Yearly Archives: 2013

Lying To Congress Is Legal, If You’re Intelligence Chief James Clapper — Now Apologizing

"The US director of national intelligence, James Clapper, has attempted to head off criticism that he lied to Congress over the extent of government surveillance on American citizens, with a letter to senators in which he apologised for giving 'erroneous' information. Two weeks after telling NBC news that he gave the 'least untruthful answer possible' at a hearing in March, Clapper wrote to the Senate intelligence committee to correct his response to a question about whether the National Security Agency 'collected data on millions of Americans'." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingLying To Congress Is Legal, If You’re Intelligence Chief James Clapper — Now Apologizing

Snowden Issues Statement Condemning Actions of Both Obama and Biden

"For decades the United States of America have been one of the strongest defenders of the human right to seek asylum. Sadly, this right, laid out and voted for by the U.S. in Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, is now being rejected by the current government of my country. The Obama administration has now adopted the strategy of using citizenship as a weapon. Although I am convicted of nothing, it has unilaterally revoked my passport, leaving me a stateless person. Without any judicial order, the administration now seeks to stop me exercising a basic right. A right that belongs to everybody. The right to seek asylum." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSnowden Issues Statement Condemning Actions of Both Obama and Biden

Rafael Correa says Ecuador helped Edward Snowden by mistake

"Ecuador is not considering Edward Snowden’s asylum request and never intended to facilitate his flight from Hong Kong, president Rafael Correa said. Snowden was Russia’s responsibility and would have to reach Ecuadorean territory before the country would consider any asylum request, the president said. The president, speaking to the Guardian at the presidential palace in Quito, said his government did not intentionally help Snowden travel from Hong Kong to Moscow with a temporary travel pass. 'It was a mistake on our part,' he added, clashing with expressions of gratitude the 30-year-old fugitive issued hours later, before Correa’s views had been published." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRafael Correa says Ecuador helped Edward Snowden by mistake

Edward Snowden’s letter to the president of Ecuador

"While the public has cried out support of my shining a light on this secret system of injustice, the government of the United States of America responded with an extrajudicial man-hunt costing me my family, my freedom to travel and my right to live peacefully without fear of illegal aggression. As I face this persecution, there has been silence from governments afraid of the United States government and their threats. Ecuador however, rose to stand and defend the human right to seek asylum. The decisive action of your consul in London, Fidel Narvaez, guaranteed my rights would be protected upon departing Hong Kong – I could never have risked travel without that." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEdward Snowden’s letter to the president of Ecuador

Putin says Snowden should stop harming ‘our American partners’

"President Vladimir Putin made starkly clear on Monday that Edward Snowden was not welcome in Russia, and voiced solidarity with the United States over the fugitive former U.S. spy agency contactor. However, Putin repeated that Russia had no intention of handing the American over to the United States, which wants him on espionage charges. For the second time in a week, he said Russian intelligence agencies were not working with Snowden and urged him to leave as soon as possible. 'If he wants to go away somewhere and someone will accept him there, by all means,' Putin said." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPutin says Snowden should stop harming ‘our American partners’

Putin says Snowden should stop harming ‘our American partners’

"President Vladimir Putin made starkly clear on Monday that Edward Snowden was not welcome in Russia, and voiced solidarity with the United States over the fugitive former U.S. spy agency contactor. However, Putin repeated that Russia had no intention of handing the American over to the United States, which wants him on espionage charges. For the second time in a week, he said Russian intelligence agencies were not working with Snowden and urged him to leave as soon as possible. 'If he wants to go away somewhere and someone will accept him there, by all means,' Putin said." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPutin says Snowden should stop harming ‘our American partners’

3 big revelations from the newly leaked NSA documents

"Perhaps the most damning new revelation is that the U.S. government may have been spying on friends as well as foes. Thirty-eight embassies and missions are outlined as 'targets' on one document, reports the Guardian. The document details the range of spying techniques employed, 'from bugs implanted in electronic communications gear to taps into cables to the collection of transmissions with specialized antennae.' Along with 'traditional ideological adversaries' and 'sensitive Middle Eastern countries,' the unofficial roster of spy targets includes French, Italian, and Greek embassies, as well as Japan, Mexico, South Korea, India, and Turkey." Continue reading →

Continue Reading3 big revelations from the newly leaked NSA documents

3 big revelations from the newly leaked NSA documents

"Perhaps the most damning new revelation is that the U.S. government may have been spying on friends as well as foes. Thirty-eight embassies and missions are outlined as 'targets' on one document, reports the Guardian. The document details the range of spying techniques employed, 'from bugs implanted in electronic communications gear to taps into cables to the collection of transmissions with specialized antennae.' Along with 'traditional ideological adversaries' and 'sensitive Middle Eastern countries,' the unofficial roster of spy targets includes French, Italian, and Greek embassies, as well as Japan, Mexico, South Korea, India, and Turkey." Continue reading →

Continue Reading3 big revelations from the newly leaked NSA documents

Egyptian president rejects army’s ultimatum to meet demands of protesting crowds

"Egypt’s presidency on Tuesday rejected an army ultimatum threatening to intervene if Islamist President Mohamed Morsi did not meet the demands of the people, raising the stakes in the country’s political crisis. The army statement, read out on television Monday, had given Morsi 48 hours to comply with its call. 'If the demands of the people are not met in this period… (the armed forces) will announce a future roadmap and measures to oversee its implementation,' it said. But in a statement issued overnight, the presidency insisted it would continue on its own path towards national reconciliation." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEgyptian president rejects army’s ultimatum to meet demands of protesting crowds

Vermont Marijuana Decriminalization Law Goes Into Effect

"Starting Monday, Vermonters will not be arrested for possessing less than an ounce of marijuana. The decriminalization law, signed by Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin (D) last month, will remove criminal penalties on small amounts of cannabis and replace them with civil fines. According to the new measure, first-time offenders will not get more than a $200 fine for possession. The fine will increase for repeat offenders -- $300 for a second offense and $500 for every offense thereafter -- but, under the law, marijuana possession will no longer result in the creation of a criminal record." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingVermont Marijuana Decriminalization Law Goes Into Effect