Daniel Hale – Wrong Target for Justice

It is generally known, at least by antiwar activists, that America's Military Industrial Complex runs the show politically and economically, not only in the US but around the planet.

While perusing my morning email for messages and new articles, I came across Chris Hedges piece, When the Just Go to Prison

and found myself deeply moved with sadness and a pang of anger. I've been a reader and follower of Hedges since his beginning days hosting the award winning show On Contact on RT. This short 30 minutes packed-in a variety of important subjects and interesting guests. Mr. Hedges more often would interview authors about their up-and-coming books, ranging from literature, climate change, civil rights and the wide political spectrum. Since the US went to a information and later proxy war with Russia via Ukraine, RT was shut down including On Contact. Since the shows cancellation, one can see Hedges on You Tube and read his articles on his sub stack page. The article mentioned above is certainly worth the read.

As I hope most people are aware, Daniel Hale was imprisoned for violating the Espionage Act by releasing classified information regarding America's Drone program around the planet. Interestingly, I became aware of Daniel Hale from a documentary some years ago, National Bird (2016) See Trailer:

This documentary is a tragic and ultimately criminal expose' of a killing program specifically run by the Obama Administration that generally operated without any ethical code and zero accountability. Hales released documents revealed an indiscriminate murder spree of non-combatants , innocents and women and children. For these “hunters” of “terrorists” sitting behind a computer screen watching a live feed of Afghanistan from an air conditioned trailer in Nevada, any Afghan tribesman or farmer with a cell phone was a target. It has come to light that entire wedding ceremonies and large funeral's were targeted, murdering crowds of innocents. Obama when asked about this, of course denied any such actions.

What the documents revealed: ... over one five-month period of the operation, nearly 90 percent of the people killed in airstrikes were not the intended targets. The civilian dead, usually innocent bystanders, were routinely classified as “enemies killed in action.” (Hedges, 2022) Emphasis my own.

What has also come to light as a result of Hale's heroic actions, Obama had a kill list, that included over 20,000 American citizens. The MSM never covered this, and if they had, the story would appear next to the classifieds. However, around the same time the documentary National Bird was released, The Assassination Complex: Inside the Government's Secret Drone Warfare Program by Jeremy Scahill and his colleagues at The Intercept hit the publishing world with little fanfare.

It is generally known, at least by antiwar activists, that America's Military Industrial Complex runs the show politically and economically, not only in the US but around the planet.

The 1917 Espionage Act has been twisted and formed to prosecute any “source” talking to the press. The Act was essentially designed by Woodrow Wilson to prosecute and persecute political rivals such as socialists and labor unions. Now its used silence those exposing the Empire's war crimes.

Hedges writes: These men and women of conscience are the lifeblood of journalism. Reporters cannot document abuses of power without them. The silence on the part of the press over Hale’s imprisonment, as well as the persecution and imprisonment of other champions of an open society, such as Julian Assange, is stunningly shortsighted. If our most important public servants, those with the courage to inform the public, continue to be criminalized at this rate, we will cement in place total censorship, resulting in a world where the abuses and crimes of the powerful are shrouded in darkness.

Hale is currently serving a 45 month prison sentence in a high security prison because of a crises of conscience, having taken part in the murder of innocent human beings. I believe he believes he deserves this sentence, not for exposing the truth, but engaging in indiscriminate murder.

Daniel Hale should not be in prison, he is the wrong target for Justice.