Mr. Brownback, the kettle called

Thursday, July 31, 2008

Mr. Brownback, the kettle called…

Back to my developing meme of “It’d be nice if the US didn’t do the things it decries in other countries.”

As many of you probably know, Sen. Brownback expressed his “dismay” regarding the fact that China has not followed through on many of the promises it made (which it hasn’t) in order to host the Olympics, most notably it’s intentions to spy on “its own guests.” If you didn’t know, have a look:

Now, I agree with Brownback here. It’s a shame that the PRC is so often inclined to violate the privacy of vast numbers of people. Yet, I wonder if I could direct your attention to the map below, courtesy of Privacy International [via Open-Left], titled “Map of Surveillance Societies around the world” (just tickles your heartstrings, doesn’t it?). What do you notice?

Indeed, both the United States and China are black, which signifies “Endemic surveillance societies.”

Which brings me to where I disagree with Sen. Brownback. Hit it Greenwald:

That's the same Sen. Sam Brownback who voted last year to enact the Protect America Act, which "allow[ed] for massive, untargeted collection of international communications without court order or meaningful oversight by either Congress or the courts. It contain[ed] virtually no protections for the U.S. end of the phone call or email, leaving decisions about the collection, mining and use of Americans' private communications up to this administration." And it's the same Sen. Brownback who also voted for this year's FISA Amendments Act, which empowers the U.S. Government to tap directly into the U.S. telecommunications systems in order to monitor international emails and telephone calls with no individual warrant required.

The idea that the U.S. can exert meaningful leverage on China's surveillance behavior is laughable for reasons wholly independent of what the U.S. Government itself does with regard to spying on its own citizens. Nonetheless, to watch U.S. Senators like Sam Brownback actually maintain a straight face while protesting China's warrantless spying on the email and telephone communications of foreigners, and lamenting that private companies feel unfairly pressured to cooperate with China's government spying out of fear of losing lucrative business opportunities, is so surreal that it's actually hard to believe one is seeing it. How many days do we have to wait before we get to read a righteous Fred Hiatt Editorial condemning China's Communist tyrants for their outrageous spying intrusions? Maybe Jay Rockefeller can co-sponsor Brownback's Senate Resolution condemning China's surveillance activities and demanding that they stop it at once.

I want to say that there is something intrinsically different in how US surveillance on suspected threats works, but I have no reason to do so other than the fact that I have faith that the US is freer than the PRC (when, after all, is a Chinese director going to put a biopic out on a sitting PRC chairman?). I’d be interested in hearing from someone as to why it’s different when the US does this sort of thing and when the Chinese do it.

If, as I presume, there is no difference – or very little – then the idea that Sen. Brownback of all people is the one to lead the crusade for justice in the PRC is indeed “laughable.” Let’s not forget that some of the suspected “terrorists” spied on in the US were peace activists and poverty relief advocates. Some of those jailed at Guantanamo Bay were picked based on hearsay from vengeful relatives, later found to have no merit.

That’s a hell of a track record.

Let me reiterate, I think what China is doing is horrible, but I find little difference in what we see our own government doing. This sort of conduct leaves a bitter taste in my mouth wherever it takes place.

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