Welcome to Call to Decision
Subject: Who's Listening?
Excerpt:
As a child born prior to World War II, I was exposed to this war time quote. “Loose lips, Sink ships.” At this time there is at least one company that is publicly selling systems designed for the mass surveillance of Internet traffic. In today’s world I suggest that you be careful about what you write or what you say. You never know who might be listening.
After my last article was published on February 29th, I wasn’t detained at an unknown location nor did I meet my demise; therefore I shall continue my discussion about domestic spying and its possible connection to ECHELON. ECHELON is the name used by the global media and in popular culture to describe a network of signals collection and analysis. This intelligence collection is done in partnership with the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The sharing of intelligence between the United States and the United Kingdom goes back to World War II and perhaps as far back as World War I.Quote for the Week: “He is a self-made man and worships his creator.” ---John Bright. Most of the information in this article was gleaned from the European Parliament’s Investigation of ECHELON. As this report was done in 2001, much of the information could already be outdated due to the rapid growth of technologies in today’s world. Some information was found on the Wikipedia web site.
There is much speculation about ECHELON and what kind of projects it may be involved in. However, it is clear that very few people are privy to the logistics involved.
Espionage involves the collection and evaluation of information. It is generally targeted at military secrets, military strategies, upcoming foreign policy decisions, new technologies and even foreign transactions. It has been suggested that up to 80% of the information gathered by intelligence services comes from public sources.
If someone wishes to spy on you personally and is willing to break the law, they can listen to you by planting microphones or by using laser equipment that picks up the vibrations from your window panes. Computer and other screens emit radiation which can be picked up from at least 100 feet and will reveal the information on your computer screen of what you are watching on television. Telephones, faxes and emails are all susceptible by tapping into cables and/or by recording keystrokes. Mobile phone conversations can also be intercepted, but the distance limit of this technology was censored from the European Parliament report.
ECHELON is believed to be capable of intercepting almost any kind of communication, including underwater cables, which may or may not be limited to ECHELON member territories. It is also capable of intercepting radio communications and geostationary telecommunications. Part of this country’s espionage network involves the use of quasi-geostationary satellites. These satellites are not motionless in orbit and move in complex elliptical orbits that allow them to cover much larger areas of the earth.
How can one recognize an ECHELON installation? It is really quite simple. Installations with large antennae belonging to broadcasters or research institutions are accessible to the public. Interception installations are not. They are run by the military and in this country are suspected to be located in the States of Washington, West Virginia, Texas, Hawaii, Colorado and Georgia. Although a matter of public record, I have elected to not disclose the names of the towns or military bases where these sites may be located.
As a child born prior to World War II, I was exposed to this war time quote. “Loose lips, Sink ships.” At this time there is at least one company that is publicly selling systems designed for the mass surveillance of Internet traffic. In today’s world I suggest that you be careful about what you write or what you say. You never know who might be listening.