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The Military

Could Tech Have Stopped ISIS From Using Our Own Heavy Weapons Against Us? 448

JonZittrain writes: This summer, ISIS insurgents captured Mosul — with with it, three divisions' worth of advanced American military hardware. After ISIS used it to capture the Mosul Dam, the U.S. started bombing its own pirated equipment. Could sophisticated military tanks and anti-aircraft missiles given or sold to countries like Iraq be equipped with a way to disable them if they're compromised, without opening them up to hacking by an enemy?

We already require extra authentication at a distance to arm nuclear weapons, and last season's 24 notwithstanding, we routinely operate military drones at a distance. Reportedly in the Falkland Islands war, Margaret Thatcher was able to extract codes to disable Argentina's Exocet missiles from the French. The simplest implementation might be like the proposal for land mines that expire after a certain time. Perhaps tanks — currently usable without even an ignition key — could require a renewal code digitally signed by the owning country to be entered manually or received by satellite every six months or so.

I'm a skeptic of kill switches, especially in consumer devices, but still found myself writing up the case for a way to disable military hardware in the field. There are lots of reasons it might not work — or work too well — but is there a way to improve on what we face now?

Comment Re:Cut the Russians Off (Score 1) 848

To import natural gas, you either need pipelines connected to your supplier, or a seaport capable of deliquifying natural gas. Of course, your supplier needs to have seaports capable of liquifying natural gas for transport.
LNG Terminals

There are three plants in the Americas-- Atlantic, in Trinidad-Tobago. Kenai, in Alaska. and Peru. A further plant is being built in Louisiana, Cheniere Sabine, Pass which is currently boasting of its expansion to a bi directional facility, meaning of course, that it currently only has facilities for importing gas, not exporting it

So, not quite fungible. Not nearly as much as petroleum.

Comment Re:Or we could simply revert to original best prac (Score 1) 643

  • To recognise always that the power of the police to fulfil their functions and duties is dependent on public approval of their existence, actions and behaviour, and on their ability to secure and maintain public respect.
  • ...
  • To recognise always that the extent to which the co-operation of the public can be secured diminishes proportionately the necessity of the use of physical force and compulsion for achieving police objectives.

Isn't that socialism? Or communism? Anyways, that's a wimpy European idea. Proper American heros are more Wyatt Earp, Dirty Harry and Jack Bauer. Civil rights are as quaint as the Geneva Convention. If you're a law-abiding citizen, why would you walk outside your gated community? Or inside after dark? Can't you afford a car? Caedite eos. Novit enim Dominus qui sunt eius!

Comment Putting the shoe on the other foot.... (Score 1) 643

I can see the superficial attraction of this, but I think it overreaches. Nobody will work well if under permanent surveillance. On the other hand, why not turn it around? Have the senators wear body cameras during all fund-raisers, committee meetings, and discussions with staff, potential donors, and others.

Comment Re:Stock is at a record high (Score 4, Insightful) 90

I'm not sure why Apple needs to enhance shareholder value. Apple hasn't raised capital on the markets for years. Apple needs to be profitable, Apple needs to be an attractive platform for developers. Apple needs to be perceived, by its customers, as qualitatively superior to Android and Windows. But enhancing shareholder value should be a side effect of those more important goals, not a goal in itself.

Comment Galileoscope (Score 2) 187

For a very low-price but useful entry-level telescope, try the Galileoscope. It is an achromatic refractor that has been designed as part of the International Year of Astronomy, and can be had for approximately US$ 50 (or order a box of 6 for US$30 apiece). It comes with an eyepiece that approximates Galileo Galilei's experience, but also with (IIRC) 2 modern eyepieces that are decent enough for the Moon, Jupiter, and Saturn's ring. Also, it uses a standard eyepiece adapter, so it can be further upgraded if required. Some assembly required - this is intended as a teaching opportunity ;-). It's cheap enough that it can just be passed on to another kid or a local school if a better instrument is obtained.

Comment Re:Should be interesting RE- Nato (Score 1) 375

To be fair, Theresa May is primarily concerned that her xenophobic policies will be undermined by Scottish independence.

"Buried deep in Alex Salmond's white paper is the admission that, just like the last Labour government, a separate Scotland would pursue a looser immigration policy.

  "That would undermine the work we have done since 2010, and the continuing UK could not allow Scotland to become a convenient landing point for migration into the United Kingdom.

If Scotland votes No, all her hard work will go down the drain when Labour eventually wins a majority
If Scotland votes Yes, the Tories will be entrenched for some time to come, and the only real threat to her work will be Scotland opting for a less Conservative immigration policy.

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