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.
Reident Dissident
Here’s an extract from Florence Nightingale’s Wikipedia entry:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence_Nightingale
Let’s see if the passage of time is any kinder to Dr Nott, but the tale of the Kuwaitee ‘nurse’ has taught me some caution in such matters if not you.
At the very least I would suggest the doctor should confine himself to medical matters rather than speculating about the motives of snipers. For the sake of all medical personnel in the area, he should at least pretend neutrality. Whether his claims are true or not, they are anti-Assad propaganda and endanger his colleagues.
And actually, just how plausible are those claims? ….
…. One sniper and one spotter with binoculars verifying a hit on the correct body part? The sniper would rather wound them than kill them to earn a packet of fags? How many sniper victims per day for the doctor to be able to establish a pattern? How many pregnant victims in a day? Playing a game in a war zone? Who did he hear this from?
Maybe the doctor is as honest as you think but been misquoted, maybe he’s been an intelligence asset all his career. I don’t know, and I don’t think you do either.
Surgeons tend to be quite good at identifying which parts of the body have been hit by a bullet. So those who worked for MSF are intelligence assets and everyone who accepts an OBE is a pro-empire lackey – anyone else want to hop into the gutter?
Tech @ 11:19
I didn’t see that. Was this yesterday afternoon?
RD
So you think the scenario (snipers aiming at specific body parts to earn a pack of cigs) described by the doctor is plausible?
Propoganda is necessary believing is not!
We here should all have the understanding that there are troubles occurring but it is peacefuk outcomes that we should focus our attention.
The factual or not ascertations written about could beel propoganda of this there should be no doubt.
Where are the diplomatic relations. These relations should be formented in line with Mary’s apples and blackberries.
Better by belief!
Resident Dissident. 3 02pm
<em. "Surgeons tend to be quite good at identifying which parts of the body have been hit by a bullet."</em.
Correct, obviously.
“So those who worked for MSF are intelligence assets and everyone who accepts an OBE is a pro-empire lackey – anyone else want to hop into the gutter?”
Do you believe that doctors who allow themselves to be used to stoke up public demand for war cannot possibly be intelligence assets?
Can you explain your “gutter” reference please?
Ben:
New book:
Anarchists Against the Wall: Direct Action and Solidarity with the Palestinian Popular Struggle (Anarchist Interventions)
“Part of a small but growing phenomenon in Israel since 2003, Anarchists Against the Wall have been boldly challenging the Segregation Barrier and generalized violence against occupied Palestine. The reflections herein offer a window into some of the most dynamic direct action activism today.”
http://www.amazon.com/Anarchists-Against-Wall-Palestinian-Interventions/dp/1849351147
Tech; I meant the abuse of Dre.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZ9MQHcdXWw&feature=c4-overview&list=UUTiL1q9YbrVam5nP2xzFTWQ
Today’s suspicious observers.
AA; In the debris path?
400,000 becquerels per litre of water. Chernobyl soil, at it’s peak had 400,000 becs per square meter of soil.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-10-19/an-groundwater-radiation-spikes-at-crippled-fukushima/5033554
http://www.awalls.org/
Tech; AATW’s home page.
Re OBEs
(From “Bought and Sold” by Benjamin Zephaniah_
…Take your prize, now write more,
Faster,
Fuck the truth
Now you’re an actor do not fault your benefactor
Write, publish and review,
You look like a dreadlocks Rasta,
You look like a ghetto blaster,
But you can’t diss your paymaster
And bite the hand that feeds you.
What happened to the verse of fire
Cursing cool the empire
What happened to the soul rebel that Marley had in mind,
This bloodstained, stolen empire rewards you and you conspire,
(Yes Marley said that time will tell)
Now look they’ve gone and joined.
We keep getting this beating
It’s bad history repeating
It reminds me of those capitalists that say
‘Look you have a choice,’
It’s sick and self-defeating if our dispossessed keep weeping
And we give these awards meaning
But we end up with no voice.
Can you explain your “gutter” reference please?
No I cannot – you need to work it out for yourself – just listen to what the man said on the BBC and look at what he has done in his life.
“So you think the scenario (snipers aiming at specific body parts to earn a pack of cigs) described by the doctor is plausible?”
Listen to what the man said on the BBC.
resident dissident, 11:30 am: Larry from St Louis was not banned for countering nonsense, as you claim. After persistently attempting to divert every thread onto the topic of 9/11, he was eventually banned for dishonestly misrepresenting Craig’s opinions. You can check for yourself here:
http://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2010/07/the_ethics_of_b/
Ben: yep, now let’s see how many of the oh-so concerned people here are concerned enough to support them.
As for abuse of Dreolin, ranging from Macky’s “resign as a Palestinian supporter” to this, and tacit approval of this, after her suggestion of a break:
“So which statement should we fucking believe then? The concerned activist for the down trodden Palestinians story? Or the little stealthy ziofuckwit sleeper that masquerades as the concerned activist for the down trodden Palestinians?”
There’s more, but. Still, as someone who’s been called a cunt by Fedup and ‘Techniprick’ by Jemand, I seem to be happily sitting on the fence myself 🙂
RD.
Sorry, I didn’t realize the man on the BBC had said it. How silly of me!
Don’t we all know the BBC always tells the truth?
I guess will have to save the poor Syrians with our bombs then.
Didn’t it work just fine everywhere else we tried it?
resident dissident, the comment that Mary tried to draw your attention to includes the following:
No mention of the reference to Kouchner I see. He is the co-founder of MSF. No doctor should call for military attack on a country and its people.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Kouchner
Here he is joining in the concerted attempt to get NATO in to Syria.
http://www.france24.com/en/20121024-french-intellectuals-call-urgent-syria-military-intervention-kouchner-levy-gluckman-assad
and earlier in 2007, war war on Iran.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6998602.stm
Absolutely incredible when you think about it. A doctor! From the same mould as our Fox presumably.
The point about Nott claiming Bliar as a patient has nothing to do with the current media atorm against Assad which I have identified.
Another distortion from a self styled troll. ..us trolls.. btw I think that should be ….we trolls…
1. Is RD, or anyone else here, arguing that we should bomb Syria?
2. Proof of ‘Zionist troll’ claims please specifically wrt RD and Anon, as repeatedly requested by others.
@ Macky
““Which I why I asking him very politely to point to any rulings of the Supreme Court he thought might have been influenced or swayed by the fact that 3 of the Assistant Justices were Jewish”
People of power or influence have many ways to exercise this factor, not solely limited to their obvious day to day roles.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Firstly, thank you for replying on behalf of “Oddie”, who appears to have been struck dumb. So much for those who claim that this blog should be about ‘discussion’.
As to your reply : I’m afraid it’s not much of a reply, is it. The question was : can you bring forward any examples of Supreme Court rulings/judgements which have been – or could be reasonably assumed to have been – influenced by the fact that 3 members of the Supreme Court are Jewish. In other words, since the theme was the Supreme Court, we are talking about the ‘obvious day to day roles’ of the 3 Jewish Associate Justices and nothing else: we are not interested in whether they exercise influence by belonging to a US-Israel friendship society, for example.
So, if you’ve now understood, and as you have appointed yourself to be Oddie’s spokeman, could YOU point to any examples of where the Jewishness of the 3 AJs have influenced – or might reasonably be assumed to have influenced – the rulings of the Supreme Court.
And while you’re at it, perhaps you could – still speaking on behalf of Oddie, of course – put forward some examples of where US Federal Reserve Bank policy was influenced by the fact that several of its recent heads have been Jewish? In other words, if you will, establish a link, if you would, between FED policy and the religious appartenance of its head'(s).
Thanks for engaging!
******************
Always look on the bright side of life!
RD
“Listen to what the man said on the BBC.”
OK, I’ve listened to what the man said on the BBC but he doesn’t tell me whether you think the scenario (snipers aiming at specific body parts to earn a pack of cigs) described by the doctor is plausible?
I’d be obliged if you would tell me.
Tech; Do you really think there is some bigotry toward Israel in toto? I have seen recognition of the oppos, but such groups (counter-intutive) generally have difficulty getting press coverage in the din.
I cringe at some of the adhoms I see published. How have I escaped? The worst was when I was repeatedly asked about ‘bong hits’ when I wasn’t even toking at the time.
Mary, are you rather lacking in confidence, under that exterior? Because that discussion with RD led to that rather interesting information which might well otherwise have been lost in favour of, say, a news report about Kate Middleton’s shoes. Surely you should welcome that kind of questioning, if it allows you to research and expand the background. It is indeed shocking stuff, which I will now go and back up.
Having said that, as I’m sure you know very well, the doctors on the ground with MSF cannot be held responsible for the views of one of its founders. Do you think they should all pull out?
@ Villager
“Little Miss Sock Puppet Kibo Noodle, the day i start taking you seriously will be the day i will respond to you. Don’t hold your breath.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Even that response was more than he’s/she’s worth, Villager. I recommend a 101% non-response.
Mary.
Thanks for the links.
A doctor going on the record claiming a war criminal is a “nice man” FFS and pleading for war FFS!
There are some things too sick and sad even to be parodied.
Sophia
Your Dad’s turned up again, pretending to be a German. He thinks nobody recognises him but I’m afraid those rather embarassing personal problems are all to apparent now he’s wearing lederhosen.
I find it very difficult to believe that a group of snipers can consistently hit specified parts of people’s bodies when they are running. But even if they can and did, this is a matter similar to documented UK/US/NATO abuse of prisoners in Iraq etc., in that it tells us little about the motives of the governments involved.
resident dissident, you appear to be supporting pro-war propaganda.
Ben: it’s a really good question. Actually, no, I don’t think anyone is *motivated* by bigotry towards Israel (or Jewish people); I think it’s in many ways an entirely understandable back-seat reaction towards the continuing horrors we are shown about its government’s actions.
But I do find the following rather distressing, after years of reading this blog:
a) V little mention of the positive people’s movements for peace and justice inside Israel itself. No mention of support for those people. Very little reporting on anything else positive either inside Palestine or outside (I think I have at least seen Mary referring to some concerts, which is grand)
b) V little mention of the political parties inside Israel; no mention of the opposition to this; no analysis
So what we end up having is a circle of misery and horror which, in many ways admittedly reflects conditions in Gaza and Palestine but which does not really, I think, help it, or the mindset of people posting about it. Because we are not in a virtual prison in Gaza. Nor does it allow other people to come into that discussion, if they at all differ.
I’m hoping v much that it wasn’t me who accidentally derailed the discussion between Anon and Mary about solutions. Solutions, or attempts to think ones through, even partial ones, are a good idea, after a while.
Hippocratic oath—
“I swear by Apollo, the healer, Asclepius, Hygieia, and Panacea, and I take to witness all the gods, all the goddesses, to keep according to my ability and my judgment, the following Oath and agreement:
To consider dear to me, as my parents, him who taught me this art; to live in common with him and, if necessary, to share my goods with him; To look upon his children as my own brothers, to teach them this art; and that by my teaching, I will impart a knowledge of this art to my own sons, and to my teacher’s sons, and to disciples bound by an indenture and oath according to the medical laws, and no others.
I will prescribe regimens for the good of my patients according to my ability and my judgment and NEVER DO HARM TO ANYONE, (EMPHASIS MINE)
I will give no deadly medicine to any one if asked, nor suggest any such counsel; and similarly I will not give a woman a pessary to cause an abortion.
But I will preserve the purity of my life and my arts.
I will not cut for stone, even for patients in whom the disease is manifest; I will leave this operation to be performed by practitioners, specialists in this art.
In every house where I come I will enter only for the good of my patients, keeping myself far from all intentional ill-doing and all seduction and especially from the pleasures of love with women or men, be they free or slaves.
All that may come to my knowledge in the exercise of my profession or in daily commerce with men, which ought not to be spread abroad, I will keep secret and will never reveal.
If I keep this oath faithfully, may I enjoy my life and practise my art, respected by all humanity and in all times; but if I swerve from it or violate it, may the reverse be my life.”
Were I a physician, I would blush at this. The keystone is ‘do no harm’ but many elements of the oath seem to go against the current grain of medical practice.