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July 8, 2013
It is well beyond time to close Guantánamo.
Distressing Content: Yasiin Bey (aka Mos Def) force fed under standard Guantánamo Bay procedure
Force-feeding — Guantanamo's shame
As President Obama has said, force-feeding detainees held without charge for more than a decade is unacceptable.
July 06, 2013|By Alka Pradhan, Kent Eiler and Katherine Hawkins
The restraint chair used to force-feed detainees on hunger strike is seen at the detainee hospital in Camp Delta, which is part of the U.S. military prison for 'enemy combatants' in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
At least 106 of the 166 prisoners at Guantanamo Bay detention center are reported to be on hunger strike, with 45 currently being force-fed.
A recently published report by the Constitution Project's Task Force on Detainee Treatment, to which we contributed, found that the practice of forced feeding at Guantanamo was "a form of abuse and must end." A member of the task force, Dr. Gerald Thomson, described the process: "You are forced physically to eat, by being strapped into a specially made chair and having restraints put on your arms, your legs, your body and your head so that you cannot move. [You have] a tube inserted into your throat that extends into your stomach, and you're trying to resist that with the only muscles that are free — in your throat." Detainees have said that it is intensely painful.
When the restraint chairs were first introduced to Guantanamo in December 2005, the force-feeding process was reportedly especially punitive. Several detainees said that guards kept them in a restraint chair for hours after the tube feeding ended — sometimes for as long as six hours. The military says that the restraint chairs prevent assaults on U.S. personnel, but a detainee whose condition has deteriorated such that force-feeding is medically necessary to sustain life is unlikely to have the physical ability to commit assault.
At least two detainees were force-fed in the chair twice a day for close to four years. By 2009, the process was less prolonged and brutal, but the restraint chair was still used for every feeding regardless of a detainee's compliance, according to an independent physician who visited Guantanamo and examined detainees. She found that the force-feeding procedure caused physical pain and psychological harm that in one case became full-blown post-traumatic stress disorder.
...
http://articles.latimes.com/2013/jul/06/opinion/la-oe-eiler-gitmo-hunger-strike-20130707
As President Obama has said, force-feeding detainees held without charge for more than a decade is unacceptable.
July 06, 2013|By Alka Pradhan, Kent Eiler and Katherine Hawkins
The restraint chair used to force-feed detainees on hunger strike is seen at the detainee hospital in Camp Delta, which is part of the U.S. military prison for 'enemy combatants' in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
At least 106 of the 166 prisoners at Guantanamo Bay detention center are reported to be on hunger strike, with 45 currently being force-fed.
A recently published report by the Constitution Project's Task Force on Detainee Treatment, to which we contributed, found that the practice of forced feeding at Guantanamo was "a form of abuse and must end." A member of the task force, Dr. Gerald Thomson, described the process: "You are forced physically to eat, by being strapped into a specially made chair and having restraints put on your arms, your legs, your body and your head so that you cannot move. [You have] a tube inserted into your throat that extends into your stomach, and you're trying to resist that with the only muscles that are free — in your throat." Detainees have said that it is intensely painful.
When the restraint chairs were first introduced to Guantanamo in December 2005, the force-feeding process was reportedly especially punitive. Several detainees said that guards kept them in a restraint chair for hours after the tube feeding ended — sometimes for as long as six hours. The military says that the restraint chairs prevent assaults on U.S. personnel, but a detainee whose condition has deteriorated such that force-feeding is medically necessary to sustain life is unlikely to have the physical ability to commit assault.
At least two detainees were force-fed in the chair twice a day for close to four years. By 2009, the process was less prolonged and brutal, but the restraint chair was still used for every feeding regardless of a detainee's compliance, according to an independent physician who visited Guantanamo and examined detainees. She found that the force-feeding procedure caused physical pain and psychological harm that in one case became full-blown post-traumatic stress disorder.
...
http://articles.latimes.com/2013/jul/06/opinion/la-oe-eiler-gitmo-hunger-strike-20130707
Guantánamo hunger strike: US to force-feed detainees during Ramadan
Government says feedings provide 'essential nutritional and medical care' and will not interfere with religious observance
Karen McVeigh in New York
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 3 July 2013 17.18 EDT
The US government has refused to stop force-feeding detainees on hunger strike at Guantánamo Bay during the holy month of Ramadan.
In court papers rejecting a petition by four of more than 100 detainees said to be refusing food, the US said the feedings provided "essential nutritional and medical care" and would not interfere with religious observance of Ramadan, which begins on Monday.
Observant Muslims fast daily from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan. Lawyers for President Obama also said that the "public interest lies with maintaining the status quo".
Last month, Obama gave a speech in which he promised to work towards closing the base, and to allow the release of many of the 86 prisoners held there who have been cleared for transfer. He described the camp as a moral problem for the nation that had to be solved.
...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jul/03/guantanamo-bay-hunger-strike-detainees-ramadan
Government says feedings provide 'essential nutritional and medical care' and will not interfere with religious observance
Karen McVeigh in New York
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 3 July 2013 17.18 EDT
The US government has refused to stop force-feeding detainees on hunger strike at Guantánamo Bay during the holy month of Ramadan.
In court papers rejecting a petition by four of more than 100 detainees said to be refusing food, the US said the feedings provided "essential nutritional and medical care" and would not interfere with religious observance of Ramadan, which begins on Monday.
Observant Muslims fast daily from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan. Lawyers for President Obama also said that the "public interest lies with maintaining the status quo".
Last month, Obama gave a speech in which he promised to work towards closing the base, and to allow the release of many of the 86 prisoners held there who have been cleared for transfer. He described the camp as a moral problem for the nation that had to be solved.
...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jul/03/guantanamo-bay-hunger-strike-detainees-ramadan
Barack Obama urged to halt Ramadan force-feeding at Guantanamo Bay
Lawyers for four inmates have also filed petitions with the US government to stop this procedure during the religious festival
Islamic community leaders are asking Barack Obama to stop the practice of force-feeding Muslim detainees at Guantanamo Bay who are on hunger strike during Ramadan.
The religious festival, which began on Monday, is marked by fasting during daylight hours in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.
Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations CAIR, described the practice of force-feeding as “in violation of international norms and medical ethics.” Speaking to the Guardian, he said: “We believe it's wrong to force-feed at any time but it is particularly upsetting to do it through Ramadan.”
Dr Azzam Tamimi, an Islamic community leader in Britain, said this practice was becoming “increasingly embarrassing for the US government”. He added: “It's about time President Obama took a brave decision to end this in a way that would be appreciated around the Islamic world.”
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/barack-obama-urged-to-halt-ramadan-forcefeeding-at-guantanamo-bay-8695878.html
Lawyers for four inmates have also filed petitions with the US government to stop this procedure during the religious festival
Islamic community leaders are asking Barack Obama to stop the practice of force-feeding Muslim detainees at Guantanamo Bay who are on hunger strike during Ramadan.
The religious festival, which began on Monday, is marked by fasting during daylight hours in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.
Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations CAIR, described the practice of force-feeding as “in violation of international norms and medical ethics.” Speaking to the Guardian, he said: “We believe it's wrong to force-feed at any time but it is particularly upsetting to do it through Ramadan.”
Dr Azzam Tamimi, an Islamic community leader in Britain, said this practice was becoming “increasingly embarrassing for the US government”. He added: “It's about time President Obama took a brave decision to end this in a way that would be appreciated around the Islamic world.”
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/barack-obama-urged-to-halt-ramadan-forcefeeding-at-guantanamo-bay-8695878.html
It is well beyond time to close Guantánamo.
July 7, 2013
Executive Order 12333 (amended in 2004) which defines their role is as follows:
The modifications to Executive Order 12333 read as follows:
So, one may observe the following statements to be true:
The NSA is part of the Intelligence Community as defined above.
The Intelligence Community as defined above is directly controlled by the Director of National Intelligence.
The Director of National Intelligence is directly controlled by the President of the United States.
The President of the United States controls the NSA.
Therefore, the President of the United States is not powerless to control the NSA surveillance program.
A surveillance program which is noted to be criminal:
If the legal contortions that were purported to allow torture under the Bush Administration were distressing, the legal contortions that are purported to allow large-scale surveillance (among other things) under the Obama Administration should be equally distressing to anyone who would want live by the rule of law.
President Obama: The Helpless Spy
The NSA Mission Statement reads as follows:
Mission
The National Security Agency/Central Security Service (NSA/CSS) leads the U.S. Government in cryptology that encompasses both Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) and Information Assurance (IA) products and services, and enables Computer Network Operations (CNO) in order to gain a decision advantage for the Nation and our allies under all circumstances.
The Information Assurance mission confronts the formidable challenge of preventing foreign adversaries from gaining access to sensitive or classified national security information. The Signals Intelligence mission collects, processes, and disseminates intelligence information from foreign signals for intelligence and counterintelligence purposes and to support military operations. This Agency also enables Network Warfare operations to defeat terrorists and their organizations at home and abroad, consistent with U.S. laws and the protection of privacy and civil liberties.
Executive Order 12333, originally issued 4 December 1981, delineates the NSA/CSS roles and responsibilities. In part, the Director, NSA/Chief, CSS is charged to:
EO 12333 was amended on 31 July 2008 in order to:
http://www.nsa.gov/about/mission/index.shtml
The National Security Agency/Central Security Service (NSA/CSS) leads the U.S. Government in cryptology that encompasses both Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) and Information Assurance (IA) products and services, and enables Computer Network Operations (CNO) in order to gain a decision advantage for the Nation and our allies under all circumstances.
The Information Assurance mission confronts the formidable challenge of preventing foreign adversaries from gaining access to sensitive or classified national security information. The Signals Intelligence mission collects, processes, and disseminates intelligence information from foreign signals for intelligence and counterintelligence purposes and to support military operations. This Agency also enables Network Warfare operations to defeat terrorists and their organizations at home and abroad, consistent with U.S. laws and the protection of privacy and civil liberties.
Executive Order 12333, originally issued 4 December 1981, delineates the NSA/CSS roles and responsibilities. In part, the Director, NSA/Chief, CSS is charged to:
- Collect (including through clandestine means), process, analyze, produce, and disseminate signals intelligence information and data for foreign intelligence and counterintelligence purposes to support national and departmental missions;
- Act as the National Manager for National Security Systems as established in law and policy, and in this capacity be responsible to the Secretary of Defense and to the Director, National Intelligence;
- Prescribe security regulations covering operating practices, including the transmission, handling, and distribution of signals intelligence and communications security material within and among the elements under control of the Director of the National Security Agency, and exercise the necessary supervisory control to ensure compliance with the regulations.
EO 12333 was amended on 31 July 2008 in order to:
- Align EO12333 with the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004;
- Implement additional recommendations of the 9/11 and WMD Commissions;
- Further integrate the Intelligence Community and clarify and strengthen the role of the DNI as the head of the Community;
- Maintain or strengthen privacy and civil liberties protections.
http://www.nsa.gov/about/mission/index.shtml
Executive Order 12333 (amended in 2004) which defines their role is as follows:
Executive Order 12333--United States intelligence activities
Source: The provisions of Executive Order 12333 of Dec. 4, 1981, appear at 46 FR 59941, 3 CFR, 1981 Comp., p. 200, unless otherwise noted.
...
1.2 The National Security Council.
(a) Purpose. The National Security Council (NSC) was established by the National Security Act of 1947 to advise the President with respect to the integration of domestic, foreign and military policies relating to the national security. The NSC shall act as the highest Executive Branch entity that provides review of, guidance for and direction to the conduct of all national foreign intelligence, counterintelligence, and special activities, and attendant policies and programs.
(b) Committees. The NSC shall establish such committees as may be necessary to carry out its functions and responsibilities under this Order. The NSC, or a committee established by it, shall consider and submit to the President a policy recommendation, including all dissents, on each special activity and shall review proposals for other sensitive intelligence operations.
...
1.4 The Intelligence Community. The agencies within the Intelligence Community shall, in accordance with applicable United States law and with the other provisions of this Order, conduct intelligence activities necessary for the conduct of foreign relations and the protection of the national security of the United States, including:
(a) Collection of information needed by the President, the National Security Council, the Secretaries of State and Defense, and other Executive Branch officials for the performance of their duties and responsibilities;
(b) Production and dissemination of intelligence;
(c) Collection of information concerning, and the conduct of activities to protect against, intelligence activities directed against the United States, international terrorist and international narcotics activities, and other hostile activities directed against the United States by foreign powers, organizations, persons, and their agents;
(d) Special activities;
(e) Administrative and support activities within the United States and abroad necessary for the performance of authorized activities; and
(f) Such other intelligence activities as the President may direct from time to time.
1.5 Director of Central Intelligence. In order to discharge the duties and responsibilities prescribed by law, the Director of Central Intelligence shall be responsible directly to the President and the NSC and shall:
(a) Act as the primary adviser to the President and the NSC on national foreign intelligence and provide the President and other officials in the Executive Branch with national foreign intelligence;
(b) Develop such objectives and guidance for the Intelligence Community as will enhance capabilities for responding to expected future needs for national foreign intelligence;
(c) Promote the development and maintenance of services of common concern by designated intelligence organizations on behalf of the Intelligence Community;
(d) Ensure implementation of special activities;
(e) Formulate policies concerning foreign intelligence and counterintelligence arrangements with foreign governments, coordinate foreign intelligence and counterintelligence relationships between agencies of the Intelligence Community and the intelligence or internal security services of foreign governments, and establish procedures governing the conduct of liaison by any department or agency with such services on narcotics activities;
(f) Participate in the development of procedures approved by the Attorney General governing criminal narcotics intelligence activities abroad to ensure that these activities are consistent with foreign intelligence programs;
...
(b) National Security Agency, whose responsibilities shall include:
(1) Establishment and operation of an effective unified organization for signals intelligence activities, except for the delegation of operational control over certain operations that are conducted through other elements of the Intelligence Community. No other department or agency may engage in signals intelligence activities except pursuant to a delegation by the Secretary of Defense;
(2) Control of signals intelligence collection and processing activities, including assignment of resources to an appropriate agent for such periods and tasks as required for the direct support of military commanders;
(3) Collection of signals intelligence information for national foreign intelligence purposes in accordance with guidance from the Director of Central Intelligence;
(4) Processing of signals intelligence data for national foreign intelligence purposes in accordance with guidance from the Director of Central Intelligence;
(5) Dissemination of signals intelligence information for national foreign intelligence purposes to authorized elements of the Government, including the military services, in accordance with guidance from the Director of Central Intelligence;
(6) Collection, processing and dissemination of signals intelligence information for counterintelligence purposes;
(7) Provision of signals intelligence support for the conduct of military operations in accordance with tasking, priorities, and standards of timeliness assigned by the Secretary of Defense. If provision of such support requires use of national collection systems, these systems will be tasked within existing guidance from the Director of Central Intelligence;
(8) Executing the responsibilities of the Secretary of Defense as executive agent for the communications security of the United States Government;
(9) Conduct of research and development to meet the needs of the United States for signals intelligence and communications security;
(10) Protection of the security of its installations, activities, property, information, and employees by appropriate means, including such investigations of applicants, employees, contractors, and other persons with similar associations with the NSA as are necessary;
(11) Prescribing, within its field of authorized operations, security regulations covering operating practices, including the transmission, handling and distribution of signals intelligence and communications security material within and among the elements under control of the Director of the NSA, and exercising the necessary supervisory control to ensure compliance with the regulations;
(12) Conduct of foreign cryptologic liaison relationships, with liaison for intelligence purposes conducted in accordance with policies formulated by the Director of Central Intelligence; and
(13) Conduct of such administrative and technical support activities within and outside the United States as are necessary to perform the functions described in sections (1) through (12) above, including procurement.
...
http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/12333.html
Source: The provisions of Executive Order 12333 of Dec. 4, 1981, appear at 46 FR 59941, 3 CFR, 1981 Comp., p. 200, unless otherwise noted.
...
1.2 The National Security Council.
(a) Purpose. The National Security Council (NSC) was established by the National Security Act of 1947 to advise the President with respect to the integration of domestic, foreign and military policies relating to the national security. The NSC shall act as the highest Executive Branch entity that provides review of, guidance for and direction to the conduct of all national foreign intelligence, counterintelligence, and special activities, and attendant policies and programs.
(b) Committees. The NSC shall establish such committees as may be necessary to carry out its functions and responsibilities under this Order. The NSC, or a committee established by it, shall consider and submit to the President a policy recommendation, including all dissents, on each special activity and shall review proposals for other sensitive intelligence operations.
...
1.4 The Intelligence Community. The agencies within the Intelligence Community shall, in accordance with applicable United States law and with the other provisions of this Order, conduct intelligence activities necessary for the conduct of foreign relations and the protection of the national security of the United States, including:
(a) Collection of information needed by the President, the National Security Council, the Secretaries of State and Defense, and other Executive Branch officials for the performance of their duties and responsibilities;
(b) Production and dissemination of intelligence;
(c) Collection of information concerning, and the conduct of activities to protect against, intelligence activities directed against the United States, international terrorist and international narcotics activities, and other hostile activities directed against the United States by foreign powers, organizations, persons, and their agents;
(d) Special activities;
(e) Administrative and support activities within the United States and abroad necessary for the performance of authorized activities; and
(f) Such other intelligence activities as the President may direct from time to time.
1.5 Director of Central Intelligence. In order to discharge the duties and responsibilities prescribed by law, the Director of Central Intelligence shall be responsible directly to the President and the NSC and shall:
(a) Act as the primary adviser to the President and the NSC on national foreign intelligence and provide the President and other officials in the Executive Branch with national foreign intelligence;
(b) Develop such objectives and guidance for the Intelligence Community as will enhance capabilities for responding to expected future needs for national foreign intelligence;
(c) Promote the development and maintenance of services of common concern by designated intelligence organizations on behalf of the Intelligence Community;
(d) Ensure implementation of special activities;
(e) Formulate policies concerning foreign intelligence and counterintelligence arrangements with foreign governments, coordinate foreign intelligence and counterintelligence relationships between agencies of the Intelligence Community and the intelligence or internal security services of foreign governments, and establish procedures governing the conduct of liaison by any department or agency with such services on narcotics activities;
(f) Participate in the development of procedures approved by the Attorney General governing criminal narcotics intelligence activities abroad to ensure that these activities are consistent with foreign intelligence programs;
...
(b) National Security Agency, whose responsibilities shall include:
(1) Establishment and operation of an effective unified organization for signals intelligence activities, except for the delegation of operational control over certain operations that are conducted through other elements of the Intelligence Community. No other department or agency may engage in signals intelligence activities except pursuant to a delegation by the Secretary of Defense;
(2) Control of signals intelligence collection and processing activities, including assignment of resources to an appropriate agent for such periods and tasks as required for the direct support of military commanders;
(3) Collection of signals intelligence information for national foreign intelligence purposes in accordance with guidance from the Director of Central Intelligence;
(4) Processing of signals intelligence data for national foreign intelligence purposes in accordance with guidance from the Director of Central Intelligence;
(5) Dissemination of signals intelligence information for national foreign intelligence purposes to authorized elements of the Government, including the military services, in accordance with guidance from the Director of Central Intelligence;
(6) Collection, processing and dissemination of signals intelligence information for counterintelligence purposes;
(7) Provision of signals intelligence support for the conduct of military operations in accordance with tasking, priorities, and standards of timeliness assigned by the Secretary of Defense. If provision of such support requires use of national collection systems, these systems will be tasked within existing guidance from the Director of Central Intelligence;
(8) Executing the responsibilities of the Secretary of Defense as executive agent for the communications security of the United States Government;
(9) Conduct of research and development to meet the needs of the United States for signals intelligence and communications security;
(10) Protection of the security of its installations, activities, property, information, and employees by appropriate means, including such investigations of applicants, employees, contractors, and other persons with similar associations with the NSA as are necessary;
(11) Prescribing, within its field of authorized operations, security regulations covering operating practices, including the transmission, handling and distribution of signals intelligence and communications security material within and among the elements under control of the Director of the NSA, and exercising the necessary supervisory control to ensure compliance with the regulations;
(12) Conduct of foreign cryptologic liaison relationships, with liaison for intelligence purposes conducted in accordance with policies formulated by the Director of Central Intelligence; and
(13) Conduct of such administrative and technical support activities within and outside the United States as are necessary to perform the functions described in sections (1) through (12) above, including procurement.
...
http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/12333.html
The modifications to Executive Order 12333 read as follows:
PUBLIC LAW 108–458—DEC. 17, 2004
INTELLIGENCE REFORM AND TERRORISM PREVENTION ACT OF 2004
...
‘‘DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE
‘‘SEC. 102. (a) DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE.—(1) There
is a Director of National Intelligence who shall be appointed by
the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.
Any individual nominated for appointment as Director of National
Intelligence shall have extensive national security expertise.
‘‘(2) The Director of National Intelligence shall not be located
within the Executive Office of the President.
‘‘(b) PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITY.—Subject to the authority, direction,
and control of the President, the Director of National Intelligence
shall—
‘‘(1) serve as head of the intelligence community;
‘‘(2) act as the principal adviser to the President, to the
National Security Council, and the Homeland Security Council
for intelligence matters related to the national security; and
‘‘(3) consistent with section 1018 of the National Security
Intelligence Reform Act of 2004, oversee and direct the
implementation of the National Intelligence Program.
‘‘(c) PROHIBITION ON DUAL SERVICE.—The individual serving
in the position of Director of National Intelligence shall not, while
so serving, also serve as the Director of the Central Intelligence
Agency or as the head of any other element of the intelligence
community.
...
SEC. 1073. ELEMENTS OF INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY UNDER
NATIONAL SECURITY ACT OF 1947.
Paragraph (4) of section 3 of the National Security Act of
1947 (50 U.S.C. 401a) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(4) The term ‘intelligence community’ includes the following:
‘‘(A) The Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
‘‘(B) The Central Intelligence Agency.
‘‘(C) The National Security Agency.
‘‘(D) The Defense Intelligence Agency.
‘‘(E) The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.
‘‘(F) The National Reconnaissance Office.
‘‘(G) Other offices within the Department of Defense
for the collection of specialized national intelligence through
reconnaissance programs.
‘‘(H) The intelligence elements of the Army, the Navy,
the Air Force, the Marine Corps, the Federal Bureau of
Investigation, and the Department of Energy.
‘‘(I) The Bureau of Intelligence and Research of the
Department of State.
‘‘(J) The Office of Intelligence and Analysis of the
Department of the Treasury.
‘‘(K) The elements of the Department of Homeland
Security concerned with the analysis of intelligence
information, including the Office of Intelligence of the Coast
Guard.
‘‘(L) Such other elements of any other department or
agency as may be designated by the President, or designated
jointly by the Director of National Intelligence
and the head of the department or agency concerned, as
an element of the intelligence community.’’
...
http://www.intelligence.senate.gov/laws/pl108-458.pdf
INTELLIGENCE REFORM AND TERRORISM PREVENTION ACT OF 2004
...
‘‘DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE
‘‘SEC. 102. (a) DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE.—(1) There
is a Director of National Intelligence who shall be appointed by
the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.
Any individual nominated for appointment as Director of National
Intelligence shall have extensive national security expertise.
‘‘(2) The Director of National Intelligence shall not be located
within the Executive Office of the President.
‘‘(b) PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITY.—Subject to the authority, direction,
and control of the President, the Director of National Intelligence
shall—
‘‘(1) serve as head of the intelligence community;
‘‘(2) act as the principal adviser to the President, to the
National Security Council, and the Homeland Security Council
for intelligence matters related to the national security; and
‘‘(3) consistent with section 1018 of the National Security
Intelligence Reform Act of 2004, oversee and direct the
implementation of the National Intelligence Program.
‘‘(c) PROHIBITION ON DUAL SERVICE.—The individual serving
in the position of Director of National Intelligence shall not, while
so serving, also serve as the Director of the Central Intelligence
Agency or as the head of any other element of the intelligence
community.
...
SEC. 1073. ELEMENTS OF INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY UNDER
NATIONAL SECURITY ACT OF 1947.
Paragraph (4) of section 3 of the National Security Act of
1947 (50 U.S.C. 401a) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(4) The term ‘intelligence community’ includes the following:
‘‘(A) The Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
‘‘(B) The Central Intelligence Agency.
‘‘(C) The National Security Agency.
‘‘(D) The Defense Intelligence Agency.
‘‘(E) The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.
‘‘(F) The National Reconnaissance Office.
‘‘(G) Other offices within the Department of Defense
for the collection of specialized national intelligence through
reconnaissance programs.
‘‘(H) The intelligence elements of the Army, the Navy,
the Air Force, the Marine Corps, the Federal Bureau of
Investigation, and the Department of Energy.
‘‘(I) The Bureau of Intelligence and Research of the
Department of State.
‘‘(J) The Office of Intelligence and Analysis of the
Department of the Treasury.
‘‘(K) The elements of the Department of Homeland
Security concerned with the analysis of intelligence
information, including the Office of Intelligence of the Coast
Guard.
‘‘(L) Such other elements of any other department or
agency as may be designated by the President, or designated
jointly by the Director of National Intelligence
and the head of the department or agency concerned, as
an element of the intelligence community.’’
...
http://www.intelligence.senate.gov/laws/pl108-458.pdf
So, one may observe the following statements to be true:
The NSA is part of the Intelligence Community as defined above.
The Intelligence Community as defined above is directly controlled by the Director of National Intelligence.
The Director of National Intelligence is directly controlled by the President of the United States.
The President of the United States controls the NSA.
Therefore, the President of the United States is not powerless to control the NSA surveillance program.
A surveillance program which is noted to be criminal:
The Criminal N.S.A.
By JENNIFER STISA GRANICK and CHRISTOPHER JON SPRIGMAN
Published: June 27, 2013
THE twin revelations that telecom carriers have been secretly giving the National Security Agency information about Americans’ phone calls, and that the N.S.A. has been capturing e-mail and other private communications from Internet companies as part of a secret program called Prism, have not enraged most Americans. Lulled, perhaps, by the Obama administration’s claims that these “modest encroachments on privacy” were approved by Congress and by federal judges, public opinion quickly migrated from shock to “meh.”
It didn’t help that Congressional watchdogs — with a few exceptions, like Senator Rand Paul, Republican of Kentucky — have accepted the White House’s claims of legality. The leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Dianne Feinstein, Democrat of California, and Saxby Chambliss, Republican of Georgia, have called the surveillance legal. So have liberal-leaning commentators like Hendrik Hertzberg and David Ignatius.
This view is wrong — and not only, or even mainly, because of the privacy issues raised by the American Civil Liberties Union and other critics. The two programs violate both the letter and the spirit of federal law. No statute explicitly authorizes mass surveillance. Through a series of legal contortions, the Obama administration has argued that Congress, since 9/11, intended to implicitly authorize mass surveillance. But this strategy mostly consists of wordplay, fear-mongering and a highly selective reading of the law. Americans deserve better from the White House — and from President Obama, who has seemingly forgotten the constitutional law he once taught.
The administration has defended each of the two secret programs. Let’s examine them in turn.
...
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/28/opinion/the-criminal-nsa.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
By JENNIFER STISA GRANICK and CHRISTOPHER JON SPRIGMAN
Published: June 27, 2013
THE twin revelations that telecom carriers have been secretly giving the National Security Agency information about Americans’ phone calls, and that the N.S.A. has been capturing e-mail and other private communications from Internet companies as part of a secret program called Prism, have not enraged most Americans. Lulled, perhaps, by the Obama administration’s claims that these “modest encroachments on privacy” were approved by Congress and by federal judges, public opinion quickly migrated from shock to “meh.”
It didn’t help that Congressional watchdogs — with a few exceptions, like Senator Rand Paul, Republican of Kentucky — have accepted the White House’s claims of legality. The leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Dianne Feinstein, Democrat of California, and Saxby Chambliss, Republican of Georgia, have called the surveillance legal. So have liberal-leaning commentators like Hendrik Hertzberg and David Ignatius.
This view is wrong — and not only, or even mainly, because of the privacy issues raised by the American Civil Liberties Union and other critics. The two programs violate both the letter and the spirit of federal law. No statute explicitly authorizes mass surveillance. Through a series of legal contortions, the Obama administration has argued that Congress, since 9/11, intended to implicitly authorize mass surveillance. But this strategy mostly consists of wordplay, fear-mongering and a highly selective reading of the law. Americans deserve better from the White House — and from President Obama, who has seemingly forgotten the constitutional law he once taught.
The administration has defended each of the two secret programs. Let’s examine them in turn.
...
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/28/opinion/the-criminal-nsa.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
If the legal contortions that were purported to allow torture under the Bush Administration were distressing, the legal contortions that are purported to allow large-scale surveillance (among other things) under the Obama Administration should be equally distressing to anyone who would want live by the rule of law.
July 3, 2013
Calling the ubiquitous denunciation of Edward Snowden a mere fixation seems to be an understatement. One wonders if Mr. Greenwald reads DU.
Greenwald: James Clapper, EU play-acting, and political priorities
James Clapper, EU play-acting, and political priorities
Fixations on denouncing Edward Snowden distract, by design, from the serious transgressions of those who are far more powerful
Glenn Greenwald
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 3 July 2013 09.34 EDT
The NSA revelations continue to expose far more than just the ongoing operations of that sprawling and unaccountable spying agency. Let's examine what we have learned this week about the US political and media class and then certain EU leaders.
The first NSA story to be reported was our June 6 article which exposed the bulk, indiscriminate collection by the US Government of the telephone records of tens of millions of Americans. Ever since then, it has been undeniably clear that James Clapper, the Director of National Intelligence, outright lied to the US Senate - specifically to the Intelligence Committee, the body charged with oversight over surveillance programs - when he said "no, sir" in response to this question from Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden: "Does the NSA collect any type of data at all on millions or hundreds of millions of Americans?"
That Clapper fundamentally misled Congress is beyond dispute. The DNI himself has now been forced by our stories to admit that his statement was, in his words, "clearly erroneous" and to apologize. But he did this only once our front-page revelations forced him to do so: in other words, what he's sorry about is that he got caught lying to the Senate. And as Salon's David Siorta adeptly documented on Friday, Clapper is still spouting falsehoods as he apologizes and attempts to explain why he did it.
How is this not a huge scandal? Intentionally deceiving Congress is a felony, punishable by up to 5 years in prison for each offense. Reagan administration officials were convicted of misleading Congress as part of the Iran-contra scandal and other controversies, and sports stars have been prosecuted by the Obama DOJ based on allegations they have done so.
...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jul/03/clapper-lying-snowden-eu-bolivia
Fixations on denouncing Edward Snowden distract, by design, from the serious transgressions of those who are far more powerful
Glenn Greenwald
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 3 July 2013 09.34 EDT
The NSA revelations continue to expose far more than just the ongoing operations of that sprawling and unaccountable spying agency. Let's examine what we have learned this week about the US political and media class and then certain EU leaders.
The first NSA story to be reported was our June 6 article which exposed the bulk, indiscriminate collection by the US Government of the telephone records of tens of millions of Americans. Ever since then, it has been undeniably clear that James Clapper, the Director of National Intelligence, outright lied to the US Senate - specifically to the Intelligence Committee, the body charged with oversight over surveillance programs - when he said "no, sir" in response to this question from Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden: "Does the NSA collect any type of data at all on millions or hundreds of millions of Americans?"
That Clapper fundamentally misled Congress is beyond dispute. The DNI himself has now been forced by our stories to admit that his statement was, in his words, "clearly erroneous" and to apologize. But he did this only once our front-page revelations forced him to do so: in other words, what he's sorry about is that he got caught lying to the Senate. And as Salon's David Siorta adeptly documented on Friday, Clapper is still spouting falsehoods as he apologizes and attempts to explain why he did it.
How is this not a huge scandal? Intentionally deceiving Congress is a felony, punishable by up to 5 years in prison for each offense. Reagan administration officials were convicted of misleading Congress as part of the Iran-contra scandal and other controversies, and sports stars have been prosecuted by the Obama DOJ based on allegations they have done so.
...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jul/03/clapper-lying-snowden-eu-bolivia
Calling the ubiquitous denunciation of Edward Snowden a mere fixation seems to be an understatement. One wonders if Mr. Greenwald reads DU.
July 1, 2013
[hr]
[hr]
The Greenwald Show: It's All Greenwald All The Time....
Greenwald Greenwald Greenwald Pole Dancer Snowden Girlfriend Lies Greenwald Neighbor Bad Porno Law Fail Snowden Greenwald Greenwald Greenwald Pole Dancer Snowden Girlfriend Lies Greenwald Neighbor Bad Porno Law Fail Snowden Greenwald Greenwald Greenwald Pole Dancer Snowden Girlfriend Lies Greenwald Neighbor Bad Porno Law Fail Snowden Greenwald Greenwald Greenwald Pole Dancer Snowden Girlfriend Lies Greenwald Neighbor Bad Porno Law Fail Snowden Greenwald Greenwald Greenwald Pole Dancer Snowden Girlfriend Lies Greenwald Neighbor Bad Porno Law Fail Snowden Greenwald Greenwald Greenwald Pole Dancer Snowden Girlfriend Lies Greenwald Neighbor Bad Porno Law Fail Snowden Greenwald Greenwald Greenwald Pole Dancer Snowden Girlfriend Lies Greenwald Neighbor Bad Porno Law Fail Snowden Greenwald Greenwald Greenwald Pole Dancer Snowden Girlfriend Lies Greenwald Neighbor Bad Porno Law Fail Snowden Greenwald Greenwald Greenwald Pole Dancer Snowden Girlfriend Lies Greenwald Neighbor Bad Porno Law Fail Snowden Greenwald Greenwald Greenwald Pole Dancer Snowden Girlfriend Lies Greenwald Neighbor Bad Porno Law Fail Snowden Greenwald Greenwald Greenwald Pole Dancer Snowden Girlfriend Lies Greenwald Neighbor Bad Porno Law Fail Snowden Greenwald Greenwald Greenwald Pole Dancer Snowden Girlfriend Lies Greenwald Neighbor Bad Porno Law Fail Snowden Greenwald Greenwald Greenwald Pole Dancer Snowden Girlfriend Lies Greenwald Neighbor Bad Porno Law Fail Snowden Greenwald Greenwald Greenwald Pole Dancer Snowden Girlfriend Lies Greenwald Neighbor Bad Porno Law Fail Snowden Greenwald Greenwald Greenwald Pole Dancer Snowden Girlfriend Lies Greenwald Neighbor Bad Porno Law Fail Snowden Greenwald Greenwald Greenwald Pole Dancer Snowden Girlfriend Lies Greenwald Neighbor Bad Porno Law Fail Snowden Greenwald Greenwald Greenwald Pole Dancer Snowden Girlfriend Lies Greenwald Neighbor Bad Porno Law Fail Snowden Greenwald Greenwald Greenwald Pole Dancer Snowden Girlfriend Lies Greenwald Neighbor Bad Porno Law Fail Snowden Greenwald Greenwald Greenwald Pole Dancer Snowden Girlfriend Lies Greenwald Neighbor Bad Porno Law Fail Snowden Greenwald Greenwald Greenwald Pole Dancer Snowden Girlfriend Lies Greenwald Neighbor Bad Porno Law Fail Snowden Greenwald Greenwald Greenwald Pole Dancer Snowden Girlfriend Lies Greenwald Neighbor Bad Porno Law Fail Snowden Greenwald Greenwald Greenwald Pole Dancer Snowden Girlfriend Lies Greenwald Neighbor Bad Porno Law Fail Snowden Greenwald Greenwald Greenwald Pole Dancer Snowden Girlfriend Lies Greenwald Neighbor Bad Porno Law Fail Snowden Greenwald Greenwald Greenwald Pole Dancer Snowden Girlfriend Lies Greenwald Neighbor Bad Porno Law Fail Snowden Greenwald Greenwald Greenwald Pole Dancer Snowden Girlfriend Lies Greenwald Neighbor Bad Porno Law Fail Snowden
[hr]
We Interrupt Your Regularly Scheduled Programming To Bring You This Breaking News Bulletin...
[hr]
Misinformation on classified NSA programs includes statements by senior U.S. officials
By Greg Miller, Sunday, June 30, 8:19 PM
...
“A lie can get halfway around the world before the truth gets its boots on,” said Robert Litt, citing a line often attributed to Mark Twain. “Unfortunately, there’s been a lot of misinformation that’s come out about these programs.”
The remark by Litt, general counsel for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, was aimed at news organizations. But details that have emerged from the exposure of hundreds of pages of previously classified NSA documents indicate that public assertions about these programs by senior U.S. officials have also often been misleading, erroneous or simply false.
The same day Litt spoke, the NSA quietly removed from its Web site a fact sheet about its collection activities because it contained inaccuracies discovered by lawmakers.
...
But even if it is not allowed to target U.S. citizens, the NSA has significant latitude to collect and keep the contents of e-mails and other communications of U.S. citizens that are swept up as part of the agency’s court-approved monitoring of a target overseas.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/misinformation-on-classified-nsa-programs-includes-statements-by-senior-us-officials/2013/06/30/7b5103a2-e028-11e2-b2d4-ea6d8f477a01_story.html
[hr]
We Now Return You To Your Regularly Scheduled Programming:
[hr]
Greenwald Greenwald Greenwald Pole Dancer Snowden Girlfriend Lies Greenwald Neighbor Bad Porno Law Fail Snowden Greenwald Greenwald Greenwald Pole Dancer Snowden Girlfriend Lies Greenwald Neighbor Bad Porno Law Fail Snowden Greenwald Greenwald Greenwald Pole Dancer Snowden Girlfriend Lies Greenwald Neighbor Bad Porno Law Fail Snowden Greenwald Greenwald Greenwald Pole Dancer Snowden Girlfriend Lies Greenwald Neighbor Bad Porno Law Fail Snowden Greenwald Greenwald Greenwald Pole Dancer Snowden Girlfriend Lies Greenwald Neighbor Bad Porno Law Fail Snowden Greenwald Greenwald Greenwald Pole Dancer Snowden Girlfriend Lies Greenwald Neighbor Bad Porno Law Fail Snowden Greenwald Greenwald Greenwald Pole Dancer Snowden Girlfriend Lies Greenwald Neighbor Bad Porno Law Fail Snowden Greenwald Greenwald Greenwald Pole Dancer Snowden Girlfriend Lies Greenwald Neighbor Bad Porno Law Fail Snowden Greenwald Greenwald Greenwald Pole Dancer Snowden Girlfriend Lies Greenwald Neighbor Bad Porno Law Fail Snowden Greenwald Greenwald Greenwald Pole Dancer Snowden Girlfriend Lies Greenwald Neighbor Bad Porno Law Fail Snowden Greenwald Greenwald Greenwald Pole Dancer Snowden Girlfriend Lies Greenwald Neighbor Bad Porno Law Fail Snowden Greenwald Greenwald Greenwald Pole Dancer Snowden Girlfriend Lies Greenwald Neighbor Bad Porno Law Fail Snowden Greenwald Greenwald Greenwald Pole Dancer Snowden Girlfriend Lies Greenwald Neighbor Bad Porno Law Fail Snowden Greenwald Greenwald Greenwald Pole Dancer Snowden Girlfriend Lies Greenwald Neighbor Bad Porno Law Fail Snowden Greenwald Greenwald Greenwald Pole Dancer Snowden Girlfriend Lies Greenwald Neighbor Bad Porno Law Fail Snowden Greenwald Greenwald Greenwald Pole Dancer Snowden Girlfriend Lies Greenwald Neighbor Bad Porno Law Fail Snowden Greenwald Greenwald Greenwald Pole Dancer Snowden Girlfriend Lies Greenwald Neighbor Bad Porno Law Fail Snowden Greenwald Greenwald Greenwald Pole Dancer Snowden Girlfriend Lies Greenwald Neighbor Bad Porno Law Fail Snowden Greenwald Greenwald Greenwald Pole Dancer Snowden Girlfriend Lies Greenwald Neighbor Bad Porno Law Fail Snowden Greenwald Greenwald Greenwald Pole Dancer Snowden Girlfriend Lies Greenwald Neighbor Bad Porno Law Fail Snowden Greenwald Greenwald Greenwald Pole Dancer Snowden Girlfriend Lies Greenwald Neighbor Bad Porno Law Fail Snowden Greenwald Greenwald Greenwald Pole Dancer Snowden Girlfriend Lies Greenwald Neighbor Bad Porno Law Fail Snowden Greenwald Greenwald Greenwald Pole Dancer Snowden Girlfriend Lies Greenwald Neighbor Bad Porno Law Fail Snowden Greenwald Greenwald Greenwald Pole Dancer Snowden Girlfriend Lies Greenwald Neighbor Bad Porno Law Fail Snowden Greenwald Greenwald Greenwald Pole Dancer Snowden Girlfriend Lies Greenwald Neighbor Bad Porno Law Fail Snowden
June 30, 2013
The first link in the BooMan article points to BuzzFeed:
The second link in the BooMan article points to New York Magazine:
In Jonathan Chait's article, the segment that likens Greenwald's journalism to litigation has a link that points to the New York Times:
The third link in the BooMan article points to a article by Bob Cesca in The Daily Banter:
The analysis put forward in the above-referenced article in the BooMan Tribune is essentially a rehashing of the above-linked Jonathan Chait article - an article in which Chait takes the Greenwald quotation from the above-linked NYT article out of context and shifts the quotation's context from one of a search for credible substantiation of assertions to one of a relentless propagation of one's own beliefs as truth in spite of any countervailing evidence. Chait admits his bias against Greenwald, but this does not make his attempt to alter the context of the NYT quotation any more honest. The article in The Daily Banter simply refers back to Chait's above article.
All told, the underlying problems of the NSA's surveillance overreach and of the misrepresentation made to Congress regarding the NSA surveillance program are ignored and the story is shifted by the facile dodge - "It's All About Greenwald."
Once again, here is the questioning of DNI Clapper by Senator Wyden:
In Spite of the NSA Surveillance Overreach and Its Openly Told Lies: It's All About Greenwald
It's All About Greenwald
by BooMan
Sat Jun 29th, 2013 at 11:24:58 AM EST
There certainly is plenty to read about Glenn Greenwald today. Learning more about his life is kind of interesting but most of it feels voyeuristic to me. I think the most important revelation is that he has admitted that he approaches journalism the same way he pursued lawsuits. His style is litigious and argumentative and intentionally one-sided. If there is a counterargument to his case, it's your job to describe it, not his.
As a partisan writer, I know that I am going to be writing things from a certain perspective and I am not necessarily interested in being fair. But there is a little voice in my head that tells me when I am writing something that is factually inaccurate or that is grossly incomplete. When that voice speaks, I obey. Greenwald doesn't. He puts that voice in a little box titled "opposing counsel."
...
http://www.boomantribune.com/story/2013/6/29/112458/736
by BooMan
Sat Jun 29th, 2013 at 11:24:58 AM EST
There certainly is plenty to read about Glenn Greenwald today. Learning more about his life is kind of interesting but most of it feels voyeuristic to me. I think the most important revelation is that he has admitted that he approaches journalism the same way he pursued lawsuits. His style is litigious and argumentative and intentionally one-sided. If there is a counterargument to his case, it's your job to describe it, not his.
As a partisan writer, I know that I am going to be writing things from a certain perspective and I am not necessarily interested in being fair. But there is a little voice in my head that tells me when I am writing something that is factually inaccurate or that is grossly incomplete. When that voice speaks, I obey. Greenwald doesn't. He puts that voice in a little box titled "opposing counsel."
...
http://www.boomantribune.com/story/2013/6/29/112458/736
The first link in the BooMan article points to BuzzFeed:
How Glenn Greenwald Became Glenn Greenwald
Before he was the Guardian’s eyes on the National Security Agency, Greenwald was a Manhattan litigator with an itchy trigger finger. “He doesn’t care if the entire world hates him.”
posted on June 26, 2013 at 10:17pm EDT
Jessica Testa
...
Greenwald said he called on his experience as a litigator when he first spoke to Snowden.
“When I got to Hong Kong, my immediate priority was to kick the tires as hard as I could on his story and see if there was anything that he was hiding,” Greenwald said. “I spent five or six hours just relentlessly questioning him, using the same tricks that I used to use in depositions.”
...
http://www.buzzfeed.com/jtes/how-glenn-greenwald-became-glenn-greenwald
Before he was the Guardian’s eyes on the National Security Agency, Greenwald was a Manhattan litigator with an itchy trigger finger. “He doesn’t care if the entire world hates him.”
posted on June 26, 2013 at 10:17pm EDT
Jessica Testa
...
Greenwald said he called on his experience as a litigator when he first spoke to Snowden.
“When I got to Hong Kong, my immediate priority was to kick the tires as hard as I could on his story and see if there was anything that he was hiding,” Greenwald said. “I spent five or six hours just relentlessly questioning him, using the same tricks that I used to use in depositions.”
...
http://www.buzzfeed.com/jtes/how-glenn-greenwald-became-glenn-greenwald
The second link in the BooMan article points to New York Magazine:
Glenn Greenwald Is Ralph Nader
By Jonathan Chait
...
Greenwald, like Nader, marries an indefatigable mastery of detail with fierce moralism. Every issue he examines has a good side and an evil side. Greenwald, speaking not long ago to the New York Times, said something revealing about his intellectual style:
“I approach my journalism as a litigator,” he said. “People say things, you assume they are lying, and dig for documents to prove it.”
That is a highly self-aware account. Of course, the job description of a litigator does not include being fair. You take a side, assume the other side is lying, and prosecute your side full tilt. It’s not your job to account for evidence that undermines your case — it’s your adversary’s job to point that out.
I won’t pretend to be neutral here — I’ve tangled with Greenwald numerous times. So, for instance, he called me a “McCain worshiper,” and it is true that I have written some highly favorable things about John McCain. I’ve also written some highly critical things. I pointed out to Greenwald that, when I have called McCain, among other things, a “dangerous sociopath,” it would at least complicate the picture in such a way as to preclude me from being called a “worshiper.” But no, Greenwald dug in deeper, assembling all the evidence he could muster for his side and ignoring all the evidence pointing in the opposite direction.
...
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/06/glenn-greenwald-is-ralph-nader.html
By Jonathan Chait
...
Greenwald, like Nader, marries an indefatigable mastery of detail with fierce moralism. Every issue he examines has a good side and an evil side. Greenwald, speaking not long ago to the New York Times, said something revealing about his intellectual style:
“I approach my journalism as a litigator,” he said. “People say things, you assume they are lying, and dig for documents to prove it.”
That is a highly self-aware account. Of course, the job description of a litigator does not include being fair. You take a side, assume the other side is lying, and prosecute your side full tilt. It’s not your job to account for evidence that undermines your case — it’s your adversary’s job to point that out.
I won’t pretend to be neutral here — I’ve tangled with Greenwald numerous times. So, for instance, he called me a “McCain worshiper,” and it is true that I have written some highly favorable things about John McCain. I’ve also written some highly critical things. I pointed out to Greenwald that, when I have called McCain, among other things, a “dangerous sociopath,” it would at least complicate the picture in such a way as to preclude me from being called a “worshiper.” But no, Greenwald dug in deeper, assembling all the evidence he could muster for his side and ignoring all the evidence pointing in the opposite direction.
...
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/06/glenn-greenwald-is-ralph-nader.html
In Jonathan Chait's article, the segment that likens Greenwald's journalism to litigation has a link that points to the New York Times:
Blogger, With Focus on Surveillance, Is at Center of a Debate
By NOAM COHEN and LESLIE KAUFMAN
Published: June 6, 2013
...
Being at the center of a debate is a comfortable place for Mr. Greenwald, 46, who came to mainstream journalism through his own blog, which he started in 2005. Before that he was a lawyer, including working 18 months at the high-powered New York firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, where he represented large corporate clients.
“I approach my journalism as a litigator,” he said. “People say things, you assume they are lying, and dig for documents to prove it.”
Mr. Greenwald’s writings at The Guardian — and before that, for Salon and on his own blog — can resemble a legal brief, with a list of points, extended arguments and detailed references and links. As Andrew Sullivan, a frequent sparring partner and sometime ally, put it, “once you get into a debate with him, it can be hard to get the last word.”
While Mr. Greenwald notes that he often conducts interviews and breaks news in his columns, he describes himself as an activist and an advocate. But with this leak about the extremely confidential legal apparatus supporting the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, he has lifted the veil on some of the government’s most closely held secrets.
...
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/07/business/media/anti-surveillance-activist-is-at-center-of-new-leak.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
By NOAM COHEN and LESLIE KAUFMAN
Published: June 6, 2013
...
Being at the center of a debate is a comfortable place for Mr. Greenwald, 46, who came to mainstream journalism through his own blog, which he started in 2005. Before that he was a lawyer, including working 18 months at the high-powered New York firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, where he represented large corporate clients.
“I approach my journalism as a litigator,” he said. “People say things, you assume they are lying, and dig for documents to prove it.”
Mr. Greenwald’s writings at The Guardian — and before that, for Salon and on his own blog — can resemble a legal brief, with a list of points, extended arguments and detailed references and links. As Andrew Sullivan, a frequent sparring partner and sometime ally, put it, “once you get into a debate with him, it can be hard to get the last word.”
While Mr. Greenwald notes that he often conducts interviews and breaks news in his columns, he describes himself as an activist and an advocate. But with this leak about the extremely confidential legal apparatus supporting the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, he has lifted the veil on some of the government’s most closely held secrets.
...
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/07/business/media/anti-surveillance-activist-is-at-center-of-new-leak.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
The third link in the BooMan article points to a article by Bob Cesca in The Daily Banter:
Greenwald and Nader, Cut From the Same Cloth
Posted on June 29, 2013 at 9:33 am by Bob Cesca
Jonathan Chait wrote an excellent analysis of Glenn Greenwald in which he compares his approach with the style of Ralph Nader.
We’ve seen this many time. If you disagree with one aspect of the Obama administration, you’re morally compelled to reject the whole thing.
...
http://bobcesca.thedailybanter.com/blog-archives/2013/06/greenwald-and-nader-cut-from-the-same-cloth.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=greenwald-and-nader-cut-from-the-same-cloth&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed
Posted on June 29, 2013 at 9:33 am by Bob Cesca
Jonathan Chait wrote an excellent analysis of Glenn Greenwald in which he compares his approach with the style of Ralph Nader.
Greenwald, like Nader, marries an indefatigable mastery of detail with fierce moralism. Every issue he examines has a good side and an evil side.
We’ve seen this many time. If you disagree with one aspect of the Obama administration, you’re morally compelled to reject the whole thing.
Greenwald, like Nader, does not believe in meliorist progress. If you are not good, you are evil. [...]
...
http://bobcesca.thedailybanter.com/blog-archives/2013/06/greenwald-and-nader-cut-from-the-same-cloth.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=greenwald-and-nader-cut-from-the-same-cloth&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed
The analysis put forward in the above-referenced article in the BooMan Tribune is essentially a rehashing of the above-linked Jonathan Chait article - an article in which Chait takes the Greenwald quotation from the above-linked NYT article out of context and shifts the quotation's context from one of a search for credible substantiation of assertions to one of a relentless propagation of one's own beliefs as truth in spite of any countervailing evidence. Chait admits his bias against Greenwald, but this does not make his attempt to alter the context of the NYT quotation any more honest. The article in The Daily Banter simply refers back to Chait's above article.
All told, the underlying problems of the NSA's surveillance overreach and of the misrepresentation made to Congress regarding the NSA surveillance program are ignored and the story is shifted by the facile dodge - "It's All About Greenwald."
Once again, here is the questioning of DNI Clapper by Senator Wyden:
Watch U.S. Intel Chief Clapper Lie to Congress
June 26, 2013
However, it is certain that DNI Clapper lied to Congress about the scope of NSA surveillance:
Clapper's Words: "No, Sir."
Edward Snowden has underscored Clapper's lie and, thus, deserves credit for his whistle-blowing.
The "Snowden" Effect: We Have No Idea If It Actually Exists, But DNI Clapper Did Lie To Congress
"...militants have begun responding by altering methods of communication...could make it harder...."
"...have begun altering communications patterns in what was believed to be a direct response...."
"...too early to tell whether the recent changes in communications methods had caused a loss...."
"Previous dire warnings of leaks causing huge damage to U.S. national security interests have proved overplayed."
"...militants changing the way they communicate could actually hinder plots...."
"The officials declined to specify what changes were spotted among militant groups...."
"...militants' latest adjustments likely included reduced electronic transmissions and more frequent switching...."
"Exactly how serious the damage might be is difficult to measure...."
"Militants have a long history of trying to cover their electronic tracks."
"Largely using written messages and trusted couriers, al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden hid for years...."
"...analysts around the world are working to determine the operational impact of Snowden's exposure of methods...."
"...the potential damage...is...may have found out technical details...."
"...there could be further fallout...."
"...U.S. agencies are already operating on a "worst case" assumption...."
"U.S. and British officials insist...that...surveillance...has stopped attacks and is essential to public security."
"...is still in the early stages of damage assessment...."
"Washington may face charges of a double standard...."
"How can the United States continue to stand on high moral ground...?"
"It will make it more difficult for us to appear holier than thou...."
http://news.yahoo.com/snowden-effect-u-spies-militants-013034065.html
"...have begun altering communications patterns in what was believed to be a direct response...."
"...too early to tell whether the recent changes in communications methods had caused a loss...."
"Previous dire warnings of leaks causing huge damage to U.S. national security interests have proved overplayed."
"...militants changing the way they communicate could actually hinder plots...."
"The officials declined to specify what changes were spotted among militant groups...."
"...militants' latest adjustments likely included reduced electronic transmissions and more frequent switching...."
"Exactly how serious the damage might be is difficult to measure...."
"Militants have a long history of trying to cover their electronic tracks."
"Largely using written messages and trusted couriers, al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden hid for years...."
"...analysts around the world are working to determine the operational impact of Snowden's exposure of methods...."
"...the potential damage...is...may have found out technical details...."
"...there could be further fallout...."
"...U.S. agencies are already operating on a "worst case" assumption...."
"U.S. and British officials insist...that...surveillance...has stopped attacks and is essential to public security."
"...is still in the early stages of damage assessment...."
"Washington may face charges of a double standard...."
"How can the United States continue to stand on high moral ground...?"
"It will make it more difficult for us to appear holier than thou...."
http://news.yahoo.com/snowden-effect-u-spies-militants-013034065.html
However, it is certain that DNI Clapper lied to Congress about the scope of NSA surveillance:
Clapper's Words: "No, Sir."
Edward Snowden has underscored Clapper's lie and, thus, deserves credit for his whistle-blowing.
June 18, 2013
On C-SPAN, the House Intelligence Committee hearing addresses this plot at time indices 0:37:52, 1:08:28, 1:11:23, 1:58:32, 2:38:12, 2:39:06 and 2:39:47. This video is here: http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/AgencyOp .
The Ouazzani Indictment is here: http://www.justice.gov/usao/mow/news2010/ouazzani_indictment.pdf
The Ouazzani Plea is here: http://www.justice.gov/usao/mow/news2010/ouazzani_plea.pdf
The FBI report on the Ouazzani Plea from May 2010 follows:
One might note that neither the indictment, the plea nor the FBI report at the time of the plea make the claim that there was a plot directed at the NY Stock Exchange.
Is this a new claim made in order to justify the scale of surveillance that is ongoing?
Sean Joyce notes that several individuals were lured to the USA, arrested and subsequently convicted for their terrorist activity - time index 1:10:30 in the C-SPAN video.
Who are these individuals and when and where were they convicted?
Is this the plot against the NY Stock Exchange to which they are referring?
If it is, this is two years after the prior defendant agreed to a guilty plea. Is it reasonable to believe that two years after a plea agreement is made that one is still an active participant in an on-going plot?
How important is transparency in these issues?
Foiled NY Stock Exchange Plot: Limited Background Information
NSA director says plot against Wall Street foiled
Jun 18, 1:02 PM (ET)
By KIMBERLY DOZIER
WASHINGTON (AP) - The director of the National Security Agency said Tuesday the government's sweeping surveillance programs have foiled some 50 terrorist plots worldwide, including one directed at the New York Stock Exchange, in a forceful defense of the spy operations.
...
Under questioning, Joyce said the NSA was able to identify an extremist in Yemen who was in touch with an individual in Kansas City, Mo. They were able to identify co-conspirators and thwart a plot to bomb the New York Stock Exchange.
...
http://apnews.excite.com/article/20130618/DA7095E00.html
Jun 18, 1:02 PM (ET)
By KIMBERLY DOZIER
WASHINGTON (AP) - The director of the National Security Agency said Tuesday the government's sweeping surveillance programs have foiled some 50 terrorist plots worldwide, including one directed at the New York Stock Exchange, in a forceful defense of the spy operations.
...
Under questioning, Joyce said the NSA was able to identify an extremist in Yemen who was in touch with an individual in Kansas City, Mo. They were able to identify co-conspirators and thwart a plot to bomb the New York Stock Exchange.
...
http://apnews.excite.com/article/20130618/DA7095E00.html
On C-SPAN, the House Intelligence Committee hearing addresses this plot at time indices 0:37:52, 1:08:28, 1:11:23, 1:58:32, 2:38:12, 2:39:06 and 2:39:47. This video is here: http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/AgencyOp .
The Ouazzani Indictment is here: http://www.justice.gov/usao/mow/news2010/ouazzani_indictment.pdf
The Ouazzani Plea is here: http://www.justice.gov/usao/mow/news2010/ouazzani_plea.pdf
The FBI report on the Ouazzani Plea from May 2010 follows:
Al Qaeda Supporter Pleads Guilty to Supporting Terrorist Organization
Kansas City Man Also Admits to Bank Fraud, Overseas Money Laundering
KANSAS CITY, MO—Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a Kansas City, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to his role in a conspiracy to provide material support to the terrorist organization al Qaeda. He also pleaded guilty to bank fraud and money laundering.
“National security is the highest priority of the Department of Justice,” Phillips said. “I applaud the diligent work of our law enforcement partners from local, state and federal agencies that serve on the Heart of America Joint Terrorism Task Force. These agencies have made significant investments of manpower and resources to the task force, and I appreciate their commitment to defeating terrorism. Much of their work is done behind the scenes, investigating and gathering information, but they play a crucial role in preventing terrorist activities.”
Khalid Ouazzani, 32, of Kansas City, waived his right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to a federal information that charges him with conspiracy to provide material support to a terrorist organization. Ouazzani also pleaded guilty to charges contained in an indictment that was returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City on Feb. 3, 2010.
Ouazzani, a native of Morocco and a naturalized citizen of the United States, swore an oath of allegiance to al Qaeda in June 2008. Ouazzani admitted that, from August 2007 to February 2010, he participated in a conspiracy to provide material support or resources to al Qaeda.
Ouazzani also admitted that he personally provided more than $23,000 to al Qaeda and performed other tasks at the request of and for the benefit of al Qaeda. Ouazzani had conversations with others about various ways to support al Qaeda, including plans for them to fight in Afghanistan, Iraq, or Somalia.
“Citizens here in the heartland should be alert to suspicious activity and never hesitate to report their concerns to law enforcement. This case serves as a reminder that terrorist-related activities can occur anywhere,” said Special Agent in Charge Brian A. Truchon of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Kansas City field office.
Ouazzani agreed to contribute $6,500 to al Qaeda in August 2007. A co-conspirator, who is not identified in court documents, made that payment on Ouazzani’s behalf. Ouazzani repaid the co-conspirator in November 2007 through a wire transfer to the co-conspirator’s bank account in the United Arab Emirates. Those funds came from Ouazzani’s sale of his business, Hafssa LLC, doing business as Truman Used Auto Parts, a retail operation that bought and sold used auto parts and used motor vehicles.
In June or July 2008, Ouazzani also agreed to pay al Qaeda $17,000, which represented his profit from the sale of an apartment in the United Arab Emirates that was owned by Ouazzani and a co-conspirator (who is not identified in court documents).
Bank Fraud Scheme
Ouazzani obtained a $175,000 line of credit commercial loan from Union Bank in April 2007 for Hafssa LLC (Truman Used Auto Parts). Under the terms of the loan, the funds were to be used as working capital for his business. Ouazzani admitted that he submitted false financial information about himself and the company to obtain the loan, and used substantial amounts of the loan proceeds for various personal purposes.
Ouazzani made only approximately $13,000 in payments on this loan. In September 2008 Union Bank wrote off the loan (then in the amount of $174,028) as uncollectible. On Feb. 11, 2009, Union Bank obtained a civil default judgment against Ouazzani and Hafssa LLC in the amount of $177,001.
Money Laundering
Ouazzani admitted that he used part of the proceeds of the Union Bank loan to purchase an apartment in the United Arab Emirates with a co-conspirator.
On May 23, 2007, Ouazzani caused a wire transfer of $112,830 to be sent to a bank account in the United Arab Emirates. The funds for this wire transfer included funds obtained from the $175,000 Union Bank loan and involved a series of transactions designed to make it more difficult to trace the funds.
Ouazzani used the wire-transferred funds to purchase an apartment in the United Arab Emirates, which he later sold for a profit of approximately $17,000. Ouazzani requested a co-conspirator to pay this $17,000 to al Qaeda.
“The criminal justice system is a valuable tool for disrupting terrorist plots and bringing terrorists to justice,” Phillips said. “We must use every means—criminal prosecutions as well as intelligence and military operations—to protect the American people. Federal prosecutions not only result in long prison sentences, but yield valuable intelligence that can be used in the fight against al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations.”
Under federal statutes, Ouazzani is subject to a sentence of up to 65 years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $1 million and an order of restitution. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys J. Daniel Stewart, David M. Ketchmark and Brian P. Casey and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Menzel of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri, with assistance from attorneys at the Justice Department’s National Security Division, including the Counterterrorism Section. It was investigated by the Heart of America Joint Terrorism Task Force, led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the Missouri Department of Social Services - Division of Legal Services Investigation Section.
Heart of America Joint Terrorism Task Force
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms
Defense Criminal Investigative Service
Federal Air Marshals Service
IRS-Criminal Investigation
Kansas City, Kan., Police Department
Kansas City, Mo., Police Department
Kansas Highway Patrol
Missouri State Highway Patrol
Overland Park, Kan., Police Department
U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Western District of Missouri and the District of Kansas
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
U.S. Marshals Service
U.S. Postal Inspection Service
U.S. Secret Service
http://www.fbi.gov/kansascity/press-releases/2010/kc051910.htm
Kansas City Man Also Admits to Bank Fraud, Overseas Money Laundering
KANSAS CITY, MO—Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a Kansas City, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to his role in a conspiracy to provide material support to the terrorist organization al Qaeda. He also pleaded guilty to bank fraud and money laundering.
“National security is the highest priority of the Department of Justice,” Phillips said. “I applaud the diligent work of our law enforcement partners from local, state and federal agencies that serve on the Heart of America Joint Terrorism Task Force. These agencies have made significant investments of manpower and resources to the task force, and I appreciate their commitment to defeating terrorism. Much of their work is done behind the scenes, investigating and gathering information, but they play a crucial role in preventing terrorist activities.”
Khalid Ouazzani, 32, of Kansas City, waived his right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to a federal information that charges him with conspiracy to provide material support to a terrorist organization. Ouazzani also pleaded guilty to charges contained in an indictment that was returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City on Feb. 3, 2010.
Ouazzani, a native of Morocco and a naturalized citizen of the United States, swore an oath of allegiance to al Qaeda in June 2008. Ouazzani admitted that, from August 2007 to February 2010, he participated in a conspiracy to provide material support or resources to al Qaeda.
Ouazzani also admitted that he personally provided more than $23,000 to al Qaeda and performed other tasks at the request of and for the benefit of al Qaeda. Ouazzani had conversations with others about various ways to support al Qaeda, including plans for them to fight in Afghanistan, Iraq, or Somalia.
“Citizens here in the heartland should be alert to suspicious activity and never hesitate to report their concerns to law enforcement. This case serves as a reminder that terrorist-related activities can occur anywhere,” said Special Agent in Charge Brian A. Truchon of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Kansas City field office.
Ouazzani agreed to contribute $6,500 to al Qaeda in August 2007. A co-conspirator, who is not identified in court documents, made that payment on Ouazzani’s behalf. Ouazzani repaid the co-conspirator in November 2007 through a wire transfer to the co-conspirator’s bank account in the United Arab Emirates. Those funds came from Ouazzani’s sale of his business, Hafssa LLC, doing business as Truman Used Auto Parts, a retail operation that bought and sold used auto parts and used motor vehicles.
In June or July 2008, Ouazzani also agreed to pay al Qaeda $17,000, which represented his profit from the sale of an apartment in the United Arab Emirates that was owned by Ouazzani and a co-conspirator (who is not identified in court documents).
Bank Fraud Scheme
Ouazzani obtained a $175,000 line of credit commercial loan from Union Bank in April 2007 for Hafssa LLC (Truman Used Auto Parts). Under the terms of the loan, the funds were to be used as working capital for his business. Ouazzani admitted that he submitted false financial information about himself and the company to obtain the loan, and used substantial amounts of the loan proceeds for various personal purposes.
Ouazzani made only approximately $13,000 in payments on this loan. In September 2008 Union Bank wrote off the loan (then in the amount of $174,028) as uncollectible. On Feb. 11, 2009, Union Bank obtained a civil default judgment against Ouazzani and Hafssa LLC in the amount of $177,001.
Money Laundering
Ouazzani admitted that he used part of the proceeds of the Union Bank loan to purchase an apartment in the United Arab Emirates with a co-conspirator.
On May 23, 2007, Ouazzani caused a wire transfer of $112,830 to be sent to a bank account in the United Arab Emirates. The funds for this wire transfer included funds obtained from the $175,000 Union Bank loan and involved a series of transactions designed to make it more difficult to trace the funds.
Ouazzani used the wire-transferred funds to purchase an apartment in the United Arab Emirates, which he later sold for a profit of approximately $17,000. Ouazzani requested a co-conspirator to pay this $17,000 to al Qaeda.
“The criminal justice system is a valuable tool for disrupting terrorist plots and bringing terrorists to justice,” Phillips said. “We must use every means—criminal prosecutions as well as intelligence and military operations—to protect the American people. Federal prosecutions not only result in long prison sentences, but yield valuable intelligence that can be used in the fight against al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations.”
Under federal statutes, Ouazzani is subject to a sentence of up to 65 years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $1 million and an order of restitution. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys J. Daniel Stewart, David M. Ketchmark and Brian P. Casey and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Menzel of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri, with assistance from attorneys at the Justice Department’s National Security Division, including the Counterterrorism Section. It was investigated by the Heart of America Joint Terrorism Task Force, led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the Missouri Department of Social Services - Division of Legal Services Investigation Section.
Heart of America Joint Terrorism Task Force
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms
Defense Criminal Investigative Service
Federal Air Marshals Service
IRS-Criminal Investigation
Kansas City, Kan., Police Department
Kansas City, Mo., Police Department
Kansas Highway Patrol
Missouri State Highway Patrol
Overland Park, Kan., Police Department
U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Western District of Missouri and the District of Kansas
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
U.S. Marshals Service
U.S. Postal Inspection Service
U.S. Secret Service
http://www.fbi.gov/kansascity/press-releases/2010/kc051910.htm
One might note that neither the indictment, the plea nor the FBI report at the time of the plea make the claim that there was a plot directed at the NY Stock Exchange.
Is this a new claim made in order to justify the scale of surveillance that is ongoing?
Sean Joyce notes that several individuals were lured to the USA, arrested and subsequently convicted for their terrorist activity - time index 1:10:30 in the C-SPAN video.
Who are these individuals and when and where were they convicted?
Is this the plot against the NY Stock Exchange to which they are referring?
Man arrested in FBI terror sting also targeted N.Y. Stock Exchange
NEW YORK — A Bangladeshi man snared in an FBI terror sting considered targeting a high-ranking government official and the New York Stock Exchange before authorities say he raised the bar by picking one New York City's most fortified sites: The Federal Reserve.
In a September meeting with an undercover agent posing as a fellow jihadist, Quazi Mohammad Rezwanul Ahsan Nafis explained he chose the Federal reserve as his car bomb target "for operational reasons," according to a criminal complaint. Nafis also indicated he knew that choice would "cause a large number of civilian casualties, including women and children," the complaint said.
The bomb was phony, but authorities alleged that Nafis' admiration of Osama bin Laden and aspirations for martyrdom were not.
FBI agents grabbed the 21-year-old Nafis — armed with a cellphone he believed was rigged as a detonator — after he made several attempts to blow up a fake 1,000-pound the bomb inside a vehicle parked next to the Federal Reserve Wednesday in lower Manhattan, the complaint said.
...
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/10/man_arrested_in_fbi_terror_sti.html
NEW YORK — A Bangladeshi man snared in an FBI terror sting considered targeting a high-ranking government official and the New York Stock Exchange before authorities say he raised the bar by picking one New York City's most fortified sites: The Federal Reserve.
In a September meeting with an undercover agent posing as a fellow jihadist, Quazi Mohammad Rezwanul Ahsan Nafis explained he chose the Federal reserve as his car bomb target "for operational reasons," according to a criminal complaint. Nafis also indicated he knew that choice would "cause a large number of civilian casualties, including women and children," the complaint said.
The bomb was phony, but authorities alleged that Nafis' admiration of Osama bin Laden and aspirations for martyrdom were not.
FBI agents grabbed the 21-year-old Nafis — armed with a cellphone he believed was rigged as a detonator — after he made several attempts to blow up a fake 1,000-pound the bomb inside a vehicle parked next to the Federal Reserve Wednesday in lower Manhattan, the complaint said.
...
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/10/man_arrested_in_fbi_terror_sti.html
If it is, this is two years after the prior defendant agreed to a guilty plea. Is it reasonable to believe that two years after a plea agreement is made that one is still an active participant in an on-going plot?
How important is transparency in these issues?
June 18, 2013
Snowden / Manning 2016 or Manning / Snowden 2016 would be great...
but neither would meet the age requirement to run for the office of President. After all, it takes time for corruption to set in properly.
Some may object to the above, but it seems that a person is doing something right if his or her actions cause Dick Cheney to label that individual a traitor - this is the honorable reverse of W awarding certain prominent Bush functionaries the "Medal of Freedom (TM) for which they hate us":
"Dick Cheney To Chris Wallace: ‘Traitor’ Snowden Possibly Had Chinese Connection Before Leaking Info
...
Cheney had no kind words for Snowden, whom he forthrightly labelled a traitor. “I think he has committed crimes in effect by violating the agreements given the position he had,” Cheney said, and went on to question his choice of hideout. “I’m suspicious because he went to China. That’s not a place where you would ordinarily want to go if you are interested in freedom, liberty and so forth. It raises questions whether or not he had that kind of connection before he did this.”
...
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/dick-cheney-tells-chris-wallace-traitor-snowden-possibly-had-chinese-connection-before-leaking-info/
...
Cheney had no kind words for Snowden, whom he forthrightly labelled a traitor. “I think he has committed crimes in effect by violating the agreements given the position he had,” Cheney said, and went on to question his choice of hideout. “I’m suspicious because he went to China. That’s not a place where you would ordinarily want to go if you are interested in freedom, liberty and so forth. It raises questions whether or not he had that kind of connection before he did this.”
...
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/dick-cheney-tells-chris-wallace-traitor-snowden-possibly-had-chinese-connection-before-leaking-info/
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