I am in Berlin for the annual Sam Adams Award – this time to William Binney, formerly Technical Director of the NSA. There will be an address by Edward Snowden (and a short contribution from me). It really is a tremendous event, with some very senior former intelligence professionals making revelations about the extent to which the security state is out of control, a tool of immoral governments dominated by corporate interests.
The event is at the Berlin-Moscow Venue, 52 Unter Den Linden, and starts at 7pm (6pm UK time). It will be livestreamed on the Sam Adams website.
7:00-7:05 Wilkommen by Joerg Dreger, Managing Partner, Dreger Group
7:05-7:12 Ray McGovern, veteran CIA senior intelligence officer (27 years) and presidential briefer; SAA cofounder and Master of Ceremonies: Moment of Silence for Ambassador Robert White; acknowledgement of David MacMichael, retired Senior Estimates Officer in National Intelligence Council; Overview of history/purpose of Sam Adams Award
7:12-7:15 Annie Machon, former M15 intelligence officer (speech + introduction of Katharine and Craig)
7:15-7:20 Katharine Gun*, former GCHQ intelligence officer
7:20-7:25 Craig Murray*, former British ambassador to Uzbekistan
7:25-7:28 Coleen Rowley*, former FBI Special Agent and Minneapolis Chief Division Counsel (brief remarks +introduction of Todd P., Jesselyn & Tom)
7:28-7:33 Jesselyn Radack*, former ethics adviser, US Department of Justice and National Security; Human Rights Adviser, Government Accountability Project (GAP)
7:33-7:37 Todd Pierce, Major, US Army Judge Advocate (ret.); Guantanamo Military Commissions Defense Counsel
7:37-7:45 Thomas Drake*, former senior intelligence service executive, National Security Agency (NSA) – (speech + introduction of Ed Snowden)
7:45-8:00 Edward Snowden* (by video link), former NSA contractor; former CIA systems administrator
8:00-8:05 Ray McGovern segue to SAA Award Announcement; Reading of SAAII citation by Annie M. & Elizabeth M.(English and German versions, respectively); conferral by Thomas Drake of Sam Adams Integrity in Intelligence Corner-Brightener Candlestick to William Binney, former National Security Agency (NSA) Technical Director, World Geopolitical and Military Analysis, NSA, and co-founder, Signals Intelligence Automation Research Center
8:05-8:20 Acceptance speech by William Binney, former Technical Director, World Geopolitical and Military Analysis, NSA, and co-founder, Signals Intelligence Automation Research Center; Q & A
8:20-8:25 Wrap-up by Ray McGovern
8:25-8:30 Closing remarks by Joerg Dreger
8:30-9:00 Reception
*denotes former Sam Adams Award recipient
Mary (14h39)
Well, it does sound like rubbishing to me.
After all, Ben accused me (and Craig) of having brought about your cancer and you replied by saying that it was probably environmental in origin and had developed over the last six years.
Your loyalty to Ben is touching but when he talks rubbish he should be told and you told him. Nothing to be defensive about, surely?
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Any way, on a lighter note, here’s a post from our friend Macky, also from Squonk.
I have filed it under “Self-deception” but am thinking of re-filing under General Nonsense.
“Sofia; “But you have the benefit of having observed Dad over a couple of years. Hasn’t he sucked us all in before we copped on, each at our own speed? ”
It just took literally less than a handful of initial exchanges;
https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2013/01/the-disappearance-of-craig-murray/#comment-388164
I have subsequently engaged with him two or three times in earnest, but this was with the knowledge he was a indeed a troll, and the aim was to show others what a shallow fraud he really is, as he is literally intellectually incapable of a rational debate.”
Macky’s the Man! 🙂
No RobG, if we were all like you Bill would be broke, trying to flog windows 8 out of the back of a van (the correct market placement for that product).
Well done for keeping old stuff going imo.
What wonderful news that Pauline Cafferkey has been discharged from the Royal Free.
Iran’s Parliament (Majlis) Speaker Ali Larijani says Israel’s recent airstrike against Syria showed that Zionism and terrorism are the two sides of the same coin.
He made the remark at a press conference after the 10th session of the Parliamentary Union of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (PUOIC), which was held in Turkey from January 20 to 22.
He further said that the Tel Aviv regime is a party to the acts of terrorism in the Middle East.
The Israeli regime benefits the most from divisions and unrest in Muslim countries, Larijani said.
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2015/01/23/394341/Zionism-terrorism-two-sides-of-same-coin
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Zionism and terrorism, going hand in hand, Hmm, sound about right to me.
@5.29pm As I tell my dog with a bone that she won’t let go of, drop it.
Emails from the BBC, Reuters, the Guardian, the New York Times, Le Monde, the Sun, NBC and the Washington Post were saved by GCHQ and shared on the agency’s intranet as part of a test exercise by the signals intelligence agency.
The journalists’ communications were among 70,000 emails harvested in the space of less than 10 minutes on one day in November 2008 by one of GCHQ’s numerous taps on the fibre-optic cables that make up the backbone of the internet.
New evidence from other UK intelligence documents revealed by Snowden also shows that a GCHQ information security assessment listed investigative journalists as a threat in a hierarchy alongside terrorists or hackers.
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So the press and media have been getting a taste of their own medicine, something they richly deserve.
With everything that’s happening in the world today, from Iraq to Syria to Ukraine, Saudi Arabia and Iran, this has to be the most exciting and volatile period in the history of mankind.
In a significant political and economic development, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met Jan. 23 with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The meeting came as a prerequisite to officially sign an investment agreement aiming to develop the Gaza offshore gas field in the Mediterranean Sea.
It is only logical to assume that this step will raise the ire of Israel. The latter does not appreciate the role Russia plays in the region, especially since Israel has never come to an agreement with Russia.
The timeline of when gas was discovered and everything that happened in between is very interesting and well worth examining. But suffice it to say that the amount of gas in question is substantial and will no doubt cause Israel and the US much consternation.
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Its comforting to see Putin piss off Israel, no doubt Bibi will go crying to him bum chum Obama for help.
I have a question about this so-called mass harvesting of internet traffic which is represented here and elsewhere as a threat to individual freedom and liberty.
If such mass harvesting does occur, who is going to read all of the intercepts? Is the necessary manpower available?
This question is surely valid even if there is software which flags up certain key-words?
Republicofscotland
“It is only logical to assume that this step will raise the ire of Israel. The latter does not appreciate the role Russia plays in the region, especially since Israel has never come to an agreement with Russia.”
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An agreement about what, RoS?
“He further said that the Tel Aviv regime is a party to the acts of terrorism in the Middle East.”
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If you go by the number of deaths, wounded and permanently disabled, RoS, it would be difficult to find a greater act of terrorism in the Middle East than the Iran-Iraq war, presided over by Ayatollah Khomeini and Saddam Hussein.
Wouldn’t you agree?
Sweden’s Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom has slammed Israel over its reaction to Stockholm’s recognition of the Palestinian state, stressing that Tel Aviv is crossing all boundaries.
Speaking to Dagens Nyheter, a popular Swedish daily, the minister said the overall reaction of Israel to Sweden’s recognition of the State of Palestine had been expected, but that Tel Aviv’s latest comments were unacceptable.
“They have a rhetoric that crosses all lines,” she said.
Her remarks came after Emmanuel Nahshon, the Israeli Foreign Ministry’s spokesman, said on January 15 that the Swedish foreign minister would have been rejected by the regime’s officials if she had traveled to the occupied territories.
According to Israeli media reports, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has refused to meet with his Swedish counterpart.
Earlier in January, Wallstroem postponed her scheduled visit to the occupied territories following the escalation of tensions between Sweden and Israel over Stockholm’s stance toward the issue of a Palestinian state.
“It is unacceptable how they have been talking about us and everybody else,” Wallstrom told the newspaper in her interview.
“It has not only irritated us, but the Americans and everyone who has anything to do with them right now,” she added.
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2015/01/17/393479/Israel-crossing-all-boundaries-Sweden-
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Keep your eyes, and ears open, for a Mossad false flag terrorist operation in Sweden, which will be blamed on radical Islam.
Look what happened in Paris, after France softened their position on Palestine.
“If you go by the number of deaths, wounded and permanently disabled, RoS, it would be difficult to find a greater act of terrorism in the Middle East than the Iran-Iraq war, presided over by Ayatollah Khomeini and Saddam Hussein.”
Wouldn’t you agree?
——————-]
There’s quite difference between two well armed armies at war, and Israels,systamatic extermination of women and children in an open air prison camp.
wouldn’t YOU! agree?
Republicofscotland
“.. the UK.. sends the prime minister and Charlie out to fete the new king at enormous expense.
Surely Po-Face Hammond and some junior royal like Eddy or one of the ugly sisters, would have done fine, and possibly cost a bit less. Still spare no expense where the nobs are concerned, that’s their motto!
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The implication of the above, if read carefully, is that you do not consider Minister Hammond and Prince Edward to be “nobs”. Think about it. Have I understood you correctly?
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“Of course we know that the regime in Saudi buys vast quantities of British arms. And, as it never seems to go to war with anyone itself, I can only imagine that it either uses them to keep its own people down, or it gives them over to terrorist organisations which support its hard line religious views.”
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I doubt that, actually. Most of the stuff bought by Saudi Arabia is extremely high tech systems – that’s why it’s so expensive. Not much use for keeping its own people down and as far as I’m aware the various terrorist organisations have not so far been caught using the latest in weapons systems.
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“But it seems that the UK economy is dependent on these weapons sales and that they can’t afford to upset the sheiks lest they go to France or China for their weaponry.”
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It is certainly true that a number of UK companies live to a large extent from the sale of weapons systems to Saudi Arabia and like-minded states.
But the logical implication of the above is that France and China are, or would be, as immoral as the UK.
I’m not surprised to hear you imply that of France, but I am surprised that you should consider China to be immoral. Have I misunderstood you again?
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Republicofscotland
““If you go by the number of deaths, wounded and permanently disabled, RoS, it would be difficult to find a greater act of terrorism in the Middle East than the Iran-Iraq war, presided over by Ayatollah Khomeini and Saddam Hussein.”
Wouldn’t you agree?
——————-]
There’s quite difference between two well armed armies at war, and Israels,systamatic extermination of women and children in an open air prison camp.
wouldn’t YOU! agree?”
___________________________________
There is certainly a huge quantitative difference, so I think that you do actually agree with what I said.
Rzepoublicofscotland
“Keep your eyes, and ears open, for a Mossad false flag terrorist operation in Sweden, which will be blamed on radical Islam.
Look what happened in Paris, after France softened their position on Palestine.”
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Thanks for the tip-off, RoS, I’ll certainly be keeping my eyes and ears open.
Any thoughts as to the likely timeline?
Rzpublicofscotland
“With everything that’s happening in the world today, from Iraq to Syria to Ukraine, Saudi Arabia and Iran, this has to be the most exciting and volatile period in the history of mankind.”
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I realise you’re on the late Saturday shift, RoS, and probably wishing you were out with the lads a-drinkin’ and a-whorin’, but could you not at least make an effort to be original?
There were and are people in every period of history who thought or think that the particular period they’re living through is the most “exciting period in the history of mankind”.
It’s probably because they weren’t around before they were born and won’t be around after they’re dead.
Wouldn’t you agree?
“I’m not surprised to hear you imply that of France, but I am surprised that you should consider China to be immoral. Have I misunderstood you again?”
————————
Your little fishing expedition, through Q&A, is tedious at best.
But yes China is, a major player in the suppressing of democracy, and humanitarian rights,its (MSS) Ministry of State Security, is particularly brutal towards its own people. For all its faults I’d rather live in the west than China any day.
Of course, this doesn’t men that the west is any less guilty, it just means that China, doesn’t believe in democracy period.
Habbabkuk
I’m sure it won’t greatly surprise you to learn I went to a comprehensive school, not a public school. It is you, I suspect, who has the greater familiarity with public school caning, both as recipient and perhaps as administrator. I won’t speculate as to which you enjoyed most, but will merely observe that no matter how many times you were caned, it clearly wasn’t enough.
As for the post from Squonk’s blog, I have no desire to comment since—uniquely it would appear among the posters here—I don’t frequent it.
Have a nice weekend 🙂
KOWN
“I’m sure it won’t greatly surprise you to learn I went to a comprehensive school, not a public school.”
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You might recall that I mentioned a public school “ethos” in response to your strictures about sneaking. I’m sure you’d agree that it is possible for a comprehensive schoolboy to acquire, through some mysterious process, a puvlic school ethos?
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“As for the post from Squonk’s blog, I have no desire to comment since—uniquely it would appear among the posters here—I don’t frequent it.”
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I’m sure you don’t – it is mainly there for the likes of Macky, Ben and so on, as a forum for venting their frustrations about this blog. And about the caning I occasionally have to admonister to them.
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A good weekend to you too.
Republicofscotland
“For all its faults I’d rather live in the west than China any day.”
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Honesty at last! And may it last.
Anyone out there like to second RoS’s admission?
Post about Annie Machion’s account of the efforts in her book, Spies, Lies & Whistleblowers, to help Anglo-American spooks just disappeared when I submitted it.
It said that she appears as a deep MI6 spy, and if she gets the Sam Adams award, it will show that it too is part of the system.
Yes, Trowbridge, I remember reading it. Nothing surprises me these days. Well I thought so, until I read of Louise Mensch’s tweet telling CD to f off.
Sorry, DC. Temporary dyslexia!
Dear Mu’ammar:
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jan/23/-sp-blair-gaddafi-letter-thanks-spy-cooperation-libya-uk-dissidents
Remember how all the flags here were at halfmast when Gaddafi died? Neither do I…
Habba said: ‘If such mass harvesting does occur, who is going to read all of the intercepts? Is the necessary manpower available?’
Habba, I can only ask you what the weather’s like in Cheltenham?
The fact that ‘they’ are now conducting mass surveillance – all totally illegal under British law, by the way – means that they can now hone in on anyone they deem as ‘an enemy of the state’.
I used to enjoy taking the piss out of the paranoid psychos and loons who make up GCHQ, MI5, etc.
Now, I’m afraid, because you have become traitors and total vermin beholden to the 1%, you are all going to have to be put up against a wall and shot.
Yes, blood on your cufflinks, don’t you know.
Sorry, didn’t see any live stream on the website. Does anyone have a link to a podcast of Craig’s bit?
Statement by Tony Blair on the death of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz
Friday, Jan 23, 2015 in Office of Tony Blair
I am very sad indeed to hear of the passing of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.
“I am very sad indeed to hear of the passing of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.
“I knew him well and admired him greatly. Despite the turmoil of events in the region around him, he remained a stable and sound ally, was a patient and skilful moderniser of his country leading it step by step into the future. He was a staunch advocate of inter faith relations. He founded KAUST, the science and technology university where women and men are educated equally. And today there are more women in higher education than men. He allowed thousands to be educated abroad people who have experience of the world and will play a big part in the future of the country. He appointed women Ministers. He invested in renewable energy. And of course he launched the Arab Peace Initiative in 2002 which has stood the test of time as a potential basis for a solution to the Israeli Palestine issue.
“He was loved by his people and will be deeply missed.”
I knew him well and admired him greatly. Despite the turmoil of events in the region around him, he remained a stable and sound ally, was a patient and skilful moderniser of his country leading it step by step into the future. He was a staunch advocate of inter faith relations. He founded KAUST, the science and technology university where women and men are educated equally. And today there are more women in higher education than men. He allowed thousands to be educated abroad people who have experience of the world and will play a big part in the future of the country. He appointed women Ministers. He invested in renewable energy. And of course he launched the Arab Peace Initiative in 2002 which has stood the test of time as a potential basis for a solution to the Israeli Palestine issue.
He was loved by his people and will be deeply missed.
http://www.tonyblairoffice.org/news/entry/statement-by-tony-blair-on-the-death-of-king-abdullah-bin-abdulaziz/
How strange that that link duplicated itself. So good he said it twice!
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Abe Rene Craig is speaking 33mins in on the YT below. homeneara* left the link.
@homeneara*
22 Jan, 2015 – 9:33 pm
LIVE William Binney to receive Sam Adams Award in Berlin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSLRoIEJBsI
RobG
“Habba, I can only ask you what the weather’s like in Cheltenham?”
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Well, I can only tell you that “the isle is full of (electronic) noises”.
As for the weather as opposed to the ether, I would recommend the BBC’s inline weather forecast.
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“The fact that ‘they’ are now conducting mass surveillance – all totally illegal under British law, by the way – means that they can now hone in on anyone they deem as ‘an enemy of the state’.”
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Are you sure it’s illegal? If it is, then envisaged new legislation should take care of that.
The thought also occurs : are not terrorists enemies of the state?
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“I used to enjoy taking the piss out of the paranoid psychos and loons who make up GCHQ, MI5, etc.”
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I know. But do you know any of those officials personally?
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“Now, I’m afraid, because you have become traitors and total vermin beholden to the 1%, you are all going to have to be put up against a wall and shot.”
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Having difficulty following you here – to whom are you referring?
RobG
“Habba said: ‘If such mass harvesting does occur, who is going to read all of the intercepts? Is the necessary manpower available?’”
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Would you like to essay an answer to my question, Rob?