Mehdi Hasan speech, New Statesman/Frontline Club debate

Mehdi Hasan, senior editor (politics) of the New Statesman, speaks at the New Statesman/Frontline Club debate on the motion: "This house believes whistle-blowers make the world a safer place." Speakers for the proposition were Julian Assange, editor in chief of WikiLeaks; Mehdi Hasan; Clayton Swisher, head of al-Jazeera's transparency unit. Speakers for the opposition were: David Richmond, former director for British defence and intelligence and member of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Board; Bob Ayers, former director of the US department of defence information systems security programme; Douglas Murray, author and political commentator. The event took place on 9 April 2011, Kensington Town Hall, London. This footage was filmed exclusively for the New Statesman. Video direction: Michael Taylor, Big Face Art.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Julian Assange
• Mehdi Hasan
• New Statesman
• Frontline Club
• Kensington
• whistleblowing
• Douglas Murray
• Clayton Swisher
• Bob Ayers
• David Richmond
• Simon Cowley
• WikiLeaks
• debate
• transparency
• newspapers

[thebighead01]

Brilliant speech, the best out of all 3 I think. I love the concluding statement. Right wingers are such hypocrites.

[techcafe]

@HRHPrincePhilip1 - personally, i don't give a rat's ass what Hasan or anybody else said about non-muslim 'kuffar'. your rebuttal is petty bovine scatology; nothing more than a red herring. who the hell cares?? i certainly don't... i came here to listen to Hasan speak about whistleblowing - which has absolutely NOTHING to do with any remarks he might have made in the past regarding OTHER matters which are entirely IRRELEVANT to this debate.

let's try to stay ON TOPIC shall we?

[8Nunu87]

brilliant speech thank you, people learn the truth will benefit yourself

[EnterTheTruth]

mehdi hasan always destroys his opponents in debate

[Sheiko10]

@HRHPrincePhilip1 The word is derived from the Arabic/Islamic term Kafir, which means 'disbeliever' or literally, 'one who covers the truth'.[1] Portuguese explorers used the term generally to describe tribes they encountered in southern Africa, probably having misunderstood its etymology from Muslim traders along the coast. European colonists subsequently continued its use.[2]

[israelmuse]

His argument is pathetic in reference to real whistle blowing of intelligence - yes sure it was good that this guy ratted on the other soldiers but this situation is nowhere close to being as serious or important as releasing government intelligence which can cause wars and therefore more deaths... its a lame argument for this...

[hawkmoon6]

When he talks, all them nerds shut up!

[jameswb333333]

Mehdi always so 'clever' and patronizing. It is true what the soldiers did was despicable and disgusting and it was right for this to be exposed. But I would have more respect for Mehdi Hasan if there was also discussion and concern about what is going on in other countries - whereas the UK and USA are always portrayed by him as the worst offenders of everything.

[jameswb333333]

@alihammadshah I don't know what you're responding to ... but this is a disgraceful response.

[Mattyb88ful]

@alihammadshah

"another hate ful"

No, I am not the one who subscribes to that xenophobic and homophobic religion.

[alihammadshah]

@Mattyb88ful WHAT are you fucking deaf, ur just another hate ful dick head.

[kbdkbd99]

this guy makes me sick - he is just a rhetorician and offers no valuable arguments or insights