Edward Snowden and Turnkey Tyranny

The truth is out there, America. Sometimes, the truth has even been forced to go into exile in Russia. How ironic is that? I remember the days when Soviet truth-seekers like Solzhenitsyn sought asylum in the U.S. Edward Snowden, of course, had to find asylum in Russia. Our country is not big enough to welcome him back. When did we become so small?

Bracing Views

snowden Edward Snowden

W.J. Astore

Edward Snowden recently talked to Joe Rogan for nearly three hours.  Snowden has a book out (“Permanent Record“) about his life and his decision to become a whistleblower who exposed lies and crimes by the U.S. national security state.  As I watched Snowden’s interview, I jotted down notes and thoughts I had.  (The interview itself has more than seven million views on YouTube and rising, which is great to see.)  The term in my title, “turnkey tyranny,” is taken from the interview.

My intent here is not to summarize Snowden’s entire interview.  I want to focus on some points he made that I found especially revealing, pertinent, and insightful.

Without further ado, here are 12 points I took from this interview:

1.  People who reach the highest levels of government do so by being risk-averse.  Their goal is never to screw-up in a major…

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12 thoughts on “Edward Snowden and Turnkey Tyranny”

  1. (Just a light-hearted moment before things get serious around here…)
    Just read that All-American Girl Julia Roberts has a new movie, “Gaslit,” in which she plays – I kid thee not – a Watergate whistleblower. Huh? I wonder which one? Certainly not “Deep Throat,” but think of the possibilities there ….

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      1. Well, I happen to be old enough to remember Martha, with her late night telephone calls, appeals to “Mr. President” and her over-sized sunglasses. I would imagine this will have to be Hollywooded up, with much “inspired by true events” dialogue. Be honest now (which is what the Dutch say when they want you to agree with what they believe to be true, usually anti-USA): “Can you imagine Julia Roberts married to John Mitchell? Who gets the more serious makeover. Julia or whoever plays Mitchell? I give it “two enthusiastic thumbs down,” on general principles.

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  2. Your 12 points drive home M. Emmet Walsh’s words to Harrison Ford in “Blade Runner”: “You know the score, pal. If you’re not cop, you’re little people.”
    On this side of the equation, we’re all little people, now. But try telling that to anyone ….

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  3. “They wanted to ensure the buck stopped nowhere.”

    Some inspiration from Don Henley, Bill?

    But in all seriousness, I went to an ACLU meeting shortly after the 2004 election, at which a senior member said that one of the aims of every single government, ever, was to keep as much information from the people as possible, just as a general principle. At the same time, the people always protest being kept in the dark, almost always to no avail. And the game goes on, through the centuries.

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    2. Made all these comments on The Washington Post article on the 1st point posted here Yesterday Today and they aren’t deleted.

      1. AS the US reneges on so many Treaties, especially the ones with Russia. The US withdrew from the ABM Treaty in 2000 just so the US could deploy US anti-missile missiles that Treaty banned. It was that US Action that forced Russia to develop it’s Hyper-sonic Missiles against which the US has no defence yet.
      Those US missiles are now deployed in NATO Poland and NATO Rouminia aimed at Russia.

      What should Putin think seeing that US move? Russia knows those missiles give the US 1st Strike capabilities. Putin understands even if Americans don’t, if Ukraine was in NATO officially, even though it is de facto in NATO, with all the NATO arms shipments to keep the WAR GOING,
      those kinds of US missiles in a NATO Ukraine would give Russia only 5 minutes warning a missile was on it’s way to destroy the Beautiful and Historic Moscow.

      What Time will US/NATO give Russia to determine if it’s a FALSE ALARM or REAL to retaliate before the 5 minutes are up?

      2. WAR is WAR when there are 2 sides shooting, bombing and attacking each other. People, mostly Civilians DIE in the crossfire. It has always been that Way of WAR making the Oligarchs even richer no matter what Nationality. The Christ says hardly ever will a rich man enter the kingdom of heaven for good reason.
      The US doesn’t want Americans to know how many men, women and children were killed in all America’s Wars in this World since WWII.
      There were MILLIONS of men, women and children.

      The latest Violent Act of the US War in Afghanistan in the frantic hurried humiliating exit from Kabul after the $2 TRILLION, 20 year occupation we know about, was the murder of an innocent family of 10 with 7 CHILDREN and NO AMERICAN is held accountable?
      Hypocritical double standards typical of Americans in their delusional belief they’re exceptionally different and essential, from all the other Peoples, Languages and Tongues on God’s Earth.

      3. What invasion? There wasn’t even 1 DEATH in the so called Russian invasion. There were no Russian troops sent from Russia to Crimea in 2014.

      There were Russian troops already in Crimea by Treaty, and they just came off base to maintain order after the 2014 US Coup/regime change of the Elected Russian friendly government the Russian speaking UKRAINIANS in the East and Crimea VOTED FOR.

      Since WWII, after the US brought NUKES into the World and used the 1st 2 to kill over 200,000 Civilians in WAR, the US invaded and bombed ONLY poor, 3rd World Nations with MILLIONS killed, and with the most expensive Military Force in the History of the Nations couldn’t get a win in any of them, the frantic humiliating exit from the $2 TRILLION, 20 year occupation of Afghanistan being the latest example.
      Americans never did see anything wrong with that picture with it’s BLIND patriotism and delusional belief it’s exceptional

      In my View, even Most Christian America cannot see those Historical FACTS as evidence of the Lord of Host’s Divine Justice and Judgment on America.

      4. That view is supported by this Historical Newspaper Record published by The Kansas City Times over 2 Generations ago, on September 13, 1976.
      I thank my God I’m still alive at 78 and able to point to the History.

      “He came to town for the Republican National Convention and will stay until the election in November TO DO GOD’S BIDDING: To tell the World, from Kansas City, this country has been found wanting and its days are numbered […] He gestured toward a gleaming church dome. “The gold dome is the symbol of BABYLON,” he said.” […] He wanted to bring to the Public’s attention an “idea being put out subtly and deceptively” by the government that we have to get prepared for a War with Russia.”

      That 1976 FUTURE is NOW with the Revelation of the details GENERALLY unfolding in the spirit of the letter.
      The World is waking up to see Americans may hasten “its days are numbered” part of the 1976 Vision, and waits with bated breath.

      With the benefit of 45 years hindsight, the last 8 years of intensified FBI, Military, Intelligence and Think Tank “experts” on TV constantly, unanimously, demonizing Putin and Russia, with no dissent allowed, the People have been prepared, as the majority here prove beyond any doubt.

      5. Another right wing “christian” pining for more violence from their “God”. (And thinking if they just yell more, they must be right)
      My reply, Don’t you even believe what you’re reading in this Washington Post? It’s the US god, money and the Military-Industrial/Congressional Complex that’s calling for more War and Violence. Don’t blame it on my God. My God says Blessed are the Peace Makers, for they shall be called the Children of God.

      They’re banned from TV and MSM exposure and demonized as being Russian trolls.
      Americans can’t even recognize US/NATO WAR Propaganda when it’s blatant in their faces, that’s how brainwashed they have been made to be so emotionally, reflexively, anti-Russian since WWII!

      6. US Makes It Clear Its Aim Is to ‘Weaken’ Russia and to force the Russian People to get rid of Putin. That rules out any negotiated end of the War.
      The US TAXPAYER will pay to arm and pass the ammunition to the last US Sacrificial Ukrainian lamb left standing in the US War proxy with Russia.

      This War didn’t suddenly erupt on the 24th of February. TRUTH is still the 1st casualty of WAR and especially for this one. There are too many SINS of Historical OMISSION in US/NATO War Propaganda. NATO MSM, the unknown up to now 5th Horseman of the Apocalypse, incited for more WAR appealing only to Emotions and leaving out the many reasons that led to the War.

      The US planned to PROVOKE Russia into it since before the 2014 US/CIA Coup/regime change of the ELECTED Russian friendly government the Russian speaking UKRAINIANS in Donetsk voted for. They refused to accept the Neo-Nazi anti-Russian government the US put in power in 2014, precipitating the 8 year Civil War in Ukraine.
      It was planned since Zbigniew Brzezinski said “ukraine should not be allowed to side with russia. with ukraine, russia is a great power, while without ukraine, it is a regional player.”

      Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France signed the Minsk agreements in 2015 & 2015, requiring Ukraine to negotiate some form of Autonomy for the Russian speaking Ukrainians in the Donetsk within the Ukrainian Federal system. Ukraine REFUSED to negotiate and that’s the one and only reason, after 8 idle years, President Putin finally said, “MINSK IS DEAD” and recognized the independence of the Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk Ukraine was supposed to negotiate with for the last 8 years.

      Russia did not annex the territories into Russia. For those who don’t know, their size and population is about the same as the 3 mini NATO Baltic States on the Border with Russia, but Ukraine is in a different category concerning Russia’s legitimate Security Interests the US ignores in it’s delusion the US is the only Superpower that matters
      Missing Historical Context of Ukraine Invasion
      US/NATO WAR Propaganda leaves out TOO MANY SINS OF HISTORICAL OMISSION in it’s emotional coverage, inciting for more US Weapons of WAR to be delivered. More Money for the American Oligarchs!

      7. Did you stop only because you had to wipe the spittle off your lips?
      My reply, I’ve been learning to say as much as possible in as few words as possible. But thanks for your comment reminding me I forgot to post the link to the 3 minute video confirming my vision. Here it is!

      Don’t know if everyone knows, but Ray Joseph Cormier is Putin’s online name! Hi Vlad!

      8. That’s only if you believe the US/NATO WAR PROPAGANDA without question.
      This is the US bombing Baghdad in it’s War against Iraq in 2003 we saw live on TV as it was happening.

      With that much DEATH and DESTRUCTION from the US WAR the MSM stopped showing it 24/7 every day for the 8 years it lasted.
      That US WAR was just as much in violation of International LAW as the Ukraine War. Iraq was no threat to the US, like this US proxy War using Ukrainians as the Sacrificial lambs is to Russia.

      Russia had no intention of destroying Kyiv like the Americans did Baghdad. Keeping Russian troops in the surrounding areas of Kyiv was to tie up Ukraine troops there to defend the Capital while Russia closed the pincer isolating the supply to the Azov Nazi forces shelling the Civilian areas of Donetsk which started the War in the 1st place.

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  5. Global military spending tops $2 trillion for the first time by William Hartung

    According to a new analysis from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, global military spending topped $2.1 trillion in 2021, the first time it has surpassed the $2 trillion mark. OVER 38 PERCENT OF THAT TOTAL — $801 BILLION — WAS ACCOUNTED FOR BY THE UNITED STATES. Figures for 2022 will rise even higher on the strength of substantial spending increases in the United States and Europe in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and due to the misguided notion that China represents a “pacing threat” that calls for sharp increases in Pentagon outlays.

    It’s hard to overstate just how much the United States and its allies dominate world military spending figures. AS OF 2021, THE UNITED STATES ALONE WAS SPENDING OVER TWO AND ONE-HALF TIMES ON ITS MILITARY THAN WHAT CHINA SPENT, AND OVER 12 TIMES WHAT RUSSIA SPENT. Just four U.S. NATO allies — the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy — together spend over three times what Russia spends on its military. And adding Australia, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan’s spending to the U.S. total puts the United States and its closest regional allies together at well over three times what China spends. [EMPHASES added.]

    Continued at https://responsiblestatecraft.org/2022/04/25/global-military-spending-tops-2-trillion-for-the-first-time/

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  6. The US Military is Driving Environmental Collapse Across the Planet by Sam Carliner

    The U.S. military emits more carbon than 140 countries combined, fueling climate change and environmental degradation. Below we examine five ways in which the Pentagon is destroying the environment.

    1: Keeping Imperialism Running
    2: Supporting Oil
    3: Harming Indigenous Communities
    4: Producing Hazardous Waste
    5: Deprioritizing Worthwhile Projects

    Continued at https://scheerpost.com/2022/04/24/the-us-military-is-driving-environmental-collapse-across-the-planet/

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  7. Paying closer attention than most to those kinds of things over the years, like this article, I can see US dominated NATO pushed Putin little by little, step by step, until US/NATO left him no choice but to Stand Up for the Self Defence of Russia under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter,

    https://truthaholics.wordpress.com/2022/04/26/internationallaw-daniel-kovalik-us-expert-why-is-russias-special-military-action-lawful-under-international-law/

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