(ANTIMEDIA) The Silk Road trial is filled with twists, turns and intrigue. But perhaps the most revealing facts of the case are that the federal government is guilty of every single crime it is charging against the accused, Ross Ulbricht.
1. “Narcotics conspiracy”: The CIA has been accused of, as one Mexican official puts it, “managing the drug trade.” It also has shady connections with the opium trade in Afghanistan. Further, the FDA and pharmaceutical companies have committed a massive “narcotic conspiracy” to bring highly addictive opiate painkillers to the market by approving them as safe. None of these agencies are standing trial for their crimes.
2. “Engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise”: Ulbricht is charged with continually participating in the Silk Road, though his lawyer last week stated that while Ulbricht started the organization, he soon after relinquished control. The same cannot be said for the criminals in office and in power with the federal government. And they aren’t simply pushing drugs or operating outside the confines of the goverment- approved market. They have been stealing wealth, waging illegal wars and unmitigated, violative spying, illegally detaining and torturing at Guantanamo, and facilitating militarized police brutality. They conspire with corporations to centralize control and wealth. These are all crimes against citizens, but unsurprisingly, the DOJ is not going after the instigators.
3. “Conspiracy to commit computer hacking” It is immensely hypocritical that the prosecution is charging Ulbricht with conspiring to commit computer hacking. The FBI openly advertises for hackers (and admits that it violates drug laws by hiring potheads, since they can’t find hackers who don’t smoke weed). The US hacked Iran’s nuclear systems and hacked North Korea before claiming that North Korea hacked Sony. Hacking is bad, kids, except when the federal government does it.
4. “Money laundering” While the government may not be guilty of laundering money (that we know of), it has created an environment where such actions are enabled and acceptable. HSBC laundered money for terrorists. It was found guilty of laundering money for drug cartels (who sell the drugs the government bans!) and ordered to pay $800 million in fines. On its face, it seems as though the valiant government stepped in to punish the big, evil bank. In reality, the $800 million dollar fines went back into a system that works closely with big banks whose regulators protect the financial criminals.
5. “Ordering Murders for Hire” While Ulbricht is not being charged with ordering the deaths of six of his competitors, the prosecution is certainly highlighting it. Unfortunately, the federal government the prosecutors work for is guilty of the same crime. In addition to hiring and funding soldiers to wage crony wars around the world based on lies, the drone war is particularly indicative of “murder for hire.” Drone operators play video-game like programs to assassinate mostly innocent civilians in pursuit of government-decreed terrorists. Even more “hit”-like is the president’s disposition matrix and history of ordering the deaths of human beings–including American citizens without charge or trial.
What the Silk Road trial boils down to is the confrontation of freedom and authoritarianism. It is the desperate attempt of the government to cling to control over enterprise, competing currencies, freedom, and the inevitable destruction of the matrix.
The government being guilty of everything it alleges against Ulbricht is a sad statement on the power it currently wields and reason enough to side with the defendant.