American - Gen."Mad Dog" Mattis (Night of the Long Knives)

From: jrp Sent: Wednesday, July 31, 2013 Subject: Mad Dog

Oh yeah, "Semper Fi!" Marines!

General "Mad Dog" Mattis quotes (don't miss the last one)

This man knows his job is to keep America safe.

16 best quotes from the retiring Gen. James Mattis

BY: Washington Free Beacon Staff
March 18, 2013

     Gen. James Mattis, known to his troops as "Mad Dog Mattis," is retiring after 41 years of military service.

     The Marine Corps Times is calling Mattis the "most revered Marine in a generation."

     Mattis has been commander of the United States Central Command since 2010 and led the 1st Marine Division into Iraq in 2003.

     According to reports, President Barack Obama decided to force the Marine Corps legend out early because he rubbed civilian officials the wrong way, and forced them to answer tough questions regarding Iran. 

     Mattis was an inspirational leader of men and his powerful words will go down in history.

Here are some of the best words that the "Mad Dog" has had to offer:

1. "I don't lose any sleep at night over the potential for failure.  I cannot even spell the word."

(San Diego Union Tribune)

AP

2. "The first time you blow someone away is not an insignificant event. That said, there are some assholes in the world that just need to be shot."

(Business Insider)

3. "I come in peace. I didn't bring artillery. But I'm pleading with you, with tears in my eyes: If you f**k with me, I'll kill you all."

(San Diego Union Tribune)

4. "Find the enemy that wants to end this experiment (in American democracy) and kill every one of them until they're so sick of the killing that they leave us and our freedoms intact."

(San Diego Union Tribune)

Flickr

5. "Marines don't know how to spell the word defeat."

(Business Insider)

6. "Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everybody you meet."

(San Diego Union Tribune)

7. "The most important six inches on the battlefield is between your ears."

(San Diego Union Tribune)

8. "You are part of the world's most feared and trusted force.  Engage your brain before you engage your weapon."

(Mattis' Letter To 1st Marine Division)

Gen. Mattis in 2006 / Flickr

9. "There are hunters and there are victims.n By your discipline, cunning, obedience and alertness, you will decide if you are a hunter or a victim."

(Business Insider)

10. "No war is over until the enemy says it's over.n We may think it over, we may declare it over, but in fact, the enemy gets a vote."

(Defense News)

11. "There is nothing better than getting shot at and missed.n It's really great."

(San Diego Union Tribune)

12. "You cannot allow any of your people to avoid the brutal facts.  If they start living in a dream world, it's going to be bad."

(San Diego Union Tribune)

Gen. Mattis and Gen. Dempsey / Flickr

13. "You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil. You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them. Actually it's quite fun to fight them, you know.  It's a hell of a hoot.  It's fun to shoot some people.  I'll be right up there with you.  I like brawling."

(CNN)

14. "I'm going to plead with you, do not cross us.  Because if you do, the survivors will write about what we do here for 10,000 years."

(San Diego Union Tribune)

15. "Demonstrate to the world there is 'No Better Friend, No Worse Enemy' than a U.S. Marine."

(Mattis' Letter To 1st Marine Division)

16. "Fight with a happy heart and strong spirit."

(Mattis' Letter To 1st Marine Division)

And one final quote for returning Veterans:

Anybody surprised Obama forced this guy to retire early?

---

PC Security - Don't Use Chargers You Don't Own

From: jrp Sent: Wednesday, August 07, 2013 Subject: Warning for all you travelers...

The bad guys are getting better all the time…

article source: http://securitywatch.pcmag.com/hacking/314361-black-hat-don-t-plug-your-phone-into-a-charger-you-don-t-own

Black Hat: Don't Plug Your Phone into a Charger You Don't Own

Aug 01, 2013; By Neil J. Rubenking 

     This news couldn't wait for the Black Hat conference happening now in Las Vegas. We reported in June that Georgia Tech researchers had created a charging station that could pwn (pair with) any iOS device.  The full presentation revealed precise details on how they managed it.  I'm never plugging my iPhone charger into a USB port in a hotel desk again.
    
iOS Security
     Billy Lau, a research scientist at Georgia Institute of Technology, led off with a review of iOS security. "Apple uses mandatory code signing to enforce their walled garden model," noted Lau. "No arbitrary person can install an arbitrary app.  Who can sign an app?  Only Apple and iOS developers."
      Lau explained that the Georgia Tech team saw developer code-signing as possible channel into creating iOS malware. "We went to the developer portal, submitted our credentials, paid $99, and then we are approved," said Lau. "Now I can sign any app and run it on any iOS device."
       

     Lau explained that Apple rejects apps based on rules that aren't entirely public.  By examining rejected apps, the team determined that any apps using Apple's private APIs would be banned.  He also pointed out that the iOS sandbox features and entitlement checks make sure an app can't attack another app, "in contrast to PCs, where such attacks are easy."  The Mactans attack works around both of these safety limitations.
      How Does Mactans Do It?
     "Mactans challenges the very fundamental security assumptions that people make," said Lau. "In particular, people assume it's safe to charge the device and use it when charging."  He continued, "I must emphasize that this is not a jailbreak, and it does not require a jailbreak. The attack is automatic; simply connecting the device is enough.  It's stealthy.  Even if the user looks at the screen there's no visible sign.  And it can install malicious apps on the target device."
      The Mactans prototype is a bit large, as it's based on a three-inch square BeagleBoard inside a three-d printed case.  Lau noted that there are plenty of ways to make it smaller, or hide it inside something larger.
      Yeongjin Jang, a PhD student at Georgia Institute of Technology, took on the task of explaining the details.  It turns out that any device you connect with an iOS via the USB port can obtain your device's Universal Device ID (UDID), as long as the device isn't passcode-locked.  It just takes a second, so if you plug in your device while it's unlocked, or unlock it while plugged in, or just don't have a passcode, Mactans can attack.
      Using the UDID, it effectively claims your device as a test device using the team's Apple developer ID. "The iOS device must pair with any USB host that claims it," said Jang.  "Any USB host that initiates contact, they cannot reject it.  It doesn't ask the user's permission and gives no visual indication.

     The only way to prevent a Mactans attack is to lock your device before charging it and keep it locked for the entire time."

     Once accomplished, the pairing is permanent.
      The team found an attribute that Apple uses internally to make apps hidden, so they don't show up on the screen or in the task manager.  They leveraged this, along with access to the Apple private APIs, to create a Trojan that can take over the phone completely and invisibly.  As a final (and alarming) demonstration, they showed a Mactans-pwned phone turn itself on, swipe open, enter the passcode, and call another phone.  The audience cheered wildly (though perhaps a bit fearfully).
      What Can Be Done?Chengyu Song, a PhD student at Georgia Institute of Technology, detailed just what Apple should do to make this type of attack impossible.  Apple actually invited the team to have a look at an early version of iOS 7.  Silent, forced pairing with any host is what gives the Mactans attack a foot in the door. "We noticed that they have added a new feature," said Lau. "When you connect to a new host it will ask if the host is trusted."
      However, that was the only good news. Song detailed a number of other changes that Apple would have to make in order to prevent attacks like Mactans.
      Any current iPhone is vulnerable to this attack.  The only defense is a very simple rule: don't plug your phone into a charger you don't own.  If you do, you could find your supposedly-secure iOS device totally owned by malware.  Even then, don't assume you're safe.  As a parting shot, the team recommended a coming UseNix talk called "Jekyll on iOS" which will explain a non-hardware technique that lets an app bypass Apple's review.

---

PC Security - Use Strong Passwords

From: jrp Sent: Wednesday, July 31, 2013 Subject: Creating Strong Passwords

Found this article while bumming around the net. Good article that is easy to understand and gives some good ideas.  Bob P.

Taken from: http://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/tips/ST04-002

Security Tip (ST04-002)

Choosing and Protecting Passwords

Original release date: May 21, 2009 | Last revised: February 06, 2013

     Passwords are a common form of authentication and are often the only barrier between a user and your personal information. There are several programs attackers can use to help guess or "crack" passwords, but by choosing good passwords and keeping them confidential, you can make it more difficult for an unauthorized person to access your information.

Why do you need a password?

     Think about the number of personal identification numbers (PINs), passwords, or passphrases you use every day: getting money from the ATM or using your debit card in a store, logging on to your computer or email, signing in to an online bank account or shopping cart...the list seems to just keep getting longer.  Keeping track of all of the number, letter, and word combinations may be frustrating at times, and maybe you've wondered if all of the fuss is worth it.  After all, what attacker cares about your personal email account, right?  Or why would someone bother with your practically empty bank account when there are others with much more money?  Often, an attack is not specifically about your account but about using the access to your information to launch a larger attack. And while having someone gain access to your personal email might not seem like much more than an inconvenience and threat to your privacy, think of the implications of an attacker gaining access to your social security number or your medical records.

     One of the best ways to protect information or physical property is to ensure that only authorized people have access to it. Verifying that someone is the person they claim to be is the next step, and this authentication process is even more important, and more difficult, in the cyber world.  Passwords are the most common means of authentication, but if you don't choose good passwords or keep them confidential, they're almost as ineffective as not having any password at all.  Many systems and services have been successfully broken into due to the use of insecure and inadequate passwords, and some viruses and worms have exploited systems by guessing weak passwords.

How do you choose a good password?

     Most people use passwords that are based on personal information and are easy to remember.  However, that also makes it easier for an attacker to guess or "crack" them.  Consider a four-digit PIN number.  Is yours a combination of the month, day, or year of your birthday?  Or the last four digits of your social security number?  Or your address or phone number?  Think about how easily it is to find this information out about somebody.  What about your email password — is it a word that can be found in the dictionary?  If so, it may be susceptible to "dictionary" attacks, which attempt to guess passwords based on words in the dictionary.

     Although intentionally misspelling a word ("daytt" instead of "date") may offer some protection against dictionary attacks, an even better method is to rely on a series of words and use memory techniques, or mnemonics, to help you remember how to decode it.  For example, instead of the password "hoops," use "IlTpbb" for "[I] [l]ike [T]o [p]lay [b]asket[b]all."  Using both lowercase and capital letters adds another layer of obscurity. Your best defense, though, is to use a combination of numbers, special characters, and both lowercase and capital letters.  Change the same example we used above to "Il!2pBb." and see how much more complicated it has become just by adding numbers and special characters.

     Longer passwords are more secure than shorter ones because there are more characters to guess, so consider using passphrases when you can.  For example, "This passwd is 4 my email!" would be a strong password because it has many characters and includes lowercase and capital letters, numbers, and special characters.  You may need to try different variations of a passphrase — many applications limit the length of passwords, and some do not accept spaces.  Avoid common phrases, famous quotations, and song lyrics.

     Don't assume that now that you've developed a strong password you should use it for every system or program you log into.  If an attacker does guess it, he would have access to all of your accounts.  You should use these techniques to develop unique passwords for each of your accounts.

Here is a review of tactics to use when choosing a password:

Don't use passwords that are based on personal information that can be easily accessed or guessed.

Don't use words that can be found in any dictionary of any language.

Develop a mnemonic for remembering complex passwords.

Use both lowercase and capital letters.

Use a combination of letters, numbers, and special characters.

Use pass-phrases when you can.

Use different passwords on different systems.

How can you protect your password?

     Now that you've chosen a password that's difficult to guess, you have to make sure not to leave it someplace for people to find. Writing it down and leaving it in your desk, next to your computer, or, worse, taped to your computer, is just making it easy for someone who has physical access to your office.  Don't tell anyone your passwords, and watch for attackers trying to trick you through phone calls or email messages requesting that you reveal your passwords (see Avoiding Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks for more information).

     If your internet service provider (ISP) offers choices of authentication systems, look for ones that use Kerberos, challenge/response, or public key encryption rather than simple passwords (see Understanding ISPs and Supplementing Passwords for more information).  Consider challenging service providers that only use passwords to adopt more secure methods.

     Also, many programs offer the option of "remembering" your password, but these programs have varying degrees of security protecting that information.  Some programs, such as email clients, store the information in clear text in a file on your computer.  This means that anyone with access to your computer can discover all of your passwords and can gain access to your information.  For this reason, always remember to log out when you are using a public computer (at the library, an internet cafe, or even a shared computer at your office).  Other programs, such as Apple's Keychain and Palm's Secure Desktop, use strong encryption to protect the information.  These types of programs may be viable options for managing your passwords if you find you have too many to remember.

     There's no guarantee that these techniques will prevent an attacker from learning your password, but they will make it more difficult.

Authors

Mindi McDowell, Shawn Hernan, and Jason Rafail

---

related: http://harrold.org/rfhextra/spam.html (--rfh)

And, use "bcc" [blind carbon copy] rather than "cc" [carbon copy] when sending emails, unless you want to expose other recipients' email addresses which can make them all vulnerable to spam from any recipient's PC that is infected with programs that 'steal' email addresses in order to create spam ...often faked to appear to have come from a legitimate email address ...which was stolen.

---

PC Security - Themed Ransomware (Advisory)

I added a picture below [fake] of a ransomware screen for you to see what is typical of  what some customers have gotten lately.  Believe me, many people have been 'taken in' by these [fake] warning screens (infected PCs.)  The wording may change, it will look "official" and the screens may advise you to go to a local store and purchase cash transfers to pay the fine [fake] ...some will claim pornography was detected, or that music was download illegally...lots of variations.  Also, beware of a similar scam that puts a fake warning screen on your desktop advising you that your PC is infected or has severe technical issues and asks you to click for assistance.  It is a double-scam.  The folks on the other end of the phone will for a relatively small fee ($20 or so..., 1st getting your credit card or debit card, of course) ask you to give them permission to connect into your PC.  They will and it will appear that they are fixing things; however, invariably the 'tech support' will tell you that they found additional problems that require a higher level of assistance, then they try to bilk you out of 'serious' money.  Sometimes, if you refuse and try to disconnect, after they have been inside it, your PC may or may not reboot!  Often, to get rid of these fake popups, you can reboot into the safe mode (using your PC's top row F8 function key as your PC reboots.   Once in the safe mode, run several infection detection/removers.  I have some free ones linked to from the top of my http://harrold.org/cleanmypc.html -- rfh

---

 From: jrp Sent: Tuesday, July 30, 2013 Subject:  Recent Reports of DHS-Themed Ransomware (UPDATE)

Thought you might be able to use the information in this newsletter.  I subscribe to several news letters from the US Gov and they have been very helpful in the past.  Along with several other websites (www.bleepingcomputer.com being one) you can reasonably manage staying educated about the threats that continue to show up and learn how to protect yourself from them.  Stay safe, Bob P.

From: US-CERT [mailto:US-CERT@public.govdelivery.com] Sent: Tuesday, July 30, 2013 1:29 PM To: Subject: Recent Reports of DHS-Themed Ransomware (UPDATE)

National Cyber Awareness System: Recent Reports of DHS-Themed Ransomware (UPDATE) 07/30/2013 10:57 AM EDT Original release date: July 30, 2013      US-CERT has received reports of increased activity concerning an apparently DHS-themed ransomware malware infection occurring in the wild. Users who are being targeted by the ransomware receive a message claiming that use of their computer has been suspended and that the user must pay a fine to unblock it. One iteration of this malware also takes a webcam (if available) photo or video of a recipient and posts it in a pop-up to add to the appearance of legitimacy. The ransomware falsely claims to be from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the National Cyber Security Division.      Users who are infected with the malware should consult with a reputable security expert to assist in removing the malware, or perform a clean reinstallation of their OS after formatting their computer's hard drive. US-CERT and DHS encourage users and administrators not to pay the perpetrators and to report the incident to the FBI at the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).      Use caution when encountering these types of email messages and take the following preventive measures to protect themselves from phishing scams and malware campaigns that attempt to frighten and deceive a recipient for the purpose of illegal gain. Do not click on or submit any information to webpages. Do not follow unsolicited web links in email messages. Use caution when opening email attachments. Refer to the Security Tip Using Caution with Email Attachments for more information on safely handling email attachments. Maintain up-to-date antivirus software. Users who are infected should change all passwords AFTER removing the malware from their system. Refer to the Recognizing and Avoiding Email Scams (pdf) document for more information on avoiding email scams. Refer to the Security Tip Avoiding Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks for more information on social engineering attacks. This product is provided subject to this Notification and this Privacy & Use policy. OTHER RESOURCES: Contact Us | Security Publications | Alerts and Tips | Related Resources STAY CONNECTED: SUBSCRIBER SERVICES:  Help This email was sent using GovDelivery, on behalf of: United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) - 245 Murray Lane SW Bldg 410 - Washington, DC 20598 - (703) 235-5110

---

---

o'FYI - Memorial Day Absence

From: drude Sent: Friday, July 26, 2013 Subject: FYI

It is amazing that something with no vulgarity can be one of the most powerful messages to Obama that I have seen to date.

NOT RACIST...NOT VIOLENT...JUST NOT SILENT ANY MORE!

KEEP This One Going! Send it to all your friends.

---

Historical Trivia ...Sayings, Idiomatic Expressions.

related: http://www.phrases.org.uk/, http://www.brownielocks.com/wordorigins.html, http://www.fun-with-words.com/etym_phrases.html, http://www.joe-ks.com/phrases/phrases.htm, http://www.backroadstouring.co.uk/phraseorigins.php, http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/, http://mentalfloss.com/article/51150/12-old-words-survived-getting-fossilized-idioms

From: lc Sent: Saturday, August 17, 2013 Subject:  Historical Trivia

HISTORICAL TRIVIA 
Did you know the saying "God willing and the Creek don't rise" was in reference to the Creek Indians and not a body of water?  It was written by Benjamin Hawkins in the late 18th century.  He was a politician and Indian diplomat.  While in the south, Hawkins was requested by the President of the U.S. to return to Washington.  In his response, he was said to write, "God willing and the Creek don't rise."  Because he capitalized the word "Creek" it is deduced that he was referring to the Creek Indian tribe and not a body of water.

*********************************

In George Washington's days, there were no cameras.  One's image was either sculpted or painted.  Some paintings of George Washington showed him standing behind a desk with one arm behind his back while others showed both legs and both arms.  Prices charged by painters were not based on how many people were to be painted, but by how many limbs were to be painted.  Arms and legs are 'limbs,' therefore painting them would cost the buyer more.  Hence the expression, 'Okay, but it'll cost you an arm and a leg.'  (Artists know hands and arms are more difficult to paint)
******************************
As incredible as it sounds, men and women took baths only twice a year (May and October.)  Women kept their hair covered, while men shaved their heads (because of lice and bugs) and wore wigs.  Wealthy men could afford good wigs made from wool.  They couldn't wash the wigs, so to clean them they would carve out a loaf of bread, put the wig in the shell, and bake it for 30 minutes.  The heat would make the wig big and fluffy, hence the term 'big wig...'  Today we often use the term 'here comes the Big Wig' because someone appears to be or is powerful and wealthy.
*********************************
In the late 1700's, many houses consisted of a large room with only one chair.  Commonly, a long wide board folded down from the wall, and was used for dining.  The 'head of the household' always sat in the chair while everyone else ate sitting on the floor.  Occasionally a guest, who was usually a man, would be invited to sit in this chair during a meal.  To sit in the chair meant you were important and in charge.  They called the one sitting in the chair the 'chair man.'  Today in business, we use the expression or title 'Chairman' or 'Chairman of the Board.'
*********************************
Personal hygiene left much room for improvement.  As a result, many women and men had developed acne scars by adulthood.  The women would spread bee's wax over their facial skin to smooth out their complexions.  When they were speaking to each other, if a woman began to stare at another woman's face she was told, 'mind your own bee's wax.'  Should the woman smile, the wax would crack, hence the term 'crack a smile'.  In addition, when they sat too close to the fire, the wax would melt. ... Therefore, the expression 'losing face.'
*********************************
Ladies wore corsets, which would lace up in the front.  A proper and dignified woman, as in 'straight laced' wore a tightly tied lace.
*********************************
Common entertainment included playing cards.  However, there was a tax levied when purchasing playing cards but only applicable to the 'Ace of Spades...'  To avoid paying the tax, people would purchase 51 cards instead.  Yet, since most games require 52 cards, these people were thought to be stupid or dumb because they weren't 'playing with a full deck..'
********************************
Early politicians required feedback from the public to determine what the people considered important.  Since there were no telephones, TV's or radios, the politicians sent their assistants to local taverns, pubs, and bars.  They were told to 'go sip some Ale and listen to people's conversations and political concerns.  Many assistants were dispatched at different times.  'You go sip here' and 'You go sip there.'  The two words 'go sip' were eventually combined when referring to the local opinion and, thus we have the term 'gossip.'
**********************************
At local taverns, pubs, and bars, people drank from pint and quart-sized containers.  A bar maid's job was to keep an eye on the customers and keep the drinks coming.  She had to pay close attention and remember who was drinking in 'pints' and who was drinking in 'quarts,' hence the phrase 'minding your 'P's and Q's'.
**********************************
One more: bet you didn't know this!
In the heyday of sailing ships, all war ships and many freighters carried iron cannons.  Those cannons fired round iron cannon balls.  It was necessary to keep a good supply near the cannon.  However, how to prevent them from rolling about the deck?  The best storage method devised was a square-based pyramid with one ball on top, resting on four resting on nine, which rested on sixteen.  Thus, a supply of 30 cannon balls could be stacked in a small area right next to the cannon.  There was only one problem ...how to prevent the bottom layer from sliding or rolling from under the others.  The solution was a metal plate called a 'Monkey' with 16 round indentations.  However, if this plate were made of iron, the iron balls would quickly rust to it.  The solution to the rusting problem was to make 'Brass Monkeys.'  Few landlubbers realize that brass contracts much more and much faster than iron when chilled.  Consequently, when the temperature dropped too far, the brass indentations would shrink so much that the iron cannonballs would come right off the monkey; Thus, it was quite literally, 'Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey.'  (All this time, you thought that was an improper expression, didn't you.)
**********************************

lc: If you don't send this fabulous bit of historic knowledge to any and all your unsuspecting friends, your hard drive will kill your mouse.

---

o'fool toons - How foreigners see us...through o'him.

From: baja Sent: Saturday, August 03, 2013 Subject: Foreigh Cartoons - How the UK sees us!

Foreign Cartoons - thought you might enjoy how the world sees us..... NOW!  Cartoons from Across the Globe - Yes, we have become the laughing stock of the world!

 

o'mam humor - condom: twice invented

     In 1272, the Arabic Muslims invented the condom, using a goat's lower intestine.
    In 1873, the British refined the idea for them by taking the intestine out of the goat first.

sources: numerous
related: http://www.ipolitics.ca/2013/05/30/the-top-ten-bizarre-sex-fatwas/

Forgotten Past+Founding Documents	eBooks+Federalist Papers+American Minute	History+Essential: B.C. to Now	Quotes+American Values
Magna Carta:TimeLine	Arbroath Declaration  Scots Wha Hae	History of: The US Bill of Rights	Founders'+Constitution+Amendments

o'illegals - U.K. says, "Go home!"

article source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-23489925#

Downing Street says 'go home' van ads are working.

29Jul13, BBC

The vans drove around Barnet, Hounslow, Barking and Dagenham, Ealing, Brent and Redbridge

     The use of vans with adverts urging illegal immigrants to "go home or face arrest" are working, No 10 says.

     The PM's official spokesman said David Cameron disagreed with Lib Dem Business Secretary Vince Cable's view that the scheme was "stupid and offensive".

     The spokesman said the Home Office was "clear that this is already working".

     He did not give figures on levels of response but said the Home Office was "looking at what they can take forward" from the London pilot scheme.

     The Home Office say the van pilot had only ended on Sunday so were not sure "what figures have been collated at this point".

     The pilot scheme saw vans driven through Barnet, Hounslow, Barking and Dagenham, Ealing, Brent and Redbridge featuring the "go home" posters - which had a text number illegal immigrants were encouraged to use to arrange their departure.

     Leaflets, posters and messages in local newspapers were also used carrying the same message.

     The pilot scheme cost just under £10,000, which is cheaper than forcibly removing someone. That process costs about £15,000, according to the Home Office.

     The use of the vans have been widely criticised - Brent's council leader Muhammed Butt said the plan was an "act of desperation" and that more needed to be done to process people's claims.

     He added it would "just drive people underground".

     Mr Cable told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show on Sunday: "It was stupid and offensive. I think it is very unlikely it will continue."

     He questioned whether illegal immigrants would have enough of a "sophisticated grasp of English" to be able to read the posters on the vans at a distance.

← Vince Cable called the scheme "stupid and offensive".

"It is designed, apparently, to sort of create a sense of fear (in the) British population that we have a vast problem with illegal immigration," he said.

     "We have a problem but it's not a vast one. It's got to be dealt with in a measured way dealing with the underlying causes."

     [".. in Great Britain → crack down on employers .. can't work legally .. can't access benefits .."]

     The Home Office said the scheme was an alternative to criminal procedures and the areas were chosen because they had either significantly higher or below average numbers of voluntary returns.

     It said voluntary returns were the most cost-effective way of removing illegal immigrants and saving the taxpayer money.

     Councils were not consulted as it is an immigration policy which does not require local consent, it added.

     The Downing Street spokesman said the government would wait until final information on the pilots was available before deciding whether to extend the scheme nationwide.

     Public and Commercial Services union general secretary Mark Serwotka said: "It is simply not credible that the government has enough information to state that these billboards are 'working' - in fact, it is far from clear how any success could even be measured."

Related Stories

• 'Horror' over immigrant van scheme
  23 JULY 2013, LONDON
• Cable: Immigration van 'offensive'
  28 JULY 2013, UK POLITICS
• Plan to persuade immigrants to leave
  22 JULY 2013, LONDON
• New salary rules for potential immigrants
  04 JULY 2013, UK POLITICS
• Net immigration 'down by a third'
  23 MAY 2013, UK
• Queen's Speech targets immigration
  08 MAY 2013, UK POLITICS

---