Greenwald's Appropriate Compound Adjective:"...hostage-message-sounding missives...."

[xocet]

Last edited Fri Aug 9, 2013, 06:46 PM - Edit history (1)

Email service used by Snowden shuts itself down, warns against using US-based companies
Edward Snowden: 'Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Yahoo, Apple, and the rest of our internet titans must ask themselves why they aren't fighting for our interests the same way'

Glenn Greenwald
theguardian.com, Friday 9 August 2013 08.19 EDT


A Texas-based encrypted email service recently revealed to be used by Edward Snowden - Lavabit - announced yesterday it was shutting itself down in order to avoid complying with what it perceives as unjust secret US court orders to provide government access to its users' content. "After significant soul searching, I have decided to suspend operations," the company's founder, Ladar Levinson, wrote in a statement to users posted on the front page of its website. He said the US directive forced on his company "a difficult decision: to become complicit in crimes against the American people or walk away from nearly ten years of hard work by shutting down Lavabit." He chose the latter.

...

What is particularly creepy about the Lavabit self-shutdown is that the company is gagged by law even from discussing the legal challenges it has mounted and the court proceeding it has engaged. In other words, the American owner of the company believes his Constitutional rights and those of his customers are being violated by the US Government, but he is not allowed to talk about it. Just as is true for people who receive National Security Letters under the Patriot Act, Lavabit has been told that they would face serious criminal sanctions if they publicly discuss what is being done to their company. Thus we get hostage-message-sounding missives like this:

"I wish that I could legally share with you the events that led to my decision. I cannot. I feel you deserve to know what's going on - the first amendment is supposed to guarantee me the freedom to speak out in situations like this. Unfortunately, Congress has passed laws that say otherwise. As things currently stand, I cannot share my experiences over the last six weeks, even though I have twice made the appropriate requests."

Does that sound like a message coming from a citizen of a healthy and free country? Secret courts issuing secret rulings invariably in favor of the US government that those most affected are barred by law from discussing? Is there anyone incapable at this point of seeing what the United States has become? Here's the very sound advice issued by Lavabit's founder:

...

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/aug/09/lavabit-shutdown-snowden-silicon-valley

Here is the message from Lavabit's owner:

My Fellow Users,

I have been forced to make a difficult decision: to become complicit in crimes against the American people or walk away from nearly ten years of hard work by shutting down Lavabit. After significant soul searching, I have decided to suspend operations. I wish that I could legally share with you the events that led to my decision. I cannot. I feel you deserve to know what’s going on--the first amendment is supposed to guarantee me the freedom to speak out in situations like this. Unfortunately, Congress has passed laws that say otherwise. As things currently stand, I cannot share my experiences over the last six weeks, even though I have twice made the appropriate requests.

What’s going to happen now? We’ve already started preparing the paperwork needed to continue to fight for the Constitution in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. A favorable decision would allow me resurrect Lavabit as an American company.

This experience has taught me one very important lesson: without congressional action or a strong judicial precedent, I would _strongly_ recommend against anyone trusting their private data to a company with physical ties to the United States.

Sincerely,
Ladar Levison
Owner and Operator, Lavabit LLC

http://lavabit.com/

The United States should be better than this.

[woo me with science]

1. [phone]

This nation has been perverted into something unrecognizable.

[Hydra]

2. If I woke up some day and found myself in East Berlin

With Secret Police outside and their dogs at my door, I don't think I'd be surprised at this point.

[geek tragedy]

3. Then you need to get away from Internet hyperbole for a while nt

[Hydra]

4. Good morning!

How does all this secrecy find you today? Still fighting the war on the Red Menace(TM)?

[geek tragedy]

5. Me, I'm doing just fine. Going on vacation tomorrow.

I am also aware that Erich Honecker is not in the White House.

[Hydra]

7. Enjoy your vacation!

I haven't had one in years. BTW, while Honecker is not in the WH, Reinhard Gehlen was in the CIA, which arguably is the true seat of power.

Just something to think about.

[KittyWampus]

10. You might consider taking a vacation from DU. I've done it. It helps.

[Hydra]

16. I took year off from DU

And got back just in time for the Spying pushback. It's a great time to be on DU! I would have missed this little gem if I hadn't been here:



This totally explained everything!!

[KittyWampus]

21. I should post a bunch of gems from Catherina for you to admire… or from your clique.

I'd even post a map just for you but it'd get alerted… so many delicate flowers on DU these days.

BTW, I DO NOT SUPPORT THE NSA OVERREACH.

So your inability to discern that says volumes.

Maybe you would do well to take another DU vacation.

[Hydra]

23. I saw your alternate map too

It was hillarious!

I'm not sure what side of the issue you're on currently, but if you're not trying to cover for the Obama Admin's grounding of another country's Air Force 1 to search for Snowden, I'll be happy not to make fun of it anymore.

[geek tragedy]

11. Meh. Gehlen was spying on the Soviets. nt

[Hydra]

14. Gehlen was a happy little Nazi that was invited into the halls of power

Along with all of his cronies. How many times has that happened, do you suppose?

[geek tragedy]

20. Never, except always nt

[ronnie624]

19. Good grief.

Cluelessness abounds, around here.

Meh, indeed.

[woo me with science]

9. It's looking like it might be a cavity search on the highway.

Mind-Boggling Road-Side Cavity Searches Aren't Isolated Incidents: Lawyers
http://election.democraticunderground.com/1168548

or at least a strip search:

Obama DOJ urged the Supreme Court's endorsement of strip searches for any arrestee
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002521527

or perhaps a felony charge for streaming something online:

Obama's task force wants to make unauthorized streaming a felony
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014559157

I hope for your sake that you're not an investigative journalist:

Criminalizing Investigative Journalism: Fed Court just changed interpretation of Espionage Act to cover leaks that are NOT Harmful To USA
http://upload.democraticunderground.com/10023365713

or were thinking about disclosing illegal behavior on the part of the federal government:

The Obama administration's legal battle against whistleblowers, federal unions.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022672473

Or maybe your scenario is exactly right:

Police Enter Georgia Home at 2am, Threaten To 'Cane' Family Over Past Due Fine (GRAPHIC VIDEO)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023429790


Police climb through innocent family's window, shoot their 2 dogs - No warrant, no evidence
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023430361

I really wish what you said were hyperbole, but it's gotten very creepy and dystopian out there.

[Hydra]

12. That's the worst part

I'm seeing less and less daylight between what we're doing and what we used to call the Stazis out for.

When did we decide that we really liked what those people were doing, but didn't like their economic system?

[woo me with science]

22. The One Percent is nothing if not pragmatic.

I guess they decided that corrupt and unbridled capitalism is just more profitable...but they stole the parts they admired!

[Mojorabbit]

26. Great post! nt

[Th1onein]

27. DAMN it, Woo!

You knocked it out of the park with that post!

[ronnie624]

6. "Is there anyone incapable at this point of seeing what the United States has become?"

You better believe it, and far too many of them are 'progressives'.

[Hydra]

8. Keep the quotes around that word

They only thing they are progressing is RW policies.

[frylock]

13. yep..

unwittingly or otherwise.

[geek tragedy]

15. "you Better Believe It"

I agree.

[ronnie624]

18. For some bizarre reason,

such 'progressives' can't understand why others are concerned about 'our' government keeping detailed dossiers on every citizen.

It just doesn't bode well for our country's political future.

[KoKo]

17. Recommend.

[Octafish]

24. Now THERE's an American!

Outstanding post, xocet. Thank you!



The Business of America is minding you don't get into our business.

[Luminous Animal]

25. Kick