We are the enemy Manning and Snowden aided

[bemildred]

What do Manning and Snowden have in common?

I asked that question and came up nothing at first. Manning gave specific information on the content of U.S. intelligence. Edward Snowden exposed the structure and targets of a massive spying operation without exposing specific content. However, there is a common element to both cases – aiding the enemy. And, who are the enemies? The enemies are we the people, the citizens of the United States.

---

The Iraq invasion was the most disastrous foreign policy decision in our history. The deaths, destruction and cost are devastating. Over $3.0 trillion of our national debt is directly due to the Iraq invasion. Every domestic policy short of funds is short because of this invasion.

We are the people the leaders who authorized PRISM should fear. These programs were never announced, debated, or approved. They were created in secret for God knows what reason. The leaders and politicians who let this happen created the enabling acts for a national security state that can intrude in any life for any reason in secret and without accountability.

http://agonist.org/we-are-the-enemy-manning-and-snowden-aided/

[Civilization2]

1. Only real security threat is "the security of the state, from its own population"!

"So you can't, seriously on the one hand, be not only carrying out massive terror, but even generate potential terrorists against yourself, and claim that we have to have massive surveillance to protect ourselves against terror. Thats a joke. There should be headlines."

- N. Chomsky

[Egalitarian Thug]

2. K&R It's good to know at least some of us notice these things. n/t

[freedom fighter jh]

3. Very well said.

This expresses the problem exactly.

[nolabels]

4. The fools are victims of their own fear

One of the biggest reason this shit goes on at nausea is unfounded or perceived fears of the yes-men at the throttle. It's now going to be faster and faster and with full speed ahead, because us, the people, are catching up on what they are doing.

Hi Agent Mike, are you out there today

[autorank]

5. We are getting it

Gooe grief! They're targeting every single citizens records. Talk about an affront to our intelligence and a waste of time.

[matthews]

6. What's fascinating is that there's even a question in some people's minds

as to whether or not these two are heroes or villains.

At no time in my life have I ever seen Democrats, at least people who say they are Democrats, defending illegal and unconstitutional actions carried out by their own government. Once upon a time, say around the time of the last republican administration, all the lies and spying were 'frowned' upon by ALL OF US.

How things have changed.

[bemildred]

7. Astroturf. nt

[autorank]

10. They're frightened

I see a lot of the crazy security protections as a reflection of the profound paranoia that seems to pervade the ruling class. If we ever get the whole story, they're toast. Manning and Snowden are part of that story and worse, for the crooks, they represent a trend that must be stopped. I don't think it can be stopped. We'll see what Manning's sentence is. Who knows what Putin will do. But these two are heroes in my book.

[The Stranger]

8. I have been thinking this myself.

Aiding the enemy by exposing espionage?

Espionage on whom? On the American people?

Then the enemy -- by logical syllogism -- is the American people.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

9. The NSA is the new CIA which was the new FBI with COINTELPRO....

Anyone who believes the powers that be aren't already coming up with another acronym to maintain business as usual is living in a dream world where people at the top are answerable to people at the bottom.

BTW: These people consider the President to be someone at the bottom.

Always have.

[Hydra]

11. The President is the Chief Press Secretary of the 1%

His job is to sell us the things we absolutely do not want. S/He gets a lot of perks for doing so, but it's glorified public relations and illusion that we get to elect someone who is in charge.

The biggest laugh of this particular administration is the continuing meme that the President is essentially powerless and we can't expect him to do anything. Talk about a redefining the job to it's true current function.

The Founders have to be spinning in their graves.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

13. Wouldn't it be nice to have a President that exposes this stuff?

[polynomial]

12. Please keep a mental note I voted for Obama twice!!

It’s a brave thing to expose corruption in the vary country in which you live. Manning and Snowden are part of a young section of society that sees something is not good no matter what the law is. With that said it takes more courage than the average person has, especially knowing the results could be personally devastating. Myself a Vietnam veteran salute these two young men that have exposed a very serious flaw in America government.

Actually another mistake as bad as the decision to go to war in Iraq, for all America now knows the Middle East wars are nothing more than a political policy of profiteering at the expense of human lives.

Manning and Snowden have to be jailed and convicted. It is a must to prevent them from participating in any politics. If they are not convicted they may very well know who or what runs the ugly core of corruption in the military industrial complex. Moreover, if the media was true to its citizens the coverage would be relentless, on the side of the underdog, these two men that are citizens and must receive due process. If done right it should be open to the public trust, loaded with debate, witness and affirmation. So far we see the failed public trust in the media, which are key players of too big to fail.

Actually from my view the Military Industrial complex is what is on trial and God willing all persons that have knowledge or information to identify the real core of this ugly secret profiteering institution are able to bring all connected to the surface for the public to witness to bring to justice. For this is the basic fundamental part, and core of what is called “Too Big to Fail”.

Surfing the Internet I came across a saying by Dwight Eisenhower. He is a favorite of mine, but I don’t know if this statement is true, but I think because I grew up in a portion of time with this man without the media corruption like it is now. He was a good man he was a good Republican, not like the Republicans of today.

Every time I read this especially when in a deep, pensive, and long-lasting sadness makes me well up, yearning for a Republican model like Ike. But know Republicans idol and worship idiots like Rush Limbaugh, Hannity, etc.

By Dwight Eisenhower

“Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes you can do these things, among them are Texas oil millionaires and occasional politicians or business man and they are stupid.”

I don’t know if this is true in what Ike said but do know this is the flavor of a great man I once knew…

[KoKo]

18. So DID I...and many here! We bought the Kool Aid..he'd Become Progressive

in his Second Term! OH YEAH...How did that go down!

[KoKo]

14. I just finished watching Assange on Democracy Now a few minutes ago...

It's a fascinating interview!

I don't have the link yet..but, I think it's now out on "Democracy Now Website."

Hopefully folks here will Watch It!

Okay:

http://www.democracynow.org/

And, hopefully she's gotten the Transcript Up of Assange Interview...for those of us who have internet connections that aren't good...or those who need transcripts. They usually break down the segments and get Transcripts up pretty quickly.

So:

http://www.democracynow.org/

[adirondacker]

15. I thought the State Department's spokesperson Jen Psaki's response to AP reporter Matt Lee was

very telling. (23.38 min) in video.

Thanks for the heads up.

[KoKo]

16. That was quite a watch...Reminds me of the person who

"Fires You from your job...with that smile." If you've ever had an encounter with someone like Jen...then the vibes come across. imho...

[adirondacker]

17. Right! like the female version of Bill Lumbergh in Office Space.

You should post this in GD and see what the response looks like. It was the best interview and explanation I've witnessed. Julian may be egocentric (I watched the movie Wikileaks), but he's no fool.