George Bush was rightfully denounced for his Administration’s false statements to both the public and the United Nations on weapons of mass destruction in Iraq — the rationale for our invasion of that country. There was little apparent concern from Bush or his aides over the veracity or proof of their assertions as opposed to the desired outcome. The same mentality is in open display with President Obama this month as he and his aides continue to increase the claims of “successes” from the warrantless surveillance programs as public opposition grows. In this case, the increasing claims are being made in a war on privacy, including an effort to redefine privacy in a new surveillance-friendly image. We are now up to over 50 “potential plots” and Obama is sounding distinctly Bush-like in statements today about how these programs “saved lives.” The public, which learned this month that it was openly lied to about the programs in earlier hearings, is expected to accept these assurances on faith alone.
Speaking Wednesday morning during a press conference in Berlin with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Obama repeated the new “over 50” claim and said “this is a circumscribed, narrow system directed at us being able to protect our people.” Once again, he considers not violating the fourth amendment directly by simply listening to calls is an admirable compromise on his part. He again cited the FISA court in a ludicrous suggestion that the court offers any meaningful review. He then added that putting the entire country under these surveillance programs was beneficial. He insisted that by effectively issuing a national security letter for the entire country, he stopped dozens of attacks and “as a consequence, we’ve saved lives.” Once again, there is very little push back on such claims by the media and even less from Congress.
Before we get into the latest round of claims to justify these programs, it is worth noting again that the success of any program does not excuse its unconstitutionality. While, as previously discussed, the Supreme Court (unwisely) stripped pen register evidence of protections under the fourth amendment, it has never signed off on this type of massive data collection and monitoring of all citizens.
Now to the current count. You will recall that allies of the White House originally claimed one thwarted plot. They then increased that number to two and then to four. As opposition mounted, they started to claim “dozens” of “potential” plots. Now we are up to over 50 according to NSA chief Gen. Keith Alexander.
This is getting to look like those old Joe Isuzu commercials where a spokesman openly inflates claims to sell a car. The problem is that we were just lied to. Not only did the Administration lie about the programs but these very senators eliciting the new claims were the same who remained silent in the face of testimony that they knew was false. James R. Clapper Jr., the director of national intelligence, to the Senate in March. Clapper said unequivocally that the N.S.A. was not gathering data on millions of Americans. That is obviously false and Senators hearing the testimony knew that the public was being lied to. Senator Wyden asked Clapper: “Does the N.S.A. collect any type of data at all on millions or hundreds of millions of Americans?” Clapper responded: “No, sir. Not wittingly.”
However, it was done “wittingly” when you demand all of the calls for all citizens, right? Clapper will argue that he simply defines collecting data differently from the vast majority of humanity. However, courts regularly reject such subjective views of the truth. The point of the answer was to assure the public that they have nothing to worry about — the same message being given by members now that the truth has come out. Clapper’s testimony was for the public to hear and believe — even though Senators knew it to be untrue. Keep in mind that we have two surveillance programs now being reported — one collecting all call information and one involving email data.
Clapper has recently said that his testimony was “the least untrue” statement that he could make. Yet, of course that would still make it an untrue statement — which most people call a lie and lawyers call perjury. Indeed, when Roger Clemens was prosecuted for untrue statements before Congress, he was not told of the option to tell the least untrue statement on steroid use.
Now the same Senators are assuring the public that they can now rest assured because the same administration is claiming over 50 successes.
Even if some citizens were willing to give this Administration and these Senators the benefit of the doubt, consider the following questions:
What is a “potential plot”? — The Administration does not define what “potential” means. There is obviously an interest to count every and any possible claimed plot in the face of the exodus of supporters from the White House. IF this were a real plot, were hundreds of people arrested? What steps were taken to avert each of these plots?
Where are all of the prosecutions? — The Justice Department has prosecuted earlier cases on the thinnest connections and associations. Why haven’t we seen dozens of prosecutions for these plots? Indeed, this Administration is not shy about claiming any and all victories over terrorism. Yet, suddenly we hear that there conspiracies on every front and around every corner — thwarted simply by denying privacy to Americans.
What was the other evidence or sources? — Just as the Bush Administration claimed that torture led to saving lives and finding Bin Laden (later discredited), Obama is claiming to have saved lives with these warrantless surveillance programs as if they were the only source of information. That does not make sense. This is the same president who says that he would show some evidence to a secret court before reading the content or listening to calls. The calls themselves could not be the evidence used to intercept the calls, even on the ridiculed FISA court. As with torture, there is always other sources of evidence but the Administration is eager to portray these programs as the reason some Americans (unnamed) are alive today.
Why should we believe them? — With members (and of course the Justice Department) entirely silent concerning the perjury of Clapper, the message is clear: both the White House and Congress will not move against officials who lie to the public to lull them into a sense of security. The fact that these members will not even discuss Clapper’s perjury illustrates the farcical purpose of these hearings. As George Bush once again, “There’s an old saying in Tennessee—I know it’s in Texas, probably in Tennessee—that says, ‘Fool me once, shame on…shame on you. Fool me — you can’t get fooled again.'” And he knew something about fooling folks.
I wish the Founding Fathers had e-mail, telephony, electronic files, computer mass storage devices, blogs, electronic devices, encrypted files, text messages, and metadata hardcoded into the Bill of Rights just so that idiots in gov’t today cannot insist these are not something the founding fathers would have thought of when granting us the right to privacy.
My God, I cannot type today.
Amen Brother :8
Ahmen Brother 🙂
Off Topic but I know there are some Sopranos fans here. James Gandolfini died today in Italy @ the age of 51 of a heart attack. If anyone saw him in Zero Dark Thirty it was obvious he had put on a lot of weight. He was perfect as Tony Soprano. And the scenes w/ him and his mom, his shrink, and his wife, were so real. Tony knew how to deal w/ men. He really struggled w/ women. Obviously the show was a huge success. However, being brought up in an Italian family there were little things that only us dagos really got. The show was recently voted the top rated tv show for writing of all time. Well deserved.
“I’m not upset that you lied to me, I’m upset that from now on I can’t believe you.”
― Friedrich Nietzsche
Mike,
Someone played that album over and over again, in the background. I never understood the words to the songs, but I remember quite well, I remember quite well, those phrases after 43 years.
Goodnight.
“You start out with president Bush and WMDs, It wasn’t just G.W. it was most of the federal government Republicans and Democrats from Hillary Clinton on down”
Add to that list many leaders around the globe.
Remember
1. Saddam did have WMDs at one time.
2. Saddam had a vested interest in making people think he had them. After all if you think your neighbor has nerve gas, dirty bombs, or other WMDs you tend to be nicer to them.
Darren, You’re “Preaching to the choir” w/ me. Can I hear an Amen, brother?
Clearly our founders and those they listened to were wise to continue and/or establish juries.
And proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
They knew that the nature of those in power, once corrupted by power, would lie and deceive at every turn (Why Trial By Jury?).
The use of military trials is designed to avoid “the jury problem.”
Here’s a plot that was foiled.
Well, OK. It wasn’t foiled. It wasn’t even a plot.
Somebody had a notion that maybe the Stock Exchange could be bombed. Another had a look and found it impossible to get a vehicle anywhere near it. Nobody is going to be able to carry a bomb that will do any significant damage to the building – and besides, have you seen the security in the area?
The idea sems to have been considered a non-starter and dropped.
The Feds found out about it later.
The court documents confirm
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2013/06/nsa-stock-exchange/
Here’s a bunch of plots that were foiled.
… and not by communications surveillance
http://edition.cnn.com/2013/06/17/opinion/bergen-nsa-spying/index.html?hpt=hp_t4
“Homegrown jihadist extremists have mounted 42 plots to conduct attacks within the United States since 2001. Of those plots, nine involved an actual terrorist act that was not prevented by any type of government action, such as the failed attempt by Faisal Shahzad to blow up a car bomb in Times Square on May 1, 2010.
Of the remaining 33 plots, the public record shows that at least 29 were uncovered by traditional law enforcement methods, such as the use of informants, reliance on community tips about suspicious activity and other standard policing practices.”
Mike,
You could just say, “Whatever you think you owe Bob K., as the Incredible String Band said,
‘Whatever you think
It’s more than that, more than that.'”
Gene,
I plan to give 99942 Apophis a playful nudge. Which way? Stay tuned.
You’re welcome.
Bob K,
I love the Incredible String Band.
Scot
I am painfully aware of the brutally terrible damage that Bush, Cheney, and Rummy have inflicted upon this planet, but it was avoidable, thus repairable. This surveillance program erodes the fundamental nature of liberty America stood for from the Revolution throughout the Cold War. There ain’t no fixing this, it’s taken on a life of its own.
And while I agree with one hundred percent about the need for more Progressives, there’s not enough Progressives we can elect to override the powerful corporate interests that demanded an end to the Occupy movement, which in my view, is one of the driving factors behind this program.
I’m sorry, the argument that Mr. O is not as bad as GWB is sorely lacking. Both Dems and Repos lied to us to alter policy that favored their own special interest. Both should be relieved of their public service in the next election. Both Rs and Ds have shown that they don’t have a clue when it comes to managing a checking account. They both spend money like there is no tomorrow. Both Rs and Ds have no respect for international borders or the tiny thingy in the Constitution that says War is declared by Congress and executed by the Prez. Both Rs and Ds have given up that War Declaring business to whatever Prez happens to be in power at the moment. For most of the elected officials, as long as a piece of the war budget comes back home and then gets back into their campaign coffers, all is well.
The War in Iraq was costly in people and money. It’s over (for us, for the most part, at least for now). Trading our liberty for false security has the potential to continue for a long time to come and may well prove just as costly in both people and money as abuses happen (and happen they will). Indeed, Mr. O declared the war on terror over, but the terror mongering so you give up your civil liberties continues, go figure.
To any D that voted for the war because they believed in Mr. C, shame on them and shame on the voters for voting such cads into office that are so easily swayed.
We the People can issue a cease and desist order when the next election comes around. Do not vote for a single proven lier. Do not vote for your politician that voted for the (un)Patriot Act. Only if We the people vote like we talk will change take place.
Bob K.,
I want to know what your plans are for 99942 Apophis.
Many thanks for your efforts to date.
The sheer ease and effortlessness of it all. How humiliating for the nation of toadstools..
Managing the Mushrooms
The mushroom school of management
Has two rules, brief and stark:
You feed them only excrement.
You keep them in the dark.
For if they’ve only dined on shit
And never seen the light,
They’ll take whatever you see fit
And thank you for their plight.
Oh, keep us safe from knowing, please
The things you’ve done and do.
And let no one disturb the ease
With which you lie on cue.
Imagine if we only knew
Of all our rights you’ve taken?
Much better we admit what’s true:
Our rights we have forsaken.
Oh, Corporate Power on your throne
We beg you: Keep us quiet.
Divide us so that each alone
Can never start a riot.
Don’t tell us. We don’t want to know.
From our own minds protect us.
And if we ever should inquire,
Of treason please suspect us.
Michael Murry, “The Misfortune Teller,” Copyright © 2012
We need more progressive Democrats in office eh? Just like President Obama? He’ll stand up for your rights as a citizen just like a good Progressive will. Certainly he has lived up to the expectations of transparency, rule of law, and the rights of all US citizens on his kill list. A shining example of what was proffered by Progressive Democrats as the best example of who to put into the white house. Yeah, let’s give them another opportunity in 2016 to continue their legacy.
The answer to politicians in Washington is not more politicians of the same two political parties that got our country into the mess it is in presently.
From “Hope” and “Change” to despair and the status quo. And with a Nobel Peace Prize for Endless War, too.
What can explain the whiplash about-face on everything that matters?
Congenital Stockholm Syndrome
He started by giving up quickly,
Surrendering early his case.
He offered to kiss their asses.
Replying, they pissed in his face.
Their urine, he thought, tasted strangely;
Yet not at all bad to his taste.
He’d gotten so used to it, plainly.
Why let such a drink go to waste?
The people who voted in favor
Of him and his promise of “change”
Now see in his many betrayals
A poodle afflicted with mange.
Each time that the surly and crazy
Republicans out for his skin
Condemn him for living and breathing,
He graciously helps them to win.
He’ll turn on his base in an instant
With threats and disdain and neglect
While bombing some Muslims so Cheney
Might thrill to the lives that he’s wrecked.
A black man in love with apartheid
He offers his stalwart support
To Zionists and their extortion
With “More, please!” his only retort.
A masochist begging for beatings
Obama takes joy in abuse
Receiving just what he has asked for
Which makes him of no earthly use
The little brown men that he’s murdered
In homes far away from our land
Bring profits obscene to his backers
Who give him the back of their hand.
Obama seeks praise from the vicious
Republicans, no matter what.
He suffers, apparently, nothing
So much as his need to kiss butt.
Michael Murry, “The Misfortune Teller,” Copyright 2011
Sorry about the errors there. Typing faster than I can think. As long as Republicans care more about abortion and taxes and immigration than they do about about privacy, they’ll keep voting against their interests, like the do on economics, and we’ll keep getting unitary executives. So, once again, our problem is Republicans. We need to elect more Progressive Democrats, and I just don’t see that happening.
Did anyone see the body language of Clapper when he made the “not wittingly” comment. It SCREAMED lie and guilt.
No one will ever know the true number, but hundreds of thousands of Americans — possibly approaching the millions — have died to preserve the Constitutional freedoms that we once enjoyed as our birthright. Now, to hear President Obama tell us, he has robbed us of those freedoms (for our own good, naturally) in order to possibly, potentially, save a few dozen unspecified lives somewhere or other.
So dearly bought. So cheaply surrendered.