RIDICULOUS

Today we step away from the ubiquitous media coverage of the Trump campaign and focus on a more pressing matter of national importance.  That being the ridiculous fight over the iPhone used by the San Bernardino terrorists.

In case you missed it allow us to provide a brief summary of events.

On December 2, 2015 14 people were killed and 22 injured when terrorists opened fire inside the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino, California.  The shooters were a married couple living in nearby Redlands, California.  Syed Rizwan Farook was an American born citizen.  His wife, Tashfeen Malik, a Pakistani born lawful resident of the United States.

At the time of the shooting the couple was in possession of an Apple iPhone.  Herein lies the rub.

Federal Authorities, specifically the FBI, wanted to access the iPhone’s database to determine who the perpetrators had been communicating with in the days and weeks preceding the attack. The FBI reasoned that the couple could be part of a larger cell planning multiple attacks. 

The FBI was unable to access the phone’s database due to Apple’s security encrypted software.  So the FBI asked Apple to assist them in hacking into the phone.

Apple declined…citing rights of privacy.  Apple argued that by helping the FBI build a work-a-round into the phone it would be creating software that would render the security protocols of all iPhones useless; thereby paving the way for anyone to violate the privacy of Apple’s customers.

The federal government responded by suing Apple; asking the court to compel Apple to assist in hacking the phone on the basis of national security.  The government noted that Apple’s refusal would effectively encourage future terrorists to use iPhones to conduct their business; secure in the knowledge that their communications were safe from government access.

Apple is a well-respected multi-billion dollar concern.  It’s refusal to co-operate with the government sent a very powerful message across the political landscape.  However Apple made a mistake.  It assumed that by denying the government access to its abundant supply genius techno-geeks it had effectively checkmated its opponent.

Unfortunately for Apple the federal government is an infinitely more powerful concern with the ability to search the globe for the skillset required to perform whatever task it deems necessary at the time.  The feds also have the unique ability to print however much money it needs to illicit the co-operation of those with the requisite skills.

According to reports released by Israeli news agencies; the federal government was able to find the expertise it needed in of all places a security company in Israel.  Cellibrite, an Israel based subsidiary of Japan’s Sun Corp. was contracted by federal authorities to hack the security encryption on the phone.  Unrestrained by constitutional rights of privacy, Cellibrite was successful and reports indicate that the government has dropped its suit against Apple.

Apple has now requested that the feds turn over the encryption hacking solution so it can make its iPhones more secure for future customers.  The feds have declined.  Surprise!  Apple intends to sue.

This is ridiculous!

I’m not saying that Apple’s points of privacy are not without merit.  And I’m not alleging that the government is wrong to seek every means possible to keep the country safe.  I’m merely appalled that we have become so dysfunctional in the way we go about our business that compromise is a four letter would and rancor forms the cornerstone of every conversation.

Surely in a country that continually boasts that it breeds the best and the brightest we could find a way to resolve conflicts of civil liberties and national security without contracting mercenaries form foreign lands to do our bidding.  Particularly at a time when we are a nation at war we should be able to find common ground to keep ourselves safe yet true to the values that we treasure.

Just to add insult to injury…

This is exactly the type of argument that would typically find itself in the lap of the US Supreme Court.  Were that the case today it would find a Court deadlocked 4-4 with one seat vacant.  A seat for which the president has nominated a supremely qualified candidate.  A candidate that the majority party in congress refuses to consider based on nothing more than partisan politics.  Even though this same congress voted unanimously to confirm him to his current seat on the Appellate Court.

For a nation that speaks so highly of its “exceptionalism” we seem to have a difficult time getting out of our own way.   

Ridiculous!

Now we return you to our regularly scheduled coverage of the buffoonery of the Trump campaign.  Today Trump’s campaign manager is facing battery charges for allegedly grabbing a reporter.

Stay tuned!