Title: Ron Paul on WikiLeaks - Lying is Not Patriotic: The Attack On Iraq Was All Lies Source:
Congressman Ron Paul URL Source:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxPB9yy7IJ4 Published:Feb 13, 2011 Author:Congressman Ron Paul Post Date:2011-02-13 20:08:32 by HAPPY2BME-4UM Keywords:None Views:182 Comments:17
Lying is Not Patriotic Ron Paul - Texas Straight Talk
WikiLeaks’ release of classified information has generated a lot of attention world-wide in the past few weeks.
The hysterical reaction makes one wonder if this is not an example of killing the messenger for the bad news.
Despite what is claimed, information so far released, though classified, has caused no known harm to any individual, but it has caused plenty of embarrassment to our government. Losing a grip on our empire is not welcomed by the neo-conservatives in charge.
There is now more information confirming that Saudi Arabia is a principle supporter and financier of Al Qaeda and this should set off alarm bells since we guarantee its Sharia-run government.
This emphasizes even more the fact that no Al Qaeda existed in Iraq before 9/11, and yet we went to war against Iraq based on the lie that it did. It has been charged, by self-proclaimed experts, that Julian Assange, the internet publisher of this information, has committed a heinous crime deserving prosecution for treason and execution or even assassination. But should we not at least ask how the U.S. government can charge an Australian citizen with treason for publishing U.S. secret information, that he did not steal?
And if Wikileaks is to be prosecuted for publishing classified documents, why shouldn’t the Washington Post, New York Times, and others that have also published these documents be prosecuted? Actually, some in Congress are threatening this as well.
The New York Times, as a result of a Supreme Court ruling, was not found guilty in 1971 for the publication of the Pentagon Papers. Daniel Ellsberg never served a day in prison for his role in obtaining these secret documents. The Pentagon Papers were also inserted into the Congressional Record by Senator Mike Gravel with no charges being made of breaking any National Security laws.
Yet the release of this classified information was considered illegal by many, and those who lied us into the Vietnam War and argued for its prolongation were outraged. But the truth gained from the Pentagon Papers revealed that lies were told about the Gulf of Tonkin attack which perpetuated a sad and tragic episode in our history.
Just as with the Vietnam War, the Iraq War was based on lies. We were never threatened by Weapons of Mass Destruction or Al Qaeda in Iraq, though the attack on Iraq was based on this false information.
Any information that challenges the official propaganda for the war in the Middle East is unwelcome by the administration and supporters of these unnecessary wars. Few are interested in understanding the relationship of our foreign policy and our presence in the Middle East to the threat of terrorism. Revealing the real nature and goal for our presence in so many Muslim countries is a threat to our empire and any revelation of this truth is highly resented by those in charge.
Questions to consider:
1. Do the American people deserve to know the truth regarding the ongoing war in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Yemen?
2. Could a larger question be: how can an Army Private gain access to so much secret material?
3. Why is the hostility mostly directed at Assange, the publisher, and not our government’s failure to protect classified information?
4. Are we getting our money’s worth from the $80 billion per year we spend on our intelligence agencies?
5. Which has resulted in the greatest number of deaths; lying us into war, or WikiLeaks’ revelations or the release of the Pentagon Papers?
6. If Assange can be convicted of a crime for publishing information, that he did not steal, what does this say about the future of the First Amendment and the independence of the internet?
7. Could it be that the real reason for the near universal attacks on WikiLeaks is more about secretly maintaining a seriously flawed foreign policy of empire than it is about national security?
8. Is there not a huge difference between releasing secret information to help the enemy in the time of a declared war—which is treason—and the releasing of information to expose our government lies that promote secret wars, death, and corruption?
9. Was it not once considered patriotic to stand up to our government when it’s wrong?
Thomas Jefferson had it right when he advised: “Let the eyes of vigilance never be closed.”
"“Believe nothing merely because you have been told it. Do not believe what your teacher tells you merely out of respect for the teacher. But whatsoever, after due examination and analysis, you find to be kind, conducive to the good, the benefit, the welfare of all beings - that doctrine believe and cling to, and take it as your guide.” ~ Gautama Siddhartha — The Buddha
"“Believe nothing merely because you have been told it. Do not believe what your teacher tells you merely out of respect for the teacher. But whatsoever, after due examination and analysis, you find to be kind, conducive to the good, the benefit, the welfare of all beings - that doctrine believe and cling to, and take it as your guide.” ~ Gautama Siddhartha — The Buddha
We see Paul stand up and tell it like it is, BUT, to my knowledge I have never seen another Congressman ever rise in full support. Not one of 435 ever says what Paul has to say.
I have never seen another Congressman ever rise in full support. Not one of 435 ever says what Paul has to say.
Kucinich rises on occasion. Kucinich was very staunch on his revolt on the Patriot Act extensions.
Still, pathetic support of truth, IMHO, a mirror of how far our society has fallen into the abyss. Paul and Kucinich are browbeaten, belittled, chastised, marginalized, mocked, and disrespected for speaking truth to power.
" If you cannot govern yourself, you will be governed by assholes. " Randge, Poet de Forum, 1/11/11
Why not at least one other American in the Congress with a backbone????
All of the others have skeletons to protect Cyni. Dark and ugly secrets could surface if they dared speak the truth. They have been bought and sold like whores.
Face it, our man Paul is the only one who is clean enough to speak the truth. PAUL FOR POTUS 2012!! : )
" If you cannot govern yourself, you will be governed by assholes. " Randge, Poet de Forum, 1/11/11
Lying is Not Patriotic Ron Paul - Texas Straight Talk
So why did you lie Ron Paul?
You were asked by an interviewer during the presidential race of 2008 what you were going to do with all the money that was sent to you for your run for the presidency. Your answer to that question was "we are going spend it." But you didn't do that. If you did then you might have had a decent shot at winning, but inexplicably you held on to most of it. Sorry Ron Paul, your own words now come back to haunt you, and by your own admission, make you unpatriotic.