with similar ideology.
If more people were armed it may have cut down on casualties but would not have prevented it. If more people were armed in general it would deter crime. People would be a little more apprehensive about committing a crime not knowing what they are up against. If there is a greater possibility of hey this person may have a gun and could potentially do me in it would make people think a little harder before committing a crime.
Key difference is that a jihadist views himself as a martyr and knows he will die.
Not too different than US whack jobs who go into theatres, schools and churches with the intention of murdering as many as possible and being killed in the process.
Farooq and wife had no intention of surviving the day.
The op asked a question "Could the San Bernardino massacre have been prevented?" You said no, and that is such an irresponsible answer. Terrorism risk management is very important and at time, very effective. I've always wanted to be a FBI profiler, it is really a fascinating job. By understanding the principles, you will understand that profiling has nothing to do with phobia or racism.
The principles include but not limited to
A biographical sketch of behavioral patterns, trends and tendencies
An educated attempt to provide specific information about a certain type of suspect.
No country in the world faces more terrorist threats than Israel, and no airport in the world faces more such threats than Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport. But Tel Aviv's ben Gurion airport is perhaps the safest airport in the world, Why is that?
Departing passengers are questioned by highly trained security agents before they reach the check-in counter. These interviews could last as little as one minute or as long as an hour, based on such factors as age, race, religion and destination. Unlike in many western airports, passengers are not required to remove their shoes while passing through physical screening processes. Furthermore, there are no sophisticated x-ray machines; rather, traditional metal detectors are still in operation.
To say, terrorist attacks cannot be prevented is really premature. There are a lot can be done and should be done.
The Israeli airport security model does not scale.
The international passenger traffic at Ben Gurion is about the same as Sacramento, Ca, a regional airport.
It's been 14 years since 9/11 and no airliner has since been highjack from a US airport.
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