House Intelligence Committee’s NSA Talking Points Revealed
[scribd id=147838019 key=key-1w2cgx1ip4lydy6bb00o mode=scroll]
[scribd id=147838126 key=key-1jbte73n5ql0zujrhepg mode=scroll]
U.S. Concludes Assad Used Chemical Weapons Against Rebels
By Thomas Murphy
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East
DAMASCUS, Syria – The Obama administration has confirmed that the Syrian government has used chemical weapons against the rebel opposition. The administration also acknowledged that Syria has crossed the “red line”, commonly referred to by President Obama, that would trigger more significant U.S. involvement in the conflict.
American intelligence analysts used physical evidence to conclusively determine that the Assad regime attacked Syrian rebels with the nerve agent sarin. According to a C.I.A. report, hair, blood, and urine samples of two Syrian rebels, one dead and one wounded, tested positive for the toxin after being involved in firefight northeast of Damascus in mid-March.
Deputy National Security Adviser for Strategic Communication Ben Rhodes addressed the media regarding the conclusion.
“Following a deliberative review, our intelligence community assesses that the Assad regime has used chemical weapons, including the nerve agent sarin, on a small scale against the opposition multiple times in the last year,” Rhodes, said in a statement released by the White House on Thursday afternoon. “Our intelligence community has high confidence in that assessment given multiple, independent streams of information.”
“The president has made a decision about providing more support to the opposition that will involve providing direct support to the Supreme Military Council. That includes military support,” said Rhodes.
Despite acknowledging the U.S. will provide the rebels increased support, the level of support remains unclear. However, President Obama has recently come under fire for approaching the conflict cautiously and this news will undoubtedly lead to more calls for action.
Sen. John McCain, who has been highly critical of the president’s Syria policy, urged the president to implement a no-fly zone and provide the rebels with anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons. However, McCain was pleased that the administration’s acknowledged the Syrian government’s use of chemical weapons, but still he pushed for further action.
“I thank the president for acknowledging that Syrians are using chemical weapons,” McCain said. “Just to provide additional weapons to the Syrian National Army is not enough. We have got to change the equation on the battleground.”
Earlier this week former President Bill Clinton agreed with Senator McCain. Clinton said, “Sometimes it’s best to get caught trying, as long as you don’t overcommit.”
“Some people say, ‘O.K., see what a big mess this is? Stay out!’” Mr. Clinton said. “I think that’s a big mistake.”
President Obama will attend a G-8 meeting next week in Northern Ireland, where the conflict in Syria is expected to be one of the main talking points. Russia, also a G-8 member country, has supported the Syrian government throughout the conflict.
For further information, please see:
Al Arabiya – Obama decides to arm Syrian rebels after chemical weapons proof – 13 June 2013
CBS – U.S.: Syria used chemical weapons, crossing “red line” – 13 June 2013
CNN – White House: Syria crosses ‘red line’ with use of chemical weapons on its people – 13 June 2013
New York Times – Syria Has Used Chemical Arms on Rebels, U.S. and Allies Find – 13 June 2013
USA Today – U.S. has determined Syria used chemical weapons – 13 June 2013
Seven Killed by U.S. Drone Strike in Pakistan
By Kevin M. Mathewson
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia
NORTH WAZIRISTAN, Pakistan – Two missiles, from suspected US drones, have killed seven people in a village in the North Waziristan tribal area, close to the Afghan border on Friday. The troubled border region is known as a stronghold of Taliban and Al-Qaeda linked militants.
“The U.S. drone fired two missiles targeting a militant compound and killing at least seven militants.” a senior local security official said.
The drone attack came just days after Nawaz Sharif took over as Pakistan’s prime minister for an unprecedented third term and asked the United States to end its drone attacks against militants.
“We respect the sovereignty of others and they should also respect our sovereignty and independence. This campaign should come to an end.” Sharif stated in regards to the U.S. campaign.
Last month President Obama announced stricter targeting rules for the drone campaign against militant suspects.
It is unclear who the target of the attack was, though several militant groups have camps in the area. Pakistan Taliban, whose deputy leader Waliur Rehman was killed in a drone strike on May 29, is said to be stationed there. Rehman was the number two in the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) faction and had a $5 million U.S. government bounty on his head.
On Thursday the families of Pakistani victims of U.S. drone strikes wrote to Sharif urging him to stop the U.S. campaign, even by shooting the U.S. drone’s down if necessary.
Drone attacks are incredibly controversial in Pakistan, where parts of the government and military have been accused of ignoring or even condoning some of the strikes. It has been claimed that between 2004 and 2013, U.S. drone attacks in Pakistan have killed up to 3,460 people.
It has been estimated by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, that of those 3,460 deaths, 890 of them were civilians with a vast majority of strikes being carried out under the Obama administration.
In May, President Obama said the drone strikes were part of a legitimate campaign against terrorism, calling them “legal” and “just.” However, on May 9th the high court in the northwestern city of Peshawar declared the U.S. drone strikes targeting suspected militants a “war crime.”
For further information, please see:
BBC News – Pakistan drone strike kills seven in North Waziristan – 8 June 2013
4 News – Pakistan summons US diplomat over drone strike – 8 June 2013
The Daily Star – US drone strike kills 7 in Pakistan – 8 June 2013
The Voice of Russia – Pakistan protests to US over drone strikes that kill nine – 8 June 2013
Reuters – Pakistan summons envoy after U.S. drone strike kills nine – 8 June 2013
Edward Snowden to Remain in Hong Kong
By Michael Yoakum
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America
WASHINGTON D.C., United States – Former CIA employee Edward Snowden exploded into news headlines Sunday after the Guardian revealed him to be the party responsible for declassifying the NSA program code-named PRISM. Snowden, who more recently worked as a contractor for the NSA, revealed that the NSA obtained phone meta data from Verizon customers and has “direct access” to the server contents of service providers like Microsoft, Apple, Google, and Facebook.
Snowden worked at Booz Allen Hamilton where he contracted with the NSA as a system administrator. After three months, Snowden left his position, and, on May 20, traveled to Hong Kong to seek asylum. It was there that, on June 6, Snowden contacted the Washington Post and the UK-based Guardian to provide details about PRISM as well as general information about US espionage operations.
Since releasing the classified materials, Snowden has remained in Hong Kong to give interviews to a select group of media outlets. Fox News reported that Snowden chose to travel to Hong Kong because of its “strong tradition of free speech.” While Hong Kong does have an extradition treaty with the US, it makes exceptions for political asylum seekers.
If Snowden is returned the US, however, he may not face the long prison sentence one might expect. According to a Reuters article, only nine people have been tried for crimes similar to those of which Snowden is accused (six of which were prosecuted under the Obama administration). Of the six who have been sentenced, the maximum jail sentence was approximately two years, with two receiving no jail sentences at all. The remaining three still have legal action pending.
In an interview given Wednesday to The South China Morning Post (“SCMP”), Snowden said he would not flee Hong Kong, opting instead to leave his fate to the semi-autonomous city’s justice system. Snowden went on to state that he believed the NSA to be responsible for 61,000 hacking operations worldwide, including many in China and Hong Kong.
Snowden went on to explain that by using “network backbones – [which are] like huge internet routers,” the NSA was able to access communications between hundreds of thousands of computers without having to hack them individually. According to the SCMP, Snowden said, “‘Last week the American government happily operated in the shadows with no respect for the consent of the governed, but no longer.'”
Since Snowden leaked classified NSA materials, members of Congress have been split into two camps: those angry at Snowden for leaking information, and those angry at the Obama administration for allowing the NSA to conduct such a sweeping surveillance program.
For further information, please see:
ABC News – Edward Snowden Claims NSA Documents Show U.S. Hacks China: Report – 12 June 2013
CBS News – Edward Snowden: “I am not here to hide” – 12 June 2013
Fox News – I’m ‘not a traitor,’ NSA leaker Edward Snowden tells Hong Kong newspaper – 12 June 2013
South China Morning Post – Edward Snowden: US government has been hacking Hong Kong and China for years – 12 June 2013
The Washington Post – Here’s everything we know about PRISM to date – 12 June 2013
Reuters – If past is indicator, ex-NSA contractor may escape long jail term – 10 June 2013
The Guardian – Edward Snowden’s explosive NSA leaks have US in damage control mode – 10 June 2013
Kuwaiti Twitter user convicted to eleven years for criticizing emir
by Darrin Simmons
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East
KUWAIT CITY, Kuwait-Twitter is a social media network which has become popular in recent years for allowing people to post what they think online. However, the ability to voice one’s opinion via the internet is not always met without repercussions.
Huda al-Ajmi, a 37-year-old Kuwaiti teacher, was sentenced to eleven years in jail after posting on twitter comments that were reasoned to be insulting to the emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah.
Along with insulting Sheikh Sabah, Huda al-Ajmi was convicted of inciting the overthrow of the regime and misuses of her mobile phone. She was sentenced to two consecutive five year terms for insulting the emir and one year for insulting an unspecified religious group.
Despite the rarity for woman to serve jail time for political crimes, several Kuwaiti courts have sentenced two female activists to shorter periods in jail for their criticism of the emir. However, the implementation of the terms was suspended.
Sheikh Sabah, who is “immune and inviolable” under Kuwait’s constitution, has received criticisms from others as well. Mussallam al-Barrak, a prominent opposition figure, was convicted in April of “undermining” the emir. He was arrested for remarks he made regarding the emir’s “autocratic” rule. In May, an appeals court overturned his five-year sentence.
Although Kuwait has not yet experienced the same degree of pro-democracy as has been seen in other Arab states, tensions have been escalating between the ruling Sabah family and the members of parliament.
Kuwait, which allows more freedom of speech than most other Gulf Arab states, has tightened control over its citizens’ use of social media. Convictions of several other Twitter uses over the past few months have caused anger and protests between police and activists.
U.S. based Human Rights Watch issued a statement in February saying that at least twenty five people have been charged with offending Sheikh Sabah by Kuwaiti prosecutors since October. Of those twenty five people, at least six were sentenced to time in jail.
Being allies with Kuwait, the United States has considerable interest in these matters. Due to the rising tension, the United States has urged Kuwait to consider its actions and respect their peoples’ right to freedom of expression.
Huda al-Ajmi’s has become the first woman convicted for criticizing Kuwait’s ruler, and her sentence is the longest sentence of jail time for political crimes issued in Kuwait. She has yet to be taken into custody and will have the opportunity to appeal the Kuwaiti court’s decision.
For further information, please see:
Aljazeera – Kuwait to jail woman for tweets against emir – 10 June 2013
BBC – Kuwaiti woman jailed for ‘insulting’ emir tweets – 10 June 2013
Gulf News – Woman gets 11 years in jail for insulting Kuwait emir – 10 June 2013
Reuters – Kuwaiti court gives woman 11 years in jail for insulting emir – 10 June 2013