On Ed Snowden's Dad, Insane McCain, and Kicking Sand in Russia's Face

"The crime against the Constitution is so great and so longstanding, and the number of perps and betrayers so long and so wide, that they have no choice but to lie. How can they cop to a betrayal so large and sweeping in scope that what we know now is just the start?" - Blog appearing on Smirking chimp.com today ('Why Would You Believe Anything the Government Tells You About NSA Spying?)


Let's be clear that the ongoing split in the country between rights advocates (NOT "ideologues"!)  and securitists is predicated on the answers one gives to two questions: 1) What are the American people entitled to know about their government? and 2) What is the government entitled to know about the American people?  I paraphrase here Thomas Jefferson's famous quote: "When the government knows more about the people than the people know about the government, there is tyranny. When the people know more about the government than it does about them, there is liberty."

Let's also be mindful that until Snowden went to the press (WaPo and UK Guardian), few Americans knew that their phone companies, Internet providers, and social media facilitators were compelled to secretly allow the government to collect information. And despite what Obama claims (that he'd have done it anyway- to which I say, 'bull puckey') it was Snowden's revelations that now have him proposing even a "civil liberties agent" to the NSA.

Anyway, on Sunday morning, I was gratified to see Edward Snowden's father, Lon, laying it out for Neolib hack Georgie Stephanopoulos on ABC (This Week with George Stephanopoulos ) regarding how his son could hardly expect a fair hearing – far less trial – in the U.S. . This is because the whole nation has been effectively “poisoned against him" by the media hysteria.

Mr. Snowden said he had secured documents to visit his son in Russia and that he plans to talk to him about how he could fight the espionage charges against him. Snowden, of Allentown, Pennsylvania, believes it unlikely that his son could have a fair trial in the US, given what he called "absolutely irresponsible" descriptions of his son's actions from members of the Obama administration and top lawmakers from both parties. According to Snowden Sr.:

 "They have poisoned the well, so to speak, in terms of a potential jury pool,"

Of course, he needed to add the corporate media too, including certain of MSNBC's "Liberal" denizens, who contributed to the Snowden hysteria and invective.  These have now become the "state media" and propaganda platform, no different from what they were (with few exceptions) than in the run up to the Iraq invasion where they ceaselessly beat the drum for war.

Family Attorney Bruce Fein, also at the table,  said the family is willing to discuss conditions under which Snowden might return to the US and perhaps face criminal proceedings. The lawyers will provide him with suggestions of criminal defense attorneys with expertise under the Espionage Act, under which there have only been 10 prosecutions in as many years.

I particularly liked Fein’s take on Ed Snowden using the example of Thomas Paine. Those who know some American history may recall Paine was the original voice of the American Revolution who penned the polemic pamphlet ‘Common Sense’,  giving voice to its basis. No American who professes to be any kind of patriot ought to be without it. Anyway, Fein made the point of how Paine argued that the ongoing need was to protect the nation from its recurring government, because it is governments which can go bad. All it takes is sheeple to replace fire breathing, knowledgeable and aware citizens keeping its government on the straight and narrow.  In Paine's own words:

"Society in every state is a blessing, but government even in its best state is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one; for when we suffer, or are exposed to the same miseries by a government, which we might expect in a country without government, our calamity is heightened by reflecting that we furnish the means by which we suffer. "

Snowden Sr. said that the political storm over his son's actions would fade and added "the American people are absolutely unhappy with what they've learned and more is forthcoming."

Adding:

"Where my son chooses to live the rest of his life is going to be his decision. But I would like at some point in time for him to be able to come back to the US,"

 Meanwhile, speaking on Fox News Sunday, Mad man McCain said:

 "The president comparing him to a kid in the back of the classroom, I think, is very indicative of the president's lack of appreciation of who Vladimir Putin is."

Well, I do agree but for different reasons, i.e. ALL major world leaders deserve to be treated with respect, especially those with whom you desire or are claiming to have had a “reset”. Anyway, McCain invoked the old Cold War metaphors:

"He's an old KGB colonel that has no illusions about our relationship, does not care about a relationship with the United States, continues to oppress his people, continues to oppress the media and continues to act in an autocratic and unhelpful fashion."

McCain said that cancelling the meeting – initially slated for September, but cancelled last week after Russia granted asylum to Snowden – was merely "symbolic". He suggested that the US needed to do more, such as expand the 2012 Magnitsky Act, which seeks to punish Russians implicated in human rights abuses, as well as encourage  (former Soviet republic) Georgia's NATO aspirations and expand missile defense systems in Europe.

Oh yeah, Johnno Mc Nutso, that’s sure to make the Russians real happy! Expand the missile defense and add former Soviet republic Georgia to NATO - already encroaching on Russia's border. Why don’t you just toss a grenade under Putin’s chair at the next meeting he attends, you damned fucking, jingoistic, senile asshole!  This dope-ass dimwit then said:

"We also need very badly to understand that Mr. Putin does not have United States-Russia relationships as a priority"

Really? Do you have it as a priority, or are you such a fabulous mind reader you can say Obama does?  If YOU don't then don't act like a douchebag ignoramus hypocrite! McCain also  said that by granting asylum to Snowden, Putin had in effect, "put his finger in Obama's eye".

Oh, BWAAHHAAA! Give him a sippy cup or a nappy! In fact, the U.S. national security corporate state SYSTEM had gouged out Russia’s eyes with hammer -fisted blows when they proposed over the past few days going ahead unilaterally with a daft, insane missile “defense” system that they think will bring Putin and Russia to its knees. They had better rethink that. Meanwhile, a more sobering take (‘Kicking Sand in Russia’s Face’) from a former journalist (Eric Margolis) with impressive credentials appeared on smrkingshimp.com (http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/eric-margolis/51065/kicking-sand-in-russia-s-face  )

 Margolis trenchantly observed:

“The single most important national security imperative for the United States is to maintain correct relations with Russia. It’s not al-Qaida, NSA, China, North Korea, or any other issue. That’s why President Barack Obama’s insulting cancellation of his planned meeting with Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, during the 5-6 September Group of 20 meeting in St. Petersburg is so dismaying. Russia has over 3,000 active nuclear warheads, the majority aimed at North America.

The US has a similarly powerful nuclear arsenal, primarily targeted on Russia, or in reserve for a second strike in the event of all-out war. When two men are holding loaded pistols to each other’s heads, keeping cool, calm and polite is imperative.”

But what did Obama do? He compared Putin to the “slouchy kid at the back of the classroom” C’mon, Obama! You have way more class and intelligence than that! Show it, for god’s sakes, don’t just echo the bilious bytes of the far right nut jobs! There is too much at stake here! Margolis adds that being cool, calm and polite is exactly what the U.S. (again in the guise of its SYSTEM to which Obama seems hostage) has not been doing, thereby “exposing Americans to an unnecessary national security risk for no apparent gain.”

 As Lon Snowden put it yesterday morning, that’s one thing you can expect out of Washington lately, lots of “political theater” but which I call out as useless, jingoistic bombast – mostly from the likes of the Peter King- McCain- Lindsey Graham asshole axis….errrr, brigade. Occasionally joined by the usual parade of Dem Neolib  weasels like Dianne Feinstein, Chuck Schumer, Joe Biden et al. Sometimes I think I am living in a far right media echo chamber where almost everyone and his uncle on the tube blathers the nutso jabber of a certain pathological, wingnut screw job who fancies himself a "saved soul".

It’s almost like a mind cluster- fuck. Margolis, to his credit, also names Washington as the culprit in the U.S. –Russia chill:

“Behind this Big Chill is Washington’s ongoing treatment of Russia as a second or third-rate power. The US lectures and hectors Russia and affords scant concern of Moscow’s strategic interests or spheres of interest. Europe gets much the same treatment. Whenever Russia refuses to go along with US policy – Syria being a good example – it comes in for barrages of criticism over human and political rights in America’s state-influenced media and Congress.”

Which is why I had to sit appalled as former war criminal apparatchik (to the Bush-Cheney gang) Condie Rice appeared on the tube the other night blathering that “Well, Russia is now a greatly reduced power. Yes, they have nuclear missiles but they’d never use them.”

Which led me to re-gauge Condi’s IQ as no longer Mensa standard. Margolis’ concluding take is one which all the jingoistic U.S. cadre , media and their national security state tools ought to take note of:

“Instead of dealing with this major threat, Obama, under blistering attack from Republicans over the deaths of three Americans in Benghazi, Libya, is offending Putin and indeed all Russians. This is foolish, short-sighted and sure to worsen US-Russian relations as well as scuttling chances of an arms control pact in the next few years. Or, in simple English: President Obama, don’t kick sand in the face of a man holding a gun to your head. How about some presidential behavior re Russia?”

 But alas, “presidential behavior” appears to be a commodity in short supply now,  when the de facto leader lacks the courage to lead, as opposed to listening to screwballs and dimwits. Alas, in that case, he merely becomes another follower – even if he doesn’t recognize it!

See also: http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/gaius-publius/51079/why-would-you-believe-anything-the-government-tells-you-about-nsa-pentagon-spying

Russian Angst Increases Over U.S. "Missile Defense" Plan

The recent words of a Russian Defense Minister (Denver Post, May 25), to the effect that the Russians will have to double or treble their existing nuclear missile warhead capacity to neutralize the planned U.S.-NATO missile shield for eastern Europe is certainly grounds for serious worry. To be sure, it has the makings of a new nuclear arms race just as we were making progress in removing warheads and disassembling missiles in the former USSR. And for what? Well, for no good reason!

As I noted in earlier blogs, e.g.

http://brane-space.blogspot.com/2012/04/as-noted-before-missile-shield-is-waste.html

This proposed shield, which is planned by NATO (Why does this anachronism even exist any more? The only plausible reason is to act as a buffer or cover for U.S. militarist actions.) would be completed in four phases by 2021  and the cover story or PR is that "it's meant to counter a potential threat from Iran". Trouble is, the system - which uses Aegis radar systems and interceptors on ships- is set up right on Russia' border in nearby Poland. Since the Russkies kept their side of the deal and expedited the dissolution of The Warsaw Pact (the putative counter to NATO in the Cold War Years), the U.S. - despite warning from expert Russianologists, has made ever more pacts with former Russian satellites and expanded NATO to Russia's doorstep. This is stupid, ill-conceived.

Indeed, one can't blame the Russians for their mounting paranoia that the system allegedly to be used to stop Iranian missiles is really designed to undermine Moscow's nuclear deterrent.. As one Russian minister observed, obviously it would be of use since (irrespective of the claimed purpose) it "would give the West the ability to shoot down Russian missiles in situ" (WSJ, 'Moscow Raises Alarm Over Missile-Defense Plan for Europe', May 4, p. A14). Thus, the Russians rightly worry that the proximity of this system to their border gives the U.S. an excellent opportunity to down Russian missiles in the boost phase.  If this idea catches on, and there's good reason it can, one can pardon the Russians for believing the U.S. is setting up for a first-strike capability.

In his book 'Particles and Policy', physicist Wolfgang Panofksy pointed out the only true system of security for Russia and the U.S. was MAD: Mutually Assured Destruction. Thus, it became an axiom that neither nation would do anything to jeapordize the stability ensured by MAD using reckless moves which might be interpreted to seeking to gain leverage in the MAD world.

The objective truth is that this proposed missile system is merely a destabilizer with absolutely no known benefit. Even the Poles, who are destined to house one or more systems have gone on record to state that any such system isn't needed. Stefan Niesiolowski, chairman of the defense committee in the Polish Lower House of Parliament pointedly observed such a missile system is not needed in Poland. As he pointed out ('Missile Gaffe Leaves Europen Unfazed', WSJ, April 22,  p. A8):

"There's no military threat and we haven't had a situation as secure as this in 300 years. The level of U.S. military engagement in Poland therefore is not of top importance."

Then WHY do it?

The answer is simple: the military -industrial complex ensconced in the U.S. wants to invent ever more specious reasons to piss away ever more billions of our taxpayer dollars. (Which is also why they want to have 30,000 unmanned drones airborne by 2015, since Afghanistan use is winding down). THEN...the deficit hawks can pick up the yelp to cut social programs because of all the deficits created by "entitlements". Except they aren't caused by "entitlements" but by: a) unpaid for Bush tax cuts and b) wasteful military spending!

While a Report by the Defense Science Board issued last year speculates that "there are no fundamental roadblocks to the system", it then monkey-wrenched the claim by elaborating profound problems with the system including cost overruns (which, of course, the defense contractors love).  Meanwhile, former Pentagon nuclear weapons' tester Philip Coyle  warned that the issues raised in the Report "would require substantial and costly changes, if they can be surmounted at all:"


As for Panofsky, he makes it clear in his chapter 'MAD vs. NUTS', that no such missile shield systems are in any way practical or feasible. And even if by some serendipity they temporarily were,  a determined adversary could easily find the means to neutralize the system- as Russia proposed to do with Reagan's 'Star Wars' by having missiles deploy thousands of metallic fragments as decoys.

Russia, for its part, rightfully demands a legally binding guarantee that the system won't be used against it. But the U.S. asserts (ibid.) "it can't agree to formal limits on missile defense".

Oh really? Then why should the Russians believe the system isn't really designed to be used against them? Again, the U.S. miltarists - driven by Paul Nitzke's feral document NSC -68  (mandating empire building)  end up putting their feet into their mouths, and at the same time possibly detracting from global nuclear security for all of us, if the Russians increase the megatonnage of their warheads in response.

The ironic aspect of it all, as Morris Berman notes (Dark Ages America: The Final Phase of Empire, W.W. Norton, page 118) is:

"Nitze emphasized the importance of perception, arguing that how we were seen was as crucial as how militarily secure we actually were. This rapidly expanded the number of interests deemed relevant to national security”.

Of course, the US of A has no patent on such perceptions, and if the Russians also believe they're entitled to theirs, they can be forgiven for taking steps to thwart the deployment of a missile shield embodied in U.S. "perceptions" of self-interest. Especially given the shield is to be set up right under their noses!

DO We Need A Missile Defense System in E. Europe? NO!

As the pundit gasbags on the Right continue to bloviate about Obama's "missile gaffe" (arising from an open mic in a recent meeting with Russian President Dimitry Medvedev, all sorts of conspiracy theories are being churned out. One (from Romney) implies our prez made some secret, slimey deal with the "Reds" that compromises national security. At least a few sane voices, mostly drowned out, observe (correctly) that there's nothing sinister at all, and Obama was simply delivering a stark political assessment. That is, given the nature of Reep-fomented gridlock in Washington, it's highly unlikely any new policies, or legislation or treaties will be passed before the elections in November.

But all of this bloviation and punditry overlooks the larger point: that the need for any "missile defense shield" in eastern Europe (mainly based in Romania and Poland) is as empty and bankrupt of value as the Reagan "Star Wars" bullshit of 25 years ago, and as stupid as Bush Junior's idiotic "national missile defense" system from ten years ago. (Of which this new system is really a makeover holdover- displaced to Europe). The fact is that none of these missile systems-shields really works, as particle physicist Wolfgang Panofsky first noted in his articulate chapter 'MAD vs. Nuts' in Particles and Policy (American Institute of Physics, 1994).

No such system has yet been devised (other than the limited "Patriot" batteries used in the 1990-91 Gulf War) that consistently can take down incoming missiles. (The Patriots worked about 50% of the time 'cause they were mainly going up against the crappy Iraqi SCUD missiles). In nearly every instance, as Panofsky points out, you are merely injecting a de-stabilizing force into a situation, and also one which - technologically - is always easily defeatable by appropriate counter-measures (which invariably are cheaper to employ that the measures that the anti-missile requires to nullify them!)

Even Stefan Niesiolowski, chairman of the defense committee in the Polish Lower House of Parliament has noted such a missile system is not needed in Poland. As he points out ('Missile Gaffe Leaves Europen Unfazed', WSJ, today, p. A8):

"There's no military threat and we haven't had a situation as secure as this in 300 years. The level of U.S. military engagement in Poland therefore is not of top importance."

WOW! No military threat? Then WHY do it?

The answer is simple: the military -industrial complex ensconced in the U.S. wants to invent ever more specious reasons to piss away ever more billions of our taxpayer dollars. And just like "Star Wars' and Bush's stupid system before it (where 11 of 12 intercept attempts failed and the only one that worked relied on a radiofrequency beam attached to the target missile), this Missile shield redux won't work either. Thus, it boils down entirely to monetary waste (for taxpayers) coupled with astounding extra profits for defense contractors and pork for congressional leeches. These are the sole purposes of this so-called "missile shield", which in the end, likely wouldn't shield the Poles or Romanians or anyone else from a raft of giant boulders fired by ancient Roman catapults.

Apart from that, the notion of Iranian missiles being lobbed into eastern Europe is totally ignorant. This is something that some moron brain stormer in the Pentagon would have dreamed up hoping the typical American would bite. First, Iran - even assuming it does possess enough quality IRBMs or ICBMs (say of a level comparable to the U.S. Titan I shown) wouldn't waste them on Eastern Europe! Second, they'd know in a heartbeat any such daft attack would be met with devastating counterforce, and maybe even tactical nukes. In a word, they'd be risking their own extermination.

Third, given these manifestly obvious reasons (and the fact that for such anti-missile systems to really work they need to nail the targets in the boost phase as Panofksy observes) the only conclusion left is that they're not really directed against "Iranian missiles" at all but against putative Russian missiles. THIS is why the Russians are eager to get this farce shut down, because they view such a shield as a threat to them. They interpret the shield as an effort by NATO-U.S. forces to neutralize any possible Russian attack, say if hostilities did erupt over Iran. (See the movie 'Threads' in a previous blog, i.e
http://brane-space.blogspot.com/2012/03/anxious-to-start-war-with-iran-see-this.html

Add to that the historical fact - which clearly escapes the U.S. military-industrial complex- that the Russians have been highly paranoid of any military activity around their borders since the time of Peter the Great, and you have a made for demolition derby on the international scene. One that any knowledgeable Russian observer will assert that will not be tolerated by the Russians no matter how many "security" or "shield participation" PR bones get tossed their way.
This is why Ellen Tauscher, Obama's envoy for Strategic Stability and Missile Defense is dreaming when she claims (ibid.) that "the U.S. is seeking to get Russia inside the missile defense tent now".

This will not happen, not now or ever, because quite bluntly the Russkies do not see missile "defense" as a tent but as a THREAT! And there is no amount of diplomacy or whatever..that will convince them otherwise.

The best thing for the Obamanites therefore, is to drop this idea entirely, and tell the Pentagon and MIC to stuff it where the Sun doesn't shine. Don't even remotely consider using this as some form of political policy leverage vs. the always ready for war and increased defense -spending Repugs. They will ALWAYS want more military spending for any and everything - from missile shields, to more Mideast bases, to combat air brigades in Colo., to another 2,800 F-35s - in order to bleed down domestic tax revenues to enhance and justify their demand for deficit hawkism and austerity!

The worst part isn't the alleged "missile defense" unworkability, but that others (e.g. Russians) may bite and think it is feasible and a very REAL threat. This is the point made by Wolfgang Panofsky in his monograph, Particles and Policy, Chapter 'Mad vs. Nuts') wherein he observes that any U.S. missile defense system - practical or otherwise- will spur numerous counter measures and fully offensive nuclear systems. THIS is the stark danger we face!

The ultimate effect being to massively destablize the nuclear balance. Perhaps this is why the 'nuclear clock' (which gives a metaphor to the proximity of nuclear holocaust) has moved a full minute forward since the Bushites pushed the original missile shield. (See The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists,Vol. 59, No. 6, 'Neocons: The Men Behind the Curtain', p. 62)

This is even more reason for Obama not to fall into the same snare.

Bottom line: we don't need a phoney-baloney, pork-program 'missile shield' that will only enrich the defense contractors, destabilize geo-politics and alienate long term allies. What we need is what I've said many times before: building security from the ground up, by people to people transactions, and engaging serious talks on dismantling remnants of Cold war nuclear warheads (especially in the former Soviet states) and rational settlements as opposed to political pandering.

Anything else is really just a deflection and distraction from the more important tasks and objectives, which lays a destabilizing groundwork we don't need, period. It is time to tell the military welfare queens (including the congress critters who stand to reap the pork benefits) behind this Rube Goldberg scheme to piss off.