Author: Kim du Toit

Not THAT Disturbing

Government Thugs, Law and Order

Via Insty I see this interesting news:

Police departments throughout the United States have stopped sharing information with the FBI due a “disturbing loss of trust” in the Bureau, an alarming new whistleblower report has found.

The scathing report listed ten key findings that have dire national security and public safety implications:
1. Local law enforcement officers do not trust the FBI 
2. No more actionable, substantive information sharing with the FBI 
3. FBI National Academy graduates are troubled by bias 
4. Crisis of confidence in FBI-led task forces 
5. The FBI is isolated and unresponsive to local law enforcement 
6. Local law enforcement officers feel disrespected by FBI special agents 
7. Today’s tone-deaf FBI disregards the value of retired FBI special agents 
8. The new generation of sub-standard FBI special agents 
9. FBI management is too transitory and obsessed with self-promotion
10. The FBI’s cult of narcissism begins at the FBI Academy.

The headline to the piece calls this “disturbing”, but I consider it “unsurprising”.

Unlike the oh-so supercilious Fibbies, you see, local LEOs have to live with their communities, are answerable to them and can be kicked out of office at the polling booth.

If I were a local cop in, say, north Texas I’d tell Teh Fibs to take a fucking hike if they came snooping around.

Which is what erstwhile Collin County Sheriff Terry Box (PBUH) said at a press conference when asked how he felt about a federal civilian disarmament program:

“They’ll have to come through my deputies first.”

Note:   not “they would” (subjunctive), “they will” (declarative).

So why are we “disturbed” by the news above?

Speed Bump

Law and Order, Surveillance Society

…and this one isn’t grammatical.

It turns out that when local law enforcement offered the SecServ their drones to overfly the Trump rally in Butler PA, the SS (perhaps unsurprisingly) turned down the offers, repeatedly.

“According to one whistleblower, the night before the rally, U.S. Secret Service repeatedly denied offers from a local law enforcement partner to utilize drone technology to secure the rally. This means that the technology was both available to USSS and able to be deployed to secure the site. Secret Service said no,” Senator Hawley wrote in a letter Thursday to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. “The whistleblower further alleges that after the shooting took place, USSS changed course and asked the local partner to deploy the drone technology to surveil the site in the aftermath of the attack.”

So far, so good.  Fleeing horse, meet stable door:  standard Gummint cock-up.

Here’s what caused me to choke on my morning G&T, though:

The failure to deploy drone technology is all the more concerning since, according to the whistleblower, the drones USSS was offered had the capability not only to identify active shooters but also to help neutralize them.

Wait, WTF?  Are we to understand that the local Barney Fifes in Fucknuckle PA have drones that can take out targets?  Like what the Ukes are using on Russkis, or the CIA uses on Muzzy terrorists?

Fucking hell.  I thought Meal Team Six was bad news…

Or am I misreading the thing?

Monday Funnies

Funny Stuff

Let’s start off with somebody else’s Monday FAFO:

…before turning back to local issues:


…which is kinda my attitude right at the moment.

And speaking of girls on the beach:

So let’s be careful out there in the sun, okay?

Gorge Warning

Travels

I read this report with more than a little interest:

Cheddar Gorge locals are facing a 21-mile detour this week as filming crews descend on the iconic Somerset beauty spot to shoot scenes for Danny Boyle’s new horror movie 28 Years Later. 

Somerset Council has announced that the B3135, the main road which runs through the attraction, will remain closed until this weekend, and maybe longer, to accommodate the film crew.

The way that I see it, closing this road is a blessing, not a curse.

You see, I’ve been through the Cheddar Gorge (it’s the road leading into the town of Cheddar) and it’s unusual for the area in that one minute you’re driving through the normal exquisite West Country farms and pastures, and the next you are plunged into a deep ravine, which goes on for miles and miles until you reach the picturesque town itself.

Unfortunately, this being Britishland, tens of thousands of people think it would be a nice place to visit, so the road is crowded not only with cars driving on it, but miles and miles of cars (and buses!) parked along its verge.

These pics were taken in late summer, and the traffic congestion spoiled the entire trip for me.

As for Cheddar itself:   standard gorgeous little West Country village, marred by the fact that it has no parking for the jillions of cars that invade the place all through the summer.

For tourists, don’t bother trying to get some of the famous Cheddar cheese there — it’s sold all over Britain anyway, and there’s nothing special about buying it there.  (The little ice cream shop on the main street, however, sells possibly the best ice cream I’ve ever tasted.)

As far as I’m concerned, the locals should look on the closure of the Gorge road as a chance for some blessed (and rare) peace and quiet.

Tourist tip:  during the summer, avoid like the plague.  It may be worth a visit during late fall or winter (don’t know for certain), but I wouldn’t risk it.

Go to Norton St. Philip (it’s on the way to Cheddar) instead, and spend a few hours in the George Inn pub (fantastic food and… 6X!!!).

You’ll thank me for it.