Monday, April 30, 2012

THE Problem of His-story

Hi Greg!

Well, not that our slightly different versions of the events in the Gulf of Tonkin that led up to the illegal murder of something like three million Vietnamese men, women and children -- and the needless deaths of approx 58,000 U.S. soldiers -- are terribly important, but as a matter of form, I thought I'd address the general problem the differences reveal.
Since in August 1964, I'm pretty sure neither of us was actually anywhere near the Gulf of Tonkin, we're both "back seat drivers" when it comes to what actually happened there. That means we both have to rely on someone else's reports. Perhaps even a report of report(s) etc. In fact, all so-called historians suffer this same handicap in creating their particular synopses, their particular version of his-story.
How to resolve the unavoidable differences? The answer I favor is to provide the reports that were used as the basis of each version and let each reader decide for themselves which one -- or which amalgam -- makes the most sense to them. And, perhaps, write their own version.
In the interest of that approach, you can find my main sources for what was happening in and around the Gulf of Tonkin in the summer of 1964 here:
N+N FEATURE: Standard Operating Procedure?
Among them, you can find the particular source that, I believe, best addresses the events that seem to interest you most here:
"The Secret Side of the Tonkin Gulf Incident," by Dale Andrade and Kenneth Conboy," Naval History Magazine


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Monday, April 23, 2012

Orwellistan? Are we there yet mommy??

Well, are we??

Unfortunately the stuff below only starts with impeccable Democracy Now and from three nearly impeccable guests:
1. William Binney, an NSA whistle blower who worked as a manager there for more than 30 years,
2. Jacob Appelbaum, a TOR and privacy software designer and activist
3. Laura Poitras, an Oscar-nominated anti-war filmmaker intimidated by Uncle ~40 times because she is.
--Whistleblower: The NSA is Lying-U.S. Government Has Copies of Most of Your Emails  http://www.democracynow.org/2012/4/20/whistleblower_the_nsa_is_lying_us
--Exclusive: National Security Agency Whistleblower William Binney on Growing State Surveillance   http://www.democracynow.org/2012/4/20/exclusive_national_security_agency_whistleblower_william
--Detained in the U.S.: Filmmaker Laura Poitras Held, Questioned Some 40 Times at U.S. Airports  http://www.democracynow.org/2012/4/20/detained_in_the_us_filmmaker_laura
--"We Do Not Live in a Free Country": Jacob Appelbaum on Being Target of Widespread Gov’t Surveillance  http://www.democracynow.org/2012/4/20/we_do_not_live_in_a
And another interview with Mr. Binney:
--NSA Whistleblower: U.S. Assembling Information On Every U.S. Citizen

And here's a good measure of just how pervasive Orwellistan U.S.A. has already become:
--Confirmed: New Nationwide "Trapwire" Surveillance System Is Actively Recording, Monitoring Everything

--WIKILEAKS: Surveillance Cameras Around The Country Are Being Used In A Huge Spy Network - Business Insider

Then there are the USA domestic spy-drones:
--These Police Surveillance Drones Could Be Watching You Right Now - Business Insider


And, perhaps, even more "interesting" tools and techniques:

--14 Incredibly Creepy Surveillance Technologies That Big Brother Will Soon Be Using To Spy On You - BlackListedNews.com
Don't even have an appropriate closing.  Maybe - - - 

"Of course you're free. Now shut-up     ---    if you want to stay that way."

r.

P.S. Great weather!  How about those Cubbies!  I think I'll plant zucchinis again this year.  Do you guys like pizza as well as I do?  

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