US ARMY AFTER HACKERS?

So, I'm checking my server log and I discover that someone found my site by using the search phrase "Phil DeLuca." Now, Phil and I were quite good friends in film school but had a falling out in the mid-90s. We've been in loose touch for a few years, but he left his last job and I'd love to get back in touch with him. So, when I saw that someone was doing a search for him, I thought, why not see what this dude searching came up with. I hit Google and I find out that there's a different Phil DeLuca who designs video games and he apparently through a hissy-fit on the "America's Army" forum.

What was this hissy-fit about? Well, it seems people have been hacking the America's Army online video game and cheating at it. Yes, this is the army game that is available free to anyone who wants to play and it's sponsored by the real US Army and therefore our tax dollars. What's the big deal about this whole thing? Good question.

Here's what is apparently a direct quote from the game designer DeLuca's post on the AA forum which comes from a post at Slashdot.org:

"Allow me to speak directly to the bad guys for a moment: When you get banned, know that we know and have records showing you were doing something that’s a violation of terms of service, breaks your EULA, and also happens to be against the law. We know who you are, and can track down where you play from. We have incontrovertible proof you did something illegal. The Army is angry, and we’re coming for you. "

This moron goes on to talk about how when you hack a game sponsored by the US Army you're actually misusing army hardware inferring that you are in fact breaking federal law.

That's not all, here's a quote from an article at InformationWeek.com:

DeLuca's post, which has since been removed from the site, went on to say that "we know who you are, and can track down where you play from." He also went so far as to cite 20th century tensions between Japan and the United States to lambaste who he called "the bad guys."

"In the early 1940's, Japan learned an important lesson " "let the sleeping giant lie." We may not react swiftly, but when we do it's with unstoppable force. The Army has partners that deal with cyber crime as a matter of course. These include not just various Army IT departments, but also the Department of Justice, the Secret Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigations."

Yes, that's right, this fucktard (sorry, can't think of another word to describe him), DeLuca (not my old friend :) ), is telling us that the USGov is going to go after hackers who cheat on a free video game.

The USGov hasn't caught and convicted a SINGLE Al Qaeda terrorist responsible for 911 in the three-plus years since 911.

Hey, you right wingers out there, TELL me you think this is absurd, too. PLEASE!

>SIGH< Of course, I'm still looking for old buddy Phil DeLuca. Last I spoke with him he was working for a stock footage/photography company here in LA. If anyone knows him tell him to swing by my site and use the email form in the sidebar to send me an email or just look me up on AIM, Yahoo or MSN as "thepetecom" (@hotmail for MSN).

In the meantime, YAAAAY!!! The US Army spent over $150 billion on the war in Iraq and now they're spending more money to go after hackers that cheat at free online games!

THANK GOD FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND THE SPINELESS DEMOCRATS!!