Ray McGovern and Robert Parry on Truth Unflinching and the Price of Integrity

[autorank]

From the National Press Club, The McClendon Group presentation last night...

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1007/S00070.htm">Ray McGovern and Robert Parry on Truth Unflinching and the Price of Integrity

Michael Collins



Different Paths to the Same Outcome

McGovern argued that government officials have an obligation to tell the truth, even when it is extremely uncomfortable, due to supervening values. The comparative value of preventing a war and all that involves versus a successful government career path leaves no choice but to reveal the truth due to the much higher value of peace.

Parry's explanation was equally straight forward. He said that by not reporting the facts as they emerge, "We're failing to do what we signed on to do." The public, he argued, has a right to know "what they need to know to make democracy work."

Both made it clear that it is the obligation of the press and government officials to state the facts and tell the truth. That's the ultimate supervening value for citizens, as well.

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1007/S00070.htm

[flyarm]

1. Let me be the first to Kick and rec!! thanks for posting! eom

[autorank]

3. Great night for me and lots of positive response

These are two people who put it on the line and they're amazingly down to earth, albeit very bright.

Happy to answer questions etc.

Thanks for the response!

[flyarm]

8. Ray is a great man and a great patriot!! I love the man!! again thanks for posting

wish i could have been there!!

[autorank]

2. Video of McGovern taking on Rumsfeld - ouch!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MInHphR4zBg

[malaise]

12. I watched that live and will

never forget it.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Truth??? Government???? Don't compute

Hi there by the way friend

[autorank]

10. Shocking but true

You read it here!

:hi:

[Joe Chi Minh]

5. Ray McGovern's statement some time ago that a co-worker and friend of his had committed

suicide, because of his own enabling role in the vicious imperialism of his country (what imperialism isn't?), made very sad reading, didn't it? Mr McGovern, himself, clearly is a rare patriot.

[autorank]

19. He is that! n/t

[Me.]

6. Amen

"McGovern argued that government officials have an obligation to tell the truth, even when it is extremely uncomfortable"

[autorank]

9. That's the deal

The deal isn't security or comfort, it's about the job. So many federal employees do stand up
on a regular basis. We just don't hear about it.

It's no accident that they never get whistle blower protections air tight. It's a huge threat
to those who want to defy the will of the people, which is always for open and honest government
regardless of political persuasion.

[EFerrari]

7. How crazy is it that former government workers and journalists

have to remind our government and media that lying is bad.

[autorank]

20. It's the basics that count;)

[Joe Chi Minh]

11. You have an amazing body of high-profile critics of the war party in

your establishment in the US. It may be partly a function of the extreme nature of your establishment's actions that you have such a pyramid of activisim. In the UK, they tend to be low-profile, and dismissable as "activists". Lotus-eaters are the preferred category of our citizenry - unless acting as Aunt Sallys in some war zone.

[autorank]

15. I think you're dead on

The enormity of the war crimes brings out the best in some people through their resistance.

The UK had a strong antiwar movement generated by the public. If there had been a vote, NO would have
been the answer. I suspect that even the general staff of the military would have rejected this folly.

Astute observation!

[H2O Man]

13. I have the highest

regard for Robert Parry. McGovern brings to mind Malcolm X's saying that because a man throws worms into the river, it does not make him a friend of fish.

[autorank]

21. They're outstanding citizens, doing their duty! n/t

[Joanne98]

14. Excellent K&R!

[autorank]

16. They are, aren't they!

[puebloknot]

17. K&R For a later read. Bound to be good! nt

[autorank]

18. Wish you'd been there

They were excellent and very open to questions, input, etc.

[puebloknot]

23. This has me remembering "The Power of One" (or Two)! Wish I'd been there, too. nt

[truedelphi]

22. Parry and McGovern helped keep the pressure up all through the dark years of

The Stolen Elections and the Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld/ Presidential Reign of Terror.

Glad to hear that McGovern/Parry answered questions. It would be a treat to be in the same room with them.

I watched "Three Days Of The Condor" for the fiftieth time again today.

When the movie ends, it does so on a question mark. With the media as it is today, there wouldn't be a question mark. Since 1975, TPTB have really taken a hold of all outlets, so an event like the Penatgon Papers wouldn't be repeated.

But the internet does let the words and actions of Parry and McGovern reach many.

One of my favorite interviews:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKP9BT7osIA&feature=related

Quite a pertinent interview, given that Obama just had a meeting with Israel's top guy - and was so happy to tell us that "America has a special relationship with Israel..."

Combine that statement with the youtube I am listing and any fear that pops up that we will be engaged against Iran very soon cannot be dismissed as irrational fear.

.

[maryf]

24. Kick

sorry I missed this until now, the truth has such a small following it seems.

maybe Moses had something...Thou shalt not lie, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not kill... those three do it for me...