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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsGlenn Greenwald did not say that searching for the Nigerian kidnapped girls is horrifying
Some bloggers who defend the NSA are taking his tweet out of context as part of their search for revenge for his reporting on the Snowden documents.
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Cali_Democrat
(30,439 posts)So this is ultimately about Snowden? Thanks for the laughs!!! This is the first post I've seen tying the Nigerian school girl kidnapping to Snowden.
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)
ProSense
(116,464 posts)"Glenn Greenwald did not say that searching for the Nigerian kidnapped girls is horrifying
Some bloggers who defend the NSA are taking his tweet out of context as part of their search for revenge for his reporting on the Snowden documents. "
...this isn't his tweet: http://www.democraticunderground.com/101692614
Again, welcome to DU.
Why Syzygy
(18,928 posts)in school. It actually says that the "ability to ignore" is horrifying. You're welcome.
JaneyVee
(19,877 posts)The options were weighed and a decision was made.
Why Syzygy
(18,928 posts)"history". Yes, those decisions WERE made.
JaneyVee
(19,877 posts)Or very much considered?
ProSense
(116,464 posts)Ignoring "history".
He was making a comment about "Western Intervention."
You're attempting to excuse a disgusting comment by shifting the focus from his point.
Why Syzygy
(18,928 posts)think it was a disgusting comment. I get the point. I think some others are missing the point so they can vilify Greenwald.
DisgustipatedinCA
(12,530 posts)You'd be able to understand Greenwald's sentence if you wanted to. It's not difficult.
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)support the US helping find those girls.
And that anyone who does support such assistance is in fact engaging in a "horrifying" willingness to learn from history.
It's Greenwald pretty much condemning everyone who disagrees with him about the US being the source of all evil, as he always does, being the massively egotistical libertarian asshole tool he is.
Electric Monk
(13,869 posts)
The ability to ignore virtually all history when advocating for The Next Western Intervention is as impressive as it is horrifying.
The ability to ignore ... is as impressive as it is horrifying.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)"The ability to ignore ... is as impressive as it is horrifying."
"Ignore" what? Ellipses?
You are the one who is "confirming the OP's point," which is to spin away this disgusting comment by Greenwald.
Spare me the ridiculous attempt at parsing a sentence.
Adrahil
(13,340 posts)You may be technically right, but the sense of that post is crystal clear.
gratuitous
(82,849 posts)But let's see here. It appears that Greenwald is saying that the history of Western intervention in Africa has had its problems. King Leopold and all that, I would surmise.* As such, given that history, Africans regard any Western intervention with a certain amount of skepticism and fear, even when it is launched with the best intentions and aims in mind. Here, of course, the retrieval of those kidnapped girls in Nigeria. Westerners blundering into Nigeria, without a very good understanding of the situation (as per usual when we go into another country), could lead to any number of unintended consequences, just like it did in Afghanistan. Eliding over this history while thumping the tub for intervention is an exercise in hubris, and for people who remember that history, could easily cause alarm and horror.
Okay, it's a little more than 140 characters, but I think that's what Greenwald was saying in his tweet.
*Also, while it didn't happen in Africa, the CIA's recently-exposed program of fake vaccinations while trying to kill bin Laden, which has led to a resurgence of polio in Pakistan. Which is pretty goddam horrifying.
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)must be ignoring history.
Which is typical of what we would expect of a hyper-egotistical libertarian asshole who doesn't give a fuck about human rights and suffering if it doesn't give him a platform to bash the US government.
Egnever
(21,506 posts)So over that asshat.
AverageJoe90
(10,745 posts)NuclearDem
(16,184 posts)Said as someone who supports the leaks and NSA reforms.
4now
(1,597 posts)
frazzled
(18,402 posts)He was tweeting in response to this Op Ed in the Guardian, the main takeaway of which is:
The kidnap of the estimated 270 girls is shameful, sickening and horrifying. It is every condemnatory adjective we have, as is Nigeria's embarrassing failure to take any action to save them.
As western feminists, we have a duty to stand in solidarity with these girls, their mothers, and their fathers. I don't know anyone who would fail to condemn these atrocities, but there is perhaps a small reluctance to get involved, for fear of interfering, for appropriating the struggles of others, or for failing to understand the relevant cultural and religious politics. ...
It is my view that there is a case for military assistance, but on a more basic level, there are things that we can do to support those who are begging for help. The British feminist movement has immense social media clout. We can all follow the Facebook group Bring Back Our Girls and use the hashtag. We can write to our world leaders, demanding that they offer assistance to rescue the girls. We can organise rallies and marches locally, as many others already have. We can support and listen to the Nigerian community here in the UK.
Greenwald responded:
The ability to ignore virtually all history when advocating for The Next Western Intervention is as impressive as it is horrifying
So what the heck do you think he meant? This woman's call to do something (she personally thought some intervention might be called for, but advised other things to do, like writing and marching) is apparently, in GG's mind, as "horrifying" as the kidnap of the 270 girls because it ignores "virtually all history" regarding "Intervention."
What the heck does he mean by all of history? That there has never been a successful intervention mission? No rescue at Entebbe? No successful end to a hostage crisis? No rescuing ships taken by pirates? Is GG THAT effing big of a non-interventionist, of the Ron Paul variety, that he can't even fathom the idea of a special mission to rescue 270 little girls? That's kind of whack.
I'm not arguing for such a mission--it all depends on whether it could accomplish the goal or not. But nobody is talking about starting World War III here. GG sounds just like a mean old hyperbolic crank.
But what do YOU think he meant? To me, it's quite straightforward. I'd love to hear your excuse for this overreaction.
jeff47
(26,549 posts)You aren't limited to 140 characters here. You're free to post the entire context so that we can understand exactly what he said and how it wasn't awful.
Rex
(65,616 posts)is both as impressive as it is horrifying. IOW, he waffled on a very serious topic to get in a dig at the US. Very poorly played imo.
Rowdyboy
(22,057 posts)
randys1
(16,286 posts)
SidDithers
(44,333 posts)Sid
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)
sheshe2
(95,392 posts)And why are you equating Nigerian girls that were kidnaped to NSA and Snowden!?
Please proceed Jemon.
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)sheshe2
(95,392 posts)Thanks for the reminder, msanthrope.
Cali_Democrat
(30,439 posts)randome
(34,845 posts)...the more he self-destructs. I don't wish anyone ill will but Greenwald...well, he deserves some misery for this and his other bogus endeavors. Fortunately, no one needs to lift a finger, he's doing it to himself.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]You should never stop having childhood dreams.[/center][/font][hr]
Progressive dog
(7,561 posts)the search for the Nigerian girls was horrifying. He wasn't taken out of context, except by his defenders.