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.
Why she was shot:
http://baalahisaar.wordpress.com/2012/10/18/pashto-interview-of-malala-yusufzai-with-english-subtitles/
You may have missed her anti-drone stance in West. Nevertheless, she isn’t in favour.
“There’s something about Mary” ……
Jon once advised me not to comment on Mary’s posts because by doing so I was just stimulating her to even greater efforts.
Although he didn’t say so, I imagine he would explain that thought by saying that Mary just HAS to show everyone that she’s not ‘intimidated’ by the people she calls ‘trolls’. A kind of “bwahahahaha, I’m not afraid of you!”.
I’m pleased to note that the frequency and sheer length of Mary’s posts this morning would appear to bear out Jon’s theory.
I would say to her : chick it, Smith!
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Always look on the bright side of life!
or even : chuck it, Smith! 🙂
And now, you lazy sods, get back to work if you have a job and stop stealing your employer’s time!
I note Malala is also very much against the drone strikes.
http://news.sky.com/story/1153544/malala-tells-obama-end-the-drone-strikes
Yousuf Malalazai. 11 57am
Thanks.
Why she was shot…
And there are other facets of the Malala story where we it’s also fair to be asking “Why?”
Foremost among them is,
Why does this girl have powerful backing that includes a top international PR firm?
Also,
Why does Nabila clearly not have this kind of corporate support?
It’s good to see Malala going on record to say drone strikes fuel terrorism.
“It’s good to see Malala going on record to say drone strikes fuel terrorism.”
…but presumably not good to see her stand up to the Taliban.
Mary, 8:01 am, it’s not my experience that I’m worried about. I had no need to be in that “jobcentre”, and couldn’t legally claim benefit if I wanted to. I just enjoy taking an interest in my surroundings. I wanted to see the Situations Vacant board to get an overview of what jobs were available, hours requirements, and what level of pay was on offer.
The move to complete computerisation obstructed my initial curiosity, but revealed something that seems sinister to me. The interior was rather plush in a corporate sort of way. Glass doors, fancy desks, “smartly dressed” staff, lots of wide-screen monitors, and a strong smell of new electronics. And those uniformed guards. The Corporate Security State, unmistakeably. The member of the public who walks through the doors isn’t allowed to observe, and they must identify themselves before they’re even allowed to sit and look at jobs. And yet this facility is bought and paid for by the people.
The woman with the clipboard told me straight out that they were doing “what employers want”. I doubt that anyone running a small business cares two hoots whether prospective employees have shown a sufficiently degree of conformity in the jobcetre. No. The state employment agency now serves the large corporate employers.
This is all wrong. We, the public, the voters, are more than just a market and a workforce. Markets and workforces should serve the larger body of the entire public, not the other way around.
It’s time that our “democratically elected government” realised that their approach is causing alienation and social exclusion. They should turn to the corporations and insist that the duties of corporations will from now on include the provision of humane, engaging employment and decent wages to go with it. A tax regime should be used to enforce this requirement. What is the alternative? Concentration camps? Mass extermination of “excess” people? Will Germany have to declare war upon Britain to save our unemployed?
Anon. 12 56pm
“…but presumably not good to see her stand up to the Taliban.
Can you link to anyone here arguing for that?
Thanks.
“It’s good to see Malala going on record to say drone strikes fuel terrorism.”
And good that she stood up for the educational rights of girls against the Taliban. It is good that Birmingham hospitals made it possible for her to lead a near normal life after being shot by madmen. She is welcome to be in this country. So are many others who Theresa May would rather see ‘back where they came from’.
But of course there is political gain to have her here. So she can stay from Theresa May’s point of view. However, speaking out against the most despicable Empire in the world, and its indiscriminate and extra-judicial drone attacks will not earn her any brownie points. So she needs to take care in case her passport is revoked.
If anyone out there knows how to contact Duncan McFarlane – http://inplaceoffear.blogspot.co.uk/ – http://www.duncanmcfarlane.org/ – please ask him to check his Inbox.
Anon. 12 56pm
Let me get this straight. In your view of things, opposition to the US occupation of Afghanistan really means a person supports the Taliban attitudes re education of girls? Isn’t that bending rationality just a bit?
If I’m misunderstanding you can you explain to me in small words. Just how do you make the link. I’m really keen to know.
Thanks.
“It’s good to see Malala going on record to say drone strikes fuel terrorism.”
Is is, but then again, she had to. I have read that there is a backlash against her in Pakistan.
http://www.ibtimes.com/malala-yousafzai-backlash-intensifies-pakistani-girl-western-puppet-global-brand-1426298
Sorry, Sofia, but I can’t find an instance of you condemning the Taliban. An intelligent contributor such as Suhayl will condemn both Western abuses and Islamist violence, as will Craig, but you and your fellow groupies can barely conceal your hatred of your country and the West in general.
The US-based Christian radio talk-show, The Ugly Truth’, has set-up a very informative Facebook page for Ahmadinejad’s fans to wish him 57th Birthday.
http://rehmat1.com/2013/10/30/facebook-happy-birthday-ahmadinejad/
Sorry, Anon, but I can’t find an instance of you condemning Streptococcus bacteria. An intelligent contributor such as Suhayl will condemn both bacterial infection and over-medication, as will Craig, but you and your fellow groupies can barely conceal your hatred of antibiotics and scientific medicine in general.
(sigh)
Anon. 1 32pm
This time please read r e a l l y s l ow l y. I’m sorry it’s tough for you to work it out, but it’s worth the effort.
Let me get this straight. In your view of things, opposition to the US occupation of Afghanistan really means a person supports the Taliban attitudes re education of girls? Isn’t that bending rationality just a bit?
If I’m misunderstanding you can you explain to me in small words. Just how do you make the link. I’m really keen to know.
As for the practice of systematic violence against people whether by the US or any other human group. How can a person condemn that kind of action.
I just notice my taxes fund war and ocupation by that the West, and all in the name of TWT, Democracy and Humanitarian Intervention. That seems to me to cause an ocean of misery compared to the Taliban’s lake.
she was actually against US firing drones, but greatly favourable to Pakistan firing them. She is propaganda gift to West as long as she doesn’t make big issue of that.
No I don’t support Taliban, but other factions that the West supports are equally as bad. You think women would be getting educated if Hekmattyr had taken over? You think once US pulls out five years won’t see Afghanistan back in tribal anarchy? You think hill tribes want shopping malls? Guess again.
re drones and drone attacks:
One often reads on here that drone attacks are “cowardly”.
Would those that hold that opinion therefore also agree that the caveman who killed an adversary using a club was cowardly because he used a club rather than his bare hands?
Where would they set the dividing line between “cowardly” and “non-cowardly” weapons (giving a few examples of each) and, while they are at it, give the moral and ethical reasons underpinning their categorisations?
Serious replies only, please, thank you!
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Always look on the bright side of life!
Clark I guessed that you were just casing the joint! Your descriptions are graphic and vivid.
Someone with your knowledge, experience and skills is hopefully never going to need their ‘services’ with their touch screens and buttons. Museums are similar now. They have to be interactive too.
When I left school (late 50s), whatever one’s educational achievements, a choice of job was virtually guaranteed. I have never claimed the dole and have never been made redundant for which I am truly thankful. Present day employees probably have the prospect of job loss always in their minds.
There are many other similar accounts to this. I feel really sorry that this state of affairs now exists.
http://www.bmmagazine.co.uk/columns/17890/my-job-centre-plus-experience-the-real-story-of-trying-to-find-a-new-job-in-2013/
PS See this. Plan to flog off the Student Loan Company. The SLC was a neoliberal NuLabour construct wasn’t it?
Are today’s second-year students the unluckiest cohort ever?
Today’s second year students were first to pay higher fees … and they could be first facing daily visits to the job centre, says Danny Dorling
http://www.theguardian.com/education/2013/oct/28/danny-dorling-letter-to-students
‘And so, what of the future? The words “adding” “insult” and “injury” spring to mind. At the age of 21, by summer 2015, if you’re not lucky enough to get a job, you could walk out of university on to the dole, and if so, you will be the first graduating students to have to spend the next four years, until you are 25, going to a job centre every day to collect your £8-a-day jobseeker’s allowance. This at least is what David Cameron has promised in the event of a Conservative majority at the next election. You’ll also no longer qualify for housing benefit.’
ATB Clark. Any news from Craig?
@ Guano
I note that you have still not answered my entirely serious question about why Muslims abhor dogs (I believe you raised this a few days ago) and whether this abhorrence extends to other animals (and if so, which). I would, for instance, be interested to know if there is any ‘scriptural’ basis for this.
Looking forward to hearing from you because I recall you have told us that you post as an expert on Muslim beliefs.
Sofia, all your criticisms are of the West and its actions, with nothing positive to say. On the other hand, you have nothing negative to say about the Taliban, Islamists, Hamas, Iran, Russia, China etc. It is therefore obvious what motivates you, and why, despite mass opposition to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, your views gain so little traction. Because it is obvious from a mile off that you hate your country and the West in general.
Clark, stop wasting your time trying to compose clever little rejoinders and get going with that jobsearch!
I’ve been watching the full documentary on US Drone Wars. 98% of people killed in drone attacks are not on any hit-list. A lawyer from Reprieve, Mr Akbar, is fighting the case on behalf of families in Pakistan, while in the west Brennan has been trying to make out that not a single person killed in drone attacks was a civilian. A young sixteen year old boy, who liked football, was killed together with his cousin and a friend. So many children, so much bloodshed, so much trauma, so many more new enemies – that’s the real purpose, to reduce the population for those intent on world domination.
Here is a link. If you sign up in a few days (less than a week) you can watch the film too.
http://unmanned.warcosts.com/
Proof above if needed that trolls cannot read or comprehend what they have read. Clark has already said that he is NOT looking for a job!
Mary, sorry, no news from Craig. I’ve sent out some enquiries and I’m waiting for replies.
Anon, it’s my day off. When’s yours? Or can’t you afford free time?
@ Mary
“When I left school (late 50s), whatever one’s educational achievements, a choice of job was virtually guaranteed. I have never claimed the dole and have never been made redundant for which I am truly thankful. Present day employees probably have the prospect of job loss always in their minds.”
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Every word of that is true.
Mechanisation and then computerisation at the workplace; the loss of heavy industry; less feather-bedding in industry generally; greater competition from abroad and especially from developing countries; the insane expansion of the number of graduates without the amount of “graduate-type” jobs increasing similarily (resulting in a devaluation of other, lesser qualifications) – all these are factors, and irreversible ones at that.
Plus of course the selfishness and lotus-eating approach to life of those who attended school and then gained employment during the ‘trente glorieuses’…..and the insouciance and cowardice of govts during that period.
Anon, 2:40 pm
Yes, Sofia appears to be exercising her democratic duty to hold her own government to account. It seems odd that you should object, Anon.
If there’s “mass opposition”, who does Sofia lack “traction” with? You seem to have contradicted yourself.