Office by Alex Penny
Politics • Snark • EcoFriendly • Veggie • Photos I Like • Doctor Who
When the world says, Give Up, Hope whispers, Try it One More Time.
http://bit.ly/tt-blog; http://bit.ly/tt-pins; psychedelictara.etsy.com
[NOTES* from Leftish - are always in brackets]
VIDEO: JULIAN ASSANGE ADDRESSES THE UNITED NATIONS - 9/26/12
[NOTE* from Leftish: I’m just curious - did you see this covered on any of the Cable News Shows today?]
Brisbane Times, AUSTRALIA
September 27, 2012
THE US military has designated Julian Assange and WikiLeaks as enemies of the United States - the same legal category as the al-Qaeda terrorist network and the Taliban insurgency.
Declassified US Air Force counter-intelligence documents, released under US freedom-of-information laws, reveal that military personnel who contact WikiLeaks or WikiLeaks supporters may be at risk of being charged with “communicating with the enemy”, a military crime that carries a maximum sentence of death.
Assange remains holed up in Ecuador’s embassy in London. He was granted diplomatic asylum on the grounds that if extradited to Sweden to be questioned about sexual assault allegations, he would be at risk of further extradition to the US to face espionage or conspiracy charges arising from the leaking of hundreds of thousands of secret US military and diplomatic reports.
US Vice-President Joe Biden labelled Assange a “high-tech terrorist” in December 2010 and US congressional leaders have called for him to be charged with espionage.
Sarah Palin and Mike Huckabee - both once involved in presidential campaigns - have both urged that Assange be “hunted down”.
Assange’s US attorney, Michael Ratner, said the designation of WikiLeaks as an “enemy” had serious implications for the WikiLeaks publisher if he were to be extradited to the US, including possible military detention.
US Army private Bradley Manning faces a court martial charged with aiding the enemy - identified as al-Qaeda - by transmitting information that, published by WikiLeaks, became available to the enemy.
Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/opinion/political-news/us-calls-assange-enemy-of-state-20120927-26m7s.html#ixzz27csZSFCS
Manning’s lawyers had sought dismissal of all 22 charges, contending prosecutors had failed their duty to share information that could be helpful to the defense, a legal process called discovery.
Lind agreed that prosecutors had wrongly assumed the discovery rules didn’t pertain to classified information but she found no evidence of prosecutorial misconduct, turning down the motion to throw out the case.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/04/25/MNMD1O8VH7.DTL#ixzz1tEq2qPrN
Judge refuses to dismiss most serious charge but tells prosecution it must prove private knew he was aiding the enemy.
The military judge in the court-martial of the US soldier accused of handing WikiLeaks the biggest trove of unauthorised state secrets in American history has put army prosecutors on notice that they must prove Bradley Manning knew he was helping the enemy or face the possibility that the most serious charge against him be dismissed.
Colonel Denise Lind refused to throw out the charge – “aiding the enemy” – as had been requested by Manning’s defence lawyers. But she told the military prosecution that during the trial, now scheduled for the end of September, that they would have to prove that the intelligence analyst was fully aware that he was helping the enemy when he allegedly handed hundreds of thousands of secret US documents to WikiLeaks.
Aiding the enemy is the most serious in the list of 22 charges that have been brought against Manning. It carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.
The trial will start on 21 September and is expected to last three weeks. It is certain to be closely followed in America and around the world, both by those who see Manning as a traitor to his country and military superiors, and by those who believe he was a hero who is being punished for being a whistleblower.
In seeking dismissal of the most serious offense, defense attorney David Coombs had argued that the charge did not properly allege that Manning intended to help al-Qaida when he allegedly sent hundreds of thousands of classified Iraq and Afghanistan war reports and state department diplomatic cables to the anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks.
Manning stated in an online chat with a confidant-turned-informant that he leaked the information because “I want people to see the truth”.
Prosecutors had argued that Manning knew the enemy would see the material when it appeared on WikiLeaks, regardless of his intentions.
Manning hasn’t entered a plea to any of the charges. He also hasn’t yet decided whether he will be tried by a judge or a jury.
Earlier Thursday, Lind rejected a motion to consolidate some charges that the defense said were duplicative. She said the defense could raise the motion again for sentencing purposes if Manning is convicted.
As Julian Assange tilts at the Senate, new laws have been passed that will make it harder for organisations like Wikileaks to operate legally - and there are more to come, writes Matthew da Silva
The Labor Government is tightening up Australian law in areas that will have a direct impact on organisations such as WikiLeaks. Only the Greens are challenging the new bills in parliament, and they are receiving scant media attention.
There’s a new extradition law that will make it easier for foreign governments to request extradition of Australians and a new spying law that broadens ASIO’s reach, which has been dubbed the WikiLeaks Amendment.
And finally there’s a bill that will make it easier to retain digital data for Australians, and easier also to pass that information to overseas law enforcement agencies. Senator Scott Ludlam, the Greens’ spokesperson for communications, told New Matilda that the Attorney-General wants all digital records for all people for all time to be trapped and recorded so that intelligence agencies, law enforcement agencies, and welfare agencies can mine the data.
Bradley is a true hero. He did an extremely brave thing, and his actions inspire me to try and be brave, too.
The least we can do is have the courage to support him. I know, it’s scary to even click on a link, because we all know that Big Brother is truly watching our every move…so that is why it is even more important that we all have to stick together, because there is safety in numbers…that’s our greatest tool - our numbers..
Who knows what we can do, if we put our minds together?
Bales went berserk in Afghanistan, killing 16 innocent people…Bradley Manning’s crime was REPORTING the slaying of innocent people!
What do you think? Will they make Staff Sgt. Bales spend most of his time naked, without a blanket? Will they wake Staff Sgt. Bales up every five minutes to make sure he’s alive because they’ve determined that he is “suicidal”, as they did with Private Manning? Will they keep Staff Sgt Bales in solitary for 23 hours a day?
Or is Whistleblowing on a Government that illegally kills innocent people looked upon with more hatred than a soldier who just does it directly?
![[NOTE* from Leftish: Have you HEARD about this? Judge “sides with Monsanto”: WHISTLEBLOWERS are committing the crime??
NEWS FLASH! Monsanto cash helped fund bill to stifle whistleblowers in Iowa! WTF??]
“Speaking of Monsanto, it turns out they are playing a role in Iowa’s proposed anti-whistleblower bill – a bill focused primarily on agriculture. Should the bill pass, it will become illegal to produce undercover videos at various types of agricultural facilities (as well as to get a job at a facility with the express intent of producing a video). Sarah Damian of the Government Accountability Project, a “whistleblower advocacy organization,” observes over at the Food Integrity Campaign’s blog that Monsanto has been throwing lobbying dollars behind Iowa’s effort to draw a steel curtain around food production. And not without reason:
… Monsanto has more facilities in Iowa than in any other state in the country, with more than 25 offices. The company is heavily invested in the bill’s outcome because “crop operations” are also covered, which would apply to Monsanto’s seed houses, pesticide manufacturing plants and research facilities throughout Iowa. The biotech and crop chemical giant wouldn’t want any undercover videos produced on its clock, apparently.
That’s a bit ironic, however, given the fact that Monsanto investigators are notorious for trespassing on farmers’ property and going to extreme measures to produce evidence of seed patent infringement, including posing as land mappers or even joining a local Alcohol Anonymous group to gain the farmers’ trust and gain video access to their fields. Talk about undercover.
And don’t think that Monsanto hasn’t planned ahead. According to Damian, there are provisions in the bill that would allow Monsanto to continue snooping around farmers’ fields in its ongoing search for so-called “seed thieves” aka ‘patent infringers.’”
READ ENTIRE ARTICLE…](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0700uuiJV1qeawdho1_500.jpg)
[NOTE* from Leftish: Have you HEARD about this? Judge “sides with Monsanto”: WHISTLEBLOWERS are committing the crime??
NEWS FLASH! Monsanto cash helped fund bill to stifle whistleblowers in Iowa! WTF??]
“Speaking of Monsanto, it turns out they are playing a role in Iowa’s proposed anti-whistleblower bill – a bill focused primarily on agriculture. Should the bill pass, it will become illegal to produce undercover videos at various types of agricultural facilities (as well as to get a job at a facility with the express intent of producing a video). Sarah Damian of the Government Accountability Project, a “whistleblower advocacy organization,” observes over at the Food Integrity Campaign’s blog that Monsanto has been throwing lobbying dollars behind Iowa’s effort to draw a steel curtain around food production. And not without reason:
… Monsanto has more facilities in Iowa than in any other state in the country, with more than 25 offices. The company is heavily invested in the bill’s outcome because “crop operations” are also covered, which would apply to Monsanto’s seed houses, pesticide manufacturing plants and research facilities throughout Iowa. The biotech and crop chemical giant wouldn’t want any undercover videos produced on its clock, apparently.
That’s a bit ironic, however, given the fact that Monsanto investigators are notorious for trespassing on farmers’ property and going to extreme measures to produce evidence of seed patent infringement, including posing as land mappers or even joining a local Alcohol Anonymous group to gain the farmers’ trust and gain video access to their fields. Talk about undercover.
And don’t think that Monsanto hasn’t planned ahead. According to Damian, there are provisions in the bill that would allow Monsanto to continue snooping around farmers’ fields in its ongoing search for so-called “seed thieves” aka ‘patent infringers.’”
The soldier accused of giving files to WikiLeaks will likely face a court-martial — an expert explains how it works.
This week, Bradley Manning came one step closer to being tried for allegedly leaking a trove of secret American cables to WikiLeaks when a military officer made the formal recommendation that Manning should face a court-martial on 22 criminal charges. One of the counts, aiding the enemy, carries the possibility of the death penalty, but prosecutors have already said they will not seek it in Manning’s case. The recommendation this week was made to Maj. Gen. Michael Linnington, commander of the Military District of Washington, who is what is known as the convening authority in the case. The military justice system has important differences from the civilian system, so I spoke to Eugene R. Fidell, who teaches military justice at Yale Law School, to explain the basics. We’ve now had the investigating officer as well as another officer this week recommend a court-martial to the Military District of Washington commander. What’s the next step?
I figure folks are afraid to even put their name on anything that might draw the attention of the Government….’cause I can’t believe my politically-engaged followers just DON’T CARE about Bradley Manning.
Be assured, if you follow me, you are probably already being watched!
It’s like doing a search on Sep 11. Every time I research that subject I am aware that my IP address has been harvested (yet again), and I am being watched merely because I am curious about what REALLY happened that day.
So, please stay engaged with the Manning Trial - he needs our support. He knowingly gave up his own security when he submitted those papers to Wikileaks. He is a courageous hero who needs our support.
HEY!! PLEASE WATCH THIS VIDEO: GRAHAM NASH AND JAMES RAYMOND’ST RIBUTE TO BRADLEY MANNING
[NOTE* from Leftish: I can’t stress enough how important Bradley Manning is to the entire planet, on so many levels! His case demonstrates how clearly our government has been corrupted since the days when Whistleblower, Daniel Ellsberg was hailed as a hero for exposing wrongdoing in the Nixon Administration. Manning’s case represents Freedom of Speech, Cruel and Unusual Punishment, Anti-Gay Discrimination in the Military, as well as our Government’s willingness to shoot the messenger rather than fix the problem of wrongdoing that they are so desperately trying to cover up.
Bradley Manning’s actions inspired Mohamed Bouazizi, the Tunisian Fruit Vendor, who set himself on fire, which inspired the Arab Spring…and the Arab Spring inspired the Occupy Movement…so in my opinion, Bradley Manning is at the heart of it all - in fact, the world might not be in the current situation if not for him, so I heartily encourage you to watch this amazing video, for Bradley’s sake.]
“Truth is the first casualty of war.” so begins this powerful video in support of Bradley Manning, with photos of him, rallies in his support and injured Iraqi civilians.
“ When anyone asks me, ‘Who started Occupy Wall Street?’ sometimes I say ‘Goldman Sachs’ or ‘Chase’ but mostly I just say, ‘Bradley Manning.’ It was his courageous action that was the tipping point — and it was not surprising when the dictator of Tunisia censored all news of the Wikileaks documents Manning had allegedly supplied. But the internet took Manning’s gift and spread it throughout Tunisia, a young man set himself on fire and the Arab Spring that led eventually to Zuccotti Park has a young, gay soldier in the United States Army to thank.” ~ Michael Moore
FRIDAY, 12-16-11: BRADLEY MANNING’S ARTICLE 32 HEARING
SATURDAY, 12-17-11: BRADLEY MANNING’S 24TH BIRTHDAY
“The people should prosecute, but not Bradley Manning. He’s accused of letting the truth out. He’s not accused of any criminal activity. He’s accused of letting the truth out and he should be given an award for that, not prosecuted. He’s facing the death penalty potentially. He’s facing the death penalty for exposing war crimes!”
~ Kevin Zeese, Attorney with the Bradley Manning Support Network
The Guardian: What is likely to transpire at BRADLEY MANNING’S ARTICLE 32 HEARING
Donate to FireDogLake’s Coverage of Bradley Manning’s Article 32 Hearing
I wrote a post about Keven Gosztola, of Firedoglake, needing donations so he can COVER BRADLEY MANNING’S TRIAL THIS FRIDAY, which has been heavily STACKED in favor of the Government. 38 of the 48 witnesses for the Defense are NOT BEING ALLOWED TO TESTIFY!!
The Government is ONLY ALLOWING THEIR OWN WITNESSES to be questioned by Manning’s Lawyers, and not allowing ANY of Manning’s 38 witnesses to speak.
THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT TRIAL - OUR FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS BEING QUESTIONED, and Bradley faces LIFE IMPRISONMENT OR POSSIBLE EXECUTION!
Daniel Ellsberg is considered a HERO for doing a very similar action to what Bradley is accused of doing.
Bradley’s lawyer is arguing that the trial is tainted because the President said that Manning was guilty of committing a crime, seven months before Bradley was even charged.
He needs our help and support.
WORDS OF WISDOM FROM MALCOLM X.
Bradley Manning, Julian Assange, Lt. Dan Choi have all been oppressed by this “Democratic” White House, and vilified for standing up to the US Government, and exposing its lies and inconsistencies. There are so many more individuals who have been painted as traitors for calling out our Government and caring enough to demand that the U.S. live up to the ideals upon which it was founded.
The level of oppression in our supposedly “free” society is a constant threat to the whole policy of Whistleblowing and speaking truth to power. It takes more and more courage to act when you know that your very life is threatened, just by telling or demanding the truth about the actions of our Government which is supposedly “of, by and FOR the PEOPLE”.
I know that by even tagging this post with “wikileaks” and “#julian assange”, I am probably subjecting myself to scrutiny, if not something much worse.
Be careful reading this, the curse might rub off on you, too.
That’s fucked up.
(via 8intrepid8)
The implication that Bradley Manning’s sexuality has something to do with the crime he’s accused of is wrong and dangerous.
Private Bradley Manning has been a controversial figure since his arrest in May 2010, after being accused of the largest leak of classified documents ever to the website WikiLeaks. Manning is accused of leaking much of the 500,000 documents WikiLeaks published as the War Logs, as well as the shocking “Collateral Murder” video showing U.S military knowingly firing on unarmed civilians from an Apache helicopter.
These leaks provided valuable information about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in a time when war reporting has often been compromised through the practice of embedding reporters within military units. For this act of whistleblowing, Manning faces charges that include “aiding the enemy,” theft of public records, transmitting defense information on the Internet, and computer fraud. If found guilty, Manning could face life in prison.
One rumor has persistently followed Manning: that he is a pre-hormone treatment transgender woman. A year ago, Boing Boing posted chat logs purportedly between Manning and hacker Adrian Lamo in which Manning apparently makes references to a desire to undergo medical transition. In the logs, Manning says that “the CPU is not made for this motherboard” (a reference to the common understanding of transgender people as being “born in the wrong body”), frets about the “possibility of having pictures of me… plastered all over the world press… as [a] boy” and wonders how to “figure out how on earth im going to transition.” From there, besides a typical rubbernecking Gawker reiteration, the story largely officially died, though it continued to circulate online.
Over the weekend, however, New Yorkmagazine upped the ante again by publishing a feature article focusing on Manning’s sexuality and gender identity in which an anonymous counselor claims that Manning had talked to him on the web about being transgender:”
[NOTE* from Leftish: Another attack on Manning that is nothing more than an attempt at Character Assassination. His sexuality is not on trial here, except, of course, if it will sell newspapers…or more accurately, sell advertising. None of this has anything to do with the fact that Ellsberg was treated like a hero for reporting MORE HIGHLY CLASSIFIED information than this! Manning bravely reported WRONGDOING, and he is being vilified and called a traitor, by U.S. politicians in high offices - both the President and Vice President have called him a traitor. Whatever happened to:
1) Innocent until proven guilty?
2) Transparency in Government?
Seems like Obama, the Constitutional Law Scholar, may need to do some brushing up.]
