Fred Burks: Conscientious whistle-blower or American traitor?

May 8, 2005 10:14 PM

Fred Burks: Conscientious whistle-blower or American traitor? Fred Burks was a State Department interpreter in Indonesian for almost two decades. After resigning his contract when asked to sign a confidentiality agreement, he suddenly appeared as a defence witness in the case of Abu Bakar Ba'asyir who masterminded the Bali bombing. His testimony was instrumental in Ba'asyir's acquittal on terror charges. In court, he divulged the details of a secret meeting between Indonesian President Megawati and CIA and NSA operatives who demanded Megawati arrest Ba'asyir and hand him over which put pressure on the Indonesian court to give Ba'asyir a wrist slap. Fred Burks: Conscientious whistle-blower or American traitor? You decide.
posted by timyang (12 comments total)

Fred Burks: Conscientious whistle-blower or American traitor?
Fred Burks: Conscientious whistle-blower or American traitor? You decide.

We got the false dichotomy the first time. No need to repeat yourself.
posted by thedevildancedlightly at 10:20 PM on May 8, 2005

Seems if what is reported as to have happened in the arrest and events leading to it, then I would say 'Whistle-blower". the truth shall set us free and what-not.

The Motto of the U.S. Military Academy IS (in this order) "GOD, DUTY, COUNTRY"

Your faith (this is what can get us into trouble here, but thats another thread) which tells you right from wrong.

Your duty, to uphold the ideas and honor (lets repeat that word HONOR, a word a lot in power forget, H.O.N.O.R!!!) of your oath.

Your Country: Obey its Laws Protect its Citizens and do no Harm.

Some times these three (Especially DUTY) can make turn from your leaders.

Less wars would happen if more events like this happened more often.
posted by Elim at 10:26 PM on May 8, 2005

BTW, both. It's possible to live life in more than black-and-white (or red-and-blue, if you prefer).
posted by thedevildancedlightly at 10:29 PM on May 8, 2005

The Motto of the U.S. Military Academy IS (in this order) "GOD, DUTY, COUNTRY"

Actually the motto of the U.S. Military Academy is 'Duty, Honor, Country.' But point taken.
posted by fubar at 10:56 PM on May 8, 2005

timyang: repetitive troll or troll who repeats himself?
posted by mwhybark at 11:03 PM on May 8, 2005

Fubar, Hey even better that way....
posted by Elim at 11:13 PM on May 8, 2005

Sorry about that. The post form needed a headline. I thought it meant the title of the page. I forgot it was going to prepend to the front of the post.
posted by timyang at 11:24 PM on May 8, 2005

From reading a few of the links it would seem he is not an american traitor.
posted by futureproof at 1:45 AM on May 9, 2005

lets repeat that word HONOR, a word a lot in power forget, H.O.N.O.R!!!)

Well there's your problem. See, it's spelt HONOUR. No wonder things weren't working as they should have.

(sorry, couldn't resist!)
posted by smcniven at 5:24 AM on May 9, 2005

There are too few degrees of separation from this guy to www.thetruthseeker.co.uk for me.
Following further, there was some interesting info on Patagonia.
These intarweb link thingies are fun, but you sure need lots of tin-foil.
posted by bashos_frog at 5:55 AM on May 9, 2005

HA you are correct and wrong, its Honour in the rest of the world Honor in the U.S. Heck it seems to mean something different to those in power in the U.S. Currently anyway.
posted by Elim at 8:10 AM on May 9, 2005

I read a WSJ article about this guy a while back. It said he believes in UFOs and while walking on a Bali beach prior to a meeting between US and Indonesian officials, he found a dead beached dolphin. He performed a seance and connected with the souls of the dolphin's pod, and said the positive energy had a wonderful effect on the meeting.

So I would say the guy is more of a wacko than anything else.

Also, he said after testifying he got a letter from Abu Bashir thanking him for his testimony but reminding him that a painful and horrible torment awaits him in hell if he does not convert to Islam.

Gracious, that guy is.
posted by b_thinky at 12:34 PM on May 9, 2005