Archive
Letters to the Editor – Spies, Lies, Five Eyes, and other matters on a Sunday afternoon
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Sharing a few thoughts and observations with newspaper editors around the country…
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from: Frank Macskasy <fmacskasy@gmail.com>
to: Sunday Star Times <letters@star-times.co.nz>
date: Sun, Sep 14, 2014
subject: Letter to the Editor.
The EditorSunday Star Times
.Our esteemed Prime Minister refers to visiting Pulitzer-winning investigative journalist, Glenn Greenwald, as “Dotcom’s little henchman”.
Mr Key knows a thing about “henchmen”. Rightwing bloggers Cameron Slater and David Farrar spring to mind.
After all, Key admitted to being in regular contact with Slater, and ex-Minister Judith Collins fed the extremist blogger personal details of civil servants (and god knows who else).
What was that about “henchmen”, Mr Key?
-Frank Macskasy
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from: Frank Macskasy <fmacskasy@gmail.com>
to: Listener <letters@listener.co.nz>
date: Sun, Sep 14, 2014
subject: Letter to the editor.
The editorThe Listener
.John Key claims that visiting internationally acclaimed, pulitizer-prize winning, investigative journalist, Glenn Greenwald, is on Kim Dotcom’s payroll;
“Let’s understand what’s going on here. Kim Dotcom is paying Glenn Greenwald to come to New Zealand a week before an election and he’s trying to influence New Zealanders…”
Aside from the fact that Mr Greenwald rejects Key’s allegations outright – how would the Prime Minister know?
Has he or the GCSB been spying on Mr Greenwald?
-Frank Macskasy
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from: Frank Macskasy <fmacskasy@gmail.com>
to: Otago Daily Times <odt.editor@alliedpress.co.nz>
date: Sun, Sep 14, 2014
subject: Letter to the editor.
The editor
Otago Daily Times.
It’s disappointing to see the number of National Party supporters who so casually dismiss the growing power of the State to spy on us; collect data on our communications; and – as Jason Ede, Judith Collins, and Paula Bennett showed – to mis-use our personal information for political ends.
For many John Key supporters, the phrase “nothing to hide” rolls easily of their keyboards as they post their naive views on various on-line fora.
The irony is that many of them then sign off with an anonymous pseudonym.
-Frank Macskasy
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from: Frank Macskasy <fmacskasy@gmail.com>
to: Waikato Times <editor@waikatotimes.co.nz>
date: Sun, Sep 14, 2014
subject: Letter to the editor.
The editorWaikato Times
.Our esteemed Prime Minister has employed the threat of “terrorists” in the past to frighten New Zealanders into accepting increased GCSB surveillance on our society.
The latest fear-threat is “cyber attacks” from off-shore, saying,
“Last weekend, Spark was brought to its knees because some people clicked on malware which brought the network down. Cyber risk is exponentially rising. This is about protecting secrets rather than getting secrets.”
Key has doggedly likened the GCSB to “a Norton anti-virus at a high level”, saying it works against malware.
I have anti-spyware and anti-malware on my computer, and (as far as I know), it’s function does not include spying on my activities, communications, movements, or contacts with other people.
Since when does malware protection demand surveillance over the entire population?
And why does he think we are gullible enough to believe it?
-Frank Macskasy
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from: Frank Macskasy <fmacskasy@gmail.com>
to: The Press <letters@press.co.nz>
date: Sun, Sep 14, 2014
subject: Letter to the editor.
The editor
The Press.Esteemed Prime Minister, John Key has contemptuosly dismissed pulitzer-prize winning investigative journalist, Glenn Greenwald’s claims of mass surveillance by the GCSB. He insists,
“There is no mass surveillance of New Zealanders by the GCSB and there never has been. Mr Dotcom’s little henchman will be proven to be incorrect because he is incorrect.”
Are we to take Mr Key at his solemn word?
Is this the same solemn word where he recently dismissed another investigative journalist’s claims;
“Mr Hager’s making claims he can’t back up and they’re not factually correct.”
And,
“At the end of the day we’re five weeks out from an election, people can see that Nicky Hager’s made a whole lot of things up in his book, (they) can see he can’t back a lot of them up. People can see this is a smear campaign by Nicky Hager.”
Seventeen days after the launch of “Dirty Politics” , Judith Collins was forced to resign from her ministerial portfolios.
Whenever an investigative journalist uncovers something unpleasant about Mr Key’s government it always seems to be the Prime Minister who comes off second best.
Why is that, I wonder?
-Frank Macskasy
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from: Frank Macskasy <fmacskasy@gmail.com>
to: Southland Times <editor@stl.co.nz>
date: Sun, Sep 14, 2014
subject: Letter to the editor.
The editorSouthland Times.Tribal politics appears to be a prime motivating reason for National supporters to be casually dismissive of concerns that the GCSB has been conducting mass surveillance and our esteemed Prime Minister has been less than upfront with the New Zealand public.
Key’s dogged dismissiveness of investigative journalist, Glenn Greenwald, reminds me of the PM’s equally dogged dismissiveness of Nickey Hager “Dirty Politics” expose, where Key categorically stated,
“Mr Hager’s making claims he can’t back up and they’re not factually correct… At the end of the day we’re five weeks out from an election, people can see that Nicky Hager’s made a whole lot of things up in his book, (they) can see he can’t back a lot of them up. People can see this is a smear campaign by Nicky Hager.”
And yet, Hager’s expose resulted in the sacking/resignation of one minister and a current Inquiry into how the SIS released sensitive information to rightwing blogger and National Party activist, Cameron Slater.
In case National supporters are still dismissive of Glenn Greenwald’s revelations, they might care to ponder the fact that governments change. The same surveillance used by a National-led government can be conducted equally by a left-wing government against it’s right-wing opponants.
I suspect that may motivate National supporters to suddenly sit up and take a closer interest in these matters.
-Frank Macskasy
[address & phone number supplied]
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That should give Dear Leader’s media spin doctors a few issues to deal with.
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References
Radio NZ: Revelations could cause ‘diplomatic blowback’
NZ Herald: He’s Dotcom’s little henchman: PM attacks journalist’s spy claims
NZ Herald: The GCSB does not conduct mass surveillance on Kiwis – Key
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This blogpost was first published on The Daily Blog on 15 September 2014
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September 15 RNZ interviews – and then the Moment of Truth
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Acknowledgement: Emmerson
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15 September – Leading up to the Moment of Truth public meeting this evening, these Radio NZ interviews are worth listening to;
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And finally, the Moment of Truth…
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(Scroll forward to where it begins at 21′ 54″)
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Additional
Radio NZ: Key & Dotcom – the story so far (Time Line)
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This blogpost was first published on The Daily Blog on 16 September 2014
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Letter to the Editor – Key makes up any old sh*t, again
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From a Fairfax story on 13 September, about visiting investigative journalist, Glenn Greenwald,
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It was time to take Key to task on his lying BS…
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from: Frank Macskasy <fmacskasy@gmail.com>
to: Dominion Post <letters@dompost.co.nz>
date: Sat, Sep 13, 2014
subject: Letter to the editor.
The editorDominion Post
.Key recently alleged;
“Lets understand what’s going on here; Kim Dotcom is paying Glenn Greenwald to come to New Zealand a week before an election and he’s trying to influence New Zealanders. The problem is, he’s got the story wrong.”
Only problem (for Key) is that Greenwald has rejected the PM’s claims, and stated categorically that he has not been paid by Kim Dotcom, nor anyone else. If he has, Key has not provided any evidence to support his allegations.
Once again, our esteemed prime Minister has been loose with the facts and appears to be making stuff up as he goes along, hoping no one will notice.
It is hard to understand why Key expects people to believe him when he throws unsubstantiated allegations all over the place.
On 13 August, when Nicky Hager released his expose on Dirty Politics surrounding the Beehive Ninth Floor, Cameron Slater, Judith Collins, and other sundry dubious characters, Key casually dismissed it;
“Mr Hager’s making claims he can’t back up and they’re not factually correct.”
Seventeen day later, Judith Collins was forced to resign her ministerial portfolios.
If anyone is “making claims they can’t back up and are not factually correct”, it appears to be the Prime Minister.
-Frank Macskasy
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References
Fairfax media: Key dismisses GCSB spying claims from Greenwald
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Above image acknowledgment: Francis Owen/Lurch Left Memes
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Welcome to Glenn Greenwald…
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My welcome to visiting journalist, Glenn Greenwald;
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Key’s comments to this man have been nothing less than shameful.This is how our Prime Minister deals to journalists he can’t control or manipulate;
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So much for our PM also being Minister for Tourism!
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References
Twitter: Welcome to Glenn Greenwald
Fairfax media: Key dismisses GCSB spying claims from Greenwald
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Above image acknowledgment: Francis Owen/Lurch Left Memes
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Letter to the Editor – Our PM insults a world-reknowned investigative journalist
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Our esteemed Dear Leader must be in full panic mode when he insults a visiting investigative journalist of the calibre of Glenn Greenwald;
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Key went on to say,
“When you hack into people’s information and you steal it, sometimes you get part of the information but not all of the information.
Now, in the fullness of time we’ll respond to Dotcom’s little henchman, but mark my words, he’s wrong. There never has been mass surveillance and there is no mass surveillance.”
Which prompted me to pen this letter to the New Zealand Herald;
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from: Frank Macskasy <fmacskasy@gmail.com>
to: NZ Herald <letters@herald.co.nz>
date: Sat, Sep 13, 2014
subject: Letter to the Editor
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The editorNZ Herald.John Key is becoming more Muldoonesque with each erupting scandal. His latest attack on visiting American investigative journalist, Glenn Greenwald, is simply beyond the pale.
Key says,“Now, in the fullness of time we’ll respond to Dotcom’s little henchman, but mark my words, he’s wrong. There never has been mass surveillance and there is no mass surveillance.”
Since when in a visiting journalist anybody’s “henchman”?
This is not the first time Key has abused investigative journalists who have uncovered unpleasant activities by this current government.
In May 2011,John Key derided Jon Stephenson’s research into NZ secret activities in Afghanistan by attacking the journalists’ reputation and character;
“I’ve got no reason for NZDF to be lying, and I’ve found [Stephenson] myself personally not to be credible.”
In September 2011, Key attacked another investigative journalist, Nicky Hager, for his expose on New Zealand’s covert military activities, in conjunction with the CIA, in Afghanistan.
John Key dismissed Hager’s book;“I don’t have time to read fiction,”
That “fiction” Key referred to contained 1,300 footnotes of referencing documentation in Hager’s book.
In August this year, Key again attacked Nicky Hager, for his expose in dirty dealings between Key’s office, a right-wing blogger, Judith Collins, and other right-wing extremists. Key was again dismissive;
“Mr Hager’s making claims he can’t back up and they’re not factually correct.”
And,
“At the end of the day we’re five weeks out from an election, people can see that Nicky Hager’s made a whole lot of things up in his book, (they) can see he can’t back a lot of them up. People can see this is a smear campaign by Nicky Hager.”If Hager’s book was “factually incorrect” and little more than a “smear campaign” – one has to ask the PM what prompted Judith Collins to resign 17 days after the launch of “Dirty Politics” and all it revealed?
John Key’s track record of transparency with the public has left much to be desired and attacking journalists who dare speak the truth says more about the PM’s character than the targets of his unwarranted attacks.
Thus far, Jon Stephenson, Nicky Hager, and Glenn Greenwald have a better track record at telling the truth than Mr Key.
-Frank Macskasy
[address & phone number supplied]
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Every time Key behaves like this, whether it be with Nicky Hager, Jon Stephenson, or now Glenn Greenwald, he is abandoning his elevated position of a non-political Prime Minister and becoming just another politician in the eyes of the public.
Key will lose popularity.
National will lose support in the polls.
And National will lose on 20 September.
More importantly – is this the kind of sleazy government that Winston Peters wants to associate with after 20 September? Because there is much, much more to come out.
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References
Radio NZ: PM says Greenwald’s claims are wrong
NZ Herald: PM attacks journalist over SAS torture claims
NZ City: John Key trashes Nicky Hager’s book
Radio NZ: Prime Minister stands by minister and staff
Previous related blogposts
The slow disintegration of a government; 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5…
Other blogs
The Standard: Greenwald on the GCSB
The Paepae: John Key working the phones “at length”
The Daily Blog: Where does Key get off abusing a Pulitzer prize winning Journalist like Glenn Greenwald when he calls a far right hate speech blogger regularly?
The Daily Blog: Dear mainstream media – regarding Key’s promise to resign if GCSB exposed doing mass surveillance
Special mention
The Jackal: John Key Naked
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Above image acknowledgment: Francis Owen/Lurch Left Memes
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