Syria and Snowden's Shared Protectorate: A Question of Conscience

[michigandem58]

What's the "civil libertarian" response when one of the movement's contemporary 'heroes' evades the reach of American law shares his protectorate with governments that use chemical weapons on their own people? Evidently, silence. With the Syrian government blocking UN investigators from finding the truth about their apparent chemical weapon use with assistance from Russia, the deafening silence from the self-appointed defenders of civil liberties like Glenn Greenwald and Laura Poitras should tell you all you need to know about their real intentions and priorities.

Why the silence? I suppose you don't want to start something up with the power that is now protecting the holder of the classified information that you hope will catapult you to fame and fortune. After all, you wouldn't want to force Russia to decide between protecting Edward Snowden and protecting the Syrian regime, would you?

And where is the great hero Edward Snowden in all of this? Is the courageous defender of liberties too much of a coward to speak out against his and Syria's common protectorate? Just what form of civil libertarian conscience allows one to stay silent in the face of mass murder protected by the government of the country they take refuge in just so that they don't have to face a legal trial at home? Under what definition of civil liberty does avoidance of a criminal trial under full and complete due process of law outweigh wholesale slaughter of thousands by their government?...

http://www.thepeoplesview.net/2013/08/syria-and-snowdens-shared-protectorate.html

[redgreenandblue]

1. It is like you are trying to make a parody of people who criticize Snowden.

The articles on the one website you keep linking to keep getting dumber with each iteration.

Snowden is responsible for slaughter in Syria now. Who would have known?

[shenmue]

3. Yeah, anyone who's not a Snowden supporter is just dumb.

Way to back up your argument!

The kid stole documents and shopped them outside the U.S. Yeah, that's patriotic. Why doesn't he just skip the whole crybaby argument and become a Russian or Chinese citizen? Then he can join their intelligence services and spy for them all he wants.

[redgreenandblue]

9. This article certainly is beyond dumb.

It is one big series of non-sequiturs. Basically the article randomly throws the words "Snowden" and "Syria" together in the hope that someone somewhere will think "Ah, so Snowden = Assad".

It is kind of like saying: "Oh, so you are moving to the United States? But the United States are allies with Turkey, who killed Armenians. You are behind the Armenian genocide, I knew it!!!111"

[Aerows]

49. Snowden is responsible for the Syrian civil war?

Uh, I think the actions of their government did that handily, but ... Snowden, really?

[freshwest]

2. Zowie. It's going to take a while to wrap my mind around this one and give an appropriate reply,

but off the top of my head, Snowden is a distraction for American domestic electoral purposes.

And like most 1% types, he has no allegiance to any nation or its people. He does not care, but like most sociopaths he knows how to make all the appropriate noises and use the dog whistles to those who do.

Later, need coffee for this one. Although this is going to be hard. You might want to ask some of our posters who are very interested in events in the Middle East, like the I/P people.

[frylock]

11. wtf snowden is a 1 percenter?

really?!

[Hydra]

14. Ya, that's a new one

I wasn't aware he has 100+ Million in assets. What was he doing working at Booz Allen when he could have been surfing all day right now?

[frylock]

17. everyone knows he took the position for the sole purpose of making obama look bad

[Aerows]

20. Well, in Syria

no matter what position one takes in politics, it's going to look bad because both sides have gotten to the point of nasty, ugly and heinous terrorists of one kind or another.

[sheshe2]

24. Yes, frylock. We sure do know why.

POLITICS More: National Security Edward Snowden NSA
REPORT: Edward Snowden Took A Job With Booz Allen To Gather Evidence On NSA Surveillance Programs


Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/edward-snowden-booz-allen-nsa-surveillance-evidence-job-2013-6#ixzz2cq2mLVPG

[frylock]

25. good for him..

i'm glad he did it. unlike you, I prefer to know how my govt is trying to skullfuck me.

[AverageJoe90]

61. Dunno about taking the position.....

But his timing sure was awfully suspect, though. And given his support for fringe candidate Ron Paul, and that many Paulite "libertarians" have expressed their rather strong disdain for Obama.....it does make one honestly wonder.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

26. What do you think was in all those boxes in his garage?

Fat stacks of 1%er cash, that's what. (having never looked for the sarcasm symbol, I'm not going to start now).

[Hydra]

27. *lmao*

Boxes!! Oh, wait, I forgot:



This explains everything!! His 1% boxes of cash were in Moscow!!

[DisgustipatedinCA]

28. I hate publicly correcting people, but I belive you posted a map of Ecuador, not Moscow. n/t

[Aerows]

48. I do, too, but you are incorrect sir.

This is the map.

[Cha]

4. snowden's no "hero".. heroes don't hide

behind Putin's pants and say shite like this..

"These nations, including Russia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Nicaragua, and Ecuador have my gratitude and respect for being the first to stand against human rights violations."

http://wikileaks.org/Statement-by-Edward-Snowden-to.html

A comment from your link, michigandem

Norbrook • 16 hours ago• 16 upvotes −+

"At least Russia isn't spying on the Syrians and intercepting their e-mails and telephone calls! Oh ... wait. Yes, they are. Remember, though the truly important thing; It's not whether Russia is condoning or blocking investigation of Syria using chemical weapons. It's whether Glenn gets attention and a paycheck."

[freshwest]

19. That first quote is almost Reaganesque. 'My friends are the good guys!'

Uh, never mind those bodies in that mass grave there. Move along now, nothing to see here.

And if you do take a look and say anything against my new friends, you are a freedom hating fascist, blah, blah.

Sounds like Faux News or Clear Channel telling us we'd better STFU. Not so fast there. Nope, don't think so.

[Aerows]

21. I must say, freshwest

I thought you were one of the better posters here.

[Comrade Grumpy]

6. Uh, Russia has told Syria it should let the UN inspectors in. But...

...there I go treating the OP as if it were worthy of a serious reply. My bad.

This is just rancid, pathetic crap.

[OnyxCollie]

7. I didn't get napkins with my drive-through order.

Why hasn't Snowden spoken out about this abuse? Doesn't he care?

If that's his attitude, then fuck him and all his documents.

[Aerows]

22. A child died in Syria, but another one got only wounded critically

Stop focusing on the critically wounded child, that child has a chance to live!!11!

[railsback]

8. 'Urging' Syria to cooperate is a far cry from demanding cooperation

Its not like Putin is threatening to cut off the military supply if Assad doesn't let the U.N. in.

Which brings us back to where are Greenwald and Snowden, the champions of human rights? Strangely quiet….

[Aerows]

18. Which party do you champion as far as human right's go

in a situation where both sides have committed atrocities? Pick one. You are still on the bad side.

[railsback]

30. Body count is doubled without intervention

Is that preferable?

[Aerows]

31. You honestly think so?

Or is the body count just spread around to other countries? Personally, I think there is going to be a body count, period. No need for them to be US Citizens and allies in a misguided attempt to bring order in a situation where our interference is going to inherently cause more disorder and death.

[railsback]

38. Well, certainly

Two sides fighting ends with twice as many deaths. Take one side out, half as many die. Truman took that to the extreme, but still the same principle. And if the U.S. is going to crow about humanitarian rights, those rights aren't exclusively reserved for U.S. citizens... unless we're hypocrites.

[Aerows]

40. Add another one in

And now you have three times as many. WooHoo!

Sorry, I used to have a more cavalier approach to military action, but I've just been worn down by seeing those that I know, those that I care about and those that are thinking of enlisting be potentially wasted in civil war that we cannot possibly hope to win.

The approach you have to dead Americans rather disgusts me, too, let me point that out.

"Two sides fighting ends with twice as many deaths. Take one side out, half as many die. Truman took that to the extreme, but still the same principle. And if the U.S. is going to crow about humanitarian rights, those rights aren't exclusively reserved for U.S. citizens... unless we're hypocrites."

So you advocate people US Military members - family members - dying in Syria for unknown and hazy reasons. Thought I would copy-paste this in case you decided to delete it.

There are many members of the Armed Forces and their families on DU.

[railsback]

41. You seem to be under the impression that there will be boots on the ground

The only thing that will happen are missile strikes on Assad's hardware. The opposition is 100k strong. There's no need for our troops to be put in harm's way. This is new era warfare.

[Aerows]

42. No boots on the ground

Provided that it truly doesn't turn into "boots on the ground". Now I'm prepared for a bunch of folks to call ME callous because I truly don't want more of our people in harms way, and I hate war in general, but without our people in harms way... Just tired of too many people that have been.

End it quickly.

[railsback]

54. 'Our people'??

Are we THAT superiorly special?

[cyberswede]

56. How is "our people" different than "our troops?"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3523884

[railsback]

59. How exactly do you determine that difference

All I stated is that this is a new era of warfare, that troops on the ground are unnecessary, especially a war by proxy.

[cyberswede]

60. No, you gave Aerows shit for using the phrase "our people"

I submit that "our people" in Aerows' post means the same thing as "our troops" in yours.

[railsback]

63. *snicker*

Ok, whatever.

[cyberswede]

64. I don't get it.

[Aerows]

44. Can I ask you a serious question?

Why is it the responsibility of Americans if Syrians blow themselves to hell? We've seen Rwandans doing it by the MILLIONS, and it wasn't an issue. Congo - again, atrocities, rapes, deaths in the millions, we aren't flying in on a mercy mission.

Why is Syria a mercy mission all of the sudden?

[railsback]

52. I thought we were humanitarians

So, apparently all this Snowden Greenwald Manning love is just faux outrage.

[David Krout]

10. Syrian rebels bite lungs off dead bodies and eat them

Obama should not back lung-eaters: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/05/15/syrian-rebel-abu-sakkar-filmed-eating-soldiers-lung-no-regrets-more-slaughter-graphic-video-pictures_n_3277239.html

[freshwest]

13. But we have some saying he should, since Assad is so bad. There are no leaders there to support.

Last edited Fri Aug 23, 2013, 11:36 PM - Edit history (1)

From everything I read in the past, Assad is like the Shah of Iran was. A ruthless dictator who stole from his people. I knew people that came from Iran to get away from him. I also know some from Lebanon and Syria who came here to get away from stuff. We are over our heads dealing with this. Nothing we do will be the right thing.

[Aerows]

16. It's like picking between a person

that is a murderer and a person that is ... also a murderer. Which one is more horrific, it's hard to say. There are no allies to be had for human rights on either side. It's tragic.

[cthulu2016]

12. Why do you keep posting from that blog?

The author of that website is a moron and borderline illiterate, and probably some RW false-flag fraud.

With all the blogs out there, there has to be a better one to constantly share here.

[Fumesucker]

45. Answered your own question

The author of that website is a moron and borderline illiterate, and probably some RW false-flag fraud.

[Aerows]

15. So you think it would be prudent to get involved in the Syrian conflict?

Which side would you support?

[bvar22]

23. What a sack of garbage.

Linking to that phony, False Flag "progressive" site is an embarrassment to DU.
We are better than that.
At least, most of us are.




You will know them by their [font size=3]WORKS.[/font]

[Aerows]

29. I'll ask you again

Which side do you support in the Syrian Civil War? Just tell us all, straight up, and why you think they are the best side to support.

I don't support ANY of them, because they are all committing vile acts without regard to human life. That's an ant hill that stirring in just gets whoever does stung by both sides and a lot more dead people than letting them sort it out themselves.

[Bluenorthwest]

32. What's the frequency, Kenneth?

eom

[burnodo]

33. back to the homophobic site!

I guess the other one didn't have enough propaganda for you to push

[winter is coming]

34. And the toilet overflows again...

[Aerows]

35. I've already had one person declare in this thread that the body count would be doubled

without US interference. I hope I am wrong, but I will state the body count will be much higher if we wade into this hornet's nest. Smearing honey on your ass and sitting on fire ant hill isn't the way to end a conflict, as Afghanistan has proven.

It just makes more fire ants wanting the honey, and more people being sent to senselessly sit on the ant hill so the honey supplier gets contracts. Not to mention every ant that stings dies, but more keep coming because an asshole and their honey is there.

[4bucksagallon]

37. It is being reported that Russia is urging Syria to cooperate

in the probe.
http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/08/23/20151732-russia-urges-syria-to-cooperate-with-chemical-weapons-probe?lite

[railsback]

39. Did they say 'pretty please with some caviar on top'?

[Aerows]

47. If they offered you some caviar on top, would you

think yourself wealthy enough that maybe we shouldn't be fighting wars of convenience?

Because that's the answer of a person that isn't there fighting one.

[railsback]

51. Well, that's not the point, is it?

Or is rage just obscuring the point, which was Russia is NOT demanding Syria cooperate, rather they're suggesting Syria cooperate.

[Aerows]

53. That isn't the point either, is it?

Are you glorifying the situation with a little caviar on top?

I honestly believe you don't think much of the folks here on DU, if they didn't see through that thinly veiled attempt to paint everyone that hates war as caviar liberals. It's actually rather insulting.

[freshwest]

58. No, they withdrew their embassy staff or something. But the Russian and Syrian connection is solid.

At least that's what the Russians I know say. Same as Iran and parts of the former Yugoslavia. They consider the West to be the aggressor in all of these things. But they still love America.

[99Forever]

43. More pathetic horseshit from...

... the same authoritarian tool.

Weaker and more desperate by the minute.

[Aerows]

46. Rwandans killed each other by the millions (pop 10m)

No need to intervene.

DRC (Congo) killed each other by the millions in vicious warfare that is still going on. No need to interfere.

Syria. Has 20 million people.

Must intervene in a war that has no clear victims or villains other than the Syrian people. Support Al-Qaeda or Syria. Pick one. We are picking what side again?

DRC: 67 million people.
...

[Warren Stupidity]

50. I wonder when the BOG are going to realize who they are cozying up with.

Until then it is amusing watching the contortions involved in attempting to agree with your noxious rightwing idiocy.

[Aerows]

55. It's some nasty people

I alerted, and I hope my faith is restored, but there are some bullshit people on here tonight, and have been lingering long after they should have been.

[morningfog]

57. The people's view....LOL! (nt)

[AverageJoe90]

62. Excellent post, once again.

Frankly, I also can't help but wonder just how many of these people so passionately defending the fringe right Paulite "libertarian" Snowden *and* his flight to Russia, may in fact, be RW false-flag type people functioning as moles within the progressive movement, to be bluntly honest with you.