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When Secrets Aren’t Safe With Journalists
►http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/27/opinion/without-computer-security-sources-secrets-arent-safe-with-journalists.html?
A propos de la méconnaissance des techniques de base chez les journalistes en terme de sécurité informatique (voire des pratiques dangereuses pour leurs interlocuteurs). Ce qui est valable pour les journalistes l’est également pour les activistes. En attendant, les hacktivistes ont plus que jamais un grand rôle à jouer sur la sortie d’infos dans la presse, alternative ou pas.

Brave journalists have defied court orders and have even been jailed rather than compromise their ethical duty to protect sources. But as governments increasingly record their citizens’ every communication — even wiretapping journalists and searching their computers — the safety of anonymous sources will depend not only on journalists’ ethics, but on their computer skills.

Sadly, operational computer security is still not taught in most journalism schools, and poor data security practices remain widespread in news organizations. Confidential information is sent over regular phone lines and via text messages and e-mail, all of which are easy to intercept. Few journalists use secure-communication tools, even ones that are widely available and easy to use.

Sans déconner... qui invente ces foutaises ?

Libya Rebels Said to Find Qaddafi Tie in Plot Against Iraq - NYTimes.com
►http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/27/world/middleeast/libya-rebels-said-to-find-qaddafi-tie-in-plot-against-iraq.html?ref=middlee

When Tripoli, the Libyan capital, fell, rebel fighters found secret intelligence documents linking Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi to a plot by former members of Saddam Hussein’s military and Baath Party to overthrow the Iraqi government, according to an Iraqi official who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The details of the plot were revealed to Iraq’s prime minister, Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, this month in a surprise visit to Baghdad by Libya’s interim leader, Mahmoud Jibril, said the official, who demanded anonymity because the matter was supposed to be confidential. This week, Iraqi security forces responded, arresting more than 200 suspects in connection with the plot.

Angry Arab - Nada Bakri, relax
►http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2011/10/nada-bakri-relax.html

Whenever there is a display of support for the lousy Syrian regime, New York Times reporter feel obligated to explain it away or to minimize it. Nada Bakri does that today: “With most foreign journalists barred from Syria and the government keeping tight control on information, it is hard to assess how great a role coercion plays in such displays. Certainly, significant elements of the Syrian elite remain entwined with and supportive of the Assad government.”
►http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/27/world/middleeast/army-defectors-in-syria-take-credit-for-deadly-attack.html

First, it was a massive demonstrations. Secondly, the elite does not go down to the street to waive flag. They are busy embezzling and profiting. Thirdly, there is—whether this bothers NYT or not—a level of support among sectors of the Syrian population. Fourtlhy, this is a regime in deep trouble and their power of coercion is largely damaged, and they can hardly coerce tens of thousands to go down to demonstrate if they don’t want to. Come on. This is downright silly.