SWEDEN: "Swedish prosecutors and lawyers in big trouble" {Translate} - Article

GOOGLE TRANSLATION Swedish prosecutors and lawyers in big trouble Published 2015-04-04 14:14 Brawl in right at the big goals The two major goals - cocaine goal and Södertälje [Sweden city] goal - the mood has been very hateful. The supporters accused the prosecutors to present evidence that is not held, while the material that pointed in another direction was withheld law. The cocaine goal acquitted the accused chief, who first sentenced to 18 years in prison. According to authorities, the bad atmosphere in the big goals a trend. Operational Council inquiry conducted by a prosecutor and a police officer. A large number of representatives from the investigating authorities - prosecutors, police, customs officials, SAPO Staff - are interviewed, as well as some lawyers. A report will later this spring. Further reading    Courts interpret the grounds for asylum various 2015-03-15     The government appoints media political investigation 2015-03-05     Police forgot bombardment 2015-02-19     "Investigation betraying public opinion for strengthening social insurance" 2015-03-02     JK Anna Skarhed: Legal doctrine was no cold 2015-02-06 Lawyers have become more difficult and question more often prosecutors, says the agency group to combat serious organized crime. Now studies are in progress to gain access to the growing problem. Leading lawyers call the inquiry unpleasant and deeply disturbing - and argues that the alleged trend is mainly about two trials. The atmosphere in the courtroom deteriorate. Defenders try to increasingly shift the focus of the case to trial or peripheral issues. They question the police's working methods and interrupts the prosecutors, who are constantly responding to questions. That is how the authorities work together against serious organized crime trends in the major goals in a report to the government. Now studies are in progress to access problems, appointed by the Operative Council, where executives from the cooperating authorities collected. - It's about the process does not concentrate on what you normally concentrates on issues of law and assessment of the evidence but rather on matters not at all to do with it. There may be discussion of the preliminary investigation formalities or how a particular statements of evidence gathered in, says chief prosecutor Björn Blomqvist, leading the investigation from the prosecutor. The efficiency decreases and confidence in the legal process can be damaged, according to the prosecutor. - In the courtroom, a question of law settled, it should not be a circus performance, says Björn Blomqvist. The purpose of the investigation is not to blame lawyers, according Blomqvist, but rather to find better ways of working for the investigating authorities. - They can begin to follow the law, says lawyer Thomas Martinson defenders in the so-called cocaine goal, one of the major goals where lawyers fallen sharply at odds with the prosecutors. Operational Council investigation he calls "pure nonsense". - How can it be wrong to use the rules of the law dictated? Should we have a försvararkår not critical, a bowing and bending C thread? Thomas Olsson, defenders of the great Sodertalje goal, call the Council's inquiry "unpleasant" and says that prosecutors are responsible for the bitter trials. - You start the trial before the investigation is complete and then overwhelms defense with lots of new material. At the same time withholds man investigative material is crucial. Bar Association's Secretary General Anne Ramberg objects to the authorities allegations of a larger trend. - Sets any irrelevant questions will judge curb the behavior, but I have not received indications that the judges experienced an increase. On The Contrary. Brawl in the law occurred mainly in cocaine case and Södertälje The goal, she says. - It is the lawyer's duty to defend his client's interests. To criticize lawyers to them under the Code of Procedure allows procedural objections are deeply worrying, says Ramberg. Carl V Andersson / TT http://www.dn.se/nyheter/sverige/svenska-aklagare-och-advokater-i-storbrak/ Article looks very interesting ... but it's a bad translation, so it's hard to work out exactly what's going on.  Some kind of inquiry concerning the legal / law enforcement sector. Allegations of interest: Prosecutors presenting evidence not held. Prosecutors overwhelming defence with new material. Prosecutors withholding exculpatory evidence.  Legal system sounds terrible. Södertäljeis a Swedish city, 30km south-west of Stockholm.  Population:  39% from foreign backgrounds - largest group Assyrian.  Looks like mainly Christian Syriac refugees from Iraq war.  City has taken more Iraqi refugees than Canada and the US combined.  Syriac-Aramaic and Arabic largest non-Swedish languages.  Second largest port in Sweden.  Industry:  ScaniaAB (trucks); pharmaceutical AstraZeneca and Volkswagen group. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Sweden Södertäljeis Anne Ramberg - Bar Assoc Sec Gen Bjorn Blomqvist - Chief Prosecutor Thomas Martinson Thomas Olsson

Foreign Service Updates

Czechrepublic Qatar RELEASE 2 Czech women (26) kidnapped 2 years ago Pakistan - several intel agencies @ work - http://www.praguepost.com/czech-news/46373-qatar-assisted-in-release-of-two-czech-women -- USA Denver Barbara Robbins, 21 Died 50 years ago / bombing US Embassy in Saigon, Vietnam / working for  CIA  >> http://www.9news.com/story/news/local/storytellers/2015/03/30/barbara-robbins-vietnam-cia-service/70652308/ -- President on run: Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi Yemen fires (predecessor son) Ambassador to UAE  >> LMAO fires? Not in power.  http://www.thenational.ae/uae/yemen-fires-ambassador-to-uae -- Zimbabwe Embassy UK protester Martin Chinyanga arrested { matter deemed unlike Ecuador ASSANGE  } http://www.zimeye.com/zimbabwe-london-embassy-boot-bombed-over-dzamara/ -- SriLanka Diplomatic passport to fmr Russia ambass. Udayanga Weeratunga withdrawn; further action soon   http://www.sundaytimes.lk/150405/columns/udayangas-diplomatic-passport-withdrawn-further-action-soon-143578.html -- SriLanka Diplomatic service depoliticised / entrance exams for candidates http://www.sundaytimes.lk/150405/columns/udayangas-diplomatic-passport-withdrawn-further-action-soon-143578.html --- Ukraine Kiev US Embassy picketed by over 2,000 Ukrainian protesters HIGHER prices + rates increase LOWER salaries + standards of living BANNING  freedom of speech and opinion mass media headed by the Ministry of Propaganda of Ukraine CENSORED info re US embassy protest http://www.opednews.com/articles/Anti-US-Protests-Broke-out-by-Jerry-Collins-Activists_Brokeness_Government_People-150404-35.html -- Argentina considers drilling for oil off the Falkland islands illegal UK Foreign Office disputed the claim http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2015/04/04/404696/Argentine-to-challenge-UK-over-Malvinas -- Qatar economic growth is expected to rise to 7% 2015 Central Bank = $40bn foreign currency reserves Investment Auth = $160bn surplus $18bn earmarked for mega development projects Increased export to Japan Qatar-Japan bilateral trade @ $35.3bn 201 http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/business/qatar-business/330631/doha-bank-hosts-meet-in-japan -- Ethiopia HIV Environment PROJECTS  57 new Peace Corps Volunteers at the US Embassy in Addis Ababa http://www.ethiosports.com/2015/04/04/57-peace-corps-volunteers-sworn-in-at-u-s-embassy/ -- Rwanda - Assassin Diplomats? Rwanda govt diplomats assigned to Canada embassy to intimidate or assassinate dissidents?  http://www.globalresearch.ca/rwanda-critics-ask-canada-to-protect-them-from-kagames-assassins/5440728 -- Japan protests North Korean protest lodged through embassy channels in Beijing abductions / missing persons http://news.asiaone.com/news/asia/japan-protests-north-korean-doubts-talk -- South Korea - WAR CRIMES PROTEST Protesters behead effigy of Japanese Prime Minister outside Japan embassy Seoul http://www.koreaobserver.com/protestors-behead-effigy-of-japanese-prime-minister-27748 --

FOREIGN SERVICE UPDATES

J-Bish is in Iran ... Bibi won't be happy .. lol Hopefully Saudi Arabia won't be upset either ... SaudiArabia = 2.2 billion Oz trade partner + 10,000 students in http://www.afr.com/opinion/julie-bishops-tehran-visit-is-creative-diplomacy-20150323-1m5lfm LatAm US CONSULATE Sydney rally defends Venezuela against US threat https://www.greenleft.org.au/node/58596 Espionne India Hacker Espionage Bid: MoD Blocks Net on Official Computers http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/Espionage-Bid-MoD-Blocks-Net-on-Official-Computers/2015/03/23/article2725935.ece Sierra Leone opposition party calls for civil disobedience over VP sacking http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/sierra-leone-opposition-calls-for-civil-disobedience-over-vp-sacking/41340044 US embassy yet to confirm arrest of US diplomat on suspicion of drunk driving in Moscow Region Diplomat - Bruce McClintock > alcohol testing > no OSAGO mandatory insurance http://sputniknews.com/russia/20150322/1019867132.html Russia aid to US embassy's defence attache in Moscow was stopped in Domodedovo outside Moscow on DUI suspicion - http://asia.rbth.com/news/2015/03/22/us_diplomat_stopped_in_domodedovo_on_suspicion_of_drunk_driving_44679.html LatAm failed coup in Venezuela last Feb Obama declaration Ven. “national security threat” - US bullying “close relationship” of political + military figures (at core of Feb attempt at another putsch) with US embassy officials. http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Opinion&title=venezuela-stands-up-to-us-bullying&id=104827 Gambia Gambians demand female activist’s release Aminata Manneh (intern US embassy 'American Corner') Manneh arrested by National Intelligence Agency over a video shared on social media, police brutality schoolgirl. http://en.starafrica.com/news/gambians-demand-female-activists-release.html BREAKING SWEDEN Justice Minister Morgan Johansson attacked with fire extinguishers at refugee accommodation. via @niklassvensson --- Lebanon protesters at US embassy in Awkar (Lebanon) urge Czech Republic to release prisoner Ali Fayad arrest re terrorism / trafficking suspicions USA accused him of collaborating with terrorists. Also detained same hotel: Faouzi Jaber, Ivory Coast Khaled Marabi, a dual citizen: Lebanese + Coted Ivoire Czech state attorney saw nothing that would prevent the 3 men from being extradited to the US.  http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2015/Mar-27/292382-lebanon-protesters-urge-czech-republic-to-release-prisoner.ashx LatAm Ecuador Hungary Ecuador & Hungary discuss bilateral trade Hungary to open embassy in Quinto (cap, Ecu) / Areas of co-op: info tech & innovative industries, water management, medical technology & trade in pharmaceuticals. http://www.bbj.hu/economy/szijjarto-ecuador-sees-hungary-as-its-regional-trading-center_94953 Obama nominates Atul Keshap Ambassador of SriLanka & Maldives prev post: India career foreign service official http://newsfirst.lk/english/2015/03/obama-nominates-atul-keshap-as-ambassador-to-sri-lanka-and-maldives/86009 Japan SouthKorean Cultural Centre - arm of SK embassy arsonist attack / embassy seek enhanced security http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/03/27/national/crime-legal/south-korean-embassy-tokyo-hit-suspected-arson/ Turkey not a great post for Israeli diplomats? Israeli embassy residence empty / Israel x2 reps in Ankara http://en.cihan.com.tr/news/Walls-of-Israeli-Embassys-residence-in-Ankara_1042-CHMTcyMTA0Mg== Armenia - Genocide centennial "Conference on Armenian Genocide kicks off in Paris" 4-day international conference http://www.aysor.am/en/news/2015/03/27/Conference-on-Armenian-Genocide-kicks-off-in-Paris/925957 EU is willing to earmark considerable funds for Serbia re gas interconnection with Bulgaria USA has their mouthpiece egging things on: US embassy economic adviser Anna Boulos Why is USA -- embassy -- interfering in European energy policy & feigning EU 'safety' agenda? http://www.b92.net/eng/news/business.php?yyyy=2015&mm=03&dd=27&nav_id=93618 Sweden Long-suffering Stefan Löfven visiting China & being pressured about HR agenda on home front China = Sweden biggest Asian trade partner @ 40 billion kronor http://www.thelocal.se/20150327/swedish-pm-faces-human-rights-pressure-in-china -- Yemen SaudiArabia ambassador to US pointing the finger at Iran backing Houthis in Yemen claims Hezbollah are advising on the ground Yemen President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi has fled to SaudiArabia Bombing degrade ability to wage war & restore Hadi. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Above news is getting a bit stale now, but I thought I'd post as a refresher, anyway. Hoping I haven't stuffed up the links. Kept having mini 'zone outs' while posting. Sort of like falling off to sleep but not. What was supposed to be simple paste job has wound up being a three-shot post, plus fiddling.  Post was 'drifting' into the right margin.  Thought I'd deleted code accidentally.  The fix I tried didn't work.  Couldn't figure what to put in, so I cheated and 'shrunk' my long links, in the hope that would stop the drift ... and it has.   But I'm now angry and hoarse from yelling.

VIDEO - Pilger / Assange Interview

John Pilger in conversation with Julian Assange from John Pilger on Vimeo. 2015 - 'The Coming War' - Contribute to John Pilger's new documentary project here bit.ly/PilgerMovie Watching this at the moment ... Pilger just said "motherf*ckers".  Wasn't expecting that.  LOL Might have to rewind and watch properly because I've been distracted by editing this post. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ PART SUMMARY Sweden & Belgium have specific [journalist] source protection laws. Sweden as part of its constitution (Press Freedom Act) & Belgium pursuant to specific law dealing with communications protections between a source and a journalist (using any means whatsoever, including electronic transmissions). Governments that have blocked access to WikiLeaks? China is the worst offender (with the most aggressive, sophisticated interception technology that places itself in between every reader inside of China and every information source outside of China.   WikiLeaks have been fighting a running battle to make sure that information can get through.  Variations on the site address -  'wikileaks.org' - are accessible from China, although main site access is blocked. Iran has previously blocked WikiLeaks as well.  However, that block has been lifted in Iran. The Australian government has added WikiLeaks to their secret list of internet sites that are to be blocked once a national filter system is put in place. Australia and Germany are the only Western governments that have sought to block internet access to WikiLeaks [as at date of interview - 2011].   Like most institutions in the West, CENSORSHIP HAS BEEN PRIVATISED, meaning that: Big corporations go through court system to get injunctions and use the COERCIVE POWER of the STATE and the ability to deploy ARMED POLICE to ENFORCE a court order — they use the court apparatus to do that.

SYRIA - "Humanitarians for War in Syria (Part 2) About Those Chlorine Gas Attacks in Syria" [RICK STERLING Article]

Weekend Edition April 3-5, 2015 Humanitarians for War in Syria (Part Two) About Those Chlorine Gas Attacks in Syria by RICK STERLING With allegations of chlorine gas attacks in Syria on March 16, some humanitarian groups have called for a “No Fly Zone” over part of Syria. I believe this is reckless and dangerous and will explain why. Part 1 of this article was published on March 31. It documented the campaign by Avaaz and others for a “No Fly Zone” in Syria and contrasted the promises with the consequences in Libya. Part 2 examines the allegations of chlorine gas attacks in Syria, what various organizations are doing and saying and where major violations of international law are occurring. Humanitarians Pushing for Intervention We have a strange situation where “human rights” groups are demanding foreign intervention in Syria via a “No Fly Zone” while military leaders are expressing caution saying “hold on…do you realize that’s an act of war?” The humanitarian interventionists may feel righteous in their cause, but they should be held accountable when it leads to disaster and tragedy as we saw in Libya. After decades of wars and occupation based on deception, exaggeration and outright lies, it’s past time to demand proof of accusations and to be skeptical regarding any call for military action. What is the Evidence from Syria? Syrian rebels and supporters have repeatedly accused the Syrian military of using chemical weapons, often with the accompanying demand for foreign intervention. The Syrian government has consistently denied the accusations. A major push for a foreign attack on Syria followed the highly publicized incidents in Ghouta in outer Damascus on August 21, 2013. Many humanitarian groups such as Human Rights Watch (HRW) joined or led in accusing the Syrian government of being responsible and calling for “action.” A military attack was averted by the Syrian government agreeing to remove its existing chemical weapons and manufacturing facilities. Opposition supporters like Kenan Rahmani predicted that the Syrian government would not comply with the agreement. But it did. On October 1, 2014, the Organization for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) announced that the elimination of prohibited chemical weapons and facilities in Syria had been successfully completed. It was a remarkable achievement and the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). Syria received little credit. During 2014, as the Syrian government was working to successfully implement the agreement to dispose of banned chemical weapons, new unverified accusations emerged that the Syrian military was using barrel bombs containing poisonous chlorine gas. The accusations prompted renewed demands from governments actively supporting the armed opposition. The Syrian government removed all prohibited chemicals and facilities but now is accused of using a chemical which is not on the prohibited list. According to its report, in May 2014, an OPCW team tried to investigate at the site of alleged chlorine gas attacks. The Syrian government gave the OPCW team passage to the rebel controlled area but the convoy was attacked by a rebel faction. None of the team members was injured but that stopped their on-site investigation. Instead, the OPCW worked with the well-funded opposition-supporting Violations Documentation Center to arrange interviews with numerous people from three villages. The interviews were conducted outside Syria, probably in Turkey. They gathered photographs, videos and other evidence and expressed “high confidence that chlorine had been used as a weapon in Syria” in three villages. They did not ascribe responsibility. More recently there was an alleged chlorine gas attack on March 16, 2015 with six deaths including three children. The Avaaz petition and campaign sprung from this alleged incident. Along with these accusations, there has been a steady drumbeat from various organizations that the Syrian government is committing war crimes. For example, Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) issued a press release on May 14 with the title “New Map Shows Government Forces Deliberately Attacking Syria’s Medical System.” Are the Accusations Objective or Biased? Following are some of the major organizations reporting or making accusations regarding the conflict in Syria: Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) – This is the official intergovernmental organization tasked with promoting adherence to the Chemical Weapons Convention. It has been responsible for removal of chemical weapons from Syria. It was then tasked with investigating allegations about use of chlorine gas as a weapon. While OPCW seeks to be highly professional and nonpartisan, there are questions of potential conflict of interest and bias as follows:     * The director general of OPCW, Ahmet Uzumcu, is the appointee of Turkey, a country which actively supports the Syrian opposition and has pushed for a No Fly Zone. Given that Uzumcu is a political appointee of a state directly involved in the conflict, he has a potential conflict of interest: he might advance his own career and please the Turkish government by making the Syrian government look bad.     * The interviews with villagers were done with OPCW “working closely” with the partisan “Violations Documentation Center.” How did OPCW verify the integrity of the witnesses?     * According to OPCW report, NATO’s CBRN Task Force (Chemical-Biological-Radioactive-Nuclear) collected data “in the field following reported attacks” and supplied this to OPCW. What exactly was the NATO task force doing in the rebel controlled territory?     * The official report of the OPCW notes that in the UN Security Council “Some doubts and questions were also raised in regard to the procedures and methods (of the Fact Finding Mission).” AVAAZ – Avaaz is clearly biased and was involved in the Syria conflict from early on. They were supplying satellite phones and otherwise aiding and promoting local activists from early on. Is that a good thing? Not necessarily; their claims and actions in Syria have been controversial and criticized. WHITE HELMETS / SYRIAN CIVIL DEFENCE - This is a new organization, highly publicized as civilian rescue workers in Syria. Their video and reports have influenced Avaaz and other humanitarian groups. Avaaz refers to the White Helmets as “Syria’s respected and non-partisan civil protection force.” In reality the White Helmets is a project created by the UK and USA. Training of civilians in Turkey has been overseen by former British military officer and current contractor, James Le Mesurier. Promotion of the program is done by “The Syria Campaign” supported by the foundation of billionaire Ayman Asfari. The White Helmets is clearly a public relations project which has received glowing publicity from HuffPo to Nicholas Kristof at the NYT. White Helmets have been heavily promoted by the U.S. Institute of Peace (U.S.IP) whose leader began the press conference by declaring “U.S.IP has been working for the Syrian Revolution from the beginning”. Apart from the PR work, White Helmets work in areas of Aleppo and Idlib controlled by Nusra (Al Queda). The video from a medical clinic on March 16 starts with a White Helmets logo. The next video of same date and place continues with the Nusra logo. US and UK tax dollars pay for a program which has an appealing rescue component and is then used to market and promote the USA and UK policy of regime change in Syria in de facto alliance with Nusra. The fake “independence and neutrality” of White Helmets is shown by their active promotion of a No Fly Zone. MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERS (MSF) and other humanitarian groups no longer have staff in Syria. They rely on witnesses and videos provided by rebels. In a war zone it is difficult to ascertain when someone is speaking out of fear or intimidation or for payment. Witnesses in rebel-controlled territory may claim that helicopters dropped bombs with chlorine. But what if the witnesses are lying? The possibility for manipulation and deceit is huge. PHYSICIANS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS (PHR) is also active reporting on the Syria conflict.. They make bold but sometimes inaccurate assertions. They recently claimed that ” people in Homs are facing serious health consequences as the medical system collapses, with only three doctors available “ This is inaccurate. I personally visited Homs one year ago and drove around the city for hours. Since the rebels departed the Old City last May it is being rebuilt and nearly all the city continues normally except for periodic terrorist car bombs. A recent PHR press release is headlined “New Map shows Government Forces Deliberately Attacking Syria’s Medical System.” It looks slick and impressive but is inaccurate. For example, one of the most dramatic attacks on a Syrian hospital was the suicide bombing of Al Kindi Hospital in Aleppo. Yet the PHR map shows the attack having been carried out by “government forces.” Readers are encouraged to look at the 3 minute rebel video of the suicide attack which leaves no doubt who was responsible. SUMMARY. Statements/documentation from the Syrian government and supporters tend to be dismissed or ignored; statements/video from opposition witnesses and activists tend to be accepted uncritically. That is bias. WHO BENEFITS? The starting point for many criminal investigations is who has a motive? Who benefits from an action or event? In order to prevail, the Syrian opposition needs foreign intervention.  In order to prevail, the Syrian government needs to prevent foreign intervention. Who benefited from from use of sarin gas that would cross Obama’s ‘red line’? The answer was always obvious. This received surprisingly little consideration as the US Government and humanitarian groups like Human Rights Watch argued that the Syrian Government was culpable without even considering who had motive. Since that time, in-depth analysis of the August 2013 chemical attack in Ghouta increasingly points to the use of sarin gas by the rebels not the Syrian government. The “vector analysis” advanced by HRW has been discounted. The US and other countries almost began an international attack on the basis of false claims and analysis. Similarly, who benefits from the use of chlorine gas that would violate the new UN Security Resolution? To ask the question is to answer it. Clearly it is the opposition rebels who benefit when the Syrian government is charged with using chlorine gas bombs. Clearly they are the ones who seek foreign intervention or imposition of a No Fly Zone. A War of Aggression Against Syria Supporters of intervention sometimes claim Syria has been “abandoned” by the international community. On the contrary, the Syrian conflict has continued primarily BECAUSE of foreign involvement. The unholy alliance of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, USA, France and Britain (with silent partner Israel) have supplied, trained, provided weapons and salaries for Syrian and international fighters seeking to topple the government. They openly called themselves, with Orwellian chutzpah, the “Friends of Syria” as they divide the tasks of supplying the rebels and consider who should be the “legitimate political representatives”. The crime has not been the absence of international effort; it has been the absence of enforcement of international law. The US and allies are doing to Syria what the US did to Nicaragua in the 1980’s. As the International Court at the Hague said in its decision on June 27, 1986:     Decides that the United States of America, by training, arming, equipping, financing and supplying the “contra” forces or otherwise encouraging, supporting and aiding military and paramilitary activities in and against Nicaragua, has acted, against the Republic of Nicaragua, in breach of its obligation under customary international law not to intervene in the affairs of another State. The Nicaraguan Foreign Minister at that time was Father Miguel D’Escoto. He served as president of the United Nations General Assembly in the year 2008-2009. When recently asked his opinion on what is happening in Syria he responded: "What the U.S. government is doing in Syria is tantamount to a war of aggression, which, according to the Nuremberg Tribunal, is the worst possible crime a State can commit against another State.” The conflict in Syria continues primarily because foreign powers continue to “arm, equip, finance and supply” the equivalent of the Contras. Imposing a No Fly Zone in Syria would not make anyone safer; it would dramatically expand the war and lead to vastly more, not fewer deaths. Those who genuinely want peace in Syria need to press for ENDING foreign intervention in Syria via proxy armies and ENCOURAGING reconciliation and negotiations without preconditions. The humanitarians pushing for intervention in Syria are not R2P (responsible to protect). They are R4W (responsible for war). Rick Sterling is a founding member of Syria Solidarity Movement. He can be reached at rsterling1@gmail.com http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/04/03/about-those-chlorine-gas-attacks-in-syria/ Wow, this was a good article.

ASSANGE - WIKILEAKS - COLLATERAL MURDER

COLLATERAL MURDER https://wikileaks.org/wiki/Collateral_Murder,_5_Apr_2010 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^  Title: Julian Assange speech that was censored by the Oxford Union Source:  WikiLeaks YouTube Channel.  Direct link video - here. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Julian Assange | Oxford Union  "Notes: Assange participated via video link from the Ecuadorean embassy in London. Thursday, January 31, 2013 - 1:45am transcriber" FULL TRANSCRIPT LINK www.correntewire.com ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ INTERVIEW - 5 YEARS ON FROM RELEASE OF 'COLLATERAL MURDER' VIDEO LINK http://espresso.repubblica.it/internazionale/2015/04/02/news/julian-assange-i-still-enjoy-crushing-bastards-1.206855?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Someone had posted the Oxford Union video on twitter, so I thought I'd take a look. Decided to transcribe it for something educational to do.   Got into 4 minutes of transcription before it dawned on me to check online to see if anyone had transcribed it.   Yes, they have. Phew! It would have taken me forever switching audio on and off while flipping screens to type.   Link to the transcript above or here. WikiLeaks 'Collateral Murder' information link at top of page and 5 years on interview link above (or here). After I've finished editing some screen grabs of a hilarious social media block, I'll be back to check this out more thoroughly. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ IRAN Had no idea there were so many military bases around Iran (a whopping 45 on every side!). According to Assange (Oxford Union talk video above), WikiLeaks cables show that Britain engaged in a conspiracy to killing off the Sky satellite feed from Press TV to Britain (ie Iran state broadcasting equivalent to the BBC), and this is described as a death penalty for a national broadcaster, as this means the Iran government cannot get across its views. So, I gather, this is a means of isolating Iran and of controlling public information (and therefore opinion), while beating the drums of war on Iran. Given Iran is completely surrounded by hostile territories, the 45 military bases and given the drums of war beating in the West, together with the West isolating Iran, Iran is, understandably, in a highly fearful state — fearful of war. According to Assange, Iran's fears mean that the human rights abuses the West is concerning itself about, have very little chance of resolution "because the leadership of that country is so terrified about being invaded." Also SEE:  Britain human rights abuses WWI & WWII — Britain imprisoned Bertrand Russell WWI & similar abuses WWII. Democracies - always lied into war Assange conveys that:  the internet has become the most important device for revealing the truth (since the beginning of the printing press), and has become the number one antidote to TV.  Says: democracies are always lied into war.  The Iraq war was the result of lies and the increased involvement of the US in Vietnam came as a result of another lie (see Tonkin Gulf incident). According to Assange, it is not just lies by intelligence agencies:  it is also lies by the big media machine, comprised of various [press/media] institutions that get too comfortable and too close to the table of power that they are meant to be reporting on and policing and getting information into the historic record. Note:  intelligence isn't the problem.  Corruption of intelligence, which comes about through secrecy is the problem: The problem is the corruption of those agencies, and that corruption comes about because of secrecy. When Tom spoke about, in somewhat glowing terms, the improved process that he put down, and I believe him that that is a significant improvement from what was there before, it all rests upon one thing. It rests upon the abilities of people in those agencies to get out information to the public when those processes are not followed. [1] We might have depoliticized analysts working in intelligence agencies who are to all intents and purposes mere robots, perfect machines with perfect accuracy. They are tasked, they engage in the task, they analyze, they pass up information higher up the food chain.  [1] And what if, in Tom’s case, for example, his National Intelligence Estimate, there was not a threat that it would be released, because our sources say that in fact the White House knew that if it did not release a version immediately, another version would be released, and the White House would have to get – would then come in second, and its opponents would have their spin on it, so the White House wanted to get their spin on it first. [1] It’s only through this pressure of producing analytical product to the public that these sorts of agencies are kept honest and don’t become simply robots that are, in effect, perhaps this is drawing the bow too far, but some kind of Hitler’s willing executioners, mere people who act as robots who are told to carry out a task and do it. That is not enough. It is not enough to agree to carry out a task for superiors. That is the Nuremberg defense. We must all look to ourselves and understand whether what we are doing is right and just not just according to the views of our superiors but according to the long view of history, according to human rights and to our feelings of compassion, if we have any. [1]  Tom Fingar look-up: Thomas (Tom) Fingar is a professor at Stanford University. [2] In 1986 Fingar left Stanford to join the State Department. In 2005, he moved to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence as the Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Analysis and concurrently served as the Chairman of the National Intelligence Council until December 2008. [2] In January 2009, he rejoined Stanford University as ... Lecturer in ... Institute for International Studies. [2] In December 2007, Fingar was one of the authors of a National Intelligence Estimate on Iran's nuclear programs. [2] The NIE asserted with "high confidence" that Tehran had "halted its nuclear weapons program" in the fall of 2003. [2] This contradicted an earlier 2005 NIE report that ballistic delivery systems and uranium enrichment was continuing. [2] The 2007 NIE was a political sensation, seized on by Democrats and Iraq war critics as another case in which the Bush Administration had ... politicized intelligence. [2] The above Fingar information came from a Wikipedia entry. Best to check further sources rather than to merely rely on Wikipedia, as Wikipedia entries are prepared by those with professional, political and other biases and affiliations.  Take the Wikipedia statement: "The 2007 NIE was a political sensation, seized on by Democrats and Iraq war critics as another case in which the Bush Administration had supposedly politicized intelligence." What is the word 'supposedly' doing in there?  As an information repository Wikipedia sucks:  it is enough to say that critics had accused the Bush administration of politicising intelligence. Wikipedia twists this simple fact around — with the gratuitous and biased 'supposedly' — to sneakily imply that such criticism is not warranted (showing a bias in favour of the Bush administration). Note to self:  watch for cultural bias {and find out what exactly this is ... lol}. Asssange indicates Iraq intelligence reports 2003 demonstrate that it is not enough to produce accurate intelligence reports (eg. sectarian crisis in Iraq accurate intelligence reporting prediction was subsequently completely denied by US leadership).  So accurate intelligence reporting  is not enough if leadership won't let reporting come out.  Analysts therefore must be responsible to the public and to the historical record, and not to political leadership. Mass propaganda attack against WikiLeaks as an organisation, the character of WikiLeaks staff and the activities of WikiLeaks, as well as an attack on Iran — fanning the flames to start a war with Iran:  Film, The Fifth Estate (2013). Film disregards facts:  Fingar National Intelligence Estimate found that Iran did not have a nuclear program & all 16 US intelligence agencies feeding into that report said that was the case, with high confidence, and it has been confirmed every year since that report. Assange refers to the big budget film lies upon lies and war drum propaganda. Assange points out that this is not merely a war of intelligence agencies but a war of corrupt media and corrupt culture. We need to "understand that where there's great powers at work" (not shadow conspiracies) but "enormous cultural powers, enormous industrial powers, the vast network of corporations, that interact with government agencies around the world selling products": The National Security Agency, for example, now has approximately 70% of its expenditure pass through Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, etcetera. This produces a lobby that pushes in particular directions. [1] How is it that such a lie got into a script about WikiLeaks? How is it that such a lie got into a script about WikiLeaks? How is it that in the light of that National Intelligence Estimate that anyone could think that it was tolerable, acceptable, to foist that lie upon the public, that it would make it all the way through the Hollywood system, that distributors would pick it up? Because they perceive that that is where the power lies in the United States. They perceive that it’s perfectly okay to slander an entire nation, that it’s perfectly okay to beat the drums of war like that, because people in that system want the war. They want it. We have to understand that everything that we see, read and hear is produced for a purpose. It’s produced as a result of incentives. And other material is not produced. There are disincentives to not produce it. We walk almost sleepwalking, almost blind, every time we open a newspaper and read an article.  [1] There is a war on for control of the Internet Now, working against that trend and against that current of corrupt powerful organizations producing a distorted perspective of the world has been the Internet. For the first time in history, that has allowed one person with some truth to speak to every single person who wants to hear that truth. It is the great antidote. There is a war on for control of the Internet. That war takes place on the one hand by producing incredible propaganda and hyping up threats about how the Internet is dangerous. On the other hand, it involves introducing mass surveillance systems to surveil all of the Internet. You know, different countries see the effects being brought by the Internet and the political liberations being brought by the Internet and powerful groups in those countries feel fearful and they feel destabilized, and as a result they want to find some way to control it and to know it. [1]  So ... War on Control of Internet a) producing propaganda & hyping up threats on how Internet is dangerous. b) mass surveillance systems to surveil all of the Internet. c) powerful groups are  fearful & feel destabilized by Internet as a force for information/political liberation (therefore seek to control Internet). Wow, this was a really good video.  Had to keep rewinding, listening and referring to the transcript because I'm not up on this information and a bit slow to take it in. Really worth watching and reading (thanks to whoever did that transcript; really helpful). On first impressions (for someone, like me, who doesn't know a lot about what's going on), it seems idealistic to expect intelligence personnel to answer to the public or to history.  But when you take the time to absorb what is being said in relation to what has actually happened in the recent past and in the more distant past (eg the costs of wars that could have been averted), that idea *does* make sense.

Don't Get Angry: Encrypt

AUSTRALIAN DIGITAL RAPE BY BRADIS & CO Why people ignore data retentions many perils >> http://www.smh.com.au/business/why-people-ignore-data-retentions-many-perils-20150330-1m9gtb.html REMEDY Gnu Privacy Guard  (GnuPG aka GPG)  Encryption   https://www.gnupg.org/  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_Privacy_Guard Werner Koch caught my eye the other day, so I thought GnuPG (aka GPG) might be potential go-to encryption software. German, Werner Koch has authored this software based on open source GNU operating system software (by an MIT guy, Richard Stallman).  Being open source software is supposed to be a positive because it allows outsiders to spot vulnerabilities in code (I think). Werner Koch previously received grants from the German government (but they expired some time ago).  Koch is still kicking on, single-handedly patching the GnuPG program, but short on funding. TOR Anonymising  https://www.torproject.org/ Tor - Explained  .......................................................................... Tor originated with the US Navy and has received US govt funding.   Gee, even as I'm keying this in, Russian software is looking more and more appealing because I'm wondering if there's German backdoors in the encryption software and anticipating some NSA trick when it comes to the Tor anonymising software (see Silk Road FBI busts). I don't know enough to assess the merits of GnuPG or Tor (and wouldn't have a clue where to find Russian software), so this is pretty much it for the options (I think) ... except that you can use PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) instead of the GnuPG. Nope.  It looks like Philip Zimmerman has sold up, so GnuPG it is ... unless you're prepared to trust a US company:  Symantec. ...........................................................................  Photo: Alex Ellinghausen COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Regarding the SMH article, 'rape by Bradis & Co' is my take rather than SMH's ... just so there's no confusion.  ;) That's pretty much what it is when everybody has been placed under state surveillance. State surveillance without cause or consent is an abuse of power.  To be the subject of such an abuse of power is to live in a prison state. The snail-mail version of this would have been going on back in the 50s and 60s, when the Australian govt was in full surveillance and political suppression and sabotage mode, to blot out the 'evil' of communism. But it isn't Russians and communists looking evil now; it's the totalitarian West. Instead of getting angry but then just accepting the inevitable prison population living conditions: a) use technology to secure privacy; & b) vote for non-mainstream politicians, rather than the corporate and US lackeys who have spent years spying on their own citizens (and nations abroad). Did a bit of a summary on encryption basics the other day ... but I think I've forgotten it already, so I'm going to have to start all over.  Intend to keep at it until I get some kind of feel and overview for privacy tech basics, from a consumer perspective.  Only I'm rather lazy ... The above links are just a starter and I don't really know what I'm on about, so it's best to do your own research. Discovered that free Russian e-mail services bypass the intrusions of freebie Western e-mail services.  English log-in is available. VIDEO GPG for Journalists - Windows edition | Encryption for Journalists | Anonymous 2013 from anon108 on Vimeo.