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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#42201: Nov 28th 2012 at 10:53:14 PM

[up]

I assume.

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
shimaspawn from Here and Now Since: May, 2010 Relationship Status: In your bunk
#42202: Nov 28th 2012 at 11:12:00 PM

[up][up] They're considered a sore loser and the world goes on without them. They've really only become de rigure in the instant communication age.

Reality is that, which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. -Philip K. Dick
DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#42204: Nov 29th 2012 at 1:10:42 AM

CIA sued over 1950s 'murder' of government scientist plied with LSD

Frank Olsen's family claim CIA threw him from a hotel window and covered up his death after he witnessed torture by agency operatives in Europe

Considering its the CIA, I'd buy this story.

edited 29th Nov '12 1:11:27 AM by DeviantBraeburn

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
deathpigeon Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: One True Dodecahedron
#42205: Nov 29th 2012 at 1:29:23 AM

...Seriously, why do we still have the CIA? They pretty much exist to break laws, domestic, foreign, and international ones.

Completion oldtimeytropey from Space Since: Apr, 2012
oldtimeytropey
#42206: Nov 29th 2012 at 2:35:46 AM

To gather intelligence.

It's not all spies and torture, you know. Just like how Homeland Security isn't just the NSA wiretapping you.

Their work can bring about some seriously shady things, but you seriously can't just get rid of the central intelligence gathering body on foreign powers for a government. It would render that government powerless, ignorant, and far behind everyone else on foreign relations, prediction of threats, prediction of allies, the demographics of other nations, etc.

The CIA is just as important as the FBI or the FDA. They do everything from counting how many airports with unpaved runways exist in a country to top-secret high-level information about the power structure of N. Korea.

How else do you think a country would run if it knows nothing about the world around it except for information freely given out by other foreign governments?

edited 29th Nov '12 2:42:53 AM by Completion

Greenmantle V from Greater Wessex, Britannia Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: Hiding
V
#42207: Nov 29th 2012 at 3:40:17 AM

^

How else do you think a country would run if it knows nothing about the world around it except for information freely given out by other foreign governments?

Quite. Even your closest allies can (and will) lie, or not tell the whole truth. Even something like this site can be a form of gathering intelligence.

Keep Rolling On
Lascoden ... from Missouri, USA Since: Nov, 2012
...
#42208: Nov 29th 2012 at 3:55:11 AM

[up]Are you saying that anyone on this site could be a CIA secret agent? No no, that's crazy... <.< >.> <.<

boop
rmctagg09 The Wanderer from Brooklyn, NY (Before Recorded History) Relationship Status: I won't say I'm in love
The Wanderer
#42209: Nov 29th 2012 at 8:34:39 AM

It's certainly within the realm of possibility, even government agents get bored.

Hugging a Vanillite will give you frostbite.
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#42210: Nov 29th 2012 at 8:36:28 AM

They also have personal lives and engage in recreational web browsing like any other human being.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#42211: Nov 29th 2012 at 9:26:16 AM

Right, I've never reported on any of you...

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
deathpigeon Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: One True Dodecahedron
#42212: Nov 29th 2012 at 9:38:25 AM

I am a communist! Is that something you people still keep track of?

TheyCallMeTomu Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
#42213: Nov 29th 2012 at 9:52:49 AM

Am I the only one here who thinks it's not okay to say "He should slip in the tub and drown in the bath?"

That's ... that's really kind of nasty.

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#42214: Nov 29th 2012 at 9:55:15 AM

What, that guy who wished death on Grover Norquist? Of course that's not okay.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
deathpigeon Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: One True Dodecahedron
#42215: Nov 29th 2012 at 10:19:14 AM

That's not ok. I can understand where he's coming from since Norquist is being a meany face, but that doesn't make it ok for him to say that.

edited 29th Nov '12 10:20:02 AM by deathpigeon

johnnyfog Actual Wrestling Legend from the Zocalo Since: Apr, 2010 Relationship Status: They can't hide forever. We've got satellites.
Actual Wrestling Legend
#42216: Nov 29th 2012 at 10:34:14 AM

Sometimes I think you guys are too politically correct.

It's not all spies and torture, you know. Just like how Homeland Security isn't just the NSA wiretapping you.

Oh, well, I guess we'll overlook the complete illegality of the agency's existence, then.

The CIA is just one of a handful of wasteful "intelligence" agencies vying against each other for supremacy. You could very well consolidate them all into a National Bureau of investigation and lose nothing. In fact, there would probably be fewer leaks and intelligence failures, since the legendarily incompetent and fanatical CIA can never get its facts straight.

edited 29th Nov '12 10:40:04 AM by johnnyfog

I'm a skeptical squirrel
Karkadinn Karkadinn from New Orleans, Louisiana Since: Jul, 2009
Karkadinn
#42217: Nov 29th 2012 at 10:42:28 AM

Eh, there are good legal reasons to avoid death threats - even jokingly - in political discussions. Regardless of whether you feel a given target is morally reprehensible enough to warrant such or not.

There does seem to be a problem with a desync between what political actors advocate and our ability to grasp the actual consequences, wherein it's okay to say you support a law that would cause immense human suffering, as long as you say it in a polite way. But I don't think that's something that can be remedied by raw bile, as it strikes me as more of a cultural issue about othering the victims so that their suffering doesn't 'count.'

Furthermore, I think Guantanamo must be destroyed.
Skatepunk Since: Feb, 2011
#42218: Nov 29th 2012 at 10:58:50 AM

I think Simpson was attempting to be "creative" with Norquist's earlier "I want government small enough to drown it in a bathtub."

Oh, well. YMMV.

DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#42219: Nov 29th 2012 at 11:39:35 AM

That was definitely not ok, however, it will be perfectly acceptable to dance a little jig while singing "The Witch is Dead" just as soon as the next conservative supreme court justice retires.

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
TheyCallMeTomu Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
#42220: Nov 29th 2012 at 11:42:39 AM

Even if it's via "retirement?"

DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#42221: Nov 29th 2012 at 11:43:09 AM

That's what we call it in the CIA...

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#42222: Nov 29th 2012 at 11:46:24 AM

Ugh, let's just not publicly advocate the deaths of people we don't like. We can say whatever we like in the privacy of our thoughts but it creates an antagonistic environment to do it in the media. And, who knows if there's some crazy out there who will take it a little too literally?

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Skatepunk Since: Feb, 2011
#42224: Nov 29th 2012 at 12:24:24 PM

Ok, NOW this is getting out of hand. Like I said, I only liked what Simpson said because it was a play on Norquist wanting to "drown government in a bathtub" with Simpson saying that's what he wants Norquist to do. It was tasteless (but funny to me), but he actually had a play on words with that.

As for the Supreme Court thing, don't wish death on people. Considering the fact that 3 of them are in their late 70s (1 lefty Ginsberg,and righties Scalia and Kennedy)they might retire soon anyway.

Obama would have a young replacement ready if Ginsberg decides to retire, since there is no Republican president to worry about (judges shouldn't "strategically retire" as I put it, but we all know both sides do it). Kennedy might retire too, since he appears to be the least partisan (on social issues, anyway). The only person who I doubt will leave the bench alive in the next 4 years is Scalia. I have a gut feeling he will stay on the bench even if he personally wants to retire just to prevent Obama from being the one to appoint his replacement.

[up] Which is why we should not be continually developing weapons. Suddenly killer robots no longer look like science fiction, but something that could happen in the near future...

edited 29th Nov '12 12:25:40 PM by Skatepunk

shimaspawn from Here and Now Since: May, 2010 Relationship Status: In your bunk
#42225: Nov 29th 2012 at 12:27:10 PM

There are quite a few members of the supreme court I wish retirement on.

Reality is that, which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. -Philip K. Dick

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