David Miranda row: New law 'needed to protect secrets'

[bemildred]

Source: BBC

Anti-terror laws should be strengthened to prevent leaks of official secrets, former Metropolitan Police Commissioner Lord Blair has told the BBC.

He was speaking after police seized what they said were thousands of classified documents from David Miranda - the partner of a Guardian journalist.

Lord Blair said publication of such material could put lives at risk.

He suggested new laws were needed to cover those who obtained secret material without proper authority.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23832492

[Arctic Dave]

1. What he is really saying:

We need more laws to punish people who shed light on our crimes against the people.


Authoritarians are the same no matter what era or country they come from.

[bemildred]

2. He wants to outlaw journalism, is what it is, except when the government approves.

Which is of course, propaganda, not journalism.

[warrant46]

11. Just like allowing Imbedded Journalists

To watch the slaughter from an Ivory Tower

[dawn frenzy adams]

3. Wreckless

Greenwald should not have used his partner in this situation. Why expose a loved one to this. Surely he didn't think the police would not be watching. But I think Greenwald thinks of himself, first. That's why those who trusted him (Manning, Snowden Assange) have been deprived of their freedom.

[bemildred]

4. I think he suckered them myself, did it on purpose to see if the spooks would bite.

They did.

"All noise is good."

[Maedhros]

9. Your post is entirely conjecture.

It's likely that Miranda, as Greenwald's spouse, was completely aware of the risk and agreed to help anyway. You have no way of knowing what Greenwald's motivations may be, and laying the blame for the government's deprivation of Manning's, Assange's and Snowden's freedom is frankly absurd - especially for Manning, who had no contact with Greenwald prior to and during his leaking activities.

Essentially, a post of no substance taking a poorly-executed swipe at Greenwald's integrity.

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. Ian Blair, head of the Met Police when they killed the innocent Brazilian de Menezes

Several months into his tenure, Jean Charles de Menezes was shot and killed by armed police who mistakenly believed he was a suicide bomber.

After the shooting Blair telephoned the Chairman of the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) and wrote a letter to the Home Office stating that "the shooting that has just occurred at Stockwell is not to be referred to the IPCC and that they will be given no access to the scene at the present time".[6]

Blair has since claimed that he made this order in an effort to prevent critical aspects of an ongoing investigation to be leaked. He said, "The IPCC has a duty to provide as much information as it can to members of the deceased's family and I felt that supplying details of tactics or sources to the family of a suspected terrorist could put further lives at risk."[7]

Blair also claimed that a warning had been issued prior to the shooting. The IPCC held an investigation into what later turned out to be a false statement, and into allegations of attempts to delay an inquiry. On 2 August 2007 the IPCC announced its findings that the allegations against Blair couldn't be substantiated, instead placing the blame for misleading the public on Assistant Commissioner Andy Hayman, who had failed to report his suspicions that an innocent man had been killed, and had released contradictory statements to the press.[8]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Blair#Shooting_of_Jean_Charles_de_Menezes

He should never make any public pronouncement on 'putting lives at risk', particularly when an innocent Brazilian is involved.

[bemildred]

6. I would wager he has much to hide himself. nt

[Cryptoad]

7. Reality is a biatch, heh? nt

[mimi85]

10. It won't come from Taylor Swift or Kanye West

[JustanAngel]

12. Genius!

Thanks for the song! Had the honor of attending one of his concerts. When he performed this song, it was like a soulful spirit had embraced us all. What a lovely memory!