Watching the Shadows

Anti-Obama conspiracies seen in oil price spike

Just as the presidential horserace starts to gain velocity, so do oil prices. Are the Koch brothers manipulating prices to undermine Obama in November? Their recent dabblings in “contango” oil market speculations indicate this may be the case…

Watching the Shadows

Drones cleared to patrol US cities; avatar robots not far behind

President Obama signs a bill requiring the FAA to permit the use of domestic drones, both for commercial purposes and police surveillance. Meanwhile, the Pentagon’s DARPA announces it is developing robot “avatars” for battlefield use…

Watching the Shadows

Italy: appeals court orders release of ex-Gitmo detainee

The Court of Appeals in Milan overturned a lower court’s conviction of Tunisian former Guantánamo Bay detainee Mohamed Riadh Ben Nasri on charges of “terrorist association.” His lawyer argued the conviction was based on statement made under torture.

Watching the Shadows

“Terrorism” conviction for translating agitprop

Media accounts portray Tarek Mehanna as a dangerous conspirator—but he never actually received “terrorist training” in Yemen, and the texts he apparently translated were al-Qaeda propaganda videos.

Watching the Shadows

Flying robots to patrol Belfast (yes, really)

Police in Northern Ireland are considering deployment of mini-drones to combat crime and the dissident Republican threat. The unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are small enough to fit into a rucksack and will be used for surveillance.