Bush Administration payed a con-man to decode terrorist "barcodes" in Al-Jazeera TV

[salimfadhley]

This story sounds utterly bonkers even by the credulous standards of the Bush Administration - it's like something from "The Men Who Stare At Goats":

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/12/bush_admin_raised_terror_alert_based_on_con_mans_a .php?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_cam paign=Feed%3A+TPMmuckraker+(TPMmuckraker)&utm_cont ent=Google+Reader

A self-styled Nevada codebreaker convinced the CIA he could decode secret terrorist targeting information sent through Al Jazeera broadcasts, prompting the Bush White House to raise the terror alert level to Orange (high) in December 2003, with Tom Ridge warning of "near-term attacks that could either rival or exceed what we experience on September 11,"

[panama]

You can fool some of the people some of the time...

[salimfadhley]

I think this worked so well because the higher-ups believed that there was 'something' wrong with Al Jazeera and were willing to endorse anything, no matter how far-fetched if it confirmed their beliefs. Remember, this was approximately the time when Bush Jr and Tony Blair debated whether an Al-Jazeera regional office should be a legitimate target for a military strike. Discovering the channel's smoking-gun would be worth a lot to certain people.

However, the idea of embedding secret messages in broadcast media is not so bizarre. I remember when I was a small child, BBC world service used to carry weird coded messages intended for their under-cover agents, but since these were spoken announcements rather than concealed messages.

Now I'm starting to think about the enigmatic "numbers stations", which definitely did (and my still do) exist.

[Nasib]

Not such a crazy idea either - when you consider that during WW1 (I think) one of the major broadsheets (either the Times or the Guardian) concealed regular coded messages for military personnel, compiled within their crosswords (at least that's what I heard anyway).

I once (more recently) came across details of a genuinely advertised post within MI6, which entailed transcribing word for word the contents of pre-recorded tapped phone conversations. Amongst the requirements necessary for prospective candidates was a medical hearing examination, a knowledge of at least 2 foreign languages, obviously fast and accurate typing skills, and of course the successful candidate would be required to sign the OSA. This job had been narrowed down and suggested to me through my online search at the time for some part-time work to earn a bit of extra money alongside my regular work. I had been looking for something in the area of script transcribing, book manuscripts, tv scripts etc. Only reason I didn't look further into it was because the hours (varied shift work) didn't fit in with my requirements.

[Croydon Bob]

Not such a crazy idea either - when you consider that during WW1 (I think) one of the major broadsheets (either the Times or the Guardian) concealed regular coded messages for military personnel, compiled within their crosswords (at least that's what I heard anyway).

I'm sceptical about that.

There's several stories around the idea of crossword compilers using words that made the authorities suspicious that they were giving coded messages to the Nazis. But does anyone have a source for the UK actually doing it themselves?

I once (more recently) came across details of a genuinely advertised post within MI6, which entailed transcribing word for word the contents of pre-recorded tapped phone conversations. Amongst the requirements necessary for prospective candidates was a medical hearing examination, a knowledge of at least 2 foreign languages, obviously fast and accurate typing skills, and of course the successful candidate would be required to sign the OSA. This job had been narrowed down and suggested to me through my online search at the time for some part-time work to earn a bit of extra money alongside my regular work. I had been looking for something in the area of script transcribing, book manuscripts, tv scripts etc. Only reason I didn't look further into it was because the hours (varied shift work) didn't fit in with my requirements.

Yes. Lots of that stuff still going on. But it wouldn't normally include secret messages and codes, just tapped phones and emails.

[polomint38]

Sometimes I feel that some posts on this forum are coded messages(no names given) , because they sure don't make much sense in their pure form.

[Croydon Bob]

Sometimes I feel that some posts on this forum are coded messages(no names given) , because they sure don't make much sense in their pure form.

The owls are not what they seem.

[Graham Lappin]

On the Freeway past BWI airport, as you come towards Washington DC, there is a CIA building and outside there is a sign that says "The George Bush Centre for Intelligence". Is this the best oxymoronic sign ever?

[Croydon Bob]

On the Freeway past BWI airport, as you come towards Washington DC, there is a CIA building and outside there is a sign that says "The George Bush Centre for Intelligence". Is this the best oxymoronic sign ever?

Ah, but it was named for the first Bush Prez, not the idiot one.

[Graham Lappin]

Ah, but it was named for the first Bush Prez, not the idiot one.

Yes, I did know that, but it doesn't make it any less funny.

[Harryprice]

Amongst the requirements necessary for prospective candidates was a medical hearing examination, a knowledge of at least 2 foreign languages, obviously fast and accurate typing skills, and of course the successful candidate would be required to sign the OSA.

A medical hearing examination and knowledge of foreign languages wouldn't ensure accurate transcription, particularly of low quality recordings. Just look at EVP!

[panama]

I believe that is named after George Herbert Walker Bush...

[Croydon Bob]

I believe that is named after George Herbert Walker Bush...

D'oh! I'm going to have to google them now...