TheCharlie2323
  • Satirical Shorts
  • Other Tales
  • Banterer
  • Poems / Archives

Snowball

12/18/2013

0 Comments

 
In July, the US criticized Russia for allowing leaker of NSA spying secrets, Edward Snowden, to meet with human rights groups in the Moscow Airport.  He applied for asylum in Russia until they said he must stop leaking information about the NSA, since then he’s been leaning more towards Latin and South America.  The US argued not to allow Snowden the “propaganda platform.” (Superville, 2013)  What has become a long layover for a flight between Russia and Cuba, has given him time to apply for asylum in various countries.  Blind sheep change their chant, with no actual awareness to the effect of the growing issue. 

The “Squealer” uses propaganda to move forward with his own agenda, while various nations offer him asylum for their own reasons.  In July, Bolivia offered asylum to Edward Snowden after President Evo Morales plane had been rerouted due to suspicion that Snowden was aboard.  The offer was said to be a protest against those he blamed for what happened.  President Ortega of Nicaragua is all for helping the person who felt remorse for the United States’ use of technology to spy on the entire world. (Wilson, 2013)  Snowden’s most recent plea was written as an open letter to Brazil, who is currently not interested.  There are risks to be considered, such as the effect on trade.      

Large tech companies met with President Obama on Tuesday, where discussion revolved mainly around concerns on the NSA.  They feel that their losing their share of the market to international counterparts that don’t invade the buyers privacy.  Each of these tech giants have likely been sued at one time or another for invading user’s privacy.  It was so much more innocent when technology companies were data mining for profits, as opposed to NSA data mining for security.  Large corporations like Google and Apple probably just couldn’t see strait with all the trade. 

On Monday, a federal judge ruled against the NSA and their collection of phone data.  NSA had tried to justify their cause with a 1979 case in which a woman who was robbed began receiving harassing phone calls from one claiming to be her robber.  Since phone surveillance was not considered to be unconstitutional in that case, why should it be considered unconstitutional to collect and save phone data of all citizens today?  The judge doesn’t see where it’s applicable as no terrorist’s attacks have proven to be prevented by this metadata collection. (Roberts, 2013)

“All animals are equal” only applies until some pig edits the command to “but some animals are more equal than others.” (Orwell, 2003)  The judge made clear in his decision against NSA, editing of the rules doesn’t make the action acceptable, it only makes it more “Orwellian.”       

Works Cited
Orwell, G. (2003). Animal Farm - Chapter X. Retrieved 12 18, 2013, from The Complete Works of George-Orwell:  http://www.george-orwell.org/Animal_Farm/9.html
Roberts, S. A. (2013, 12 16). NSA phone surveillance program likely unconstitutional, federal judge rules. Retrieved 12 18, 2013, from theguardian: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/16/nsa-phone-surveillance-likely-unconstitutional-judge
Superville, D. (2013, 07 12). White House criticizes Russia for Snowden meeting. Retrieved 12 18, 2013, from Bloomberg: http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2013-07-12/white-house-criticizes-russia-for-snowden-meeting
Wilson, K. L. (2013, 07 06). Bolivia joins countries offering Snowden asylum. Retrieved 12 18, 2013, from USA Today: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/07/06/snowden-bolivia-nicaragua-venezuela/2494633/



0 Comments

B-52's

12/4/2013

0 Comments

 
With two fairly new powers in control, the conflict between Japan and China continues to escalate.  The US has confirmed they are backing Japan, while urging that the two neighbors talk to avoid collision.  Vice President Biden’s planned trip to China to discuss trade has been placed on the back burner, as he spends his time there trying to defuse the conflict of controlled airspace.  Biden attempts to appease Japan, yet avoids the request that China roll back their new air zone.  Instead, he asks that China not extend it any further out.  (Perlez, 2013)

The US showed their support of Japan last week when a couple B-52’s entered China’s declared air-zone without notification to prove that our military would ignore it.  Japan has demanded all air traffic ignore China’s declared air zone, and felt the US was sending mixed signals by suggesting passenger air carriers abide by it to avoid any miscommunication. (Pasztor, 2013)  The US government would prefer passenger planes fly as opposed to fall from the sky.      

With China scrambling the airwaves of aircraft that enter their defense zone, Japan has taken to the more Kamikaze approach.  South Korea is choosing this same approach in response to China’s new air zone.  They may not be aiming their planes at specific targets, but it’s a suicide mission all the same when there is no communication to avoid another crafts flight path. 

China blames Japan for the establishment of this new defense air-zone.  There’s been an ongoing dispute for several decades over a territory of uninhibited islands.  Japan refuses to acknowledge that the territory is disputed, and went so far as to purchase the islands from a private seller in 2012.  According to Japan, there can be no dispute when you own it.  China’s defense air-zone that covers the sky above these islands is meant as a reminder to Japan that there is still a dispute. (Perlez J. , 2013)

The trade between these two nations is hurting from their current relations, as well as those of their allies.  Is the US ready to take a hammer to that piggy bank?  While the B-52’s presented no sky writing, they sent a message that for safety or attack these skies don’t belong to China.

Works Cited

Pasztor, Y. H. (2013, 12 01). Japan, U.S. at Odds Over China's Air Zone. Retrieved 12 04, 2013, from The Wall Street Journal: http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303562904579230894060384128
Perlez, J. (2013, 12 02). Chinese Leader's Rise Came With New Attention to Dispute With Japan. Retrieved 02 04, 2013, from The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/03/world/asia/chinese-leaders-rise-came-with-new-attention-to-dispute-with-japan.html?pagewanted=1
Perlez, M. L. (2013, 12 03). Biden Backs Ally Japan but Avoids Roiling China. Retrieved 12 04, 2013, from The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/04/world/asia/biden-in-japan-calibrates-message-over-tensions-with-china.html?_r=0

0 Comments

    Author

    My banter was on current affairs and ran from 2011 - 2016. I currently enjoy writing satire and horror shorts.

    I chose themes to run against each current event to bring some entertainment to my Banters. I began writing the banter in February 2011, and wrote my last in February 2016.

    Archives

    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011

    Categories

    All
    2011
    4th Amendment
    5-4
    Aaa
    Administration
    Aer Lingus
    Aol
    Arizona
    Bailouts
    Barclays
    Bassar Al-Assad
    Benghazi
    Berlusconi
    Bin Laden
    Boehner
    Bryson
    Buffett Rule
    Caucuses
    Cheif Of Staff
    China
    Chris Christie
    Citibank
    Citigroup
    Commerce
    Daley
    Deutsche
    Dez Bryant
    Draft
    Economy
    Engagement
    Euro
    Facebook Ipo
    Fannie Mae
    Fed
    Federal Reserve
    Freddie Mac
    Ftc
    "Game Change"
    Geithner
    Gingrich
    Goldman Sachs
    Gop
    Governor Walker
    Henry Paulson
    Huffington Post
    Hugh Culverhouse
    Immigration
    Iran-Contra
    Ireland
    Italy
    John Paulson
    Jon Corzine
    Lew
    Lockout
    Madoff
    Mets
    Michael Grimes
    Michael Hayden
    Millionaire Tax
    Mitt Romney
    Monti
    Muddy Waters
    News Of The World
    Nfl
    Nothaus
    Obama
    Ochocinco
    Pay For Performance
    Pelosi
    Picard
    Presidential Race
    Rakoff
    Referee Lockout
    Richard Grenell
    Romney
    Romneycare
    Russia
    Sarah Palin
    Sec
    S&P
    Technocracy
    Trust In God
    Union
    Veto
    Vikram Pandit
    Wisconsin

     Subscribe in a reader

    Thecharlie2323.com Pagerank