Open Source Homeland

EFF: DeepLinks

Weve already started scouring newly-released documents relating to the misuse of National Security Letters to collect Americans private information. But dont let us have all fun — you, too, can dive into the docs and help uncover the truth about the FBIs abuse of power. All 1138 pages are freely downloadable with searchable text from EFF’s website, and well be posting a new batch every month.

Weve had over 8000 downloads so far, and the blogosphere is starting to light up with feedback and analysis of the documents, which were disclosed after EFF sued the government under the Freedom of Information Act FOIA earlier this year. Over at Wired, Threat Level reports that much of the mischief at the FBI seems to be emanating from a mysterious “Room 4944”, and this anonymous blogger is asking questions about who knew what when.

The concept of  Open Source Emergency Response is simple– normal people can be of use in an emergency. Today at the Glasgow airport, normal people beat up a terrorist who was trying to kill them. Good job.

Scotsman.com News – His whole body seemed to be on fire… I knocked him down
Stephen Clarkson, who rushed forward to tackle the men, said: “I saw a Jeep crashed into the glass doors at the main terminal and a man, an Asian man in flames, jumped out of the car. The Jeep was on fire as well.

“The Asian man, his clothes were burning and he came out and was shouting. His whole body seemed to be on fire. I dont know what he was saying, it sounded like gibberish to me.

“I fought with him and knocked him down, he was pretty strong and then four policemen came and wrestled him to the ground.

“They then took him away in handcuffs. There was another guy with him who went into the terminal and then went out again. The police took him away with them and they took them both into custody.

“Then the police told everyone to move back and go away from the Jeep, and then it exploded. A lot of people could have been hurt in the explosion if they had been closer to the car. But by the time it went off, everyone had been moved away.”

Witness Helen Hughes said that she was sure the car travelled down the airport road that is normally restricted to taxis.

Passenger James Edgar said the driver was trying to get through the terminals main doors.

“He was trying to get through the main door frame, but the bollards have stopped him from going through,” said Edgar.

“If hed got through, he could have killed hundreds.”

Taxi driver Ian Crosby said that, in his opinion, there was no doubt that this was a terrorist attack on the airport.

“The car went inside the terminal and had to accelerate to get where it was,” he said. “I think it was a deliberate terrorist attack.

“These people knew what they were doing. They were intent on taking lives and causing damage. Thats why they were attacked by a member of the public who risked his own life to tackle them.