From David Swanson:
As Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday about the failures of foreign leaders to respect people’s freedoms, a 71-year-old U.S. veteran Army officer, a man who spent 27 years in the CIA and delivered presidential daily briefs, a peace activist and proponent of nonviolence, the man who famously confronted Donald Rumsfeld for his war lies, the man who drafted our letter to Spain and delivered it to the Spanish Embassy on Monday, our friend Ray McGovern turned his back in silence. As Clinton continued to speak about respecting the rights of protesters, her guards – including a uniformed policeman and an unidentified plain-clothed official – grabbed Ray, dragged him off violently, brutalized him, double-cuffed him with metal handcuffs, and left him bleeding in jail. As he was hauled away (see video), Ray shouted “So this is America?” Clinton went right on mouthing her hypocrisies without a pause.
Ray told Rob Kall at OpEdNews what he had been protesting by standing silently with his back turned:
“Hillary is the driving force, together with a few others, behind the wars in Afghanistan. She’s one of the big hawks in Iran. When I look at her and her husband that they don’t know the first thing about war. I do and so do my fellow Veterans for Peace. I have to make clear that we Veterans for Peace think that her policies are an abomination to the nation, that they are at cross purposes to the country and not everybody should applaud and give her the idea that she’s doing the right thing.”
“I knew that Hillary knew, at the beginning of the war, that Hillary knew how things would go. There was a young lady who was working as Hillary Clinton’s personal staff chief, when she was a senator in 2002 and 2003, was in a class I taught in DC and I’d ask her to give her boss articles I wrote. And she did give them to her. So I know that. She made a political calculation that she needed to be strong because she was a woman even though she knew from us that the unintended consequences would be catastrophic. She knew all that and made that calculation.”
“The height of irony, of course, is that was her tragic flaw that let Obama beat her. She supported the war and Obama didn’t. She is the height of hypocrisy. When people die because we have hypocrites at the top of our government, that compels me to make a statement in whatever way I can. It was not the theme of her speech that I was protesting. It was her war policies and support of Mubarak.”
McGovern told Kall what happened:
“They grabbed me and the shock wore off. There was a real struggle. I shouted, ‘This is America.’ Then I said, ‘Who are you?’ This is a mystery to me. Who were they? The guy in the suit was the one who did the damage. He was brutal.”
“They took me outside, put two sets of iron handcuffs that pierced my wrists. The bleeding went all over my pants. One guy said, “I pricked my finger” like it was his blood.”
“I was bleeding in the car so I said ‘I think you need to put some gauze on me.’ They handed me to the DC police and they told I was being charged with disorderly conduct. I was booked, fingerprinted, mug shot taken. They put me in a little cell – must be the same size as Bradley Manning’s – about six by four feet.”
“It was about three hours that they held me until they let me out. I had to take a cab to the hospital where they x-ray’d me, treated me and dressed my wounds. Then the doctors told me that since this was an assault on me, I had to inform the police about who had assaulted me. A little humor helped then.”
Ray compared this incident to his earlier questioning of Donald Rumsfeld, an incident in which Ray did not stand in silent protest but rather waited for his turn at the microphone and did something U.S. journalists tend not to: asked uncomfortable questions:
“When Clinton started talking about how people beat up and arrested people in Iran, it gave some poetic justice, a great irony, to my standing there and what happened to me then, when she’s talking about what happened in other countries and there I am being handled in a vicious way…God knows what would happen next. Maybe some senior would ask her questions [she doesn’t take questions]. As bad as Donald Rumsfeld was, he let me speak. He let me speak and engaged me in dialog.”
“At the same [Rumsfeld] speech, there was a courageous guy who stood with his back to Rumsfeld the entire speech. They left him completely alone and he walked out at the end, unbothered. Four years later, things have changed.
Tell Hillary Clinton what you think of this behavior at 202-647-4000.
God speed to you, Ray, and a swift recovery. Hitlery Rotten Clinton, along with the rest of the gang of kleptoligarchical scum, know that their days in power are numbered and are now more terrified of the truth than ever. (BTW, let us hope that someone captured this criminal assault on video and that it soon is exposed for all the world to see). You are definitely not alone. Rest assured that the battle for truth and liberty has only just begun!
It's on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-Vy8fFnz18
Thanks!
thanks very much for the illuminating video – I am so ashamed
Anybody that watches the video can see that they are trying to lead them out and he is yanking and pushing and twisting to (what appears) go towards the stage that Clinton is on. Anybody acting so foolishly at any event will get the same treatment; it's not a right/left thing — the GOP ejects people from "private" events all the time, and when you struggle against the guards… bam.
And guess what, it's deserved in those cases too. Having freedom and using it wisely is the core of America. If you use your freedoms poorly you pay the consequences.
I guess if he had tossed a shoe he would have got a bullet in the forehead…welcome to Nu-America.
As an occasional protester, I can attest to the psychopathic nature of 'cops/security/secret service/whoever' when they are allowed to dress in business suits. Like their corporate big daddies, they lose all humanity once the Brooks Brother attire goes on.
Eternal Respect to Mr.McGovern. Increasingly in North America the price of obeying your conscience is not just the threat of poverty but bruises and broken bones.
From now on I will start turning my back on speakers who promote killing humans. It is a dignified and profound gesture. As the violent assault on Mr.McGovern proves he hit a weak spot and they threw a tantrum.
Turn Back America.
Slight correction …. Obama pretended not to support the war.
The whole myth that Obama is or was anti-war seems to rest on one statement he made in 2003, when as an ILL STATE senator, he said he opposed the Iraq war. This of course is no surprise, since I'm sure the sort of urban, african-american state senate district that Obama probably represented in Chicago was undoubtably very, very, very against the war. That was my experience in Atlanta at the same time. If you road a public transit bus, you found everyone very quiet about the wars, or openly opposed. Because they knew exactly who would be doing the dying.
Then, when Obama got to the US Senate in 2004, he became a very reliable vote for war funding, just like Hillary. Until both suddenly switched sides as the 2008 primaries came closer. During the lead up to the primaries, both Hillary and Obama decided to vote against the latest war funding bills that they both had supported early.
I really wish the left would wake up and realize that Obama lied his rear off to them in order to win the nomination. Except for the lies of his primary campaign, there's nothing in Obama's career that says he's anti-war.
And at this point, when as commander in chief for two years, he's kept the Iraq war going right along the Bush/Rumsfeld plan, and when he's done one Bush-style "surge" after another in Afghanistan, then putting the words Obama and 'anti-war' in the same sentence is just plain wrong. Obama is not anti-war.
Well, Obama not only did a 180 on his campaign promises and fully embraced the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but he's also approved the use of military force – primarily through drone missile strikes – in other nations as well. Some may not call that a war, although it fits quite nicely with the federal government's interpretation (ie War on Drugs, Global War on Terror), but when you have almost entire villages razed by missile strikes, including significant civilian casualties (aka innocent victims), it sure starts to sound and look a whole lot like a war. So Obama is directly responsible, at least by offering his authorization, for an escalation of force in the GWoT.
GWOT, it's a world war declared by Bush and includes making war on Americans. Global War on Terror, it declares Global World War on Terror including Americans. Perhaps this is why Congress was never asked for a Declaration of War, as constitutionally mandated by Congress, because it means that the USE[United States Empire] would be declaring war on Americans, which is the case. The USE/MIC. Mafia Industrial Complex, considers the American people to be its enemy and taxes US so that the USE/MIC can conduct war on US. The mindlessness American public doesn't have a clue.
I recall that during the Democratic Party primary debates, Mike Gravel, who is genuinely anti war, was so exasperated by the pro war stance of the other candidates, that he asked Obama, Who would you bomb, Barack?" Obama looked amused and replied that he wouldn't bomb anyone. Perhaps Gravel knew something about Obama that the voters didn't.
Well said. I can remember listening to how he wanted to spread the war into Pakistan well before the election. So far his withdrawals seem to consist of moving troops back and forth between Iraq and Afghanistan while he brags about his dedication to peace.
Clinton is a hypocrite of galactic proportions but the world champion of hypocrisy has to be Obama, the guy is totally incredible.
I held on to the notion that Obama was just having to ride with the herd for a while so he could slow it down and turn it around.. (It is not wise to stand in front of a stampede!!!) But he has a long history and affinity for Pax Americana. It is impossible to get any where in national American politics by opposing Imperium in any meaningful, principled ongoing manner. Obama knows this.
Ray McGovern is a real hero, not because of this altercation, but because he has steadfastly told the truth to power and defended the innocent against the wrong and the weak against the strong. He could have made plenty of $ just being a mouthpiece but he has a conscience and a soul that always insists on doing the right thing.
Ray once again points out the hypocritical log that's in Hillarys eye. How "Soviet" can you get!
So Madam SecState Clinton's goons attack a decorated veteran? I believe that Mr. McGovern IS a decorated veteran. His service to our country is without question. Our Mr. McGovern that has graced the pages of Antiwar.com, and eloquently too I would add. What a fucking outrage. Please excuse my use of the obscenely vulgar.
Golly Madam SecState, your hypocrisy is glaring as it is galling. Police State brutality WILL come back and bite our Madam SecState directly on her sagging and pock-marked ASS! Corrupt bitch…
The US government is obviously about to collapse, for the same reason the Bush/Obama thugs in other countries are creating too many common people enemies for the US government thugs to keep subjugated.
There is a certain precise questioning process, utilizing the government's inherent refusals to answer effective questions, that can efficiently, peacefully and lawfully stop the maliciousness and power-grabs of government thugs in the US and elsewhere.
Amusingly, nobody is interested in such KNOWLEDGE because the minds of the so-claiming peace and anti-war organization leaders are as addicted to their organizational power, and as actively flee questions of their power, as government leaders, by design of the universal functioning of the perception of "power" in the human mind. They could read these words, and would only be as angered or confused as Hillary's thugs.
Therefore, enjoy the show.
Respectfully, DougBuchanan.com
Its now clear why hubby didn't consider *her* mouth fit for purpose.
a man with principals, a female with none
Gotta support hypocrisy, Eh? Luckily some wise soul knew Hillary could do it best. And so she did.
Julian C. Holmes, Wayne, Maine
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A blast from the past: Easy Rider, 1969
Billy: What the hell is wrong with freedom? That's what it's all about.
George Hanson: Oh, yeah, that's right. That's what's it's all about, all right. But talkin' about it and bein' it, that's two different things. I mean, it's real hard to be free when you are bought and sold in the marketplace. Of course, don't ever tell anybody that they're not free, 'cause then they're gonna get real busy killin' and maimin' to prove to you that they are. Oh, yeah, they're gonna talk to you, and talk to you, and talk to you about individual freedom. But they see a free individual, it's gonna scare 'em.
Billy: Well, it don't make 'em runnin' scared.
George Hanson: No, it makes 'em dangerous.
>>> Seems the more things change, the more they stay the same.
Hillary is a Nazi lying for the corporate/financial/militarist EMPIRE which IS this 'Vichy' government infecting America, like a cancer.
Shameful lack of mention by MSM of Ray McGovern's beating by Hillary's jack-booted SS thugs.
Alan MacDonald
Sanford, Maine
Surprise, surprise!
The statist hypocrites at the AP, NYT, and WaPo are silent on this story of gross state hypocrisy.
Shocker, eh?
The thing that Hillary represents to me, is the "careerism" of a whole generation of bright, ambitious Baby Boomers.The top ranks of our Establishment are filled with these Baby Boomers who have been on the fast track all of their lives. They went to the right schools, interned with the right powers-that-be, and got on with the right resume-building organizations. They advanced and advanced, but they never fully became adult human beings. All of their lives, they were "important". They remain as narcissistic and cruel as spoiled, precocious toddlers. They are the smartasses at Goldman-Sachs who want their big bonuses, while they destroy everyone else. Unfortunately, they also run our Government. especially the Treasury and the Federal Reserve. The Clintons, Obama, GW Bush, are all examples of this group. So bright, so ambitious, but lacking souls.
Did you notice the smirk on her face as Ray was being dragged away, in the YouTube link from Eric? Or was I imagining it, sort of like the smile on the Mona Lisa?
Thanks, Ray, for having the courage to speak truth to power, again, and putting your body on the line.
Let's turn this event into a meme.
With perhaps the exception of Ron Paul- there isn't one national federal politician who doesn't make my skin crawl. I'm not talking about merely disagreeing with these people politically. I'm way past politics with these people. They repulse my sense of decency. They are indecent people. I wouldn't want them near me- I wouldn't want to be seen at a dinner with them- and frankly- I don't want to associate myself with anyone who would want to be around these people? Who give money to their campaigns. Who would pay for a plate at a dinner with a federal politician. They are frightening people. I consider them to be lawless gangsters.
I had to go to the outskirts of DC a couple months back- and I wouldn't say the atmosphere is paranoid- but it is weird. I don't know how people can live and work in that environment. I mean, if you don't have a security clearance in that town you must be considered garbage? Worthless? A lower life form?
I'll say it plainly- if I hear someone is from DC- it creeps me out. I don't know what these people do. I'm wary of em. Don't want a fed living next to me- a staffer- an aide- an agent- don't want em near me.
CREEPY PEOPLE.
Now that the American people have seen Hillary's performance at GW University in Ray McGovern's beating, she should not be allowed to appear anywhere in the US without turning our individual AND MEDIA backs on this fascist pig.
Hillary is a Nazi, lying for the corporate/financial/militarist EMPIRE which IS this 'Vichy' government infecting America, like a cancer.
Shameful lack of mention by MSM of Ray McGovern's beating by Hillary's jack-booted SS thugs.
This can not be ignored anymore than the Nazis' Krystalnacht.
Clinton out NOW!
Clinton out NOW!
Just like Mubarak — this criminal Clinton must be GO NOW.
Obama will HAVE TO remove Hillary — she will never be able to make a speech in America again, because the people will not stand for it. Actually, they will stand every time, like McGovern, with their backs turned to her.
Obama will expose himself as the 'smooth talking' political pawn of EMPIRE if/when they try the normal (Empire) "crisis management" propaganda sh*t of trying to blame and remove the low level SS security thugs, and claim that Hillary could do nothing about it.
The b*tch could and should have, using the power invested in her sorry ass, told the security thugs, "Stop that. He's an American citizen. You can't treat Americans like that!"
But sub-Fuhrer Hillary didn't do that. In fact, if the video is carefully reviewed it is very likely that Hillary looked toward her security force when she saw McGovern stand, as if to say, "Get that prick" — and they did! In other words, Hillary probably gave the eye signal, the nod, the commander's stare to order, "Get Him, Hurt Him, Make him disappear".
Alan MacDonald
Sanford, Maine
"Democracy over Empire" party headquarters
Hillary Clinton is an example of the way many Americans think and operate.
If the president were to declare a state of emergancy and shut down the internet,amny Americans would very supportive.Americans do not like the truth.
Reagan on the Soviet Union:
"September 5, 1983 — in a televised speech following the Soviets' downing of a Korean airliner
"And make no mistake about it, this attack was not just against ourselves or the Republic of Korea. This was the Soviet Union against the world and the moral precepts which guide human relations among people everywhere.[ It was an act of barbarism born of a society which wantonly disregards individual rights and the value of human life and( seeks constantly to expand and dominate other nations.)" ]
This from a president who invaded Grenada.
why isn't this all over the media?!? the hypocrisy/irony is overwhelming. Keep it up Ray, you are an inspiration and a national treasure for your country.
Ray,
I'm so sorry this happened to you.
God speed on recovering from any injuries.
And don't worry.
Your statement didn't go unnoticed.
While it is sometimes difficult to pinpoint our government's agenda, I think we all know by now that our rights no longer fit within its framework. What is important for us to ask ourselves then, is given instances like Mr. McGovern's, do we want our children to grow up in a nation that violates the very rights from which it claims its founding principles. Our education system still teaches the traditional story of the Founding Fathers as patriots who had the people's best interest at heart. Our children don't learn, however, that the majority of the founders were acting on behalf of their economic positions. They rationalized a representative government because they felt not that it was best for the people, but that through representation by a small elite their interests could be safeguarded better than others. For example, the only reason why property requirements were not placed on voting was because the Congress failed to come to an adequate definition of what constituted property. Facts such as these that define the mentality of America's first generation of politicians are conveniently left out of America's classrooms.
I know of few other incidents like McGovern's that contrast so poignantly Washington's rhetoric with its policies. This is important because the elite agenda is built upon such rhetoric, as it provides the only platform – albeit incredibly false and growing in transparency daily – from which to speak to the people. But once in a while we see their true colors shine. I congratulate and honor Ray McGovern. He accomplished something few have been willing or able to, namely shining a light behind the curtain of Washington rhetoric to reveal what is quickly becoming a quixotic monster.
Jeremiah Dow http://www.kapitalcon.wordpress.com
Oh come now. Not Hillary, the darling of the democrats, the debutante of the dung beetles, the queen of the quacks and queers, the princess of political hypocracy, and the loving wife of that great president Irving Clinton. Or was his name LeRoy? I know he was as bad as Billy Jo Bob Carter and he spent for time womanizing than being a statesman. That Hillary?
Video is here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-Vy8fFnz18
They repulse my sense of decency. They are indecent people. http://www.cekmagdurlari.com
Great post I am searching your site to Google. I guess if he had tossed a shoe he would have got a bullet in the forehead.Thanks for sharing.
We are all along for the ride any way you look at it.
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