Another vocal critic of US President Donald Trump has been provided a high-profile stage in Australia to denounce Russia and campaign for the president’s removal. Last week, it was Senator John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. This week, it was James Clapper, a former general, who was the national intelligence director from 2010 until Trump’s inauguration in January.
Clapper is currently a visiting “distinguished professor” at the Australian National University’s National Security College in Canberra, enabling him to spend the next month giving speeches and lectures around the country.
The National Press Club—which boasts it is an “iconic institution with membership comprising the influencers and decision-makers of Australia”—hosted his first public address on June 7. His audience included prominent political, business and military figures, and leading journalists.
In his prepared remarks, and during an extensive question and answer session, Clapper denounced Trump for waging an “assault” on America’s “institutions,” having an “inexplicably solicitous stance” toward Russia and acting with “ignorance or disrespect” toward the US intelligence agencies such as the CIA.
He stated as fact the entirely unsubstantiated allegations that “Russians” hacked the Democratic Party National Committee, planted “false information” and “orchestrated ‘fake news’” during the US presidential election. He accused the Russian news service RT of being a “regime-funded propaganda arm” that waged a “sophisticated campaign … against Hillary Clinton, and for Donald Trump.”
As McCain did a week earlier, Clapper declared there was “well-founded concern here [in Australia] about our current administration.” He emphasised the “importance of the alliance between Australia and the United States” and the “deep and pervasive foundation of our bilateral bond.” He stressed the intimate relations between the country’s intelligence agencies and the “bilateral economic engagement” of $1.9 trillion in investment and trade.
Australia, Clapper insisted, was also under assault. Again providing no substantiation, he baldly asserted: “[I]t is no secret that China is very active in intelligence activities against Australia, just as they are against us, and that China is increasingly aggressive in attempting to gain influence in your political processes, as Russia is in ours.”
Over the days preceding his speech, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and the Fairfax newspapers renewed a McCarthyite-style witch-hunt implying that sections of the Australian political establishment are being shifted from support for the US alliance by donations organised on behalf of the Chinese “Communist Party” government (see: “Australian media renews campaign against Chinese ‘power and influence’”).
last week, mike's 'Time to Dixie Chick the bitch' made a really good point about john mccain (who did the same thing that clapper did) and how private citizens like natalie maines were savaged for less.
these people are officials.
they should be held accountable.
shunned by the press.
let's close with c.i.'s 'iraq snapshot:'
Friday, June 9, 2017. The Mosul Slog continues as Iraq is again slammed by violence.
Day 233 of The Mosul Slog and, we are yet again told, victory is just around the corner.
233 days to turn that corner?
Actually, it's longer than that.
Tomorrow is June 10th.
June 10, 2014, the Islamic State seized control of Mosul.
They've still not been driven out of the city -- the same can't be said for the unprotected civilians who've been turned into refugees.
For over two years, the Baghdad-based Iraq government did nothing to help Mosul.
Finally, in October of 2016, they began an operation that was to last weeks.
Months later, that operation still continues.
Yes, it is very embarrassing for the government that tomorrow will be the anniversary of the seizure of Mosul -- the 3rd anniversary -- and Mosul is still in the process of being 'liberated.'
233 days and counting.
And no attempt to protect the civilians.
Day 233 of The Mosul Slog and, we are yet again told, victory is just around the corner.
233 days to turn that corner?
Actually, it's longer than that.
Tomorrow is June 10th.
June 10, 2014, the Islamic State seized control of Mosul.
They've still not been driven out of the city -- the same can't be said for the unprotected civilians who've been turned into refugees.
For over two years, the Baghdad-based Iraq government did nothing to help Mosul.
Finally, in October of 2016, they began an operation that was to last weeks.
Months later, that operation still continues.
Yes, it is very embarrassing for the government that tomorrow will be the anniversary of the seizure of Mosul -- the 3rd anniversary -- and Mosul is still in the process of being 'liberated.'
233 days and counting.
And no attempt to protect the civilians.
#Iraq: "Shooting children as they try to run to safety" #ChildrenUnderAttack in the battle for Mosul uni.cf/2sjhFsM @TR_Foundation
They were told to remain in their homes throughout the bulk of the 'liberation.'
Then, when finally told to leave in the last weeks, no safe passage was provided.
At least 100,000 are said to remain in the city.
Let's check in on our decade's new Judith Miller: Rukmini Callimachi (yes, that does sound like a figure from the Brothers Grimm):
7. Analysts have long that the ppl running Amaq can't be just in Iraq/Syria bc of how quickly they claim attacks & bc they upload videos:
Rukmini fancies herself a terrorist expert.
Isn't that cute.
Judith Miller, of course, started with THE PROGRESSIVE.
You may remember that when the magazine was celebrating its anniversary (they said the 100th, but no, it wasn't), they failed to note Judith once in their look back on the past.
Judith Miller ended up a terrorism 'expert' herself.
Remember, that's how Oprah Winfrey presented Judith on her talk show when she brought Judith on to promote the upcoming Iraq War and then Oprah attacked the audience member who dared to point out that Judith was presenting non-facts as facts.
Glenn Greenwald loved him some Judith Miller back then -- part of the reason he supported the Iraq War.
Today?
He loves him some Rukmini.
Rukmini's been hired by THE NEW YORK TIMES mainly to prove that they learned nothing from the Judith Miller fiasco.
Which is how Rukmini was in Mosul (as an embed -- as they say, "embed roughly means 'legs spread'").
And we called out her nonsense.
But there was Glenn Glenn, in love again, reTweeting her because critical abilities are in short supply apparently.
While Rukmini filed her propaganda and Tweeted her nonsense about how wonderful things were, a real reporter did real journalism.
Ali Arkady did not file fluff.
His documentation of what is taking place in Mosul has been covered by RT and ABC NEWS.
"Negative coverage will get you kicked out of Mosul."
They had nothing to worry about with regards to Rukmini, did they?
From Brian Ross' ABC NEWS report:
Officers of an elite Iraqi special forces unit, praised by U.S. military commanders earlier this year for its role in fighting ISIS, directed the torture and execution of civilians in Mosul in at least six distinct incidents caught on tape.
“That's a murder,” retired Green Beret Lt. Col. Scott Mann told ABC News after reviewing the graphic footage. “There should be punishment for anyone doing it. It's reprehensible and it shouldn't be allowed on any modern battlefield."
The alarming footage was smuggled out of Iraq by a prize-winning Iraqi photojournalist, Ali Arkady, who spent months embedded in combat with the elite Iraqi troops leading the fight against ISIS late last year. Since turning over his cache of photos and videos to ABC News, he says he has received death threats from the soldiers he once considered friends and has now fled Iraq to seek asylum in Europe.
"This is happening all the time," Arkady said of the war crimes he documented, which he recounted in an exclusive interview with ABC News’ Brian Ross broadcast Thursday on ABC's World News Tonight with David Muir and Nightline.
Am I wrong that Glenn hasn't been eager to promote this story?
I know he's got a lot of problems right now because THE INTERCEPT burned a source -- intentionally or not, it doesn't matter, they burned her.
Nothing is going to change that.
There should be an apology (not a blood letting) and they should announce how they will do their best not to burn another source in the future.
So, yes, he has problems, but so does Iraq and he needs to be Tweeting about that if he can't write about it.
He has found time to reTweet Rukmini.
It's a shame he can't use his Twitter feed to amplify real reporting on Iraq.
But that's a shame many share and part of the reason the Iraq War is on year 14 and counting (more if we backdate to the sanctions, et al).
The violence never ends.
Four is bad -- one is bad -- but sadly the numbers have been climbing.
At least 22 killed, 31 wounded in a suicide attack targeting civilians in al -Musayab, #Iraq. Suicide bomber in Karbala wounds at least 10.
Maher Chmaytelli and Gareth Jones (REUTERS) report, "A woman detonated her explosive belt in a market east of the Shi'ite holy city of Kerbala on Friday, killing at least 30 and wounding 35, Iraqi security sources said."
The following community sites -- plus Jody Watley -- updated:
It's still possible
10 hours ago
Hillary and her racism
10 hours ago
A very difficult time
10 hours ago
Loretta Lynch's shame
10 hours ago
Comey's penis monologue
11 hours ago
THIS JUST IN! COMEY'S LEAKY WAND!
11 hours ago
Neoliberalism kills
13 hours ago
The Originals all new Friday night
13 hours ago
