Norman Solomon: What the Assault on Whistleblowers Has to Do With War on Syria

[99th_Monkey]

What the Assault on Whistleblowers Has to Do With War on Syria
by Norman Solomon * Wednesday, August 28, 2013 * Common Dreams

Without whistleblowers, the mainline media outlets are more transfixed than ever with telling the official story. And at a time like this, the official story is all about spinning for war on Syria.

Every president who wants to launch another war can’t abide whistleblowers. They might interfere with the careful omissions, distortions and outright lies of war propaganda, which requires that truth be held in a kind of preventative detention.

By mid-week, media adrenalin was at fever pitch as news reports cited high-level sources explaining when the U.S. missile attacks on Syria were likely to begin, how long they might last, what their goals would be. But what about other (potential) sources who have documents and other information that contradict the official story?

It’s never easy for whistleblowers to take the risk of exposing secret realities. At times like these, it’s especially difficult—and especially vital—for whistleblowers to take the chance.

When independent journalist I.F. Stone said “All governments lie and nothing they say should be believed,” he was warning against the automatic acceptance of any government claim. That warning becomes most crucial when a launch of war is imminent. That’s when, more than ever, we need whistleblowers who can leak information that refutes the official line.

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2013/08/28-0

[Howler]

1. Excellent Post !!!

Thank you 99th Monkey!!! This is what I'm seeing!

[99th_Monkey]

3. Thanks.

Thank you Howler, for "keeping it lit"

[Howler]

4. :)

[WillyT]

2. HUGE K & R !!!

[Howler]

5. K&R

K&R

[woo me with science]

6. This is an important post.

Without investigative journalists and whistleblowers, all we are left with is the propaganda machine.

This is how the worst crimes against humanity are not only permitted to proceed, but are rewritten as Necessary.

Thank you.

[AzDar]

7. K & R

[MineralMan]

8. It has fuck-all to do with that,

as my friends in the UK would put it.

[Hydra]

13. And as our friends in the UK would say:

Bollocks!

The authors of "The Spy Who Tried to Stop a War," Marcia and Thomas Mitchell, describe the scenario this way: "Twisting the arms of the recalcitrant [U.N. Security Council] representatives in order to win approval for a new resolution could supply the universally acceptable rationale." After Katharine Gun discovered what was afoot, "she attempted to stop a war by destroying its potential trigger mechanism, the required second resolution that would make war legal."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/norman-solomon/the-whistleblower-who-tri_b_129133.html

Look at that! She's even from the UK.

[randome]

9. Jesus Christ, this is a mind-boggling poor article.

It's all about the prices of bananas, don't you know? See? Anyone can play this game.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]You should never stop having childhood dreams.[/center][/font][hr]

[Civilization2]

10. War is about he corporate-state expansion and the bankster agenda of world domination,.

War is for profits. the 1% need more cash,. .

[Hydra]

11. More than ever, that's why they are criminalizing whistleblowing

They want to control the narrative. No inconvenient interruptions like Chelsea Manning, Edward Snowden, Joe Wilson or David Kelly.

In their minds, everything will be "perfect" when we all only have access to their BS. I agree with them- it will be "perfectly f***ed up."

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

12. We need to make a loud noise against war with Syria NOW!

Here's how you do it.
Make a large sign that states,
HONK
NO WAR
IN SYRIA
and stand at a busy corner in your town or city, if this was done right now all over the country, the message would be heard loud and clear.
It would be reported because the sound would be deafening.

[G_j]

14. yep

excellent points

[Howler]

15. Just remember how severe the Crackdowns were

On the Occupier's protests and now Turn it up by the power of ten because that is whats coming!!

[99th_Monkey]

16. I'm always "hoping I'm wrong" about how butt-ugly the Surveillance & Security State is ...

that has been foisted on us by at least two presidents now.

Why can't I be wrong at least some of the time?

[Howler]

17. I wish.

I really REALLy do 99th Monkey...... but I'm afraid there is no such luck.

[Hydra]

18. Being right about some things is a curse. n/t

[proverbialwisdom]

19. PETITION UPDATE:

Last edited Thu Aug 29, 2013, 10:12 PM - Edit history (1)

Stats for the petition link included in the essay:

GOAL: 25,000
CURRENT: 21,836

Check it out.

[proverbialwisdom]

20. Norman Solomon petition update.

Last edited Sat Aug 31, 2013, 10:45 AM - Edit history (2)

CURRENT: CURRENT: 28,144
GOAL: 40,000

[proverbialwisdom]

22. Norman Solomon petition update.

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2013/08/28-0

...With war at the top of Washington’s agenda, this is a time to make our voices heard. (To email your senators and representative, expressing opposition to an attack on Syria, click here.) A loud and sustained outcry against the war momentum is essential—and so is support for whistleblowers.

http://act.rootsaction.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=8463

Prevent an Attack on Syria Now

GOAL: 75,000

CURRENT: 40,705

[proverbialwisdom]

26. Norman Solomon petition update.

GOAL: 75,000
CURRENT: 71,631

[geek tragedy]

21. there have been all kinds of leaks re: the Syria situation.

Including the fact that the intelligence is 'no slam dunk' and that "no evidence Assad ordered it."

So, it looks like someone is leaking/whistleblowing.

[99th_Monkey]

25. Not to mention the Bandar Bush connections

to the apparent supply chain for the chemical weapons (sans instructions on how to use).

[proverbialwisdom]

23. Solomon's anger is palpable here.

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2013/09/01

Published on Sunday, September 1, 2013 by Common Dreams

Obama Will Launch a Huge Propaganda Blitz -- and May Attack Syria Even If He Loses the Vote in Congress
by Norman Solomon

<>

President Obama and top Democrats such as House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi will twist every arm they can to get a “yes” vote for attacking Syria. Meanwhile, most mainline media pundits, numbingly addicted to war, will often chastise and denigrate foes of authorization.

But we have a real chance to prevent a U.S. attack. One cogent argument after another, from intelligence veterans ( http://www.commondreams.org/view/2013/08/31-2 ) and policy analysts ( http://www.thenation.com/blog/175928/moral-obscenities-syria ) and weapons experts ( http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/aug/28/chemical-weapons-west-global-policeman ), has debunked the messaging for war on Syria. And some members of Congress -- not nearly enough, but some -- have begun to speak up with cogent opposition.

One of NPR’s inside-the-box hosts of “All Things Considered” on August 30 asked Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) about the Obama administration’s claim that missile strikes on Syria would be “a limited action” and not “war.” Congresswoman Lofgren replied: “I think that anyone who argues that shooting missiles and dropping bombs on another country is not an act of war has got some further education warranted. If somebody shot cruise missiles at Washington for only one day, we would still consider it an act of war, wouldn’t we?”

Not many members of Congress have Lofgren’s clarity, and many of their votes on authorization are up for grabs. Each of us can help affect the outcome by demanding that our senators and representative oppose the war resolution. We should make our voices heard in all sorts of public venues.

The president’s move for a congressional vote should cause a major escalation of anti-war activism. A straw in the wind: during just a few hours after Obama’s announcement on Saturday afternoon, nearly 10,000 people took the initiative via RootsAction.org to email members of Congress with a “No Attack on Syria” message.

National opinion polling and momentum inside Congress indicate that we can defeat Obama’s war resolution. It’ll be a tremendous fight, but we can prevail.

<>

[99th_Monkey]

24. Thanks for the Norm Solomon update

is a good read.