The UK government is charging Glenn Greenwald’s partner David Miranda with “terrorism” and “espionage” for trying to carry documents leaked by Edward Snowden through a London airport in August.
“Intelligence indicates that Miranda is likely to be involved in espionage activity which has the potential to act against the interests of UK national security,” according to the document.
“We assess that Miranda is knowingly carrying material the release of which would endanger people’s lives,” the document continued. “Additionally the disclosure, or threat of disclosure, is designed to influence a government and is made for the purpose of promoting a political or ideological cause. This therefore falls within the definition of terrorism…”
Miranda was transporting documents from journalist Laura Poitras to Glenn Greenwald. His trip was paid for by the Guardian and he was working in that capacity. So when newspapers work to disclose government secrets…in the newspaper…in order to inform the public, they are engaging in terrorism. Orwell couldn’t have dreamed up a more outrageous satire if he lived to 100.
Writing at the Freedom of the Press Foundation, EFF’s Trevor Timm reacts to the news:
If publishing or threatening to publish information for the purpose “promoting a political or ideological cause” is “terrorism,” than the UK government can lock up every major newspaper editorial board that dares write any opinion that strays from the official government line.
No matter one’s opinion on the NSA, the entire public should be disturbed by this attack on journalism. In fact, this is exactly the type of attack on press freedom the US State Department regularly condemns in authoritarian countries, and we call on them to do the same in this case.
Terrorism is whatever the government says it is.
cool article
It's two part of course 1) it's designed to influence a government and promoting a political or ideological cause 2) and it might endanger people's lives. Why and how? Because they say so. Therefore the mere claim that it endangers someone's life is equivalent to violence in this definition.
Of course #2 is completely disposable and non-serious, but it's part of the two step. Terrorism is whatever the government says it is. How long until the mention of terrorism cues the laugh track. Drinking games. More than drinking games. Replace terrorism with words of your choice in speeches, terrorism ad-lib games.
The only surprise here is that it took government so long to think of doing it! Government thrives on secrecy and hates openness. Snowden is a hero who will probably get prison eventually for his efforts if he is not assasinated.
This us the very same government which supports terrorism in Syria, this is the very same government in bed with Saudis and UAE tyrants regimes arming their barbarians yet accusing Greenwald partner of terrorism. The Neo liberal fascism are the most dangerous elements created by vulture capitalism to stop what is left of democracy, David Cameron, Hillary Clinton, the Swedish government and rest are the ones.
This IS…., note the change.
The Army, Bridget Serchak, a spokeswoman for the inspector general, told Bloomberg, paid Boeing for parts “that were proposed but never installed,” and “is paying for additional parts that they do not need and may not use.”
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