NPR reporter visits Fed terrorwatch center, but target map goes black

Ryan Singel at Wired Threat Level blog writes,

National Public Radio [FBI correspondent] Dina Temple-Raston got the first ever media tour of the Terrorist Screening Center, where 50 analysts follow-up on hits on the nation's sprawling terrorist watch lists, but right as she entered, the TSC shut down the "Big Board" a la Dr. Strangelove.

Link to full text, with Temple-Raston's account.

[#1 posted by Anonymous , August 30, 2007 1:48 PM]

After reading the article, what she describes is pretty standard operating procedure at every location that has classified material. My co-workers who have (or had) security clearances told me it was a major offense not to cover your workspace if someone yells "uncleared" and something marked classified is visible. I guess it was pretty annoying to work in an environment like that, because it would happen a few times a day.

[#2 posted by Patrick Dodds , August 30, 2007 1:57 PM]

Is that half a million names on the list? Jeez. And I thought the political situation regarding "terrorists" over here in the UK was appalling. What is the growth rate of the list? When will there be more people on the list than off it? And, at that point, does the "terrorwatch" center self-destruct as it is logically defunct in a democracy (ha ha)?
Still, I imagine the complete detachment from reality in this huge video-game reconstruction makes torture and rendition that bit easier to sanction.
Not sure where you got the picture but I imagine the dominant themes (white, bald, male...) are pretty bang on the money.

[#3 posted by Daniel Morris , August 30, 2007 2:30 PM]

The threshold on America's terrorist assignment is not yet refined. People who wear anti-Bush shirts are terrorists according to American government.

When I read: "A giant, interactive map on a pull-down screen at the front of the office space switches to a nondescript picture of the center's logo." It reminded me of the scene in Men In Black where they're tracking every Alien in the country, I'm sure it's what the TSC is based on.

Mein Fuhrer, I can walk!

[#4 posted by Anonymous , August 30, 2007 4:14 PM]

"I don't know exactly how to put this, sir, but are you aware of what a serious breach of security that would be? I mean, he'll see everything, he'll... he'll see the Big Board!"

[#5 posted by Anonymous , August 30, 2007 5:02 PM]

Gah,

I'm getting so tired of these scary The Govt. Is Coming To Get You posts. Wonder if we'll see any if a Democrat is elected? I'm guessing not, and not because a democratic administration would suddenly choose to weaken its own power.

Reminds me why I dumped BoingBoing from my rss feeds in the first place.

Can we have more of the goofy entries and less tinfoil hat ones?

Thanks

Jason

[#6 posted by Anonymous , August 30, 2007 5:24 PM]

Not unlike when my father used to work on the air conditioning for the local DEA. Upon entering the building, every computer screen in the place mysteriously was tuned into Major League Baseball. I wish he would have let their computer rooms bake.

[#7 posted by Anonymous , August 30, 2007 5:48 PM]

All I have to say is.. "There is no fighting in the war room!"

[#8 posted by Anonymous , August 31, 2007 7:46 AM]

Here's what scares me.

There are 500,000 names on that list.

There are only 300 million people on that list.

According to the government, 1 in every 600 people is a potential terrorist.

So, is the signal-to-noise ratio just that high or is this just an excuse to keep track of anyone and everyone politically active?