Deception Point Page 81

â€Å"As you know,† the CIA director went on, his tone sharpening, â€Å"all U.S. government entities who deal with sensitive intelligence information are governed by strict rules of secrecy-military, CIA, NSA, NRO-all of them must abide by stringent laws regarding the concealment of the data they glean and the technologies they develop. I ask you all, yet again, why NASA-the agency currently producing the largest portion of cutting-edge aerospace, imaging, flight, software, reconnaissance, and telecom technologies used by the military and intelligence community-exists outside this umbrella of secrecy.† The President heaved a weighty sigh. The proposal was clear. Restructure NASA to become part of the U.S. military intelligence community. Although similar restructurings had happened with other agencies in the past, Herney refused to entertain the idea of placing NASA under the auspices of the Pentagon, the CIA, the NRO, or any other military directive. The National Security Council was starting to splinter on the issue, many siding with the intelligence community. Lawrence Ekstrom never looked pleased at these meetings, and this was no exception. He shot an acrimonious glare toward the CIA director. â€Å"At the risk of repeating myself, sir, the technologies NASA develops are for nonmilitary, academic applications. If your intelligence community wants to turn one of our space telescopes around and look at China, that's your choice.† The CIA director looked like he was about to boil over. Pickering caught his eye and stepped in. â€Å"Larry,† he said, careful to keep an even tone, â€Å"every year NASA kneels before Congress and begs for money. You're running operations with too little funding, and you're paying the price in failed missions. If we incorporate NASA into the intelligence community, NASA will no longer need to ask Congress for help. You would be funded by the black budget at significantly higher levels. It's a win-win. NASA will have the money it needs to run itself properly, and the intelligence community will have peace of mind that NASA technologies are protected.† Ekstrom shook his head. â€Å"On principle, I cannot endorse painting NASA with that brush. NASA is about space science; we have nothing to do with national security.† The CIA director stood up, something never done when the President was seated. Nobody stopped him. He glared down at the administrator of NASA. â€Å"Are you telling me you think science has nothing to do with national security? Larry, they are synonymous, for God's sake! It is only this country's scientific and technological edge that keeps us secure, and whether we like it or not, NASA is playing a bigger and bigger part in developing those technologies. Unfortunately, your agency leaks like a sieve and has proven time and again that its security is a liability!† The room fell silent. Now the administrator of NASA stood up and locked eyes with his attacker. â€Å"So you suggest locking twenty thousand NASA scientists in airtight military labs and making them work for you? Do you really think NASA's newest space telescopes would have been conceived had it not been for our scientists' personal desire to see deeper into space? NASA makes astonishing breakthroughs for one reason only-our employees want to understand the cosmos more deeply. They are a community of dreamers who grew up staring at starry skies and asking themselves what was up there. Passion and curiosity are what drive NASA's innovation, not the promise of military superiority.† Pickering cleared his throat, speaking softly, trying to lower the temperatures around the table. â€Å"Larry, I'm certain the director is not talking about recruiting NASA scientists to build military satellites. Your NASA mission statement would not change. NASA would carry on business as usual, except you would have increased funding and increased security.† Pickering turned now to the President. â€Å"Security is expensive. Everyone in this room certainly realizes that NASA's security leaks are a result of underfunding. NASA has to toot its own horn, cut corners on security measures, run joint projects with other countries so they can share the price tag. I am proposing that NASA remain the superb, scientific, nonmilitary entity it currently is, but with a bigger budget, and some discretion.† Several members of the security council nodded in quiet agreement. President Herney stood slowly, staring directly at William Pickering, clearly not at all amused with the way Pickering had just taken over. â€Å"Bill, let me ask you this: NASA is hoping to go to Mars in the next decade. How will the intelligence community feel about spending a hefty portion of the black budget running a mission to Mars-a mission that has no immediate national security benefits?† â€Å"NASA will be able to do as they please.† â€Å"Bullshit,† Herney replied flatly. Everyone's eyes shot up. President Herney seldom used profanity. â€Å"If there is one thing I've learned as president,† Herney declared, â€Å"it's that those who control the dollars control the direction. I refuse to put NASA's purse strings in the hands of those who do not share the objectives for which the agency was founded. I can only imagine how much pure science would get done with the military deciding which NASA missions are viable.† Herney's eyes scanned the room. Slowly, purposefully, he returned his rigid gaze to William Pickering. â€Å"Bill,† Herney sighed, â€Å"your displeasure that NASA is engaged in joint projects with foreign space agencies is painfully shortsighted. At least someone is working constructively with the Chinese and Russians. Peace on this planet will not be forged by military strength. It will be forged by those who come together despite their governments' differences. If you ask me, NASA's joint missions do more to promote national security than any billion-dollar spy satellite, and with a hell of a lot better hope for the future.† Pickering felt an anger welling deep within him. How dare a politician talk down to me this way! Herney's idealism played fine in a boardroom, but in the real world, it got people killed. â€Å"Bill,† Marjorie Tench interrupted, as if sensing Pickering was about to explode, â€Å"we know you lost a child. We know this is a personal issue for you.† Pickering heard nothing but condescension in her tone. â€Å"But please remember,† Tench said, â€Å"that the White House is currently holding back a floodgate of investors who want us to open space to the private sector. If you ask me, for all its mistakes, NASA has been one hell of a friend to the intel community. You all might just want to count your blessings.† A rumble strip on the shoulder of the highway jolted Pickering's mind back to the present. His exit was coming up. As he approached the exit for D.C., he passed a bloody deer lying dead by the side of the road. He felt an odd hesitation†¦ but he kept driving. He had a rendezvous to keep. 96 The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial is one of the largest memorials in the nation. With a park, waterfalls, statuary, alcoves, and basin, the memorial is divided into four outdoor galleries, one for each of FDR's terms in office. A mile from the memorial, a lone Kiowa Warrior coasted in, high over the city, its running lights dimmed. In a town boasting as many VIPs and media crews as D.C., helicopters in the skies were as common as birds flying south. Delta-One knew that as long as he stayed well outside what was known as â€Å"the dome†-a bubble of protected airspace around the White House-he should draw little attention. They would not be here long. The Kiowa was at twenty-one hundred feet when it slowed adjacent to, but not directly over, the darkened FDR Memorial. Delta-One hovered, checking his position. He looked to his left, where Delta-Two was manning the night vision telescopic viewing system. The video feed showed a greenish image of the entry drive of the memorial. The area was deserted.

Working with and Leading People Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Working with and Leading People - Essay Example This means that a person has the ability to support the business venture if he or she believes that it will aid in achievement of outlined goals and objectives. In the case study, it is evident that Oliver, the chef/manager of ‘Fifteen’ depicts several leadership characteristics, which are in line with the definition of an effective leader. Key among these leadership qualities demonstrated by Oliver is his zeal and passion. The chef sets out to create a restaurant that taps the unexploited potential of young unqualified individuals. Despite the challenges, his desire to help individuals that are currently in a position that he once was, drives him to success. His passion is also evident when he uses it as criterion to select suitable chef candidates. By sharing this enthusiasm with his apprentices, Oliver motivates them to increase their professionalism and overall productivity. The chef also takes time to praise the candidates whenever they execute a duty efficiently or ask relevant questions. A leader’s tendency to give praise when appropriate acts as an extension of enthusiasm and fosters subordinates’ morale (Kressler, 2003, p.27). The other vital leadership attribute wielded by Oliver is his ability to communicate effectively with all the stakeholders with whom he works. As emphasized by Sinek (2011, p.17) effective leaders must have mastered the skill of communicating with staff, both at high and low levels of an establishment. This is because adept communication skills make it possible for leaders to explain tasks and undertakings in a manner that can be understood by all partisans. In addition, proficient communicators keep others informed about project updates or changes. In Oliver’s case, he takes the time to actually interact and impart knowledge on the trainees, making him effective in communication. As a result, the team is constantly aware of what is expected of them. The chef also possesses the crucial leadership quality of

Globalisation and employment relations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Globalisation and employment relations - Essay Example At this point Herod provides an avenue upon which we can understand the employment relationship that exist between the owners of capital and the people who work in their firms .He observes that people offer their labor services to the owners of capital but they do not get compensation equal to the value they create in the final products. This way Herod is able to bring out a very clear picture of the employment relationship that exist in the capitalist society. In addition, Herod argues that capitalism presents different types of employment relations some of which are capitalist in nature while others are not, for instance, they are people who are self-employed and they do not hire people to get labor services. In this case, they are not engaged in capitalist mode of production though they may buy materials from other people and this is what Herod refers to as capitalist social relationship. Globalization is seen as penetrating, places that were traditional before and conquering them and hence becoming very powerful. This ability to dominate makes it almost impossible for workers to win against the Trans-National Companies (TNCs) in case of labor disputes. This is because the TNCs have the capacity to hire reputable lawyers and move around the labor laws and regulations in the host country. The TNCs also have the capacity translate the local languages and traditions allowing them to be able to dominate the local workers who are divided by the same traditions and language barriers. To help us appreciate further the employment relations, Herod compares the kind of relationship that exists between the workers and the employers in East Europe and in Western countries. For instance, in Eastern Europe, workers and employers came together and formed groups to enhance their chances of accessing government resources as privatization of state parastatals started. On the other hand, labor organizations found themselves in a dilemma in trying to cushion their members from the negative effects of privatization and at the same time being against the people from the old order who wanted to benefit only themselves. Globalization, according to Herod is also seen as ‘Westernization’ or ‘Modernization’ where the Western values of capitalism and democracy are to be spread out to the rest o f the world. The spatial difference will be done away with as the rest of the world adopts capitalism especially the Least Developed Countries (LDCS).The developing countries are viewed as lagging behind and as time goes by they will catch up with the Western countries and become like them. Modernization therefore seems to a process that occurs geographically as modern values spread from more advanced nations to traditional nations especially the third world countries. The less developed nations will do away with dictatorships and embrace democracy as the modern form of government. Herod goes on to examine the assertion that globalization is dilut ing the power of the Nation-State as individual Nations are forced to deregulate the market and at the same time relinquish their duty of offering public goods like education and health. Organizations like the European Union (EU) and the World Trade Organizations (WTO) are said to be eclipsing the Nation-State. However, Herod is of the view that these irrternational organizations may not erase the importance of the individual Nation-States as most of them are

Extra Credit Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

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Mock Teacher Interview on Assessment - Research Paper Example Those who volunteer and raise hands are mostly the fast learners and the rest, are either slow learners or mob of non-interested students. How would you to help slow learners understand without boring the fast learners? It often gets very challenging to achieve this. However, I address this issue by reserving the last ten minutes of my class to address the confusions and queries of the slow learners. Besides, I also welcome the students to approach me in the free time and discuss their issues. What ways would you use to help students who repeatedly fail to do their homework despite punishments?   The school management needs to be convinced into taking certain measures to address this issue because the only way I think students can be made to do their homework is to make them do it in the classroom. The school administration should provide assistants to supervise the children while they do their homework in class after the break-off time. How would you handle a class which has given up hope of ever passing your subject?   One way is to request the administration to remove me from the faculty list for that particular class because if not me, some other teacher may be able to take them to the required level. I have hardly another option if this does not work.

Changing the Channel - A Solution for Television Violence Essay

Changing the Channel - A Solution for Television Violence - Essay Example Already, many children spend more time watching television than they do playing with friends, being outside or involved in other stimulating activity. Recent studies, reviews, watchdog groups and many others suggest that the high prevalence of violence that is present on television is directly promoting aggression and violence in real life. Television critic Tim Goodman argues that while television has the potential to have a large impact on violence and aggression, the full blame does not rest on the media but on the parents. If they do not want their children exposed to violence then the most simple and effective solution is to turn off the television. This essay argues that this viewpoint does not offer an effective method of solving the problem, instead it is like ignoring the crisis and assuming that if we do not pay attention to what is happening then it will not affect us. One type of program that showcases violence is wrestling. Here, violence is one of the main factors that drive individuals to watch the program, and it is widely popular among both children and adults. WWE’s Smack Down and RAW have sky rocketed in popularity in recent years. The slapping, kicking, fighting, screaming and throwing people out of the ring catch the interest of children and even adults. When the younger generation watches this brutality on television, with thousands of people praising, they perceive that it is something good. This concept is backed by Goodman, who argues that encouraging violence in this manner, and making it appear as something that is desirable increases the likelihood that the children will emulate this form of behavior. There are many cases I have witnessed where children in school have backyard fights in which they try to mimic their favorite wrestler’s stunts on others, using abusive language as they see in the shows. Even in the house, they play at wrestling or walk around acting as their favorite wrestling star; talking and walking li ke him. According to my observation it is usually the younger or weaker kids that are targeted. While Goodman argues that blaming the media for the behavior is unreasonable, and that parents can remedy this behavior by preventing children from watching programs such as wrestling, the reality is not as simple as this. It is not simple the act of observing the violence on television that causes children to emulate wrestling behavior, or aggressive behavior in general. Other factors include what children watch at their friend’s houses, what actions that their friends do, and the fact that the violence and aggression is encouraged in many different forms of media. As a consequence, changing the channel or turning off the television does not appear to be a suitable tactic to prevent children from emulating aggressive behavior, or from learning that aggressive behavior is good and encouraged. Rather, this responsibility falls onto the parents. Whether children consider that violenc e and aggression is something to be encouraged comes from the opinions and lessons that are taught by the parents. Parents have a responsibility to themselves and when they observe this kind of solution it just shows how responsible they are towards their job. Turning off the television or switching the channel cannot assure that the child will not watch it later on or at a friend’s place. Chances are that they might even see it on the internet as now even

National Advocacy Paper (political science) Research

National Advocacy (political science) - Research Paper Example Like the Arizona anti-immigration law, the Alabama Bill has been the subject of much debate and controversy. Hammon’s campaign sentiments express the general views of those who support Arizona-style anti-immigration laws. Hammon said: We’ve let this go on too long. Our budget cannot handle it. Our justice system cannot handle all the crime. We want them to stop taking advantage of our benefits (Beyerle 2011). These sentiments reflect the concern that undocumented individuals are taking jobs that American citizens can have. More troubling however, undocumented aliens do not pay income taxes and as a result the government is denied a valuable source of revenue. If American citizens held the jobs that are currently taken by undocumented aliens, their income would be taxed. Complicating matters, undocumented aliens typically send their income to family and loved ones in their countries of origin, thus contributing to or worsening the depressed economy (Langley 2007, p. 19). Ultimately, arguments in favour of anti-immigration laws that mirror the Arizona immigration law and the Alabama Bill take the position that, illegal aliens take away from the economy rather than contribute to it. At the same time, illegal aliens enjoy the benefits that come with contributing to economic growth and tax revenues. The extent of those benefits are manifested by the fact that they live in the US and use facilities supported by tax-payers, such as schools, hospitals, parks, roads and other essential provisions and amenities (Langley 2007, pp. 19-20). As for crime, the Testimony of District Attorney John M. Morganelli befor the House Subcommittee on Immigration Border, Security and Claims reflects the concerns about illegal immigration and crime. Morganelli noted that: The majority of illegal aliens who are here are engaged in criminal activity. Identity theft, use of fraudulent social security numbers and green cards, tax evasion, driving without licenses represent some of the crimes that are engaged in by the majority of illegal aliens on a daily basis merely to maintain and hide their illegal status (The Dark Side of Illegal Immigration, n.d.). There is no denying the authenticity of these concerns. Any time an event or a system of events contributes toward criminal activity and economic decline, it requires immediate attention and resolution. The obvious question is then, why are anti-immigration laws so controversial? Why was there so much debate and controversy over Arizona’s anti-immigration law? Why should these controversies and debates concern Alabama’s law-makers and any other state seeking to resolve the immigration issues identified in the preceding passages? The other side of the argument sheds some light on the contentious issues surrounding the immigration issue. The primary concern for advocates against the Alabama Bill is reflective of the concern expressed against the Arizona Immigration Law. That concern is human r ights issues. As Jason Childs, State Director for the Center for Progress in Alabama stated: These people are not some kind of problem to be dealt with, they’re committed members of our community, they’re human beings with inalienable rights, they have been a tremendous resource for our state (Wolverton 2011). It is unclear how illegal