Ray McGovern and the Sam Adams party have presented the Sam Adams award to Edward Snowden. I am delighted. This from Ray’s account of the event:
In brief remarks from his visitors, Snowden was reassured — first and foremost — that he need no longer be worried that nothing significant would happen as a result of his decision to risk his future by revealing documentary proof that the U.S. government was playing fast and loose with the Constitutional rights of Americans.
Even amid the government shutdown, Establishment Washington and the normally docile “mainstream media” have not been able to deflect attention from the intrusive eavesdropping that makes a mockery of the Fourth Amendment. Even Congress is showing signs of awaking from its torpor.
In the somnolent Senate, a few hardy souls have gone so far as to express displeasure at having been lied to by Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and NSA Director Keith Alexander — Clapper having formally apologized for telling the Senate Intelligence Committee eavesdropping-related things that were, in his words, “clearly erroneous” and Alexander having told now-discredited whoppers about the effectiveness of NSA’s intrusive and unconstitutional methods in combating terrorism.
Coleen Rowley, the first winner of the Sam Adams Award (2002), cited some little-known history to remind Snowden that he is in good company as a whistleblower — and not only because of previous Sam Adams honorees. She noted that in 1773, Benjamin Franklin leaked confidential information by releasing letters written by then-Lt. Governor of Massachusetts Thomas Hutchinson to Thomas Whatley, an assistant to the British Prime Minister.
The letters suggested that it was impossible for the colonists to enjoy the same rights as subjects living in England and that “an abridgement of what are called English liberties” might be necessary. The content of the letters was so damaging to the British government that Benjamin Franklin was dismissed as colonial Postmaster General and had to endure an hour-long censure from British Solicitor General Alexander Wedderburn.
There has been a determined attempt by government to justify the need to intercept everybody’s communications, all the time. We have, yet again, had MI5 claim there are many thousand violent Islamic terrorists running around the UK, (yet somehow not managing to kill anybody). The cry of “paedophiles” is raised, as always. I can imagine them suggesting the entire population be shot dead, and justifying it as making sure they get the paedophiles. The tabloids would go with that.
There still had not been a single credible claim by the mainstream media that any named individual has died, despite that contingency being trotted out all the time as the reason Snowden and Manning should not have revealed state crimes and abuse of power. I am hopeful that, with the internet still largely free to the dissemination of information, out next massive whistleblower is only weeks away.
Russia – Chechnya
Myanmar – Karen state (longest ongoing civil war)
China – Tibet & Xinjiang
The point is that this forum gives a disproportionate amount of its time to discussing Israel. Not only that, it is given in a snidey, NWO, David Icke conspiracy theory kind of way.
If some of you really cared, then you might spread your intellect a little further. And to suggest that you are making difference to Palistinians is an insult to both them and to the Israeli campaign…
They REALLY care but you armchair critics have no idea….
Is it safe?
James8379, you’ve hit the nail on a few, a good number, of sleepy heads.
I have been booted off blogs, and it’s no big whoop. I just move to another. Once, the Host openly stated he was going to ban me for ‘rampant douchebaggery’, because I hadn’t violated any site rules.
It’s not an International crisis; it’s just policies and judgement some don’t like. TFB.
We are Crag’s guest, and the guest of whomever he trusts with moderation. Get over it.
james: the regions you mention are not countries as recognised by the UN.
“The point is that this forum gives a disproportionate amount of its time to discussing Israel”
Says who? For many the point is that the actions of Israel go largely unreported in the MSM and this site sometimes fills in the gaps.
Jon
What does you comment re convincing the whole readership of being puppet free actually mean – you can tell from my IP address that I was previously anon and not posted from wherever Habba posts. As for the whole readership test do you seriously mean that any individual reader can in effect veto free speech on the basis of believing that someone is a puppet?
Passerby
Perhaps in the regimes you support it is acceptable to stop free speech on the basis of a veto by single reader bit I hope that is not what Jon means.
“We are Crag’s guest, and the guest of whomever he trusts with moderation. Get over it.”
Providing neither or Jon wish to claim that they are in favour of free speech.
I’m not sure you need to read the ‘MSM’ to know that they are treating people badly. Considering the lobbying power they have, might I be as pertinent to say that whatever you say on here makes fuck all difference. You might have greater success if you go after more accessible targets…
Ben you are a normal punter and value yourself. These are zealots bent on defending zionistan to the last click of their keyboards. Just read the thread and note the fucking phony baloney transactions of the ziofuckwits, just fucking pitiful. These addled brained supremacist fuckwits, believe the can kid all of us all of the time?
This is not about posting in this blog, these wankers are engaged in a military operation intent on occupation of this blog. The pathetic excuses; I’d be happy to discuss things. There is always Telegraph, Evening Standard, and DM or better still maariv, JP, JC to go and discuss!
Just read the torrent of the shite that is splattered all around the place and on goes the charade. Fee speech is for them and so long as the rest of us are concerned, best talk about what we are told! Talk about China, Russia, …. don’t fucking talk about the thieving, murdering ziofuckwits you anti se….. lot!
Hmm. Is there such a thing as a free lunch? What does free speech mean, and is it free?
With freedom comes responsibility. The social contract people employ implies a recognition that freedom’s border rests on the other guy’s toes. Otherwise what you describe as free speech becomes a personal anarchy. When the heat of discussion devolves into pyromania as an end in itself, it is counter-productive, because the goal of such free speech is a discussion leading to understanding of one another’s position, and thereby leading to a conclusion. When the only intent is to disrupt such discussion, it becomes a game of one-upmanship and name-calling.
That’s not the mission statement for this forum.
Who would stir tea when the barbarian is at the gate and the sword sharpened?
Daniel Rich, 12 Oct, 2013 – 9:20 pm
“Let us have a look at this board for example and assume it is some sort of cross section of a ‘society’ as a whole.
Who are the ones that are reaching out across dividing lines [cultural, religion, wealth, education, etc.] in an attempt to bridge gaps? Who are out t/here to find common ground in an attempt to ensure that true equality for all [men, women and children] will fly its banner over the entirety of humanity?”
Well, there are those here, like Craig himself, who wish to shine a light into dark areas; to bring to notice what evil minds would keep hidden. And that, in itself, is a start.
And others, who criticise, insult and disrupt, and, though having the same recourse as all of us to information on injustices in the world, rarely offer their findings, seeming rather to prefer to shut down discourse and to obscure the indefensible.
James
You forgot to mention that Syria, Iran and Iraq are all occupying part of Kurdistan. Syria certainly occupied and controlled Lebanon for many years. Russia also occupies part of Moldova (Transdiniestr) and Georgia (Abhazia) and has its main naval base in the Ukraine, where it has de facto control of Sebastopol and its environs. Russia also made extensive use of white phosphorus in the Chechen conflict – but many here only seem to believe that this amounts to a war crime when used to a much more limited extent in Gaza.
A few people here have used the term “disrupt” several times yet there has been no explanation regarding what it is that is being disrupted and how.
Anybody willing to explain?
“Just read the torrent of the shite that is splattered all around the place…”
Fedup’s lost his toilet paper again!
Fedup
Is that strawman really the best you can do? The military occupation of this blog line was very funny however.
Ben you are a wise man, but this is the kind of shit that passes as free speech around here;
This is the reason for the occupation and ethnic cleansing of this blog, the verboten stuff is being debated, and the multi billion pounds of investment in the mushroom treatment* of the great unwashed is endangered.
* Keep people in the dark and feed them crap.
So long as you can laugh at it,
Air Force ordered software to manage army of fake virtual people
This was happening years ago.
You have only confirmed the military aspects.
The real comical part is persona management warez somehow does not create the fucking content, and it is up to the tosser that is sitting in some military base doing the easy street and posting here.
It goes:
A- Waffle, bollocks…… diversion….. kirshnafuckwit……
B- I concur
C- Exactly
D- What about ……. bollocks…… Russia…..China….. there you have it….
Trouble is unimaginative fuckwits singularly lacking, is coming across loud and clear. Reading the shite splattered it seems a bunch of monkeys on telnet would have done a better job, but that is another story.
“because the goal of such free speech is a discussion leading to understanding of one another’s position, and thereby leading to a conclusion.”
Ben, i thought in the ‘here and now’, there are no conclusions, only observation.
“A few people here have used the term “disrupt” several times yet there has been no explanation regarding what it is that is being disrupted and how.
Anybody willing to explain?”
I think it might be Mary’s ‘news’ broadcasts … or maybe it’s Fedup/Passerby’s 17 paragraphs about ziofuckwits … not very sure, really.
HTH.
——————————–
Technicolour asked
‘Instead of just shrieking ‘troll’ or ‘hasbara’ why don’t you just ask some questions? If they are ‘hasbara’ … then how does your strategy of sticking your fingers in your ears and shouting fuck off actually work?’
I would like to see a clear (and short) reply from Fedup/Passerby. (Fat chance, I imagine)
“This is the reason for the occupation and ethnic cleansing of this blog”
Oh FFS. You’re gone over the edge.
Anon: I don’t get it. Who seems to believe white phosphorous is only a war crime when used in Gaza?
Fedup: the fact that you can read what I write and infer I’m a ‘ziofuckwit’ again makes me seriously worry for your state of mind. I mean that.
The neocons’ mouthpiece is given space in the Guardian to spread the poison.
We cannot verify and must not trust Iran’s promises on nuclear weapons
Ignore the ‘moderate’ smokescreen. Sanctions have failed, so our choice is stark: use military force or let Tehran get the bomb
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/oct/15/cannot-verify-trust-iran-nuclear-weapons
John Bolton
15 October 2013 13.15 BST
Just had a look to see what he’s up to lately. Readying candidates for the next elections. God help us all.
http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/john-bolton-pac-candidates-conservative/2013/10/14/id/530936
Resident Dissident, if you’re around, would be interested in your reply to this:
“Resident Dissident: are you suggesting that the situation has improved since Blair promoted Gaddafi? The piece you link to says:
“In the post-uprising reality, newspapers and television channels that dared investigate claims of corruption and human rights violations, committed mostly by rogue militant and fundamentalist armed groups, face violent attacks; television channels have been vandalised, journalists kidnapped and tortured, or forced into silence or exile, and in some cases imprisoned and prosecuted under Gaddafi-era laws, as in the case of Amara al-Khatabi, who is accused of defaming Libyan judiciary after his newspaper published a list of judges it said were involved in corruption.”
So really, all we are saying, by saying that living in the UK is preferable to living in the other examples you cite, is that we are failing to reap the consequences of our elected representatives’ actions, isn’t it? *We* are not being shot, so it should fail to matter that others are?”
Do dry up Dreoilin. You cannot stop stirring against me.
“We cannot verify and must not trust Iran’s promises on nuclear weapons
Ignore the ‘moderate’ smokescreen. Sanctions have failed, so our choice is stark: use military force or let Tehran get the bomb”
Oh no it isn’t.
Can’t understand why you seem to be objecting to this being published, Mary. Would it be better to have it going on behind the scenes? Apparently not, since you’re reposting it.
How could anyone believe anything John Bolton and his NeoCon shysters say after Iraq and Afghanistan?
The guy is deranged.
In what way was Dreoilin ‘stirring’ against you, Mary? I think it would be helpful if perhaps you could say why you keep posting news reports instead of going on the attack, rather rudely. I can help – for example, the flow of news about Palestine and Gaza certainly helps to make sure that the appalling conditions imposed by one of the UK’s main allies are not forgotten. I’m not sure that that is the point of this comment section myself, but then I’m not sure what the point of this comments section is, even when that news flow is included. An exchange, one hopes.
It is what it is, I guess. And that’s good.
Oh the grand dame is called upon and pulled out of the cupboard!
What pearls of wisdom are you to depart now?
Helping the “dissenters, and dissidents” to be “encouraged to post here? The very same “dissidents” that cut and paste the narrative from DT et al verbatim? Who are these fuckwits dissenting against?
Why did you get involved? (who rattled your cage?)
Den mother rushing to fore too!
Strange both are pushing the same line! Never happened before, as ever very contrived and “spontaneous”ROFLMAO
So concerned with the “mental health”; blockquote>gone over the edge, and state of mind. Wow how original!
When will that foul cretin villageC will be joining the party girls?
Fucking pathetic.