NEEDED: DU post listing everything the NYT printed that was public already

[bbernardini]

I know there was a post here not too long ago with a HUGE list of whitehouse.gov statements and statements by others (the banks involved, etc.) outlining that everything the NYT printed recently that caused such a fuss was ALREADY KNOWN publicly. Unfortunately, I can't seem to find it anywhere. Did anybody save it, or does anybody have a link to it? Thanks!

[originalpckelly]

1. Hey, it really isn't even about the WH...SWIFT has a statement...

about cooperation with governments:

http://www.swift.com/index.cfm?item_id=6149

"SWIFT is solely a carrier of messages between financial institutions. The information in these messages is issued and controlled exclusively by the sending and receiving institutions. SWIFT does not hold assets nor manage accounts on behalf of customers. It does not clear or settle transactions.

Given its importance in the financial community, SWIFT takes its role in the global fight against money laundering and other illegal activities extremely seriously:

1. Responsibilities - It is SWIFT policy that its services should not be used to facilitate illegal activities. Users are urged to take all reasonable steps to prevent any misuse of the SWIFT system.

2. Cooperation - SWIFT has a history of cooperating in good faith with authorities such as central banks, treasury departments, law enforcement agencies and appropriate international organisations, such as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF*), in their efforts to combat abuse of the financial system for illegal activities.

3. No comment policy - Due to the sensitive nature of these contacts, SWIFT does not comment on them.

The challenge facing the financial industry is to implement measures that prevent illegal behaviour without penalising the efficient processing of legitimate financial transactions. SWIFT is fully committed to doing its part to address this challenge and remains committed to its policy of cooperation to fight money laundering and illegal activities within the scope of its activity."

Note the word "FATF," it is the Financial Action Task Force, here is a description of them from their own website:
"The FATF is an inter-governmental body whose purpose is the development and promotion of national and international policies to combat money laundering and terrorist financing. The FATF is therefore a "policy-making body" created in 1989 that works to generate the necessary political will to bring about legislative and regulatory reforms in these areas. The FATF has published 40 + 9 Recommendations in order to meet this objective."

So in other words SWIFT said it had cooperated with an anti-terrorism agency. So this whole thing could have been found by a terrorist with two Google searches...literally.

Here is the FATF website:
http://www.fatf-gafi.org/pages/0,2966,en_32250379_32235720_1_1_1_1_1,00.html

:rofl:

[originalpckelly]

2. And here it says the USA is a member of the FATF:

http://www.fatf-gafi.org/document/57/0,2340,en_32250379_32236869_36104505_1_1_1_1,00.html

[bbernardini]

3. Kick!

[bbernardini]

4. Kick!