Edward Snowden, Hero

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Holder the Hypocrite

Russell Mokhiber is Editor of the invaluable Corporate Crime Reporter. I'm reprinting his column on Department of Justice (sic) head Eric Holder, which appeared first in Corporate Crime Reporter and then in Counterpunch. I'm reposting it in its entirety, with the Counterpunch title, "Holder the Hypocrite":

Leaks -- Okay For Me But Not For Thee

Even though he carried water for the Obama administration in the run-up to the 2012 election, when he knew -- or should have -- that Obama is a wolf in sheep's clothing, Robert Scheer still does important work at Truthdig.

If we don't like what you're doing, we'll just destroy your shit

If you think Sunday's story was bad -- and it was -- wait'll you hear this.

UK tries to put the screws to Glenn Greenwald

Just in case you didn't already know the authorities own you, they're going to make sure you do:

Of Secrecy, Lies, and More Lies

With the (unsurprising) revelations that the NSA is screwing us over even more than we already knew it was, and that the worthless wankers in Congress are clueless, except when they're lying, even to each other, it's worth repeating that we wouldn't have known about any of this if it weren't for Edward Snowden. 

Team Snowden T-shirts $6 Today Only

Limited time only -- $6 and free shipping for one of these T-shirts supporting NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden. For each sale, $1 will go to the Electronic Frontier Foundation. 

Tricky Dicks by Andy Singer

Cartoonist Andy Singer.

"I Hereby Resign in Protest Effective Immediately"

An Army vet and former worker in the war industry has "thrown down his rifle," as it were, and in a very public way. Brandon Toy submitted his resignation to General Dynamics and published the reason why in a manifesto that has gone viral. He said he was inspired by Edward Snowden. And that he knows a lot of people in the war industry share his feelings. 

Toy follows in the tradition of other recent American heroes -- not only Edward Snowden, but Bradley Manning, Thomas Drake, John Kiriakou, Barrett Brown, Jesselyn Radack, and so many others.

As activist Kevin Zeese likes to say, courage is contagious. 

Bravo, Brandon Toy!

Former Republican Senator Defends Snowden, Gives Obamabots Apoplexy

In case you haven't figured it out, I identify as Left, in the conventional way the political spectrum is usually defined. But I'm not an ideologue, nor an idiot. I hold opinions that are all over the map, including ones that are considered rightwing by those who aren't very good at nuance or who reliably respond to political dog whistles. For example, I can't abide political correctness. Political correctness is Stalinism by another name. So dog-whistle Democrats would take that to mean that, therefore, I'm rightwing.

Snowden Rising

LUV News Sunday 7 July 2013

Every Saturday and Sunday I do the LUV Newsletters. LUV stands for Liberty Underground Virginia, and it's the brainchild of Jack Balkwill, a longtime progressive activist who lives in Virginia. He started LUV News years ago, sending out a daily compendium of news stories and opinion pieces that the mainstream media often ignores.

You're a Criminal; That's Why We Need to Spy on You

Best news I've heard in months: Venezuela will grant asylum to Edward Snowden. And President Nicolás Maduro gets in a good zinger, too: “I announce to the friendly governments of the world that we have decided to use international humanitarian rights to protect Snowden from the persecution that the world’s most powerful empire has unleashed against a young person who has told the truth.”

Get ready for the chattering classes to start vilifying Maduro as the Next Scary Thing. Let's see . . . how long before the U.S. comes up with a reason to invade Venezuela . . . ?

U.S. Arrogance, Writ Large

Can you imagine what would happen if another country forced down Air Force 1??

Uh, the word "war" comes to mind.

Glenn Greenwald called the actions of the U.S. in forcing down the plane carrying Bolivian president Evo Morales the actions of a rogue state. John Pilger (also of the Guardian) does likewise. They're both right: