Passports

The United States has outsourced the manufacturing of its electronic passports to overseas companies — including one in Thailand that was victimized by Chinese espionage — raising concerns that cost savings are being put ahead of national security, an investigation by The Washington Times has found.

The Government Printing Office's decision to export the work has proved lucrative, allowing the agency to book more than $100 million in recent profits by charging the State Department more money for blank passports than it actually costs to make them, according to interviews with federal officials and documents obtained by The Times.

Much more.
I'm glad these new electronic passports will protect us from bad guys. :rolleyes:

Wow...the Washington Times writing something bad about Republicans...impressive!

sycamore;443131 wrote:

Wow...the Washington Times writing something bad about Republicans...impressive!

Now if we could just get the NYT to follow suit for the Dems we might be on to something.

FYI, I recently renewed my passport and the kids' passports and was amazed at how fast it was. Two weeks for mine (done by mail) and one week turnaround for the kids (done in person at the Post Office.) We didn't pay extra for expedited service.

Now I just need to read up a little on rfid shielding, as these passports have the new personal data radio transmitters in them.

TheMercenary;443157 wrote:

Now if we could just get the NYT to follow suit for the Dems we might be on to something.

You've forgotten about Client 9 already? Damn Merc, you're getting old and forgetful. :)

sycamore;443263 wrote:

You've forgotten about Client 9 already? Damn Merc, you're getting old and forgetful. :)

:D

Wow. Got my passport today; 15 days after I applied, and it wasn't even "expedited." And they said 4-8 weeks.

Now all I have to do is go somewhere!

Next time I deploy, I'll put in my duffel Cloud.

nice thought . . . but don't think I'd fit!

You can't make shit like this up.

It's interesting that they say they couldn't find anyone to manufacture these in the US. This would have been a good opportunity to actually rebuild some internal manufacturing of secure components.

BTW, a lot of military hardware now has chips from China in them. This is mostly due to the Clinger-Cohen Act, which intended to make military procurement more efficient and cheaper. It was passed during the Clinton Administration.








BTW, before anyone get off on a 'fucking Clinton/Democrat' rant, it should be pointed out that Clinger and Cohen were both Republicans.

glatt;443166 wrote:

FYI, I recently renewed my passport and the kids' passports and was amazed at how fast it was. Two weeks for mine (done by mail) and one week turnaround for the kids (done in person at the Post Office.) We didn't pay extra for expedited service.

Now I just need to read up a little on rfid shielding, as these passports have the new personal data radio transmitters in them.

I would just throw the passport in the microwave for about 10 seconds.:D Best served hot. That's just me though. I don't think they are necessary.(rfid's that is)

I need one to go to the dentist. :)

Cloud;495105 wrote:

I need one to go to the dentist. :)

How much are boob jobs anyway? You know, just in case..

you want me to ask my dentist?

"Cuantos son los . . . boobjobos?"

Si. Ayude por Senora Cicero.

maybe I can get a discount for you with a root canal

The next time an American is kidnapped and held for a few dollars ransom, that RFD might come in handy.

wait! there's a tracker thingy in mine?

that's creepy.

RFID is fairly short range. Up to 100 meters, but more often (for passport type applications) around 30 cm.

regular.joe;495161 wrote:

The next time an American is kidnapped and held for a few dollars ransom, that RFD might come in handy.

Only if the kidnappers don't have access to a microwave.

Cicero;495126 wrote:

How much are boob jobs anyway? You know, just in case..

4k to 6k, depending on how well you know the surgeon. :D

Perry Winkle;495190 wrote:

RFID is fairly short range. Up to 100 meters, but more often (for passport type applications) around 30 cm.

You beat me to it. But RFID's as proposed in packages for Walmart are like 4 - 6 feet I believe.

Radio frequencies....Radio....Oh hai...:) Whatever!! ;)

Cicero;495096 wrote:

I don't think they are necessary.(rfid's that is)

Returns to the same question asked here long ago. Will a National ID system serve you or serve the government? Because the public has not demanded a National ID system that serves the individual and since our right wing extremists in power fear everyone (and believe the president needs more power), then this passport RFID is to serve government.

You may not think it necessary. Does not matter. Government has now decided all Americans must be categorized and accounted for. Will this do anything to help you protect your identity? Of course not. Government has done so little for Identity protection. But government so fears even its citizens as to need routine wiretapping without judicial review.

How to make it easier to track you? More RF power with more and bigger antennas. Then government will know where you go, when you were there, and who you were with. Whistleblowers and muckrakers - people who are so praised for bringing down the most corrupt and powerful - especially have so much to fear.

I was being polite. kthnx.

tw;495451 wrote:

How to make it easier to track you? More RF power with more and bigger antennas. Then government will know where you go, when you were there, and who you were with. Whistleblowers and muckrakers - people who are so praised for bringing down the most corrupt and powerful - especially have so much to fear.

E-ZPass.

:tinfoil:

tw;495451 wrote:

How to make it easier to track you? More RF power with more and bigger antennas. Then government will know where you go, when you were there, and who you were with. Whistleblowers and muckrakers - people who are so praised for bringing down the most corrupt and powerful - especially have so much to fear.