"The real damage is done by those millions who want to 'survive.' The honest men who just want to be left in peace. Those who don't want their little lives disturbed by anything bigger than themselves. Those with no sides and no causes. Those who won't take measure of their own strength, for fear of antagonizing their own weakness. Those who don't like to make waves-or enemies. Those for whom freedom, honour, truth, and principles are only literature.
Those who live small, mate small, die small. It's the reductionist approach to life: if you keep it small, you'll keep it under control. If you don't make any noise, the bogeyman won't find you. But it's all an illusion, because they die too, those people who roll up their spirits into tiny little balls so as to be safe. Safe?! From what? Life is always on the edge of death; narrow streets lead to the same place as wide avenues, and a little candle burns itself out just like a flaming torch does. I choose my own way to burn." - Sophie Scholl
ALEC Wants Back in the Shadows
Sorry FBI you cannot dismantle an IDEA!!!, The feds are full of shit and running in circles like a dog chasing its tail.........kos
‘You Failed to Break the Spirit of Bradley Manning’: An Open Letter to President Obama
Dear President Obama:
As commander in chief, you’ve been responsible for the treatment of the most high-profile whistleblower in the history of the U.S. armed forces. Under your command, the United States military tried -- and failed -- to crush the spirit of Bradley Manning.
Your failure became evident after the sentencing on Wednesday, when a statement from Bradley Manning was read aloud to the world. The statement began: “The decisions that I made in 2010 were made out of a concern for my country and the world that we live in. Since the tragic events of 9/11, our country has been at war. We've been at war with an enemy that chooses not to meet us on any traditional battlefield, and due to this fact we've had to alter our methods of combating the risks posed to us and our way of life. I initially agreed with these methods and chose to volunteer to help defend my country.”
From the outset, your administration set out to destroy Bradley Manning. As his biographer Chase Madar wrote in The Nation, “Upon his arrest in May 2010, he was locked up in punitive isolation for two months in Iraq and Kuwait, then nine more months at the Marine Corps brig in Quantico, Virginia. Prohibited from lying down during the day or exercising, he was forced to respond every five of his waking minutes to a guard’s question: ‘Are you OK?’ In his final weeks of isolation, Manning was deprived of all clothing beyond a tear-proof smock and forced to stand at attention every night in the nude.”
More than nine months after Manning’s arrest, at a news conference you defended this treatment -- which the State Department’s chief spokesman, P.J. Crowley, had just lambasted as “ridiculous, counterproductive and stupid.” (Crowley swiftly lost his job.) Later, the UN special rapporteur on torture issued a report on the treatment of Manning: “at a minimum cruel, inhuman and degrading.”
At a fundraiser on April 21, 2011, when asked about Manning, you flatly said: “He broke the law.” His trial would not begin for two more years.
Bradley Manning’s statement after sentencing on Wednesday said: “It was not until I was in Iraq and reading secret military reports on a daily basis that I started to question the morality of what we were doing. It was at this time I realized that (in) our efforts to meet the risk posed to us by the enemy, we have forgotten our humanity. We consciously elected to devalue human life both in Iraq and Afghanistan. When we engaged those that we perceived were the enemy, we sometimes killed innocent civilians. Whenever we killed innocent civilians, instead of accepting responsibility for our conduct, we elected to hide behind the veil of national security and classified information in order to avoid any public accountability.”
Public accountability is essential to democracy. We can’t have meaningful “consent of the governed” without informed consent. We can’t have moral responsibility without challenging official hypocrisies and atrocities.
Bradley Manning clearly understood that. He didn’t just follow orders or turn his head at the sight of unconscionable policies of the U.S. government. Finding himself in a situation where he could shatter the numbed complacency that is the foundation of war, he cared -- and he took action as a whistleblower.
After being sentenced to many years in prison, Manning conveyed to the American public an acute understanding of our present historic moment: “In our zeal to kill the enemy, we internally debated the definition of torture. We held individuals at Guantanamo for years without due process. We inexplicably turned a blind eye to torture and executions by the Iraqi government. And we stomached countless other acts in the name of our war on terror.
“Patriotism is often the cry extolled when morally questionable acts are advocated by those in power. When these cries of patriotism drown out any logically based dissension, it is usually the American soldier that is given the order to carry out some ill-conceived mission.”
Clearly, Mr. President, you have sought to make an example of Bradley Manning with categorical condemnation and harsh punishment. You seem not to grasp that he has indeed become an example -- an inspiring example of stellar courage and idealism, which millions of Americans now want to emulate.
From the White House, we continue to get puffed-up sugar-coated versions of history, past and present. In sharp contrast, Bradley Manning offers profound insights in his post-sentencing statement: “Our nation has had similar dark moments for the virtues of democracy -- the Trail of Tears, the Dred Scott decision, McCarthyism, and the Japanese-American internment camps -- to mention a few. I am confident that many of the actions since 9/11 will one day be viewed in a similar light. As the late Howard Zinn once said, ‘There is not a flag large enough to cover the shame of killing innocent people.’”
Imagine. After more than three years in prison, undergoing methodical abuse and then the ordeal of a long military trial followed by the pronouncement of a 35-year prison sentence, Bradley Manning has emerged with his solid humanistic voice not only intact, but actually stronger than ever!
He acknowledged, “I understand that my actions violated the law; I regret if my actions hurt anyone or harmed the United States. It was never my intent to hurt anyone. I only wanted to help people. When I chose to disclose classified information, I did so out of a love for my country and a sense of duty to others.”
And then Bradley Manning concluded his statement by addressing you directly as president of the United States: “If you deny my request for a pardon, I will serve my time knowing that sometimes you have to pay a heavy price to live in a free society. I will gladly pay that price if it means we could have a country that is truly conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all women and men are created equal.”
You failed to break the spirit of Bradley Manning. And that spirit will continue to inspire.
Norman Solomon is co-founder of RootsAction.org and founding director of the Institute for Public Accuracy. His books include “War Made Easy: How Presidents and Pundits Keep Spinning Us to Death.” Information on the documentary based on the book is at www.WarMadeEasyTheMovie.org.
Egypt is Becoming a Proxy Conflict
By Max Fisher
It's not an all-out proxy conflict as in Syria, but it's hard to miss the pattern.
Washington and the Egyptian Tragedy
By Stephen Zunes
The
vast majority of Egyptians killed since the coup have been unarmed
protesters struck down with American-made weapons by soldiers
transported in American-made vehicles provided by the American
taxpayer.
Hi, I'm Your New Axis of Evil
By Pepe Escobar
Egypt will remain a banana republic without the bananas and dependent on foreigners to eat.
Egypt Crisis Pushes an Unlikely Axis: Israel-Saudi
By Anshel Pfeffer
Saudi
Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates have joined Israel in an
informal alliance that is backing Egypt's de facto military government.
Homeland Security Made in Israel
By Philip Giraldi
Israel
has a vested interest in making the terrorist threat appear more real
than it actually is and also to present itself as the only reliable
partner of the United States in the war against global terror.
How Laura Poitras Helped Snowden Spill His Secrets
By PETER MAASS
Poitras
possesses a new skill set that is particularly vital - and far from
the journalistic norm - in an era of pervasive government spying: she
knows, as well as any computer-security expert, how to protect against
surveillance.
Gangster State US/UK
By Paul Craig Roberts
Many members of both governments would have made perfect functionaries in Stalinist Russia or Nazi Germany.
Outsider Manning v American exceptionalism
By Pepe Escobar
Bradley
Manning will remain confined in a military prison, while war criminals
such as George 'Dubya' Bush, Dick 'Darth Vader' Cheney and their
cohorts remain on the loose.
DOJ Wants Bush, Senior Cabinet Members Exempt From Iraq War Trial
By RT
The
United States Department of Justice has requested that former President
George W. Bush and the highest figures in his administration receive
full exemption from being tried for the Iraq War, which the DoJ says
was in line with international law.
'You Failed to Break the Spirit of Bradley Manning'
An Open Letter to President Obama
By Norman Solomon
Bradley Manning has emerged with his solid humanistic voice not only intact, but actually stronger than ever!
FBI Granted Power to Delay Citizenship for Muslims
By Karen McVeigh in New York
Covert program set up by George W Bush allows US to profile law-abiding Muslim as 'national security concerns', report says.
Not Too Big to Jail: Why Eliot Spitzer Is Wall Street's Worst Nightmare
By Ellen Brown
Wall
Street fraud, corruption and abuse have caused millions of homeowners
to lose their homes and have tipped cities toward bankruptcy; and
Spitzer is one of the brave few who has exposed and attempted to
prosecute those predatory practices.
'Oligarchic Tendencies'
Study Finds Only the Wealthy Get Represented in the Senate
By Eric W. Dolan
Democrats were not any more responsive to the poor than Republicans.
Hard News
Iraqi insurgent attacks kill 24:
Insurgent
attacks across Iraq, including a suicide bombing targeting a Shiite
wedding party, killed at least 24 people Thursday, authorities said.
Syrian eyewitness accounts of alleged chemical weapons attack in Damascus: Victim:
I could see people coming out of their homes but they would fall down - there was foam coming out of their mouths
Syria deaths: powerful asphyxiant in strike was probably sarin, say experts:
Specialists say symptoms observed in footage of victims offer strong evidence that nerve agent was used near Damascus
Syrian govt ready to cooperate with UN experts in chemical attack probe - Moscow:
The
Syrian government is ready for "maximum" cooperation with UN experts
working to clarify the alleged use of chemical weapons in attacks,
Russia's Foreign Ministry says. The UN has requested access to Damascus
suburbs to be granted "without delays".
U.S. says unable to conclusively determine chemical weapons used in Syria:
"At this
time, right now, we are unable to conclusively determine CW (chemical
weapons) use," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters.
"We are doing everything possible in our power to nail down the facts,"
she added.
US says Syrian rebels incapable of chemical attack: Video -
The
US says the alleged chemical attack in Syria would be 'outrageous and
flagrant escalation' by Assad, if the reports are confirmed. With still
no evidence of the government's involvement in the attack, or any
confirmation about the number of victims, the pressure on the Syrian
government is growing.
In case you missed it:
Toxic Catch: Syria rebels' chemical lab uncovered near Damascus :
Syrian
state TV says the military has found a chemical laboratory which
produces poisonous materials in the town of Jobar on the outskirts of
Damascus. Sources claim the rebels were planning to stuff shells with
the chemicals and use them to attack the capital. RT's Middle East
correspondent Paula Slier reports.
Chemical weapon attack in Syria is obvious: Erdogan:
Speaking
in a live Turkish TV programme, Erdogan said no bullets, no blood
stain and no gun powder was there, and it was appearent that a chemical
weapon attack was staged in the country.
France warns Syria of forceful response over chemical weapon claims:
Calls
for UN investigative team to be allowed immediate access to site of
attack but French foreign minister rules out ground troops
American, Israeli And Jordanian Troops And CIA Agents Have Entered Syria, Le Figaro Reports;
We
have yet to see secondary confirmation of the following breaking news
from the second largest French newspaper, Le Figaro, but if accurate,
it means the Nobel Peace Prize winning president has just engaged in
yet another unsanctioned by Congress war.
Report: Hezbollah supporter among 3 killed in north Lebanon:
Gunmen
in Lebanon's northern city of Tripoli killed at least three people
when they opened fire on a supporter of the Lebanese Shi'ite militant
group Hezbollah outside his house in the early hours of Thursday,
security sources said.
Two Egyptian army soldiers killed in attack in Ismailia:
Two
Egyptian army soldiers were killed on Thursday in an attack on a
military patrol in the Suez Canal province of Ismailia, security and
medical sources told Anadolu Agency.
Egypt PM says country can survive without US military aid:
Egypt's
interim prime minister said it would be a mistake on the part of the
US to halt its substantial military aid to Cairo, while indicating in a
defiant tone that Egypt would "live with the circumstances" if
Washington decided to cease aid.
Did Amnesty International unwittingly assist the Egyptian military in its bloody crackdown on protesters?:
The
Egyptian coup have publicly quoted from its reports as part of their
justification for the slaughter of pro-Mohamed Morsi activists
Hosni Mubarak Leaves Prison In Helicopter:
Former
Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak has been released from prison and
flown by helicopter to a military hospital. Television pictures showed
the 85-year-old leaving Tora prison on the southern outskirts of Cairo
and landing minutes later in the nearby suburb of Maadi. He is expected
to be placed under house arrest at the hospital on the orders of
Egyptian prime minister Hazem el-Beblawi.
Israel warns US: Alienating Egyptian army could risk peace talks:
Israel
has urged the US to back the Egyptian military, saying losing Egypt to
Islamists could pose a risk the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, The
Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.
Israel accuses 'global jihad elements' of rocket attack launched from Lebanon:
Three missiles fired from Hezbollah stronghold raise tensions along the volatile front
Israel Seeking More US Military "Aid":
Israel
is seeking a surge in future US Foreign Military Financing (FMF)
grants not only to support its growing security requirements, but to
offset the impact of increasingly advanced US arms sales to other
countries in the volatile region.
Jimmy Carter peace award sparks outrage from pro-Israeli camp:
"I
can't imagine a worse candidate for any kind of a human rights award,"
said Harvard law professor and pro-Israel author Allan Dershowitz, to
the Washington Free Beacon. "He has more blood on his hands than
practically any other president."
'Iran would barely retaliate if its nuclear program were attacked':
Israel
doesn't need a US green light to strike Tehran's nukes, says Yuval
Steinitz; Iran couldn't cause much damage in response
US Export of Cluster Bombs to Saudi Arabia at Odds with International Ban Treaty;
"We
are disappointed with the US decision to export cluster bombs to Saudi
Arabia as both countries acknowledge the negative humanitarian impact
of these weapons on civilians,"
Somalia: Kenya Killed 20 Al-Shabaab Militiamen:
Kenyan
authorities said that their defence forces killed 20 Al-Shabaab
militiamen near the border town of Hulugho, Garissa. This is according
to MoFA.
Nigeria: 13 Killed in Boko Haram Attacks on Borno Towns:
Thirteen
persons were feared killed, when suspected Boko Haram members stormed
Gwoza and Gamboru/Ngala towns in Borno State, ostensibly on a reprisal
attack.
12 reported dead after clashes in Central African Republic capital:
A Red Cross official says at least 12 people are dead following clashes in the capital of volatile Central African Republic.
Insurgents dressed as soldiers kill 4 in Nigeria:
Suspected
Islamist extremists dressed as soldiers opened fire on residents of a
town in northeastern Nigeria on Wednesday after luring them out of
their homes, killing four people, residents said.
Surrounded: How the U.S. Is Encircling China with Military Bases:
The
U.S. military is encircling China with a chain of air bases and
military ports. The latest link: a small airstrip on the tiny Pacific
island of Saipan.
Growing US presence in Australia to include aircraft:
The
U.S. is preparing to add aircraft to its military presence in
Australia, which will include 2,500 Marines rotating through the
northern port of Darwin starting in 2016.
David Miranda wins partial court victory over data seized by police:
Court restricts authorities 'inspecting, copying or sharing' data
US doesn't know what Snowden took, sources say:
Sources
said authorities believe the trove of unreleased materials includes
details of data collection by U.S. allies, including the U.K., Canada,
Australia and New Zealand. These English-speaking allies, known along
with the U.S. as the "Five Eyes," are critical to U.S. intelligence
efforts.
Brazilians mull anti-US-spook law:
Businesses
selling online to Brazil-based consumers could be forced to store any
personal data they collect about those individuals on local servers
under proposed new laws under consideration in the country.
Report: NSA spied on Salt Lake City before 2002 Olympics:
It monitored the content of all email and text communications in the Salt Lake City area.
Bradley Manning Announces She Will Live as a Woman:
Manning's
lawyer appeared on the Today show to read an exclusive statement from
Manning announcing that he is slated to begin hormone therapy in a push
towards gender reassignment, and would like to be referred to as
Chelsea Manning by the media at large, and with feminine pronouns
Homeless Couple Now Millionaires After Being Shot 15 Times by LAPD:
Justice
has been served in favor of a homeless LA couple. The two were
tragically shot by LA sheriff's deputies more than 15 times. In short,
they aren't homeless anymore...they're millionaires.
Columbia plan's to remove homeless people from the city center:
Perhaps
the most controversial feature of the plan involves increasing police
patrols in a 36-block business district and at the riverfront shelter
to direct the homeless there for help. If they refuse, they could be
arrested under a range of public nuisance laws that include loitering,
public intoxication, public urination, aggressive panhandling or
trespassing.
10 Shocking Examples of Police Killing Innocent People in the "War on Drugs":
Many innocent victims have become collateral damage in our pointless, destructive drug war.
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Elizabeth Warren’s secret: The Salon interview
The senator tells Salon how one senator can wield tremendous power -- and (kind of) addresses those '16 rumors
By David Dayen
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren (Credit: Reuters/Eric Thayer)So let’s say you’re a high-profile freshman senator walking into this den of inertia, and you want to make your large following proud and advance your agenda, but you’re in no position to do that legislatively? How do you, Elizabeth Warren, find your way through this minefield, and even chalk up successes?
“It’s all about learning to use the new tools,” Warren told Salon in an interview this week. “In the Senate, there are more tools in the toolbox than are obvious.” Warren, now the senior senator from Massachusetts (Ed Markey, with a 37-year congressional career, is the junior member), has employed those more unconventional tools effectively, doing her part to both change the conversation around the financial industry inside and outside Washington, and change the sharpness of the regulatory response to financial misdeeds.
Warren sits on the Senate Banking Committee, which has marked up all of two bills so far this year (she played a role in both, passing an amendment to a national insurance licensing bill and working closely with the committee leadership on reforming the Federal Housing Administration). But she has really shone in oversight hearings, where she has gained a reputation for offering uncomfortable questions to regulatory officials about their lack of prosecuting criminal activity on Wall Street. “Too big to fail has become too big for trial,” she said at a hearing in February. “How big do the biggest banks have to get before we consider breaking them up?” she asked Treasury Secretary Jack Lew in May. And she’s used the bully pulpit outside the hearing room, too, schooling CNBC anchors so badly on the history of financial regulation that the network forced the clip to be removed from YouTube........read more
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WikiLeaker makes statement after the trial is done
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Government can't 'inspect, copy or share' – except to protect 'national security'
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Patient records system contract still grinding to a halt
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Systems chief at power firm
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Cunning key caper laughs in the face of spooks, sovereignty
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Analysis Spooks' own advice lays out exactly how this crypto wypto hypto thing works
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Anonymous-affiliated bods claim fresh scalp of far-right group
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'More money, bennies, or no more pretty starbirth snaps,' demand ALMA staffers
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WISEly getting the most bang for its space buck
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