Whoever leaked the Mossack Fonseca papers appears motivated by a genuine desire to expose the system that enables the ultra wealthy to hide their massive stashes, often corruptly obtained and all involved in tax avoidance. These Panamanian lawyers hide the wealth of a significant proportion of the 1%, and the massive leak of their documents ought to be a wonderful thing.
Unfortunately the leaker has made the dreadful mistake of turning to the western corporate media to publicise the results. In consequence the first major story, published today by the Guardian, is all about Vladimir Putin and a cellist on the fiddle. As it happens I believe the story and have no doubt Putin is bent.
But why focus on Russia? Russian wealth is only a tiny minority of the money hidden away with the aid of Mossack Fonseca. In fact, it soon becomes obvious that the selective reporting is going to stink.
The Suddeutsche Zeitung, which received the leak, gives a detailed explanation of the methodology the corporate media used to search the files. The main search they have done is for names associated with breaking UN sanctions regimes. The Guardian reports this too and helpfully lists those countries as Zimbabwe, North Korea, Russia and Syria. The filtering of this Mossack Fonseca information by the corporate media follows a direct western governmental agenda. There is no mention at all of use of Mossack Fonseca by massive western corporations or western billionaires – the main customers. And the Guardian is quick to reassure that “much of the leaked material will remain private.”
What do you expect? The leak is being managed by the grandly but laughably named “International Consortium of Investigative Journalists”, which is funded and organised entirely by the USA’s Center for Public Integrity. Their funders include
Ford Foundation
Carnegie Endowment
Rockefeller Family Fund
W K Kellogg Foundation
Open Society Foundation (Soros)
among many others. Do not expect a genuine expose of western capitalism. The dirty secrets of western corporations will remain unpublished.
Expect hits at Russia, Iran and Syria and some tiny “balancing” western country like Iceland. A superannuated UK peer or two will be sacrificed – someone already with dementia.
The corporate media – the Guardian and BBC in the UK – have exclusive access to the database which you and I cannot see. They are protecting themselves from even seeing western corporations’ sensitive information by only looking at those documents which are brought up by specific searches such as UN sanctions busters. Never forget the Guardian smashed its copies of the Snowden files on the instruction of MI6.
What if they did Mossack Fonseca database searches on the owners of all the corporate media and their companies, and all the editors and senior corporate media journalists? What if they did Mossack Fonseca searches on all the most senior people at the BBC? What if they did Mossack Fonseca searches on every donor to the Center for Public Integrity and their companies?
What if they did Mossack Fonseca searches on every listed company in the western stock exchanges, and on every western millionaire they could trace?
That would be much more interesting. I know Russia and China are corrupt, you don’t have to tell me that. What if you look at things that we might, here in the west, be able to rise up and do something about?
And what if you corporate lapdogs let the people see the actual data?
UPDATE
Hundreds of thousands of people have read this post in the 11 hours since it was published – despite it being overnight here in the UK. There are 235,918 “impressions” on twitter (as twitter calls them) and over 3,700 people have “shared” so far on Facebook, bringing scores of new readers each.
I would remind you that this blog is produced free for the public good and you are welcome to republish or re-use this article or any other material freely anywhere without requesting further permission.
Broadcast media breathlessly and continuously repeat the usual suspects…..Khaddafi, Putin and Assad. ‘Natch!
And your point is?
He is pointing out how stupid you are.
It will take a long time to go through 2 Terabytes of information. That is around the amount of information in the Library of Congress. So far they are just skimming the surface.
Just for the sake of precision about the Library of Congress.
Wikipedia quote “2000 study by information scientists Peter Lyman and Hal Varian suggested that the amount of uncompressed textual data represented by the 26 million books then in the collection was 10 terabytes.”
Reading the usual press articles, it is clear Putin is the number one bad guy in the eyes if the Western press over offshore account. What’s more surprising, is the amount of coverage David Cameron’s father Ian and his financial undertaking has received.
It’s almost as if the press are trying to smear David Cameron, I wonder if London’s “Square mile” have lost confidence in their man, in the hope that he will soon be replaced by Boris Johnson, or the financially (but exeedingly obedient ) inept Gideon Osborne.
Far from “smearing” Cameron, all BBC News outlets repeat the same formula that his late father – i.e. no longer in a position to sue – was “law-abiding” even as “he hid the identities” of his clients whose funds he managed in offshore locations. Cameron Sr broke no laws because it was legal to do this – as he, cousins and conferes did with gay abandon. Now Cameron Jr pretends to have come over all moral without allowing any openness about whether his generation inherited or benefited from Dad’s offshore activities. Downing St flatly refuses to discuss the matter. At least Putin’s Peskov says nothing new in allegations – which is true since Putin’s name is not in documents only his “associates”, but if we took “associates” of Cameron or Blair in the Panamanian files as similar proof of money-laundering by them….. Look at the list of Western allies: Ukraine’s Poroshenko $986m in British Virgin Isles and counting; Iraq’s MI6 trained Allawi (whose boys set off first car bomb in Iraq as far back as 1996); Qatar and Al Jazeera’s Al Thani – no wonder hacks hoping to get on that gravy train are quiet about that….
Its well past time the elite are brought back down from their Olympian perch. The rest of us deserve better treatment.
This site offers you the choice to explore the Panama Papers.
https://panamapapers.icij.org/graphs/
Err, no it doesn’t not at all.
Yet the site says “Explore the Panama Papers Key Figures.”
After looking more deeply into its content, I’m afraid you’re correct, key figures are Putin and Co, typical.
https://panamapapers.icij.org/20160403-panama-papers-global-overview.html
Putin is not mentioned as having an offshore account. That does not mean he has not got one. But you, as ever, RoS, have shown your distaste for Russia and Putin without any solid evidence. It would never stand up in a real court of justice. If you’ve got something on Putin, any of you, let’s hear it. Otherwise keep quiet or you just demonstrate your bigoted ignorance.
Perhaps Sergei Magnitsky who blew the whistle on how tax funds were being diverted to Putin’s cronies might constitute the solid evidence you require as to Putin’s misdeeds – but I somehow doubt that any evidence would satisfy you and your fellow lickspittles
John Goss.
If you look further down the comments to my 19.38 comment, you’ll see , I added a little parity regarding Russia. I criticise all sides John, you’d better get used to it.
As for my remark Putin & Co, it was a meant as “typical” of the press to highlight Putin, and not Western leaders.
Here you go John, this is right up your street. ?
http://www.fort-russ.com/2016/04/encirclement-of-russia-war-for-ngorno.html?m=1
RoS, yes, I saw your comment further down but not until after I had responded to this and to speak truth I thought I had been a little too harsh on you. 😀 But I still think there is unfounded criticism, mostly from bigots who have no background in Russian affairs, and people like well wisher who think you are going to go chasing for information because they are too lazy to provide a link to their alleged proofs – probably because they are too easy to dismantle.
Putin has been the good guy in world affairs in recent years. It surprises me that so many thinking people can be sold on western MSM lies. The world is full of puzzles.
Forgot to add are the files available, for the general public to access yet.
Will the ICIJ release them or will they slowly milk them to boost paper sales
Or will the security services in Britain stop the files from being revealed.
Or do you suspect another line of action, and by whom?
It has, however, fingered Michael Ashcroft and Michael Mates. Ashcroft denies partnering or doing business with Mossack Fonseca – which need not exclude the possibility that MF set up some shells for him – and flatly contradicts the authenticity or even the existence of the source. Yup, that’s what any experienced burglar would do when caught halfway up a drainpipe. Deny everything.
So that’s Cameron’s dad (the offshore fund is still apparently extant, so Cameron too) AND the Tories’ money man. No wonder everyone’s concentrating on Putin.
I found an alleged site for the data dump earlier, but it had gone 505 by the time I got there. I don’t wholly believe the Suddeutsche Zeitung/ ICIJ account of how they got it, and Craig omitted USAID as one of the funders for the latter.
USAID has been known to do dirty work for the CIA: CIA Front, USAID, “Spreading Democracy”, Gearing Up in Ukraine – Suharto II?.
Cameron’s father’s fund is still extant? Maybe that’s why Prime Minister Cameron has said family investments are a “private matter”.
It isn’t true.
Hi Craig how long till they start connecting the Dots to
Gordon Bowden the RAF whstleblower
http://atrueindependentscotland.com/bbc-handed-explosive-evidence-of-massive-corruption-that-is-set-topple-the-british-establishment/
out of the bag podcasts
listen to audio
Start on MP3 -1 at 23mins 20seconds in
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MP3 – 1 http://outofthebagradio.weebly.com/uploads/1/2/7/5/12754388/rec_(03_04_2015)_0-1.mp3
MP3 – 2 http://outofthebagradio.weebly.com/uploads/1/2/7/5/12754388/rec_(03_04_2015)_0-2.mp3
MP3 – 3 http://outofthebagradio.weebly.com/uploads/1/2/7/5/12754388/rec_%2803_04_2015%29_0-3.mp3
MP3 – 4 http://outofthebagradio.weebly.com/uploads/1/2/7/5/12754388/rec_(03_04_2015)_0-4.mp3
MP3 – 5 http://outofthebagradio.weebly.com/uploads/1/2/7/5/12754388/rec_(03_04_2015)_0-5.mp3
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handing in of reports to the BBC
http://youtu.be/nGBBQeJVBFU
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/petition/The_Suddeutsche_Zeitung_The_Guardian_Make_publicly_available_the_complete_26_Terabyte_leak_of_the_panama_papers/?cmasrfb
Please sign and share
Will be very interesting to see how this develops
bravo craig, people like you are necessary to show us how corrupt the corporate lapdogs in the media are.
That’s how they tried to keep the UBS scandal under wraps. But guess what? It only worked for about 6 months. Were they embarassed at covering for crooks? not even at being found out.
I expect more than just an opinion piece on this angle. Is there anything, besides a list of very rich funders and the lack of American citizens on the list, that would support what you are implying? We need more proof and less belief. There’s enough talk as it is. It will not help, only confuse. There needs to certainty.
Avaaz is part of the cover up, a diversionary tactic for leading critical thinking astray. They are Soros funded and very much part of the 1% agenda. http://www.wrongkindofgreen.org/category/organizations/avaaz/
And so it begins the odd scapegoat then back to normal politics again politicians will get there sweet hart deals after they leave office ,as long as they have been good boys and girls. The media will twist it around to there owners needs again. Freedom and democracy are a thing of the past serfdom welcome back
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/petition/The_Suddeutsche_Zeitung_The_Guardian_Make_publicly_available_the_complete_26_Terabyte_leak_of_the_panama_papers/?cmasrfb
They have acces to the proof, thats why they should allow the public to search the database
Page 6 of comments, and I’m too knackered to comment, because I’m presently in the process of building a rather large stone wall, and it’s back-breaking work.
The key to constructing a good wall is to be able to understand/conceptualise how all the very varied pieces of stone fit together to make a whole.
Right now I’m too knackered to comment too, partly because it means reading through over 300 comments first, which I’m sure will be very interesting, but will take some time.
Building a stone wall – what a great project to be into.
I noticed that the pie graph in the Guardian contains a few hints:
Hints that the US hidden owners are few (???)
That the UK’s hidden owners are big (???)
That China and HK’s hidden owners are massive.
Perhaps HK and the UK are morphing into the same role.
HK to China and UK to Europe and anyone else.
Sky news BBC news and radio reports are uncannily similar in respect of this mega leak. There is a suspicious lack of naming and shaming of UK persons who may or may not be involved “The Global elite” is the euphemistic phrase booming out to describe cheating bstards .
One imagines the Govt. have warned off the broadcasters until the rapidly being hired PR.companies. get their strategies in place.
The usual suspects Putin ,China ,Assad, Iran ,Pakistan are rounded up for easy condemnation.
Recently the medical profession has had to admit that cannabis does have some amazing medical properties, you can’t keep a good dog down. I wonder if we will find a cure for the disease that are the 1%’ers?
Could be, but it’s off to a very slow start in the UK.
I don’t know if this is enitrely true. There has been 400 journalists in 80 different countries working on the case and analysing the data. Yes, the mass media is getting info in piece by piece at the moment and making a selection of what the public is told at this phase, but it is not a mass media initiative. They paly a role of making it public, getting attention and give protection for the individual journalists torugh the exposure. Putin is big news globally, his business connections and practises has been under suspitions for a while already + not surpirsed that he is one of the first to be mentioned considering his latest political moves. Any big mouth driving corporate capitalist agenda, like Cameron, for sure are among the first to be pointed out, same goes for the opposition if gought for double standards, like in Iceland. I don’t think this will be over for a while. It is loads of dirty laundry within nations that people are very curious about first, and then of courrse internationally, the grand scheme of things that people are weary off and who finally want to see behind all the smoke and mirrors. Sure, there will be attempts to discredit and question the ethical bases of the leaks, deny, lye about and dismiss any wrong doings, but this is what people have been waiting for. It’s finally the 1%:s time to do some explaining and be judged by their actions for what they are without hiding behind economic mumbo jumbo and ideologic houcu-pocus…
Speaking as an American citizen, I am MUCH more interested in the Americans on that list than I am in Putin or anyone else. If it’s true that there aren’t many there, I suspect it just means most use a different law firm.
The papers most likely was an inside job of the US or the CIA as the media outlet receiving this was a typical CIA propaganda outlet. This may be the biggest smear campaign and the US will not be named or unhidden on purpose. I had hoped for the best in these leeks and now it all smells like BS.
It is redolent of an op and selective enforcement. Again, I ask cui bono?
It is also to appreciated that if you read the story as presented abroad you will read local stories, which are not of interest in the UK e.g. Japan Times leads with a Japanese story form the files.
Interesting that the NY Times doesn’t appear to give the story much prominence.
Neither does the Washington Post.
The revolution is being televised. In Iceland that is.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMT2zZcvIi8
A recent post by Craig on Israel attracted quite a few new posters – so much so that some on here thought that these new posters must have been hasbara agents working in coordinated fashion.
This post too has attracted even more new posters.
Would it be excessively fanciful to think that quite a few of them are Occupy supporters from many countries working in coordinated fashion?
Just sayin’, of course – I don’t mind in the slightest (on the contrary, in fact).
I notice GCHQ (Habbabkuk) knows who is “new” here and who is not. Getting us all down on file down there in Cheltenham, are we?
He keeps a record of everything we say. Meanwhile, he is careful to reveal almost nothing about himself.
It’s not too difficult, is it?
Although this is probably very true observation, still this reveals how mid-level to high-level companies launder their money and avoid the taxes. I think overall this will contribute to more transparency on how big business is run and eventually to fall of capitalism as we know it.. yes I’m optimist 😉
So, the Western billionaires, some of whom I know, are exempted from being outed. You can rest assured ‘their names are counted there.’ What strikes me as odd is that Wikileaks would somehow trust this ‘leak’ to the Guardian. My Gawd, if as you say, the Guardian, was ordered to quash Snowden’s papers by M16, what made Wikileaks suddenly have confidence in The Guardian? And, the ‘USA’s Center for Public Integrity,’ how Orwelian is this double-speak? This possible ‘outing’ of the entire Western and Western-tied Oligarchs is now, not only a wasted enterprise where the guilty and unconscionable are shielded. But, it’s to be used as Anti-Russian, Chinese, et al (Enemies’ List) propaganda. The ole’ reliable, “We’re good; do no wrong. They’re Evil; do everything wrong” routine. And these wonderful watchdog foundations you list, foxes all, guarding the hen-house since Day One. Oh, well.. Another day in the Life-of!
Neal…You are spot on.
I don’t think Wikileaks had anything to do with the discovery of or release of the data.
Putin daar werd eventjes goed tegen aan geschopt terwijl hij niet op die lijst stond. Maar een paar mensen die hij kende wel.
Maar dan komt het.
Meer als 700 mensen uit eblgie staan wel op die lijst en vele ervna zijn mijardairs. Denk je dat het koninklijk huis van belgie niemand op die lijst daarvan kent? Kom op al die rijken mensen kennen elkaar. Maar Poetin moest weer daar de stront getrokken worden. Ik ben benieuwd waneer de plurus uit breekt want eens zal het geduld van hem wel raken. OOk vind ik om 1 van deze redens de staatsmedia niet meer betrouwbaar overkomen en ben ik overgestapt op alternatief nieuws en dat bevalt me stukken beter. Ik ben dat gelieg spuug zat en steeds meer mensen ook. Als de russen hun geduld verliezen dan denk ik dat veel kans de elite kunen gaan lopen en heel hard. Die lokken hem duidelijk uit de tent en hun zijn dan verantwoordelijk voor de oorlog die hun gecreerd hebben. .
And what do you know? Earlie today I got an mail from Paul Johnson, Deputy Editor, Guardian News and Media, asking for financially support to help them go through this 1.5 terabytes of data. My reply was to turnout over to the public to go through it rather than expect us to have it filtered through the Guardian’s eyes.
Truth is, all these rich bastards are corrupt thieving cnuts.
There’s not one of them who made money in any socially productive way.
And that’s the reason we’re in the state we’re in.
OT.
So it’s alleged that a top doctor provided banned substances for top sports star in the UK. Just thought I’d mention it because when Russia, came under the Western spotlight over doping, the press went into a blood frenzy. So I thought I’d add a little parity to the equation.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/the-times/british-doctor-mark-bonar-claims-he-doped-150-sports-stars/news-story/d0630da9171b45e06fd3d18704b51cb1
I read this morning that that doctor is not licensed to practise in the UK?
I note with interest PM Cameron your government’s involvement in the redevelopment of Camden Lock Village:
http://www.standard.co.uk/business/business-news/billionaire-teddy-sagi-gets-shard-firm-to-redevelop-camden-lock-10159767.html
Perchance the off-shore wheeling & dealing of Israeli billionaire Teddy Sagi and recent deals with Brockton Capital, which sold its stake in Camden Market to last year might appear in your field of view considering the latest tax avoidance revelations.
Online gambling tycoon Sagi dealing is revealed in the Mossack Fonseca documents. Sagi reportedly has 16 offshore companies, some of which were used to hold real estate, including the famous project Sagi launched last year on the Camden site in London.
Would you like me, agent Cameron, to disclose a more comprehensive and exhaustive review of these facts?
Two words: George Soros
All trails leads back.
Yup.
By their slimy trails of misery and destruction shall ye know them.
No amount of media cleanup fully removes the grease.
Someone with some integrity has to get the full database into the hands of wikileaks, the way this has been handled has just resulted in heavy politicisation of information everyone should get to see for themselves, rather than through the lens of corporate media ‘analysis’.