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.
Fred,
Human Rights were violated according to their ruling.
Example –
Let’s say username “bastard” say poster “Bloggs” regularly has sex with giraffes.
“Bloggs” complains and also begins legal action.
Blog Owner swiftly takes down post.
UK court rules that blog owner took action and is in the clear.
“Bloggs” disagree and appeals to the European Court on the grounds that even the simple fact of the initial publication of the accusation on a blog that explicitly allows comments from non-registered users infringed his/hers rights.
On precedent what does the court rule?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_carrier
“The term common carrier is a common law term, which is seldom used in continental Europe because it has no exact equivalent in civil-law systems. In continental Europe, the functional equivalent of a common carrier is referred to as a public carrier[1] (or simply as a carrier). (However, public carrier in continental Europe is defined differently than “public carrier” in British English, in which it is a synonym for contract carrier.)”
Fred; This seems more complicated than your summary of the provision. I maintain that it would be very expensive for a defendant to prompt a test case. Although the principles therein could be applied to the internet, the internet is not explicitly included.
Fred; My 11:32…”; In the US you can sue anyone for anything, it all depends on whether you can find a lawyer to take your case. Craig has plenty of enemies who likely would spend two-to-one for the chance to score some points. Is it different in the UK?”
To flesh this out, in the US you can recoup expenses from the plaintiff if the tort is ‘frivolous’, but you have to prove it’s frivolous.
Deep pockets don’t care about that. It’s just another expense, and it comes off the top. If someone of Corporate or Personal Personhood of adequate means finds it a win/win with either outcome, how can Craig win? He can only lose.
Except by way of case law? Just as well “case law” doesn’t exist then.
“Human Rights were violated according to their ruling.”
No, they weren’t. The ECHR was asked to rule on whether the ruling of the Estonian court violated human rights. They ruled that it didn’t. Had the Estonian court ruled the other way and they had been asked the same question, their answer would have been the same.
@Ben
You were talking about US law, I was talking about US law.
However, in Britain if someone sends you a poison pen letter you can’t sue the post office. In Britain once a blog owner is made aware of an offensive post they have an obligation under law to remove it. If they are not aware of it then they are not liable under British law.
Fred,
I’m glad you can guess the way European Courts will rule. Government should employ you for your psychic abilities.
I actually think you are one of the better commentators here but your sense of absolutes on a lot of things makes you like well, shall I say, surprisingly naive.
Some more in depth discussion of the future legal consequences (if ruling allowed to stand) here – http://inforrm.wordpress.com/2013/10/15/case-law-strasbourg-delfi-as-v-estonia-court-strikes-serious-blow-to-free-speech-online-gabrielle-guillemin/
@Daniel Rich
Courtney has been commenting here for many years.
You are unaware being the new boy yourself 😉
Alcanon
Thank you for this important Topic
some of us tap away on keyboards without even thinking of these matters…
Courtenay Barnett
Great to see you popping back… Great points …hope you are well
Brian,
Replied to your last comment elsewhere. Btw, I’ve “Sexed up” the font page http://squonk.tk 🙂
Blatant advertising over 🙂
Spooky Time Warp. Guess the clock have changed then 🙂
On Friday, former CIA director (2006-2009), Gen. Michael Hayden, told Jewish Newsmax that though NSA spying on world leaders is “terribly damaging” – but they’re “lawful, effective and appropriate”.
Hayden had also served as director of NSA (1999-2005) and deputy director of National Intelligence. Currently, Hayden is on the advisory board of LIGNET, an Israeli advocacy group – and a principal at the Chertoff Group. The Chertoff Group is founded by Rabbi Michael Chertoff, former head of Department of Homeland Security (DHS), who is one of the principal player behind 9/11. Chertoff is a US-Israel dual citizen and son of one of the founding member of Israeli Mossad.
http://rehmat1.com/2013/10/27/gen-hayden-supports-nsa-spying-on-world-leaders/
@ Daniel,
You said:-
“This appears to be the first time I see your name, so I guess a ‘Welcome aboard is appropriate.’ [if I’m miles off, please ignore this rambling].
If you are indeed a lawyer, may I suggest you contact Craig, as he seems to be in a fight about copy/property rights and can’t afford the $$ to go legal.
Do you dig pro bono publico or only the Irishman?”
I have been in practice for over 30 years and am a lawyer.
I was qualified in England but live and work in the Caribbean.
On Monday morning I address the jury in a murder case and have others pending.
No doubt Craig will find a kind a sympathetic soul to lend legal support to a good man.
@ Alcanonn,
Alcanonn said:-
“Thank you for this important Topic
some of us tap away on keyboards without even thinking of these matters…
Courtenay Barnett
Great to see you popping back… Great points …hope you are well”
Thank you for your kind words. I am well am presently have too much work and need a break. Maybe come December I will disappear somewhere after leaving a little time for family.
Why – how are you doing?
@ Daniel,
To answer you specifically on this:-
“If you are indeed a lawyer, may I suggest you contact Craig, as he seems to be in a fight about copy/property rights and can’t afford the $$ to go legal.”
I have done a significant amount of pro bono work, inclusive of my defence of the current murder case I am defending, where I believe and am arguing that my client has been framed to cover for the real shooter – a police man’s son. Just so turns out that between the murder and the trial the police man’s son got convicted for attempted murder and robbery in an unrelated case. Just to say that I try to assist the indigent.
So far as my personal professional history is concerned – two death threats and one indication of arson on my home in my career. Here is the report published in the Times, which does not give my name, but I am the lawyer there referenced:-
http://www.theweek.co.uk/27099/trouble-paradise
That case relates to the defence of 140 Chinese workers.
Trust that I have answered you.
Kind regards.
Courtenay
Great to hear you are ok… Shit Courtenay in the effin wars Eh…
Hope you get justice Man
Just to say Sorry if i confused you…
Alcanonn said:-
“Thank you for this important Topic
some of us tap away on keyboards without even thinking of these matters…
Courtenay Barnett
Great to see you popping back… Great points …hope you are well”
That was from me…take care in all you do
@Guano, Fedup, Sofia KN
Where someone is born doesn’t turn them into rapists. Their criminal character is in their nature and culture. Bilal Skaf led a gang of Muslim youths to rape “Aussie sluts”. The Wikipedia articles don’t give nearly as much details as what was reported at the time of the crimes and trials. I thought my first post was appropriately timed after Guano’s Muslim ‘payback’ comment.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_gang_rapes
@Sofia KN
By referring to me as “The Dingo”, much like some Americans refer to negroes as “coons” (as in racoons), you are revealing an unpleasant racist side to your childish persona and the tell-tale signs of someone who has nothing of substance to contribute. Ideas or people – you choose the topic.
@Macky
The best you can come up with is imaginary circumstantial evidence contrived by exaggerated significance, omission of exculpatory details and bound together with the logic of a grocery store shopkeeper. It’s no wonder that nobody is supporting your theory or rushing to vouch for your innocence.
All Four targets IGNORE… SILENCE.. after all thats what the chief Cnt is doing…
Jemand,
So now it seems youve got issues with the logic of grocery store shopkeepers.
So are they not as good as you? Is their logic inferior to yours?
Is that what youre saying?
Jives, if you had finished school you would understand that we don’t take legal advice from grocery store shopkeepers. Nor do we allow them to build bridges or satellites, prosecute lawsuits nor conduct exploratory surgery within the cavernous void of your skull looking for something resembling a brain. Try reading up on Dunning-Kruger.
You never did answer my question regarding your misspelling of ‘harassment’, Jives.
At 10pm when I linked to the Telegraph piece about the Estonian court ruling upheld by the ECHR, I assumed that the ruling applied in other EU countries.
These links seem to confirm that assumption but I am not a lawyer!
UK court: Google liable for comments posted on its Blogger platform
27 February, 2013
The Court of Appeal of England and Wales decided on 14 February 2013 that Google could be considered liable for comments posted on its Blogger platform unless it reacts promptly to a complaint.
http://www.edri.org/edrigram/number11.4/google-liable-comment-blogger-uk
Blog hosts potentially liable for defamatory comments
June 3 2013
Court of Appeal
Tamiz v Google Inc
Before Lord Dyson, Master of the Rolls, Lord Justice Richards and Lord Justice Sullivan
Judgment February 14, 2013
A website which supplied a platform for blogs with certain tools to aid the blogger and which could remove or block access to blogs when alerted to the fact that they were in breach of its own terms and conditions, might potentially be liable for defamatory comments posted on a blog once it had been notified and had had sufficient time to act.
The Court of Appeal so held, dismissing an….(paywall)
~~
What applies to Google is applicable to all I would assume.
As there is no moderator here now, and if Craig is away and/or it is impossible to contact him, how does he stand legally?
Good to hear you again Courtenay.
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http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/law/reports/article3740655.ece
The second link was from the Times.
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/law/reports/article3740655.ece
‘They'(the weather forecasters) are still at it. We’re doomed! as Private Frazer used to say on Dad’s Army.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7RIgs3eygo
There has even been an appearance of a ‘resilience coordinator’ on the box.
Weather: Met Office Warns Of Severe Storm
Strong winds of up to 80mph are expected to strike the exposed coastal regions of England and Wales from Sunday night.http://news.sky.com/story/1160047/weather-met-office-warns-of-severe-storm
At one of Agent Cameron’s and Poison Gove’s ‘flagship’ Free Schools.
‘The report claims that almost £60,000 of the school’s £182,000 lead-in grant, which is intended to pay for setting-up costs, was spent without supporting documentation, while “fabricated invoices” for rent were said to account for a further £10,800.
Payments also allegedly went to cover the cost of teachers’ furniture, with more than £600 spent on parties or meals and £169 given to a staff member to buy clothes. The former vice-chairman of governors was also said to have been allowed to buy first-class rail tickets.
The report queried the school’s recruitment policies, pointing out that a senior member of staff appointed his brother to the board of governors and employed his sister as a senior teacher, while his wife also worked at the school and his father drove the bus.’
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/michael-gove-accused-of-free-school-fraud-cover-up-8905086.html
Certainly a free for all and a cover up by Gove who has sat on the report for months. The school cost £10m to build incidentally.
Jemand
What a Robinson Crusoe life you have. The Carribeans call our white women booty, which comes from the Qur’anic concept of spoils of war. The Arabs and Pakistanis have taken up the cause big time although being practising rather than historical Muslims it has taken much longer to be publicised.
The difference between oz and us is that our government approves of this marvellous system of mashing the brains of ordinary Englishmen, who in turn dream of a week in Thailand shagging instead of forking out alimony and mortgages to keep their stroppy ex-wives.
Kedem Forever
When you talk of Bandar gassing Alaswite babies, it’s worth remembering that most of the atrocities in Iraq were perpetrated directly by Mossad in order to start and fuel Petraeus’s melt-down sectarian civil war. I assume you are Jewish, but I don’t assume you are a Zionist, so no offence intended. I assume you are here because you are with Craig, against Zionist war.
NOBODY wants to explain why the Almighty was SILENT in Poland and latterly Cambodia and Rwanda. And NEVER AGAIN will we have huge 250 yard tall 110 ten story skyscrapers, exploding in “free fall” in 8 seconds to leave only a paltry 3-4 stories of rubble at ground zero? Then we have jewess WENDY SHERMAN and ilk of the instititutional state of terror “By deception ye shall wage war” who ARE KNOWN to have given us King David,Lavon,Dallas,USS Liberty,Buenos Aires,911 and now Ghouta “intercepts” telling us its the Iranians who have “liar” DNA and not bibi satanyahu whom we just saw fire a missile to start a Syria firefight, after the GHOUTA false flag had failed. Its true, these chosen devils really think we goyim are all dumb. But my pet peeve is WHY has the lithuanian jew rifkind not resigned after that evil performance shilling for war on the floor of the Commons, based on YouTube videos and dodgy 8200 “intercepts”?
The only reason why Craig does not fear prosecution is because he has got million times more shit on the government than they have on him by this forum for free speech. Although there are mountains of shit on each side, for the moment the Nazis who instigated NSA universal global spying and who have been waging 20 years of war against Islam are struggling to stand upright against the brown wall of monsoon liquid concrete created by their own hands.
They should have planted more trees in their rush to utilise their saturated wealth of weapons of mass destruction and weapons of spying. Who is going to come to the rescue of this wall of state crime?
Maybe strumpet would be a better word. Stroppy strumpet ex-wives.