This post appeared on the RenounceUScitizenship blog.
Responding to terrorism – A wonderful article
Opposite of Terror http://t.co/t8ivksJqIR – Orwellian acronym for “transportation security” doesn't protect from, but creates terror!
— U.S. Citizen Abroad (@USCitizenAbroad) June 11, 2013
Does the obsession with “terror” actually create terror?
The article referenced in the above tweet is a “Must Read” for all. To whet your appetite it includes:
By definition, terror distinguishes a great fear . . . or an overwhelming intimidation against individuals and society. Tyrants use terror to control their populations, malevolent organizations use terror to cause mayhem, disrupt order and shatter the trust in the institutions they seek to overthrow, and rogue terrorists cause enough fear to let fear take over.
Unfortunately, fear has taken over much of the world—and the world of travel itself. Twelve years after 9/11, our institutionalized knee-jerk response to the horrific terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, DC has festered and bloomed into a source of intimidation for all travelers. The Orwellian acronym for “transportation security” has achieved just the opposite by spreading a mood of terror and apprehension throughout the general traveling population.
President Clinton – 2008 Democratic Convention which nominated Barack Obama
At the Democratic convention of August of 2008, former President Clinton commented that:
If the United States wants a “terror free world” then perhaps the United States should be a “terror free” nation.
“If the governments of liberal democracies incrementally reduce the liberties of their people, they will thereby achieve on the terrorists’ behalf what the terrorists wish, which is to harm the targeted society and undermine its institutions and traditions.” – pg. 263
Leading by example – Attacking the world with drones, FATCA and more
How might historians interpret this period in history?
The great events in history, those events that cause massive change and realignment are not recognized until years later.
When the history of the United States is written, it may say something like:
In 2010 under the leadership of President Barack Obama, the United States of American began a series of attacks on the sovereignty of other nations. Some of these attacks were against the people of other nations using drones. Some of those attacks were against the banks, economies and societies of other nations using FATCA.
These attacks united the world against the United States. Soon the resentment toward the United States was growing at a faster rate than the U.S. could defend against it. The United States realized it needed to stop the growth of the resentment and repair the damage.
When the United States realized it’s mistake it looked to U.S. citizens abroad to be ambassadors for the U.S., to repair the damage/resentment it had caused. The problem was that between 2011 and 2014 the Obama administration had completely destroyed “U.S. citizenship abroad” leaving nobody to repair all the damage it had caused. The only U.S. persons left outside the United States were living in terror, hiding their “U.S. personhood”, and were hiding.
Finally, the U.S. bankrupted itself by trying to protect itself against the resentment it had generated against itself.
And that Dear Reader is how the United States as a world power ceased to be. It is possible to visit the United States today on a tourist visa. Make sure that you stop at the “FBAR Museum” in Washington, DC. But, try to stay away from the beggars on the street who are looking for food and shelter.
Then and now – The new global face of terror
At the end of Orwell’s Animal Farm, the “pigs” had become indistinguishable from the humans who had oppressed them. With its drones strikes, FATCA strikes and more, one can argue that the U.S. government is behaving like the terrorists. Indeed, MIT professor, Noam Chomsky has argued that the United States is a leader in terrorism.
It is now 2014, the Government of the United States of America led by President Obama:
– terrorizes citizens of other countries with its drone strikes
– terrorizes governments of other countries with its FATCA strike
– terrorizes US citizens abroad with its FBAR threats
– prohibits US citizens from leaving the US unless they have a valid US passport
– monitors the phone and internet records of anybody it can (including both U.S. residents and non-residents)
– has the highest rate of incarceration in the world
What an Orwellian World – Pigs to people
The final words of Orwell’s Animal Farm are:
Twelve voices were shouting in anger, and they were all alike. No question, now, what had happened to the faces of the pigs. The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.
When it comes to defense: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure
If I perceived myself as under attack from a person or group, I would do two things:
1. An ounce of prevention: I would try to understand and change the conditions that were causing people to want to attack me. For example, I might consider discontinuing drone strikes, FATCA strikes, etc. I would try to create conditions where there was no attack to defend against.
2. A pound of cure: I would create defenses to deal with a situation where I was attacked. Certainly I would recognize that war is expensive and as Colin Powell once said: “War is failure”.
(Maybe this message should go to the geniuses in the U.S. government.)
What an Orwellian World – Pigs to people
The final words of Orwell’s Animal Farm are:
Twelve voices were shouting in anger, and they were all alike. No question, now, what had happened to the faces of the pigs. The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.
What a political world – From candidate Obama in 2008 to President Obama in 2013
Two voices were shouting in anger, and they were both alike. No question, now, what had happened to the faces of the Obamas. The Homelanders outside looked from Candidate Obama to President Obama, and from President Obama to Candidate Obama, and from Candidate to President again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.
You decide – Candidate Obama debates President Obama
And the results …
Thanks for this further in your Orwellian series, Renounce US Citizenship!
Great Wikipedia “all about” ANIMAL FARM — http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_Farm,
or, read it online, if someone hasn’t yet — http://www.online-literature.com/orwell/animalfarm/
Correct, “Which is Which?”
The NY times has this one – I had just happened to be on an airplane when it was published.
I think this is the one — I will double check it when I get home — the copy is always near to my working area at home.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/01/opinion/01iht-edharris.2988855.html?_r=0
The ‘war on terror’ that ruined Rome – Editorials & Commentary – International Herald Tribune
“The Lex Gabinia was a classic illustration of the law of unintended consequences: It fatally subverted the institution it was supposed to protect. Let us hope that vote in the United States Senate does not have the same result.”
(ps, that article goes in and out of public domain)
@Mark Twain
Thanks for directing me to that fabulous article! It is a must read for all!!
remember to memorize it (in a way that doesn’t violate any copyright laws) — I had searched for it about every 2nd month and it seemed to have been kept behind a for-pay site for that time.
The Industrial Security Complex, another place where trillions can be spent to make the US a less secure place.
Rand Paul: Is 1984 Now?
“What would it take to renounce your rights as free men and women?”
And it is the Employer of Choice for Young professionals — Saving Lives with Mission Critical Solutions — Turning Big Data into Big Insights – Improving Public Safety with Data Analytics …. http://www.boozallen.com/
http://www.aclu.org/national-security/aclu-files-lawsuit-challenging-constitutionality-nsa-phone-spying-program
“The ACLU, a Verizon Customer, Says Government Data Collection Violates Its First and Fourth Amendment Rights”
……………””The crux of the government’s justification for the program is the chilling logic that it can collect everyone’s data now and ask questions later,” said Alex Abdo, a staff attorney for the ACLU’s National Security Project. “The Constitution does not permit the suspicionless surveillance of every person in the country.”
The ACLU’s 2008 lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the FISA Amendments Act, which authorized the so-called “warrantless wiretapping program,” was dismissed 5–4 by the Supreme Court in February on the grounds that the plaintiffs could not prove that they had been monitored. ACLU attorneys working on today’s complaint said they do not expect the issue of standing to be a problem in this case because of the FISA Court order revealed last week.
Yesterday, the ACLU and Yale Law School’s Media Freedom and Information Access Clinic filed a motion with the FISA Court, requesting that it to publish its opinions on the meaning, scope, and constitutionality of Patriot Act Section 215. The ACLU is also currently litigating a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, filed in October 2011, demanding that the Justice Department release information about the government’s use and interpretation of Section 215……….”
June 11, 2013
I should have known that Obama and the Democratic Party’s 2008 selection of ‘Americans Abroad’ as a group singled out for ‘Special Interest’ on their party platform site meant something entirely different. How to tell the pigs from the men and vice versa?
http://obama.3cdn.net/610c7f29ee85b124a3_3cm6bxltu.pdf
Obamacampaign 2008 party platform
BARACK OBAMA: SUPPORTING AMERICANS LIVING OVERSEAS
“…Obama understands the special concerns and issues of Americans living abroad and
will seek to address these as president. …”…
“…Our government must work to ensure that overseas Americans have every chance to compete
on a level playing field, and he will work with Americans abroad to identify and understand problems they
may face as a result of U.S. government policies….”
“…Obama will work with members of the Americans abroad community and the U.S. embassies to determine how the U.S. government can be responsive to the concerns of overseas Americans. …… As president, Obama will work to establish a direct dialogue
with Americans abroad. …”
“…Obama supports efforts to ensure that U.S. State Department staff members have proper
training to assist Americans abroad in determining their various rights and responsibilities as American
citizens. He welcomes a continued dialogue between the White House, the State Department, and citizens abroad in an Obama administration.”
“…Reestablish U.S. Moral Leadership: Obama will restore America’s standing, reputation, and authority in
the world by respecting civil liberties, ending torture, restoring habeas corpus and the rule of law…”
“…From both a moral standpoint and a practical standpoint, torture is wrong. Barack Obama will end the use of torture without exception….”
“…He firmly believes that those who pose a danger to this country should be swiftly tried and brought to justice, but those who do not should have sufficient due process to ensure that we are not wrongfully denying them their liberty….”
You may have, then, voted as I did, badger:
Has President Obama betrayed Candidate Obama
Yes – He has turned out to be the opposite of what he claimed to be. He misrepresented himself to the American People and should pay a fine based on “willfulness”
@calgary, he did at least live up to the promise he made in selecting those abroad as a group of ‘special concern. Just didn’t say that it was our non-US assets (and confiscating them) that he was specially concerned with. Willful sin of omission.
I’m reposting this link http://www.acfcs.org/by-taking-certain-steps-the-irs-may-share-bank-data-it-gets-from-foreign-banks-under-fatca-with-other-us-agencies/ which is on another IBS thread, but worth reading again in entirety, and which may also hold clues for grounds on which to oppose FATCA in the US and elsewhere on human and civil rights grounds. This describes how FATCA goes far far beyond establishing or assessing US tax, or even combating ‘tax evasion’ as it purports to be about:
“By taking certain steps, the IRS may share bank data it gets from foreign banks under FATCA with other US agencies”:
“…………..By digging a deeper in the the US tax code, it becomes clear that if a US person with an account in another country believes that his or her problems with US agencies from disclosure of non-US accounts will be limited to tax issues is mistaken.
Section 6103 could open floodgate for exchange of FATCA information
Both of these regulations lead to the crucial provision of the US tax code, Title 26, Section 6103, which covers “confidentiality and disclosure of returns and return information.” This lengthy section opens several doors through which US government agencies, and even the US Congress, could traverse to obtain tax and bank account information the IRS will receive from foreign financial institutions (FFI) under FATCA. Section 6103(i) permits disclosure of tax “return information” to “any federal agency” for use in virtually any matter over which the agency has jurisdiction.
The access by these US agencies, including intelligence agencies and Congress, is not limited to tax-related matters but extends to other criminal and administrative matters. Even whistleblowers who have access to tax return information may disclose it to certain committees of Congress if he or she believes the information pertains to “possible misconduct, maladministration, or taxpayer abuse.” (Title 26, USC Section 6103(f)(5)).
FATCA data could help military, intelligence agencies in ‘threat finance’ work
Section 6103 also permits disclosure of “return information” to certain Federal officers and employees and law enforcement agencies for purposes of combating terrorism.
This information may also be shared with US intelligence agencies for their use in “investigation, collection or analysis.” This work by intelligence agencies has been given the name, “threat finance.” This work includes not only the pursuit of terrorism cases but also those involving other national security threats, including trafficking in nuclear materials, weapons of mass destruction, humans and narcotics, as well as foreign corruption.
Under Section 6103, a federal law enforcement or intelligence agency may seek an “ex parte” order from a US District Judge to obtain access to “any (tax) return or return information” for use in any “judicial, administrative, or grand jury proceedings” pertaining to terrorism. The IRS on its own may also seek an “ex parte” order from a federal judge to disclose information that deals with a “terrorist incident, threat, or activity.”
Doors open for sharing FATCA data for enforcement work not linked to tax matters
The major vehicle in Section 6103 by which IRS can share FATCA information with other federal agencies in non-tax cases is found in subsection (i). This subsection is titled “Disclosure to Federal officers or employees for administration of Federal laws not relating to tax administration.”
Subsection (i) allows disclosure of tax “returns and return information” for use in criminal investigations………..”
“………………..The federal government collects business and technical data, as well as political information. SIGINT data on global financial transactions is routinely provided to the IRS for use in tracking foreign bank accounts held by law-abiding U.S. nationals, or what the federal government refers to as “persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction” — which the Justice Department can define to include just about anyone in the world. Data on foreign bank accounts is increasingly being used for tax collection purposes, especially for implementing the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), which requires individuals to report their financial accounts held offshore and foreign financial institutions to report to the IRS about their U.S. clients. As a result of FATCA, a growing number of foreign financial advisors and banks are refusing to take American clients.
The government’s electronic snooping has outraged Americans across the political spectrum. When Senator Rand Paul and the American Civil Liberties Union agree on an issue, and the New York Times publishes editorials similar to those in National Review, it is clear that the federal government has overstepped its constitutional bounds.
Something is very wrong in Washington, D.C. We haven’t quite reached the world imagined in George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four, but Big Brother — a.k.a. “Uncle Sam” — is definitely watching you. The federal government is becoming something very different from what the Founding Fathers envisioned.”
http://dailycaller.com/2013/06/11/this-isnt-what-the-founding-fathers-had-in-mind/#ixzz2Vx4GuyPs
Christian Science Monitor: NSA revelations trigger a spike in ‘1984’ sales
“As of Tuesday, Amazon sales of Orwell’s “1984” surged 6,021 percent in just 24 hours, according to NPR.”
http://www.csmonitor.com/Books/chapter-and-verse/2013/0611/NSA-revelations-trigger-a-spike-in-1984-sales
Fire James Clapper
The Director of National Intelligence lied to Congress about NSA surveillance. What else will he lie about?
” “Truthful” and “untruthful” are not relative terms; a statement either is or isn’t; there’s no such thing as speaking in a “most truthful” or “least untruthful” manner.”
…or is there, in an Orwellian world?
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/war_stories/2013/06/fire_dni_james_clapper_he_lied_to_congress_about_nsa_surveillance.html
Are we in the Midst of an Orwellian Moment?
The Progressive media in New York is finally discussing this, brought on by their endless desire to control mans activities. FATCA is part of this, but they just call it “Tax Justice”
http://www.thetakeaway.org/2013/jun/12/are-we-midst-orwellian-moment/
https://twitter.com/FATCA_Fallout/status/344911273923862529
In keeping with their style, the US should use drones to shoot down carrier pigeons:
“If you know your electronic communication is being monitored, you start using couriers, carrier pigeons and invisible ink snail-mail–anything other than electronic communication.”
“After 9/11, when we decided to attack violent extremism, we did as we so often do in this country,” he said. “The attitude was, if it’s worth doing, it’s probably worth overdoing.”
Already feeling giddy? Here’s it all:
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-06-12/americas-enemies-now-using-carrier-pigeons-and-invisible-ink-letters-absurd-tragicom
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