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.
Two posts on Medialens about The Ambassadors.
Posted by mickstep on October 25, 2013, 6:00 pm
I just watched the first episode on iPlayer.
The overall message of the episode seemed to be the Foreign office needs to do some nasty things and deal with some nasty people for your benefit and if you complain about or try to expose those nasty things you’re an ungrateful bastard, you’re expected to take great pleasure in Mitchell giving a verbal beat down of a ungrateful human rights campaigner.
They must really hate the likes of John Pilger.
It’s utter state sanction propaganda, everyone involved should be ashamed.
And that’s without even bringing the Craig Murray element into it.
________________
Re: The Ambassadors…The Guardian’s Q&A with Robert Webb…
Posted by Ed on October 25, 2013, 6:22 pm, in reply to “The Ambassadors”
“They must really hate the likes of John Pilger.”
Here’s Webb in fine lickspittle form, ticking all the right boxes and no doubt hoping the right people see it.
quote:
Which living person do you most admire and why?
Christopher Hitchens.
What makes you depressed?
Suicide bombers and their apologists.
Which living person do you most despise?
George Galloway.
http://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2005/dec/03/weekend7.weekend1
__________________
Enough said there for Webb.
Off and resisting the provocation crowed thrice above. Bad luck.
Mary, you are joking. Are you referring to yourself as Christ?
Again, no comment on your poor supporters? I guess not.
Fred; “Q.E.D.”
Quacky, Effing, Dunce, yep that neatly sums you up.
@Res Des, don’t, or should that be do worry, you will get your reply, but having more fun swatting other idiots at the moments.
no, Macky, you’re really not.
Technicolour: “Again, no comment on your poor supporters? I guess not.”
Look like you guess right, and no surprise she doesn’t want to respond to backstabbing hypocrites.
Mary
Your link to the Einstein,Arendt et al letter condemning Irgun, Deir Yassin was interesting. Many if not all the signatories were Zionists (often Labour Zionists) who although they were strong supporters of Israel clearly had no problem in being critical of terrorism and violence when it was conducted in the name of Israel. You may not wish to acknowledge but there are many people, myself included, who continue to think in the same way. Perhaps the way forward is to try and work with these people and to build bridges-rather than engaging in what has become almost ritual insults?
“Quacky, Effing, Dunce, yep that neatly sums you up. ”
In the absence of any rational defence you seem to be resorting to name calling.
Which one were you then? The Anon with glasses who attacked Clark and Fedup?
Mary, any comment on your supporters and their attacks on and denigration of this blog?
Night, all.
Mackey. 3 16pm
… if I may I’ll like to put myself forward as a prospective God-Father, both to help make-up for your bad luck in having a Troll father & an imbecile sibling….
What can I say? I’m honoured!
Does that mean I can get to observe the greatest forensic mind since Poirot at close quarters?
And what a moment to be it would be to be there, just you approach the out-back lair of the wily Jemmo “The Dingo” for the final showdown.
…
Dad!6 39pm
I know Mary, but who’s Sofia? Is she on this blog?
Look Dad! Do you really think that bothers me?
And Gary’s been emailing me again asking me to come home and do something about you and Little Bro. He’s not even family but he’s embarrassed when he comes across you arguing with the post box, and the Prendergasts are at their wit’s end every time they see Villager peddling by with that smirk on his face.
As for coming home, I have a choice between Wathafekia and Surbiton. How difficult is that?
I hope you feel better soon.
…
Gary said he loved the P21 Gallery’s new exhibition “In the City,” which explores how the Arab world is portrayed and described, especially by the West. So I suppose there is something to be said for living near London.
http://electronicintifada.net/content/beautiful-and-disturbing-ad-campaign-nablus-displayed-london-design-show/12862
Mary
Thanks, I never knew Robert Webb was so sound – I shall enjoy the Ambassadors even more now.
Sofia
Sorry to break the bad news but Poirot and forensic mind were totally fictional.
Mackey. 3 16pm
… if I may I’ll like to put myself forward as a prospective God-Father, both to help make-up for your bad luck in having a Troll father & an imbecile sibling….
What can I say? I’m honoured. Does that mean I get to observe the greatest forensic mind since Poirot at close quarters?
And what a moment to be granted such a privilege, just you approach the out-back lair of the wily Jemmo “The Dingo” for the final showdown.
…
Dad! 6 39pm
I know Mary, but who’s Sofia? Is she on this blog?
Look Dad! Do you really think that bothers me if you’ve forgotten me now?
And Gary’s been emailing me again asking me to come home and do something about you and Little Bro. Even he’s embarrassed when he comes across you arguing with the post box and the Prendergasts are at their wit’s end every time they see Villager peddling by with that smirk on his face.
As for coming home, I have a choice between Wathafekia and Surbiton. How difficult is that?
I hope you feel better soon.
…
Gary said he loved the P21 Gallery’s new exhibition “In the City,” which explores how the Arab world is portrayed and described, especially by the West. So I suppose there is something to be said for living near London, but as far as I’m concerned, the Great Caldera’s just fine.
http://electronicintifada.net/content/beautiful-and-disturbing-ad-campaign-nablus-displayed-london-design-show/12862
Fred; “In the absence of any rational defence you seem to be resorting to name calling”
You using the word “rational” is like Technicolour using “insight”, or Droilin using “pro-Palestinian”; all using terms that have only a faded token meaning for them.
Technicolour
Your proper Muslim neighbour keeps their mouth shut because they came here to make money and have a peaceful life in the bosom of the west.
We have a law in Islam to stone the adulterers. You have to prevent wrongdoing before it causes further grief. Your whimsy philosophy would make mealy-mouthed froth about not being judgemental. No. When the subject matter is so critical, and war is critical even though you live in leafy England and don’t give a damn about Muslims in far off lands, then insults are not enough. I should be using stones against our rapist prime minister who cold-bloodedly started this war in Syria. I use insults but really these insults are not what is required to put a stop to UKUSIS warmongering. Something far stronger than words.
My curse is on all those who sit in leafy England and ignore the terrible sufferings that our prime minister and previous prime ministers in our lifetime and witness have wrought upon the Muslim populations of Pakistan, Afghanistan Uzbekistan, Somalia, Iraq, Palestine, Yemen, etc etc. My curse is on all who say that this was caused by economic rivalry, rather than by Zionist hatred of Islam. My curse is on hasbara trolls on this blog who try to mislead the people that the Zionists have not blackmailed our representatives in parliament to wage war against the Muslims in our lifetime. And my curse is on those who defend them, like Technicolour, with mealy-mouthed defences like saying that arch-troll Habbakuk is one of the most intelligent contributors to this blog.
Habbabkuk,
Considering you post at a ratio of 10:1 compared to me your suggestion that my comment earlier today was an attempt at disruption is a really rather poor and hypocritical one.
But thats OK,we’re used to your guff here.
anon’s post of 10:39 was interesting – neither a confirmation or denial from the ever retiring Macky.
‘You using the word “rational” is like Technicolour using “insight”, or Droilin using “pro-Palestinian”; all using terms that have only a faded token meaning for them.’
Which one were you then? The Anon with glasses who attacked Clark and Fedup?
Jemand,
So a mispelling of ‘harrassment’ in your twisted mind points at some proof that i stitched Mary up-rather than the much more mundane explanation of a typo on a mobile being the far more likely reason..
Oh your poor thing to cling to such stupid tactics.
Even your line manager must be embarrassed by your ridiculous methods.
You really must be desperate to scrape the barrel in such a pathetic manner.
Guano
Surely it is a law in Islam not to commit adultery – other religions have the same law. A law would suggest that all offenders have to stoned and that there can be no mercy shown – which would seem somewhat unlikely.
aRes Des; “non’s post of 10:39 was interesting – neither a confirmation or denial from the ever retiring Macky.”
Anon’s post being “Jonangus Mackay = Macky?”
Well this is all Monty Python level silly now !
I don’t know who Jonangus Mackay is, but yes do accuse him of being me if you like, so at least another person will realise how crazed you trolls are becoming !
There’s a part of me that would love to moderate this blog. In Genghis Khan mode occasionally. It’s the only language we^h^hthey understand.
Oops! Sorry about the double posting back there.
RD. 11 41pm
Sorry to break the bad news but Poirot and forensic mind were totally fictional.
I know that. I wanted to use Jaques Clouseau but was worried he might sue me.
Have we become Romans, aka ‘Favre’s admission of memory loss a sad, familiar chhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Jews_in_sportsorus of former NFL players’ or are we just in it for the money?
Sofia: “What can I say? I’m honoured. Does that mean I get to observe the greatest forensic mind since Poirot at close quarters? ”
So you accept then ?
I’m the sort that will take my God-Fathering role very seriously, so let me know how many horses heads I need to get ready ?!
The “Dingo” keeps running out, yelping a bit, and then running back to its lair with its tail between its legs; so just a matter of time, before you have a Dingo skin baptism cloak.
Have we become Romans, aka ‘Favre’s admission of memory loss a sad, familiar chorus of former NFL players’or are we just in it for the money?
Fred: “Which one were you then? The Anon with glasses who attacked Clark and Fedup?”
I think find it both staggering & fascinating that Clark stated you are a nice person in real life, so either you are a good actor, or online animosity brings out all the dark issues you must have deep inside.
“I think find it both staggering & fascinating that Clark stated you are a nice person in real life, so either you are a good actor, or online animosity brings out all the dark issues you must have deep inside.”
But were you the Anon with glasses who attacked Clark and Fedup?
http://rt.com/usa/nsa-site-ddos-attack-754/
Just checked. Site is still down. Guess that’s what happens when you piss of the Germans 🙂
Macky. 11 53pm
So you accept then ?
Of course I do!
…so let me know how many horses heads I need to get ready?
You might have thought just a moment before reminding me of of horses. You know I still haven’t got over having my little epony turned into lasagne.
And you don’t need do do anything save swing on the whee-vines.
(from Sofia’s Diary. 17 10 13 … so we spent the rest of the morning swinging on whee-vines just for the pleasure of it. We knew we shouldn’t, but there’s no better way to get the ratmonkeys howling, and that show’s worth the disapproving looks of the grownups. Yes, even the Wathafek have grownups!)