December 10, 2006: Electromagnetic Techniques - Nick Begich

Art Bell welcomes Dr. Nick Begich for a wide-ranging discussion on electromagnetic technologies and their potential for misuse. Begich details his years of research into HAARP, revealing that the project went dark around 2003 when it transferred to DARPA, cutting off public access and outside scrutiny. He describes testifying before the European Parliament, which subsequently passed a resolution calling for a global ban on weapons capable of manipulating human behavior.

The conversation shifts to modern surveillance capabilities, including the ability of law enforcement to remotely activate cell phones as listening devices through roving wiretaps. Art and Begich wrestle with the tension between national security needs in a post-9/11 world and the erosion of Fourth Amendment protections. Begich argues that existing legal frameworks already provide sufficient latitude for intelligence gathering without mass surveillance of ordinary citizens.

Begich also examines RFID technology and its growing integration into consumer goods and potentially currency itself. He explains how cell phones could serve as activators for RFID tags, creating a comprehensive tracking system that monitors every purchase and movement. The discussion raises urgent questions about where convenience ends and total surveillance begins.