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Forum Post: HSBC has escaped indictment for laundering billions of dollars for Mexican drug cartels and groups linked to al-Qaeda.

Posted 11 years ago on Dec. 14, 2012, 11:02 a.m. EST by SparkyJP (1646) from Westminster, MD
This content is user submitted and not an official statement

December 13, 2012

http://www.democracynow.org/2012/12/13/matt_taibbi_after_laundering_800_million

The banking giant HSBC has escaped indictment for laundering billions of dollars for Mexican drug cartels and groups linked to al-Qaeda. Despite evidence of wrongdoing, the U.S. Department of Justice has allowed the bank to avoid prosecution and pay a $1.9 billion fine. No top HSBC officials will face charges, either. We’re joined by Rolling Stone contributing editor Matt Taibbi, author of "Griftopia: A Story of Bankers, Politicians, and the Most Audacious Power Grab in American History." "You can do real time in jail in America for all kinds of ridiculous offenses," Taibbi says. "Here we have a bank that laundered $800 million of drug money, and they can’t find a way to put anybody in jail for that.

That sends an incredible message, not just to the financial sector but to everybody. It’s an obvious, clear double standard, where one set of people gets to break the rules as much as they want and another set of people can’t break any rules at all without going to jail."

http://current.com/shows/the-young-turks/videos/no-hsbc-bankers-going-to-prison-for-aiding-al-qaida-proves-that-the-wealthy-have-a-get-of-out-jail-free-card-forever

43 Comments

43 Comments


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[-] 2 points by TrevorMnemonic (5827) 11 years ago

"Well, if the company is too big to jail, too big to prosecute, too big to indict, then it's just simply too big to exist." - Robert Weissman, president of the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen, NPR

[-] 2 points by SparkyJP (1646) from Westminster, MD 11 years ago

I couldn't agree more, and I'm sure that the majority of Americans do too, but the question remains ....... What do we do about it? What are our options?

[-] 2 points by TrevorMnemonic (5827) 11 years ago

Legally? Stop doing business with everything involved with HSBC.

Same question to you.

It would be nice if their was a vigilante option. But sadly there is no Batman in real life. Mainly because billionaires exploit for profit instead of helping people and fight crime, like Batman.

[-] 2 points by SparkyJP (1646) from Westminster, MD 11 years ago

A non-violent 2nd American Revolution:

http://osixs.org/Rev2_menu_intro.aspx

Install a government where the people have oversight powers over all of the other branches. Our present government has proven that it can't be trusted to do the work of the people. Voting does no good when both sides are bought.

"Unless the mass retains sufficient control over those entrusted with the powers of their government, these will be perverted to their own oppression, and to the perpetuation of wealth and power in the individuals and their families selected for the trust.
Whether our Constitution has hit on the exact degree of control necessary, is yet under experiment." --Thomas Jefferson

[-] 2 points by trashyharry (3084) from Waterville, NY 11 years ago

There are currently around 30 people in the Oneida County Jail serving sentences for fraud related to Food Stamps and Welfare due to a local Krak Down on Welfare Cheats.Time and money has been spent on investigating and prosecuting the defendants;fines and court costs levied against them will defray part of these costs along with the costs of maintaining them in the Jail.The entire amount of money defrauded of all of the cases together is less than 50k usd.Meanwhile,even the most criminal behavior of the Bankster class goes without meaningful punishment.Even the poorest,most uneducated people in our country are well aware of this lack of accountability among elites.There will be a very bad effect as a consequence-to put it mildly.

[-] 1 points by SparkyJP (1646) from Westminster, MD 11 years ago

That's exactly what we have is a lack of accountability and it's progressively getting worse. It depends on what color collar you wear, as to how you'll be treated. Two sets of rules!!

[-] 2 points by trashyharry (3084) from Waterville, NY 11 years ago

There is a huge reservoir of boiling rage that is eventually going to blow up like a bomb.Those who ignore the lessons of history are condemned to repeat it.

[-] 1 points by Nevada1 (5843) 11 years ago

Agree. "Reign Of Terror".

[-] 2 points by trashyharry (3084) from Waterville, NY 11 years ago

OMG-The Unthinkable.Can't seem to perish the thought.Americans are a cruel bunch when provoked.I have read some eyewitness accounts of the atrocities that took place during the Revolutionary War.The American Colonists were-HEADHUNTERS and I don't think Americans are a bit less bloodthirsty now than they ever were.No way is savagery going to be averted if some kind of severe austerity measures are to be imposed by the Overlords.

[-] 1 points by VQkag2 (16478) 11 years ago

What is the huge resevior of rage about?

[-] 1 points by trashyharry (3084) from Waterville, NY 11 years ago

Well-I think the drastic decline in living standards for millions of Americans is upsetting them extremely.I have lived almost my whole life in grinding poverty,but lots of people are not used to it and are not able to cope.I also think that people are beginning to recognize that statements like "things are tough now,but soon the economy will recover and the jobs will come back"and"education will enable people to get good paying jobs"are basically sunshine enemas.

[-] 1 points by Theeighthpieceuv8 (-32) from Seven Sisters, Wales 11 years ago

Sunshine enemas... I think that's a keeper.

[-] 1 points by trashyharry (3084) from Waterville, NY 11 years ago

For once-an original,unless I picked it up somewhere and forgot.

[-] 1 points by Theeighthpieceuv8 (-32) from Seven Sisters, Wales 11 years ago

True, we don't get too many originals.

[-] 1 points by VQkag2 (16478) 11 years ago

LOL! Sunshine enemas. That's good. I think the people who have lived in poverty for generations have certainly tuned out those promises as meant for someone else.

I agree that some middleclass who have been hit by the great recession are more likely to see things as you described.

And I agree there is great rage amongst that group that do not want to be left behind with the longstanding groups who've struggled in poverty for generations.

The long term poor have had rage for decades. They still do. But I think a hopelessness has tempered it. beaten down perhaps

[-] 1 points by SparkyJP (1646) from Westminster, MD 11 years ago

The government knows it's coming. Laws maintaining separation between protestors and government officials; NDAA; legalized killing of Americans 'labeled' terrorists, are all efforts to control the coming uprising.

The strength and power of despotism consists wholly in the fear of resistance. - Thomas Paine -

[-] 1 points by trashyharry (3084) from Waterville, NY 11 years ago

They may have miscalculated.It seems like something is wrong with the way events are unfolding but I can't quite figure out what it is-unless the 2008 crash arrived too soon?

[-] 2 points by SparkyJP (1646) from Westminster, MD 11 years ago

I think another larger and longer crash is very near.

[-] 2 points by trashyharry (3084) from Waterville, NY 11 years ago

Giant crash in bonds coming-huge amounts of money have migrated there and it will be the mother of all crashes if they can pull it off.

[-] 1 points by SparkyJP (1646) from Westminster, MD 11 years ago

Yeah, bond vigilantes will drive interest rates through the roof and that's what our debt is based on too. I also expect huge inflation. This will be a result of the federal reserve artificially manipulating interest rates for such a long time. When it breaks, the fed won't have enough bullets to control the market. But then again, "controlling the markets", IMO, is what got us here in the first place. Cheers

[-] 2 points by trashyharry (3084) from Waterville, NY 11 years ago

1% is now buying up gold and silver like mad-they are afraid of hyperinflation too.It has been predicted for awhile.I believe there will be mass pandemonium,chaos AND hyperinflation.The situation with bonds and sovereign debt is unbelievably precarious.So turns the wheel of fortune-or spins and skids the wheel of fortune.(SIGH) Interesting times...

[-] 1 points by SparkyJP (1646) from Westminster, MD 11 years ago

A lot hangs on the fiscal cliff decision. There's talk of lowering the corporate tax rate, and if they do, you may see a year end pop. IMO, the corps need to start paying their fair share:

http://www.americanprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/issues/2011/06/pdf/low_tax_graphs.pdf

http://www.businessinsider.com/these-are-the-30-american-companies-that-paid-less-than-zero-income-tax-from-2008-2010-2011-11?op=1

[-] 1 points by trashyharry (3084) from Waterville, NY 11 years ago

To Cliff-or not to Cliff-that is the question.Why is that so? It appears to me that either way,The Oligarchs plan to impose Austerity worldwide.Sounds like a foolproof plan-how could anything go wrong with it?LOL

[-] 1 points by SparkyJP (1646) from Westminster, MD 11 years ago

It's up to us to defuse their plan.

"Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God." --Thomas Jefferson: his motto.

[-] 2 points by trashyharry (3084) from Waterville, NY 11 years ago

(Ahem)You are correct,sir!

[-] 1 points by SparkyJP (1646) from Westminster, MD 11 years ago

It's either that or become a slave with NO rights.

Here's an option:

http://osixs.org/Rev2_menu_commonsense.aspx

BTW - I've been passing around these clips from a movie called 'Bulworth'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrRobSIeeC4

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

Cheers

[-] 2 points by trashyharry (3084) from Waterville, NY 11 years ago

"When money is debt,people are slaves."

[-] 1 points by nomdeguerre (1775) from Brooklyn, NY 11 years ago

Hear, hear!

[-] 2 points by SparkyJP (1646) from Westminster, MD 11 years ago

This really proves that the "War on Drugs" is a joke. If anyone of us did this, we'd serve a life sentence. Two sets of rules.

[-] 2 points by nomdeguerre (1775) from Brooklyn, NY 11 years ago

A criminal joke, hideously evil. They don't care how many lives they destroy and blight or how many young people go to jail for years, just as long as they are making their cut. Evil 1%ers.

[-] 1 points by Nevada1 (5843) 11 years ago

Would not be surprised, if those 1%ers getting trillions from drug money laundering, also own shares in the corporate prison thing.

[-] 2 points by nomdeguerre (1775) from Brooklyn, NY 11 years ago

Right. It's probably all intermeshed.

[-] 1 points by TrevorMnemonic (5827) 11 years ago

America is home to the world's largest political prisoner system.

[-] 1 points by SparkyJP (1646) from Westminster, MD 11 years ago

Not only that, HSBC admitted laundering money from al-Qaeda and Iran. The US has spied on American citizens through the patriot act; passed NDAA indefinite detention; and legalized killing American citizens when they are "labeled" as a terrorist; but could not find it in their heart to do more than just "fine" this bunch. They all should be hung by their thumbs!

[-] 2 points by Theeighthpieceuv8 (-32) from Seven Sisters, Wales 11 years ago

Home Security is now going after old ladies. Really, I know one former East German that fled the Russians... not only did they utterly abuse inhabitants but ultimately completely destroyed her city. Eventually she made her way to the US (legally) and now after over 60 years of residency Home Security is demanding she produce a birth certificate for herself AND her parents. Not only was the entire city leveled in the war but the city is now in Russia. She is truly a refugee, truly worthy of asylum, and yet they are unrelenting. And in the meantime, we have illegal Pakistanis pumping gas and Mexicans and South Americans roaming the streets.

http://herrschreiber.wordpress.com/2012/12/10/mom-versus-the-united-states/comment-page-1/#comment-7

[-] 1 points by SparkyJP (1646) from Westminster, MD 11 years ago

I just read that link, and that is truly, truly, horrible. I would have her contact her congress person, and even the senators for help in this matter. Set up an appointment with them, face to face. You should start a new thread and post this story to the form for others to see. It's really nice to see HS on the job and protecting us from these dangerous 84 yr old women. SOB's

[-] 1 points by Theeighthpieceuv8 (-32) from Seven Sisters, Wales 11 years ago

I have Mexicans standing in line ahead of me at McDonalds with a half dozen kids and HS is chasing down people who immigrated legally over 60 years ago. And without going into details, the abuse they suffered under the Russians was just incredible. And they're not even Jewish. Just a really sad state of affairs for non-brown people in this country.

[-] 2 points by nomdeguerre (1775) from Brooklyn, NY 11 years ago

Occupy is the 2nd American Revolution through nonviolent tactics.

[-] 2 points by SparkyJP (1646) from Westminster, MD 11 years ago

The 2nd American Revolution:

http://osixs.org/Rev2_menu_intro.aspx

[-] 1 points by nomdeguerre (1775) from Brooklyn, NY 11 years ago

Looks good. I was happy to see FDR's Second Bill of Rights. We have to keep pointing out government crimes, waking up U.S. citizens.

[-] 1 points by SparkyJP (1646) from Westminster, MD 11 years ago

Once the people do wake up, they should be offered nonviolent alternatives and suggestions as to the direction they would like to go. This is one. It took me a couple of days of reading and rereading most of the site, to understand their idea, but when it finally sank in - it was like an "ah-ha" moment. We have to have some say in our society ............... or we are nothing more than slaves.

If and when you understand this idea fully and still like it, please let them know here:

http://osixs.org/Vote.aspx

"Unless the mass retains sufficient control over those entrusted with the powers of their government, these will be perverted to their own oppression, and to the perpetuation of wealth and power in the individuals and their families selected for the trust.

Whether our Constitution has hit on the exact degree of control necessary, is yet under experiment." --Thomas Jefferson to M. van der Kemp, 1812.

[-] 1 points by nomdeguerre (1775) from Brooklyn, NY 11 years ago

Oh I don't think the corpoRATs intend for us to be slaves. Maybe just serfs, to maintain appearances.

As Huxley said, the best slaves believe they are free.

"There is, of course, no reason why the new totalitarianisms should resemble the old. Government by clubs and firing squads, by artificial famine, mass imprisonment and mass deportation, is not merely inhumane (nobody cares much about that nowadays), it is demonstrably inefficient and in an age of advanced technology, inefficiency is a sin against the Holy Ghost. A really efficient totalitarian state would be one in which the all-powerful executive of political bosses and their army of managers control a population of slaves who do not have to be coerced, because they love their servitude…The most important Manhattan Projects of the future will be vast government sponsored inquiries into what the politicians and the participating scientists will call “the problem of happiness.” http://www.thecultofmindy.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=105:brave-new-world&catid=52:blog&Itemid=101

Aldous Huxley Brave New World foreword to 1946 edition http://www.mrtom.com/quotes/huxley_essay.htm

Were Huxley and Orwell righting warnings, or roadmaps?

[-] 1 points by SparkyJP (1646) from Westminster, MD 11 years ago

Here is another triumph for their propaganda -

http://rt.com/usa/news/propaganda-us-smith-amendment-903/