Obama supposedly to kill Keystone XL in August, Anonymous leak suggests it's retaliation for Harper spying on US Gov

[Mr. Ambien]

Obama set to reject Keystone XL, Republican senator says

After years of delay, U.S. announcement could come during the August congressional break.

WASHINGTON—A U.S. lawmaker says he’s hearing that President Barack Obama is about to reject the Keystone XL pipeline, after years of delay and debate.

Sen. John Hoeven, a vocal supporter of the Canada-to-Texas project and a Republican critic of the president, seems an unlikely candidate to announce the long-awaited decision. But on Tuesday, the North Dakota lawmaker told the Senate that’s what he’s hearing from his sources.

Hoeven said he believes Obama, in the hope of stifling criticism, will make the announcement during the August congressional break.

The president has vetoed a Keystone XL bill in the past but has never definitively slammed the door shut on the project through the normal regulatory process.

Hoeven says rejection makes no sense on environmental grounds and would disadvantage the oil industry in Canada, a friendly U.S. neighbour, even as the recent international nuclear deal help build Iran’s energy industry.

Keystone XL would carry about one-quarter of the oil exported by Canada to the U.S. each day and would ease potential bottlenecks on rail lines. Its U.S. opponents, however, argue it would help develop one of the world’s dirtiest sources of oil.

The issue has become a fault line in the U.S. debate over climate change and energy politics. Republicans staunchly support the project, which has divided Democrats.

Asked about Hoeven’s remarks, the Canadian federal government issued a statement defending the project but said it would refrain from interfering in the American debate.

http://www.foxnews.com/..senator-says.html

A video statement released in conjunction with the secret document also claims the leakers have evidence that Ottawa spied on the American government and that Washington retaliated with a promise to kill the Keystone pipeline proposal — a dramatic revelation, if true.

"We repeat our insistence upon the immediate arrest of the RCMP killers of James McIntyre," an Anonymous video statement accompanying the newly released document demands. "Unless and until that happens, we will be releasing stunning secrets at irregular intervals."

The document posted by the group on Monday evening purports to show a funding request from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) to upgrade its security technology at foreign bases.

The office of Steven Blaney, the minister of public safety, would not confirm one way or the other whether the documents are real.

"We do not comment on leaked documents and we continue to monitor this situation closely," said Jeremy Laurin, a spokesperson for the minister.

If they are genuine, however, this vigilante group just published classified details of how CSIS deals with data collected on its foreign bases. Prior to this week, the Canadian public only knew that there were four bases — located in London, Paris, Washington, and Afghanistan — but little else.

According to the February 2014 memo, there are actually more than 25 bureaus, staffed by 70 employees, who treat 22,500 "messages" per year, although "this figure does not included [sic] the high volume of extreme sensitive traffic from the Washington station."

It recommends a $20 million (CAD) investment in upgrading CSIS' infrastructure.

"Currently, the Service uses inefficient and labor-intensive data-processing and analysis systems to process and report intelligence information obtained at its foreign stations," the document reads. According to the memo, much of the infrastructure dates back to the 1980s and that its slow speed and outdated systems could "jeopardize the the security of its personnel collecting the intelligence."

After the upgrade, CSIS should be able to share intelligence in "real time," the memo predicts.

The upgrade project would begin at two of CSIS' foreign stations, the memo says, and would later be expanded to all 25 bureaus.

The memo also sheds some light on the type of data that is being transmitted. "The Service reports to and advises the government on national security issues and potential threats. To do this, the Service relies on intelligence reporting from a number of of foreign stations."

A part of the upgrade would be with an aim of "increased information security requirements to address recent unlawful disclosures of classified material (i.e. Delisle, Snowden)."

Snowden, of course, refers to whistleblower Edward Snowden, while the other name references Jeffrey Delisle, a Canadian naval officer who was caught passing military intelligence to the Russian government who later pled guilty to espionage charges.

The memo concludes that if one member of the Five Eyes partnership (Canada, Great Britain, America, New Zealand and Australia) is the source of a leak, it would have "significant impacts on how sensitive material is handled and protected by all Five Eyes members."

Some details of CSIS' work in its foreign stations, and the challenges of its technology infrastructure, has already been made public.

According to a 2008-2009 report from the Security Intelligence Review Committee (SIRC), which monitors the spy agency, "traditionally, the primary function of each [foreign] station was to liaise with CSIS's foreign partners and to conduct immigration screening….Today, however, CSIS stations take on larger roles in these operations."

A 2013/2014 report notes "a security concern with respect to the protection of a communications network" during its review of one of its stations, recommending that the hardware be upgraded to address the security flaw.

If CSIS is, in fact, upgrading hardware capacity at these foreign stations, it would coincide with a massive new expansion in the spy agency's mandate. Until this year, the service was primarily a domestic surveillance body, with only a small amount of its work occurring overseas — at least, so far as they would acknowledge publicly.

Last year, Stephen Harper's government introduced bill C-44, which changed the agency's mandate to authorize it to work internationally, even if it ignores the laws of the country it is operating within.

Months later, Harper's government introduced bill C-51, the controversial anti-terrorism bill that would facilitate mass-information sharing amongst agencies — specifically, between CSIS and its signals intelligence counterpart, the Communications Security Establishment (CSE).

http://www.foxnews.com/..police-shooting

I'm sure this will help Harper out quite a bit.

[thejazz97]

More oil for us

[Lancaster]

So wait.... after the US was caught red-handed spying on their "allies" like Germany, France, etc... now they're P/O that they're being spied upon? lol

[The Weasel]

So wait.... after the US was caught red-handed spying on their "allies" like Germany, France, etc... now they're P/O that they're being spied upon? lol

Sounds about right.

[Ghostsof1915]

CIA.

Can't find terrorists.

Can't find threats.

But you want to knock off some democratically elected foreign government, that is making it harder for an American Corporation to get their way. They get right into it!

[Grapefruits]

So wait.... after the US was caught red-handed spying on their "allies" like Germany, France, etc... now they're P/O that they're being spied upon? lol

Yep, much easier to take it out on Canada though.

[arowind]

People are mad about this? This is great news the pipeline is a horrendous idea that will only cause the alberta tar sands to become more developed when we should be moving away from our reliance on oil. Really glad Obama see's this unlike our current "Prime Minister"

[inane]

People are mad about this? This is great news the pipeline is a horrendous idea that will only cause the alberta tar sands to become more developed when we should be moving away from our reliance on oil. Really glad Obama see's this unlike our current "Prime Minister"

Yeah. This is good.

[luckylager]

People are mad about this? This is great news the pipeline is a horrendous idea that will only cause the alberta tar sands to become more developed when we should be moving away from our reliance on oil. Really glad Obama see's this unlike our current "Prime Minister"

Well, the 1% sure are (mad about this). The US plays oil games every where, it wasn't an accident that a surprise surplus of fracked US oil hit the market right as the Saudi's increased their exports and pretty much ruined the Russian dollar, at the same time they were getting sanctioned. (Edit- didn't help our dollar much either, eh)

I doubt Obama's shutting the door because of CSIS, or Scummy Steve, or Anonymous. I hope it's because he's actually "forward thinking" but I assume it might have more to do with alliances in the rail industry. Or maybe, he just hates Alberta and Texas. I've never been to Texas but....

[etsen3]

So wait.... after the US was caught red-handed spying on their "allies" like Germany, France, etc... now they're P/O that they're being spied upon? lol

The US is special and morally superior to all nations, remember? They can do whatever they want while criticizing other countries for the same thing.

[Heretic]

People are mad about this? This is great news the pipeline is a horrendous idea that will only cause the alberta tar sands to become more developed when we should be moving away from our reliance on oil. Really glad Obama see's this unlike our current "Prime Minister"

No, just means Obama wants oil from countries like...oh...Saudi Arabia or Iran?

We will move away from our reliance on oil when it basically drys up.

Edit: Oh, guess what buttercup - the alternatives are worse - specially the one where it goes via tanker ships down the Eastern Seaboard.

http://www.climatecentral.org/news/keystone-xl-alternative-pipelines-18821

Edit 2: For all you who want to "move away" from Oil - put your money where your mouths are and stop using the following partial list of products that use oil to make them:

http://www-tc.pbs.org/independentlens/classroom/wwo/petroleum.pdf

Also, better stop any form of transportation as well - even electric cars use oil.

[Lancaster]

Well, the 1% sure are (mad about this). The US plays oil games every where, it wasn't an accident that a surprise surplus of fracked US oil hit the market right as the Saudi's increased their exports and pretty much ruined the Russian dollar, at the same time they were getting sanctioned. (Edit- didn't help our dollar much either, eh)

I doubt Obama's shutting the door because of CSIS, or Scummy Steve, or Anonymous. I hope it's because he's actually "forward thinking" but I assume it might have more to do with alliances in the rail industry. Or maybe, he just hates Alberta and Texas. I've never been to Texas but....

Some of Obama's biggest supporters are also major shareholders in many of the railway companies.

[Mr.Habitat]

Another failure of the Harper government. Atrocious relationship with the Obama administration

[Mr.Habitat]

Another failure of the Harper government. Atrocious relationship with the Obama administration

[thejazz97]

Another failure of the Harper government. Atrocious relationship with the Obama administration

Not too sad about that tbh.

[TOMapleLaughs]

Hillary will ultimately put it through, but probably not until 2018. In the meantime, the Dems want to appease environmentalists.

Harper's an idiot thinking Obama could possibly approve it now. As for the spying aspect, pffft, wut?

As for Harper's potential replacements, JT is a Keystone player and Muclair will be a bump in the road. I think overall it seems that JT is prepared to follow through on various Harper initiatives.

[key2thecup]

If it doesn't get pipe lined, it gets moved via rail.

[VanGnome]

No, just means Obama wants oil from countries like...oh...Saudi Arabia or Iran?

We will move away from our reliance on oil when it basically drys up.

Edit: Oh, guess what buttercup - the alternatives are worse - specially the one where it goes via tanker ships down the Eastern Seaboard.

http://www.climatecentral.org/news/keystone-xl-alternative-pipelines-18821

Edit 2: For all you who want to "move away" from Oil - put your money where your mouths are and stop using the following partial list of products that use oil to make them:

http://www-tc.pbs.org/independentlens/classroom/wwo/petroleum.pdf

Also, better stop any form of transportation as well - even electric cars use oil.

You're over simplifying the issue. It's not that we're dependent upon oil, it's that we're dependent upon oil as our primary means of developing power and for transportation - especially in developing nations because it's the most plentiful and easy to obtain fuel source.

If we can move to an alternative source of energy (cleaner) for transportation, and heating/power(electricity) then the dependence of our economies tied to the commodity prices will stabilize and rebound; the costs associated with producing petroleum byproducts (which are what goes into most of what that list describes), then consumables will also fall in price.

Here in Canada we do a pretty good job at avoiding for the most part having to rely on fossil fuels and nuclear power for the generation of our electricity and heating needs by using hydroelectric dams, but even that's not ideal because it still impacts the ecosystem to a certain extent.

Denmark I believe it is, just became the first country in the world to satisfy 140% of it's electricity needs via wind turbines, the surplus energy (less reserve for their own needs) are sold off to neighboring countries as a clean and renewable energy export. I would think that Canada could do much the same if it were so inclined by utilizing the vast spaces of generally less habitable regions of the country by installing wind turbine farms far from general populations, and be able to do so in such a volume as to not only meet our needs + reserve, but make a very big dent into the needs of at least the northern states via export.

The only problem is it would require incredible amounts of capital, infrastructure and other resources; not to mention a shift away from fossil fuels would be met with unreal opposition from OPEC lobbyists. The companies currently holding all the power (oil companies) have the vast sums of money in order to do this, and pioneer clean energy; the problem yet again is they lack the morality and willpower to do the hard thing. They are content by putting in the least amount of effort to gain the maximum in return.

It's going to take a significant number of people like Elon Musk to band together to really impact significant and positive change, the problem is that for every Elon Musk, there are a hundred John Rockefeller's.

[luckylager]

Some of Obama's biggest supporters are also major shareholders in many of the railway companies.

Lol, go figure eh?!

[Cpt.Clutch]

Is no one concerned about how Anonymous is getting away with this? They are taking the feds hostage here. This is unacceptable. They need to be taken out. It does not matter if you agree with Anonymous or Harper, they are acting to the definition of terrorists and need to be dealt with.