Re: National Federal ID ---- Start of 666 Mark?
By employing multiple methods of checking identity, officials hope to make it as difficult as possible for someone other than a card's owner to use it. Ultimately, the cards will determine not just who gets into buildings but also who receives access to computer applications and files.

Because the information needed to verify an individual's identity won't take up much space on the computer chip in each card, plenty more can be added. An employee's skills, work hours, medical history and job evaluations, for example, could all be included -- much to the dismay of civil liberties advocates.

Already, other federal programs are borrowing from the new standard for government workers. A program to issue credentials to all transportation workers to monitor who has access to air and seaports, for instance, will subject those workers to much the same process as federal employees.

In addition, the Real ID Act, approved by Congress last year, aims to standardize security features on driver's licenses by mid-2008. The Department of Homeland Security has not yet set the standards that states will have to follow. It probably won't include the advanced biometrics the federal government is using for its employees, and states are pushing hard to avoid a complex reengineering of the ubiquitous, low-tech driver's license.

Nonetheless, the companies that make the cards, the scanning devices and the software needed to run identity systems are closely watching the driver's license requirements. They say they understand the privacy concerns but also expect that security will remain a top priority -- with ID standards likely to get stricter, the technology more sophisticated, and the business more profitable.

"No one's going to want technology that just exposes them to more risk," said Greco, whose company, Cybertrust, focuses on information security.

At BearingPoint's McLean offices, the company has set up a room to show off a range of identity systems, including machines for taking fingerprints, scanning irises, recognizing faces or even differentiating between individuals based on the shape of a hand.

"We think it's a terrific area of opportunity," said Gordon Hannah, who leads BearingPoint's efforts to win identity contracts.

Earlier this month, the General Services Administration awarded BearingPoint a five-year deal worth up to $105 million to supply new IDs to any agency that wants them. Agencies that do not buy their cards through the GSA contract are holding their own competitions.

That may be just the beginning. A recent study by the Stanford Washington Research Group and an expert in identity management put the value of the 10 biggest U.S. identity initiatives at $8 billion over the next five years, with an additional $14 billion coming from overseas.

From those programs, identity businesses expect other opportunities to emerge.

"One of the inhibitors has been the cost of the technology. But with the widespread adoption by the government, the cost of everything is going to come down," said Jon Rambeau, director of credentialing at Bethesda-based Lockheed Martin.

State and local governments are considered major potential buyers. Among their needs are credentials for first responders so that officials can verify the identity of people who show up to help in the event of an emergency.

On the commercial side, too, boosters of identity technology say the opportunities abound. Banks, for instance, may want secure cards that can guarantee that someone trying to cash a check really is the intended recipient. Hospitals are looking into using the identity systems for a more reliable way of accessing medical records. And retailers have been working on allowing consumers to make purchases with the swipe of a finger, instead of a card.

Nor do the opportunities stop at the U.S. border. California-based contractor Computer Sciences Corp. has enrolled 40 million people in identity programs worldwide. But on a planet of 6.5 billion, the company thinks it has only scratched the surface.

"Each country has exactly the same issues: How do you facilitate security, facilitate movement across borders and protect privacy all at the same time?" said Tim Ruggles, CSC's director of border and immigration solutions. "That's a tough one."

© 2006 The Washington Post Company

Yes I believe this is the precursor to government enforced Verichipping the physical manifestation of the spiritual mark of the beast. The cards actually will have the RFID ship inside them. This also tells us the possible identity of America, too in regards to biblical prophecy. Since the RFID chip comes from America.... it makes us wonder if we are the 2nd beast.... just food for thought here.

Yeah, the beast likes that kind of food. It lives off of those kind of projections and predictions. It wouldn't have any clue of what kind of mark it would be except somebody told it. What happens if you cannot drive your car unless you have an identification card? Oh, we have one of those. Or say you can't be a citizen unless you have a number? Well, ya, we have one of those too. Mmmm, I know, what if you can't buy or sell unless you have, uhhh, money? Yeah, that's silly. How about not being able to go into any building . . . unless you have. . . a fingerprint on file with the federal watchkeeping authority? That might be something next in line, I don't know. Oh, I know, a lie detector test. . .like, what is your name? Well, its Fred. Beeeeeep. You lied! We have your fingerprints on file! It is George! Off to the lake burning with fire, ha ha haaaa.