Former CIA Analyst (Ray McGovern): Snowden Did The Right Thing

[Catherina]

Former CIA Analyst: Snowden Did The Right Thing

Ray McGovern: NSA whistleblower Snowden courageous defender of liberty

...

MCGOVERN: Well, all I can say, really, is that this time today I'm feeling much more hopeful for our democracy that I was feeling this time yesterday. This morning I spent up at Fort Meade where Bradley Manning is being court-martialed for giving us the information necessary for our people to know what's going on. Similarly, Snowden did the same thing.

It's so encouraging. It really is encouraging that a 29-year-old, or now Bradley Manning is 25, but he was 22 when he decided to--that it was his courage that would be necessary to follow his conscience and reveal those documents. It's very, very encouraging to see that young people like that have been able to do some of the things that have been very difficult for people of my generation to do because we have been so hidebound behind secrecy strictures. And some, like myself, feel great remorse that we didn't step up to the plate and do precisely the kinds of things that Snowden, Bradley Manning, and of course Daniel Ellsberg did in their day.

NOOR: Now, speaking of Daniel Ellsberg, in a piece in The Guardian today, Daniel Ellsberg, the man responsible for the Pentagon Papers leak to The New York Times, he says that this leak by Edward Snowden is the greatest leak in--is the most important leak in U.S. history. What's your response to that?

MCGOVERN: Well, I think Dan is absolutely right. If you look at how our civil liberties have been eroded, how we have a president who actually says--you know, the president swore to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, but now he's editing that. Hello? You know, it's sort of weird. This is what he said last Friday--I want to read it so don't misquote him: "When I came into this office, I made two commitments ... number one, to keep the American people safe; and number two, to uphold the Constitution."

Well, hello, Mr. President, you swore one oath, and that was to uphold the Constitution. It's possible to keep Americans safe by adhering to the principles of the Constitution and not playing fast and loose with the First, the Fourth, the Fifth, and other amendments. You know, it's really indicative of how he really comes at this thing that he edits his own oath of office. And that's what's been going on around here, because you know the slogan: after 9/11, everything changed.

...

http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=767&Itemid=74&jumival=10297

[90-percent]

1. I stand with Ray

for perhaps the last decade?

I just realized I have an additional subconscious reason to like Ray.

His voice sounds exactly like George Carlin, also some of his expressions.

-90% Jimmy

[pmorlan1]

2. Great video

LOL, I thought the same thing. George Carlin. LOL You are right!

Seriously, I wish people would take their heads out of the sand and stop trying to defend this administration merely because it's a Democratic administration. The Democratic Party is more than just one administration. We have values that we have been defending for ages. Why are we stopping now?

I too hope that there are many more courageous individuals out there who will start to come forward so that we can fight this tyranny.

[Dragonfli]

3. Another Rand Paul loving, ballerina hating, kitten killing hippie!

[KG]

4. of course he did.

[xiamiam]

5. Thanks so much for posting this..speaking truth to power..as always..nt

[frylock]

6. much respect for Ray McGovern

knr

[formercia]

7. "...after 9/11, everything changed."

Just like after the Reichstag Fire in Germany that led to Hitler coming to power.