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.
@Phil
“His tears may be convincing or may be real but, nomatter his motivation, it is pure establishment war propaganda he peddles.”
This sentence is nonsense – if his tears are real and his motivation is humanitarian it is not establishment war propaganda that he peddles. You may wish to argue that he is being used by others who wish to peddle establishment war propaganda but it just isn’t fair to level that accusation at David Nott.
Try Dissident Voice for info on Haiti. Lots about the Bush and Clinton initiative post earthquake, whilst all the time they had involvement in luxury tourism in the north of that benighted and beautiful island. Democracy was denied to its people.
Haiti’s Colonial Overlord
Aug 5, 2010 … In particular, Clinton’s role in working with Haiti, both before and after the …. the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund and the Clinton Foundation Haiti Fund.
dissidentvoice.org/2010/08/haitis-colonial-overlord/
Haiti: Six Months after the Quake
dissidentvoice.org/2010/07/haiti-six-months-after-the-quake-2/
Jul 13, 2010 … RR: It is highly ironic that George W. Bush and Bill Clinton can travel freely to Haiti while the twice-democratically elected president, …
Catastrophe in Haiti
dissidentvoice.org/2010/01/catastrophe-in-haiti/
Jan 14, 2010 … First the Bush administration and now the Obama administration have … At the same time, Clinton’s plans for Haiti include an expansion of the …
dissidentvoice.org/2010/01/catastrophe-in-haiti/
Haiti: Seven Places Where the Earthquake Money Did and Did Not …
Jan 4, 2012 … Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton announced a fundraising venture for Haiti on January 16, 2010. As of October 2011, the fund had …
dissidentvoice.org/…/haiti-seven-places-where-the-earthquake-money-did- and-did-not-go/
Haiti Post-Quake: Devastation, Depravation, Exploitation, and …
Mar 29, 2010 … Haitians reacted angrily, especially at Bush for ousting President …. in corporate- run sweatshops, the kinds Bush and Clinton want more of, …
dissidentvoice.org/…/haiti-post-quake-devastation-depravation-exploitation- and-oppression/
Haiti: Disaster Capitalism on Steroids
Mar 13, 2010 … Two months after the devastating earthquake, the situation in Haiti is … former Presidents Clinton and Bush – who was responsible for the 2004 …
dissidentvoice.org/2010/03/haiti-disaster-capitalism-on-steroids/
and so on.
Joe Emersberger, a Canadian trades unionist is also well informed on Haiti.
~~~
Speaking of trades unionists, the management at Ineos Grangemouth are reported to have told the shop stewards to ‘shut up’ and to have said to them ‘You’re not very bright are you!”. They sound just like some of the trolls here.
A friend recently sent me a cutting from a local paper published in the New Forest. Ratcliffe the ‘reclusive’ owner of Ineos had plans to build a massive house overlooking the Beaulieu River, mostly constructed of glass. He has been turned down by the local planners. He runs the company from an address in Lyndhurst. The company has many subsidiaries which are headquartered in Switzerland.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ineos
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Ratcliffe
Russell Brand has apparently upset the establishment and the corporate media hacks including Aaronovitch by his contribution on Newsnight.
http://members5.boardhost.com/medialens/thread/1382605923.html
WATCH: Russell Brand brings the message of revolution to Newsnight
Our guest editor is grilled by Paxman on Newsnight about the revolution he wants to see in British politics.
http://www.newstatesman.com/staggers/2013/10/watch-russell-brand-brings-message-revolution-newsnight
ESLO 24 Oct, 2013 – 1:22 pm
” if his tears are real and his motivation is humanitarian it is not establishment war propaganda that he peddles.”
In which case he still peddles it, just unwittingly.
Fred: “I asked for evidence not opinions and prejudices”
Asking for 100% irrefutable “evidence” is often impossible, but that does not stop either the wheels of justice, or from people reaching conclusions based on rational reasoning based on known factors & circumstantial evidence.
If you wish to believe that there is as much chance as Craig/Jives/Nevermind, etc, as of Jemand, of being behind the StormFront Post, that is your, albeit peculiar, prerogative.
ESLO I mentioned Zionists and the Rothschilds because everybody knows I am opposed to them, and that is what I get the most flak about. I do not try to hide it. They use and manipulate governments. They say so themselves.
Your view of if I cannot say something nice about someone I stay silent is fine in the context of a blog, prudent if you’re living under Ghengis Khan, Vlad Tepes or Stalin, but if you are living in a democracy, as we claim to be, and injustice is evident, then it is the moral duty of everyone to see that that injustice is righted. It is why I linked the following article by Dady Chery.
http://newsjunkiepost.com/2013/10/23/haiti-where-democracy-and-justice-make-a-stand-against-corrupt-power/
Instead of saying that’s right, or wrong, I got criticised for having linked an article that Anon thinks is not a reliable source of news. He did not argue why.
“Asking for 100% irrefutable “evidence” is often impossible,”
Any evidence at all would do.
ESLO: “who would want to encourage fascists and anti-semites to come to this site in order to support Mary”
So the reasoning here is that Mary or somebody using Mary’s known “Flaming June” handle, would want racists to flock to this Blog !? If this was not a frame-up, Mary or her impersonator would not have used “Flaming June”, as the chances are that either the visiting racists would reveal the “Flaming June” SF Post, and/or somebody from this Blog would come across this, as apparently happened.
Further, any SF racists looking at the posts of Hubbu-Clown Troll would quickly recognise a fellow-minded Islamophobe, and would therefore hardly want to attack him, quite the opposite.
John Goss, when dealing with a subject – an entire country in this case – you should take the time to inform yourself from a wide range of credible sources. Because almost all of your knowledge of Haiti is gained from News Junk Post, it is hardly surprising that you will have formed the view that Haiti’s historical problems with poverty and corruption are all the fault of America. And, yes, if all you knew about Haiti was the work of some Amerikkkan apologist, then you would no doubt consider America entirely blameless.
I suggest you stop digging, Macky.
This is the only thing that might put a stop to US espionage on ordinary people, when it becomes apparent that the big boys and girls are also being monitored.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/23/us-monitored-angela-merkel-german
Macky,
Evidence that Habbabkuk is an “Islamophobe”?
Thanks in advance.
Fred: “Any evidence at all would do”
Rational reasoning based on known factors, in the absence of actual evidence, which is almost impossible to obtain, prove or verified in an on-line context, is the best that can be offered.
But do feel free to carry on believing that there is as much chance as Craig/Jives/Nevermind, etc, as of Jemand, of being behind the StormFront Post,
Sorry Exexpat. Should have checked first whether anyone else had posted the link.
“Rational reasoning based on known factors,”
I haven’t seen too much of that either.
John Goss
I didn’t say anything about not attacking a person’s arguments just the person.
Dreoilin: “I suggest you stop digging, Macky”
So says somebody who has buried her credibility countless times here, including her credibility as being a committed Palestinian supporter, instead revealing herself as more of a half-arsed token “look at my feel good credentials” supporter.
Thanks Phil
yes, Ben…MORE MORE Russel Brand Please!!!!!!
Fred: “I haven’t seen too much of that either”
Well, the taking a horse to water analogy comes to mind, but this comment does explain your posts on this matter.
“So says somebody who has buried her credibility countless times here, including her credibility as being a committed Palestinian supporter”
Evidence please. With links.
Hats off to Banksy for creating these images on The Wall.
http://www.design-moderne.com/banksy-street-art-in-palestine/
IDF Soldier: What the fuck are you doing?
Banksy: You’ll have to wait till it’s finished
Soldier (to colleagues): Safety’s off!
…
Phil. 11 05am
Good to see you back.
And I wish you more luck on that notty issue than I had.
I tried all yesterday afternoon. Finally at 6 07pm I was patronised out of the discussion,
“…It really is a sign of your political immaturity (or perhaps more kindly it is just the arrogance of youth)……I very much doubt that you have much further of value to say on this subject – so please don’t bother or at least done expect a reply if you do.”
So that’s me put in my place then!
Nott wanting to take my expulsion lying down I sought advice from a non-existent shaman, but that got me reported to our ex mod (10 30pm).
No doubt I’ll be on the Detention List soon.
Grown-ups are not supposed to question BBC propaganda, allude to the possibility of infiltration of NGOs by intelligence assets, or question the judgement of a doctor for describing a blood-stained lying war criminal as “nice”.
I suppose Nott’s connection with RauxAF has no relevance either in fairyland.
Bloody grown-ups. You couldn’t make them up!
Thanks to Mary for posting the Russell Brand interview. It was revealing that Brand chose once again to blame his poor background and the corporate/political elite for his drug addiction. I would have thought he would have avoided that territory after Peter Hitchens applied some of his notoriously brutal logic to show that Brand had no one but himself to blame for being addicted to drugs, to which Brand could only respond by throwing childish insults. Needless to say, rich people take drugs, too, and quite often end up addicted to them.
Brand spoke forcefully but about the need for a “Revolution”, but was more coy about what his alternatives to the current system might be. Certainly I would not want to see the country turned upside down to satisfy the juvenile political ideals of a vainglorious twerp like Brand.
I would also like to know if Brand has refused any of the presumably very large cheques he receives for his ‘comedy’ performances, or whether like so many on the left he talks the talk without walking the walk.
Deoilin: “Evidence please. With links.”
Well if I was to provide the links to all your posts attacking Mary, both in tag-team attacks with Israel friendly trolls, or bitchy solo attacks, then this thread will match the al-Hilli thread in length !
Would any other Palestinian supporter worthy of being called as such, ever post anything like this on a Political Blog ?;
http://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2013/10/edward-snowden-gets-sam-adams-award/comment-page-5/#comment-433963
“So says somebody who has buried her credibility countless times here, including her credibility as being a committed Palestinian supporter”
Makes it sound like he’s talking about a football team! Dreoilin is not a part of the “you are 100% with us or you are against us” crowd, Macky. She doesn’t have to prove her credentials to you. I mean, what the fuck are you like? Do you have some dungeon somewhere where aspiring members of your gang are obliged to shoot an Israeli in the head to gain membership?
Sofia, those Banksy originals are brilliant. I love the dove with the bullet-proof vest. Great!
It makes you wonder why so many here who were jubilant about the dismantling of the Berlin wall, of which I was one, are content to see the same barrier to integration remain on the Palestine-Israel border. Comments?
Evidence please that Habbabkuk is an “Islamophobe”, please, Macky. Thanks.
Re Banksy, yet another clueless lefty doing what all lefties seemingly must do – display one’s pro-Palestinian credentials. Obviously it hasn’t occurred to Banksy that Hamas have banned hip hop for being unIslamic, but they’ll entertain Western twits like him for the nice publicity it brings.
Macky, anyone experiencing any kind of “justice” related issues in UK, would know that the current standard for the criminal justice are fast eroding, whilst the bar for civil proceedings are lowered by the second; in favour of whomsoever able to afford the exorbitant costs of the relevant solicitors and barristers. However, it is quite quint to see the constant extra judicial reference in this blog as to production of evidence, and and or proof of the assertions forwarded.
The last bastion of scoundrels indeed lies in; nationalism/tribalism/prevarications on the veracity of the issues forwarded. The fact remains the evidence sought for in respect of the forwarded issues is to be acceptable to which procedural constructs; criminal or civic? Further, what counter references are forwarded other than; “trust me, I know what I am talking about”.
Hence the constant torrents of one liners; “Evidence please”/”links please”!
Fact that trends and behavioural patterns manifest over a of lengthy period count for naught, because the snap nugget of “proof”, or “evidence” goes wanting. Ergo the debunking of the forwarded points. Proof that indeed childish and infantile endeavours, can result in childish and infantile victories.
Macky cites the following post from Dreoilin as evidence she is some sort of raving Zionist fanatic:
“I wonder, when Craig puts up his next post, if we could have a (temporary) ban on all comments relating to Israel. Just for the duration of that thread. It would be a relief.(Unless Craig posts about Israel/Palestine, of course”
To be in the gang, you have to be ranting away about the IP conflict all the time, to the detriment of those who believe there are other issues also worthy of discussion, or else youu are a “crypto-Zionist” and not a true Palestininan ‘supporter’.
Hello Sofia. In the video ad for the Brand edition he mentions a couple of articles regarding shamanism that unfortunately seem to be not online.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0w6eC9I9LY