GCHQ and the NSA between them employ tens of thousands of people. I am bemused by the shock at the “revelation” they have been spying. What on Earth did journalists think that spies do all day? That includes electronics spies.
Since Katherine Gun revealed that we spy on other delegations – and the secretariat – within the UN building, it is hardly a shock that we spy on other governments at summits in the UK. For once, the government cannot pretend that the object is to save us all from terrorism, which is the usual catch all excuse. Nor in the real world is any of the G20 nations a military threat to the UK. The real truth of the matter is that our spies – GCHQ, MI5 and MI6 – are themselves a large and highly influential interest block within the state. Lots of people make a great deal of money out of the security state, and this kind of activity is actually simply an excuse for taking money from taxpayers – which is from everyone who has ever bought anything – and giving that money to the “security industry”.
I do not view spying on other governments as quite as despicable as spying on ordinary citizens, which is an unspeakable betrayal of the purpose of government. Spying on other governments is a game they all play to extort money each to their own security elites. But I will say that spying on the South African government seems pretty low. Why?
Interception of diplomatic communications is plainly a gross breach of the Vienna Conventions, even if the forms of communication have changed since they were drafted. I have never studied the particulars of international law as they relate to spying, but it seems to me an area that in the modern world needs regulation. There must be room here for the UN to be involved in preparing a Convention to outlaw the interception of international communications, with recourse to the International Court of Justice for those victim of it.
There is more work for the UN on Syria. We should all be grateful that Russia is holding out against the very dubious western claims that the Syrian government has deployed chemical weapons. But while Obama can declare all the red lines he wishes, they do not give any country a right to take action on Syrian soil without UN authority. That needs to be restated, strongly. There is no basis at all for the continued and massive Israeli attacks on Syria – they are absolutely illegal. Israeli strikes have definitely killed more people than the alleged deaths from chemical weapons. Can someone explain to me why that is not a red line?
The UN Secretary General should be speaking out, and the UN Security Council should be meeting, to discuss the Israeli attacks on Syria. The system of international law has broken down irretrievably.
As Mary’s told us her father’s from Limerick, here’s another one.
I’m afraid it uses some rude words, for which, apologies, but on the other hand it might please from a party political point of view (so to speak).
Again, from the great Robert Conquest, writing under the name Victor Gray.
“Sir John Shagbag (Conservative, Nore):
‘The Honorable Lady’s a whore.
Even now, you know what:
Churchill’s prick’s in her twat.’
(Some applause. Labour cries of ‘Withdraw’)
You are aware that “Pussy Riot” were charged with blasphemy and religious sites’ desecration, thus sentenced?
Those in glass houses and stones, etc. The plain fact is; thank fuck for the competition to the fuckwits running US, so that the dissidents can run into these other places and highlight the corruption and lawlessness in the West.
Anyone predicting when the guardian will turn on snowden? I can’t see greenwald lasting either what with him doing journalism and stuff.
“You are aware that “Pussy Riot” were charged with blasphemy and religious sites’ desecration, thus sentenced?”
Yeah. I know the story. What does that have to do with anything. Al Capone was indicted for cheating on his income taxes….?????????
Was Snowden’s surprise flight from HK triggered by the fact that NSA/GCHQ has agreements with China and HK for data-mining at stations at Qital and Furla in Western China and at the British Embassy in Hong Kong aka The Alamo which protect their operations from disclosure, and require the handing over of any leakers – what pushed both authorities to allow him to escape to Russia?
Thanks Dave Lawton for the link to the irish Ind., she speaks up alright, no mincing of words there. Unlike the above two pos(t)ings.
@Phil, don’t know how he is, waiting to hear from him, shall ask him for your details, I’ll let you know.
Wonder what the UN says on computer companies selling laptops which spy on people. What of companies proud to offer server space, with pud and brass music, are they telling customer of their ‘sharing’?.
Has the UN been superseded by a new consciousness that is international, that values freedom and liberty but also privacy and freedom of expression? Is what we are seeing world wide a perpetuation of this new consciousness, at many levels, online, on the streets and over there, not just in Athens, but also in Turkey and many of Brazil’s largest Cities, a realisation of self worth by millions of people, thoroughly fed up and not playing anymore.
@Nevermind – I think I’ve found you. Check your inbox.
Ben Franklin -Machine Gun Preacher (Unleaded Version)
23 Jun, 2013 – 3:57 pm
“There are very important things going on in the real world.”
And certainly there is sufficient animosity. Keeping close alliances with supportive and non-enabling discussions without acrimony will get more important than ever. No need to fight with fellow dissidents.
Hi Ben, just to confirm are you saying the same kind of thing as Aldous Huxley, here? :
” It is a bit embarrassing to have been concerned with the human problem all one’s life and find at the end that one has no more to offer by way of advice than “Try to be a little kinder.”
If so, i couldn’t agree with you more!
Arbed
23 Jun, 2013 – 1:33 pm
“Thanks. All the news reports are saying the final destination is Venezuela but my money’s still on it being Ecuador – that was the first suggestion Assange made, even before Snowden’s identity was known. I’m also going on recent comments by Assange as to why he chose Ecuador himself in the first place. He said it was because of a “strong president in the region”. I don’t think you can extend that to Maduro – his election win was a much closer call than expected, contrasted with Correa’s runaway success during Ecuador’s elections in February. He’s firmly installed for another four years – that’s the kind of stability Snowden will be looking for.”
Astute thinking –very persuasive.
Like that one, Villager; this too.
““The problem with the world is that the intelligent people are full of doubts, while the stupid ones are full of confidence.”
― Charles Bukowski
Good air routes between Venezuela and Ecuador from Havana.
The reichwing is gonna love the synchronicity of digging up the ‘Commie’ corpse.
Craig has said spying on ordinary citizens is ‘despicable’ and in the same tone, throttling information channels that offer clean, objective and honest facts as an alternative to a controlled mainstream news media is equally beyond contempt.
America can now be regarded as a ‘police state’ certainly from current disclosures a ‘surveillance state’ and I guess in two years time UK will itself be close to martial law in an attempt to crush dissent and resistance arising from a schism of government and an informed and enlightened British people.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/06/22/310347/west-bans-iran-media-to-control-info/
The still least investigated part of Snowden’s career is his leaving NSA’s Special Collection Service in Geneva in 2009, merely stating that it was doing more harm than good. He then went to Dell and to Booz Allen where he just worked of developing eavesdropping equipment rather than using it.
The 2009 resignation seems an allusion to the Manhattan 11 fiasco – what surely got Williams to go off the rails too.
The point then is why it took Snowden four years to go rogue himself? Seems like the Agency’s effort to entrap him too in what was happening in the Bureau’s investigation of defense contractor Ben Bishop.
Seems Snowden was forced to become a dangerous spy.
http://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2013/06/work-for-the-un/comment-page-4/#comment-414102
Unfortunately the Limerick would not be acceptable in Limerick as it wouldn’t rhyme there.
I think that’s what did for Shaw’s alphabet.
The chief troll becomes more and more revolting.
@ Polo :
would you like me to pass that comment on to Robert? 🙂
@Habbaduk (4:43pm)
Ha ha ha ha ha ho ho hee hee ha
Ben Franklin seems to think that we are ALL dissidents on here.
~~
The US are not liking this public humiliation one bit. They have now revoked Edward Snowden’s US passport. Hopefully he will be provided with another by a sympathetic party.
Now you want to flame me, Mary? Maybe a little discretion in my use of the word ‘dissident’ is called for.
Discretion, anyone?
That’s big of you Mr Shultz.
Starbucks says pays UK corporation tax after row
23 Jun 2013
LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP)
US-based coffee giant Starbucks said on Sunday it had paid £5 million in British corporation tax and will pay another £15 million by next year after facing a backlash from lawmakers
http://www.afp.com/en/news/topstories/starbucks-says-pays-uk-corporation-tax-after-row
PS BDS is still on your case Mr Schultz.
http://www.inminds.co.uk/boycott-starbucks.html
@ Habbabkuk
By all means. It it pretty crap as a Limerick anyway. Seriously straining at the seams.
@ Polo
Most limericks walk along a (technical)tightrope, don’t they. Could you produce a better one?
@ Mary
Don’t be a hypocrite. I seem to remember you preceding the odd post with a “WTF” – could you tell us what that acronym stands for, please?
@ Ben Franklin
try using “a discreet dissident” just to keep the Old Biddy happy
@
I should very much like to hear from Trowbridge Ford whether any public figure ever died a natural death (as opposed to being assassinated by the CIA/MI6/Mossad, etc) and whether there has been any serious earthquake since WW2 which occurred from natural causes (as opposed to having been man-made in furtherance of some dastardly agenda)?
A Phóló,
Tá sé nócha cúig, Robert Conquest. Déarfainn gur cuma leis faoin am seo.
@ Flaming June
“That’s big of you Mr Shultz.”
_____________
For once, I agree with Mary. As Starbuck’s tax arrangements, although deplorable, are perfectly legal within the law as it stands at present, its gesture is to be welcomed. Better than the two fingers it could have (perfectly legally) given, surely?
Hey Dreoilin, just spotted yours + glad to see you back.
You’ll have noticed that there’s been so much….rudeness on this thread lately. I hope you’re not being rude about Robert?
No, Habbabkuk, I was saying that Robert Conquest is 95 and probably doesn’t care much whether things rhyme or not.
Regarding the possible murder of Michael Hastings, I got this via Twitter
Full remote control of ALL modern U.S. market cars PROVEN
Jim Stone, June 21 2013
“A team of hackers from the Department of Computer Science at the University of Washington conducted a study which has proven that all cars equipped with antilock brakes sold in the U.S. can be hacked via remote control and have their brakes entirely disabled with the car in motion, throttle revved, and remain fully operational with the key removed and the car in park with all driver input entirely ignored.”
More at the link
http://www.jimstonefreelance.com/carhack.html
(I’m not familiar with the website, so if anyone knows anything against it, please let me know)
and this gave me a smile this morning
https://twitter.com/rustleberry/status/348660254843744257
(click the image for a bigger version)