Obama Will Get His Blackberry

theatlantic.com ^ | January 21, 2009 | Marc Ambinder

[Free ThinkerNY]

President Barack Obama is going to get his blackberry.

On Monday, a government agency that the Obama administration -- but that is probably the National Security Agency -- added to a standard blackberry a super-encryption package.... and Obama WILL be able to use it ... still for routine and personal messages.

It's not clear whether he yet has the device.

With few exceptions, government Blackberries aren't designed for encryption that protects messages above the "SECRET" status, so it's not clear whether Obama is getting something new and special. The exception: the Sectera Edge from General Dynamics, which allows for TOP SECRET voice conversations.

[Badeye]

Yep.

And we weren’t at war then.

Even the new President admitted we are ‘at war’ yesterday.

[freekitty]

ROTFLOL. They did say his blackberry was for personal use.

[Tequila25]

Maybe he thinks it’s literally a “crackberry”?

[pappyone]

Most relevant post I’ve seen. Yes, with all of the Democrate hoopla about Bush using private email. Of course not a word about the O using private email, its all just staged as drama..”omg, will O get to actually keep his bb?” Too bad Republicans don’t have the spine to hammer this issue.

[DesertRhino]

How immature, he must have a blackberry.

[09Patriot]

sounds like just as much obama worship here. geez i think this article or one on the same subject has been posted umpteen times.

[razorback-bert]

So, his end is super-encrypted, now how about the other end?

Send me encrypted data and it is just gobblethegook to me.

[Joiseydude]

How long before nudes of Michelle doing the nasty hit the web?Good, that Helen Thomas picture is getting kinda boring.

[DouglasKC]

I don’t believe this. Its not about ‘security of the emails’. Its about the fact a blackberry can be TRACKED to within 30 inches by anyone with a bit of knowledge. Its no different than the GPS system in a vehicle, thats how ONSTAR knows where to send the EMT’s in the event of a crash. He carries a blackberry, those that would do him, and us, harm can ‘see him’. ‘If you can see a target, you can hit it. If you can hit it, you can kill it.” Colin Powell, during the Gulf War That hasn’t changed, and the Secret Service knows it.

Exactly. I wonder if they're going to somehow scramble what this thing reports to the gps satellites? I know that in the past the satellites were built to transmit not so accurately so as to not help our enemies.

[KosmicKitty]

What a security nightmare

Figures that BO feels his blackberry “addiction” comes before our national security (poser!!)

[Badeye]

The blackberry transmits. Forget what happens when it hits a satellite, and keep in mind its a transmitter that can be tracked to itself.

[maine-iac7]

It's not, I propose, because he's like a teeny bopper that doesn't want to give up his link to his buddies - he has a very dangerous and traitorous reason for being adamant on this very real security issue. ‘

See this previous thread - and my post to it =

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2166770/posts

post # 16

a FOURTH - and PRIVATE arm of government.

And so it begins. Fasten your seat belts - and put in your gardens.

the POTUS is, essentially, in a protective bubble, for security - not just of the President, but for the country. Avenues of communication to/from the POTUS are not wide open. He would be unable to keep in constant = and secret = communication with his partners in ....?

(Mayhap this is why he is so adamant in keeping his blackberry - which is a dangerous security breach...he needs to be able to bypass the normal channels and get directly to his politburo)

[DouglasKC]

The blackberry transmits. Forget what happens when it hits a satellite, and keep in mind its a transmitter that can be tracked to itself.

So the bad guys just have to search for the device that's transmitting super secure stuff and they know where Obama is?

[timestax]

Well let us make sure White House keeps ALL E-mail,Text messages, IM messages etc. ! And make sure ALL security cameras are recording all his movements! No excuses.

[smith288]

Depends on the model but the Agps can be turned off if specifically desired (like if requested by a president of the United States).

[maine-iac7]

to add to my post #52 - Put this " Organizing for America, will be a tool to press for policy. It reportedly will have an annual budget of $75 million, making it an unprecedented standing political army"

together with his plans for a "National Security Force...just as big and just as well funded as the military" and you should have shivers running the length of your spine.

Baring a miracle, (i.e., the Sheeple waking up and taking action) our free country is about to come to an end.

[Badeye]

As long as an electronic device is activated, you can track it.

[driftdiver]

Nothing a President does is really unclassified.

Oh and the real reason not to use email is that they are subject to Freedom of Information Act. He must think he’s untouchable.

[driftdiver]

I work with a Chinese guy who has immigrated to the US. We’ve had discussions on how to break standard encryption algorithms. He’s very very knowledgeable about the subject.

Oh and I’m not so sure that blackberry has any really good encryption tools for a multitude of reasons.

[driftdiver]

“Wonder if security is an issue in private businesses.”

yes but most business people do not have other nations targeting them.