3 ms·

Yeah, those diabolical Western intelligence agencies and their kompromat.

jdietrich 9y ago
Yes. It's a historical fact that the FBI systematically slandered and harassed peaceful activists. I have no doubt that they (and other agencies) would do it again given the right circumstances; there's a high likelihood that they're doing it right now. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COINTELPRO https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COINTELPRO
- unclebucknasty 9y ago
  My well-intentioned friend, I don't need a Wikipedia article to learn about COINTELPRO nor could anyone wish more than I for a more open and democratic America. If you knew a bit more about me, we'd both have a good laugh that you posted that Wikipedia link for my "benefit". My comment was not intended to absolve America. Parse it more carefully and you will see its meaning. Because, yes, America's record is imperfect. At times, unsavory things have been done for the "right" reasons, and at other times for the wrong by those abusing power. Even when well-intentioned, championing certain ideals in a hostile world can be a messy business. We can debate the morality around those trade-offs but, in any case, we should all wish for America to live up to its ideals. Yet, there's a tipping point at which you realize that there are some who are not interested in highlighting America's missteps for the purpose of perfecting it, but instead for the purpose of diminishing it and elevating other actors. Snowden and Greenwald come to mind. How is it that they so consistently focus on America's misdeeds while promoting the narrative of actors with far more dubious track records, wherein dissidents are not just smeared, but actively "disappeared" and more? Today, America is being destroyed from within and without. It goes beyond a failing to live up to its ideals to a direct attack on the ideals themselves. So, I would simply urge caution. America is not perfect, but the alternative on-offer is far worse.

Yes. It's a historical fact that the FBI systematically slandered and harassed peaceful activists. I have no doubt that they (and other agencies) would do it again given the right circumstances; there's a high likelihood that they're doing it right now. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COINTELPRO https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COINTELPRO

unclebucknasty 9y ago
My well-intentioned friend, I don't need a Wikipedia article to learn about COINTELPRO nor could anyone wish more than I for a more open and democratic America. If you knew a bit more about me, we'd both have a good laugh that you posted that Wikipedia link for my "benefit". My comment was not intended to absolve America. Parse it more carefully and you will see its meaning. Because, yes, America's record is imperfect. At times, unsavory things have been done for the "right" reasons, and at other times for the wrong by those abusing power. Even when well-intentioned, championing certain ideals in a hostile world can be a messy business. We can debate the morality around those trade-offs but, in any case, we should all wish for America to live up to its ideals. Yet, there's a tipping point at which you realize that there are some who are not interested in highlighting America's missteps for the purpose of perfecting it, but instead for the purpose of diminishing it and elevating other actors. Snowden and Greenwald come to mind. How is it that they so consistently focus on America's misdeeds while promoting the narrative of actors with far more dubious track records, wherein dissidents are not just smeared, but actively "disappeared" and more? Today, America is being destroyed from within and without. It goes beyond a failing to live up to its ideals to a direct attack on the ideals themselves. So, I would simply urge caution. America is not perfect, but the alternative on-offer is far worse.