http://www.diatribune.com/the-administration039s-newest-spy-agency Comments for "The Administration's Newest Spy Agency" en http://www.diatribune.com/the-administration039s-newest-spy-agency <p>According to its <a class="offsite-link-inline" target="_blank" href="http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1187188414685.shtm">web site</a> the recently-created National Applications Office (NAO) has its roots in the Civil Applications Committee, an agency created in 1974 that "facilitated requests by civil agencies to make use of space-based imaging and remote sensing capabilities for purposes such as monitoring volcanic activity, environmental and geological changes, hurricanes, and floods." Presumably that is how it was used; if it had been directed against citizens or for political advantage we would have found out before too long. Either the results of the abuse would have led back to it or someone would have spilled the beans somehow. Humans' marvelous imperfection makes it all but impossible to sustain a long-term and far-reaching secret (which is also why I nearly automatically reject conspiracy theories). Of course, our native impulse to get as much as we can made it almost inevitable that someone would eventually try.</p> <p><a href="http://www.diatribune.com/the-administration039s-newest-spy-agency">read more</a></p> http://www.diatribune.com/the-administration039s-newest-spy-agency#comments abuse of power Dept. of Homeland Security Sat, 12 Apr 2008 03:11:39 -0600 danps 3469 at http://www.diatribune.com