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This is interesting, although the editorial comments are not particularly surprising given the source. e.g.: "Throughout this chapter and the next, 'The Harm o
by revscat 12y ago
This is interesting, although the editorial comments are not particularly surprising given the source. e.g.:
"Throughout this chapter and the next, 'The Harm of Surveillance,' Greenwald emphasizes the coincidence of his judgments and values with those of Snowden. He also links Snowden’s upbringing and checkered employment history as justification for his decision to proceed as he did rather than follow official whistle-blower procedures."
Snowden's stated reasons for not going through official channels, and Greenwald's reporting of this, were based upon the NSA's prior treatment of whistleblowers, specifically William Benney and Thomas Drake[1]. The surveillance agencies believe that all information collection is desirable, justified and, because of the public's ignorance of the threats posed, necessarily secret. Like most organizations, insiders who push for changes are met with varying degrees of resistance.
[1] http://www.npr.org/2014/07/22/333741495/before-snowden-the-whistleblowers-who-tried-to-lift-the-veil http://www.npr.org/2014/07/22/333741495/before-snowden-the-w...
- cryoshon 12y agoThe editorials should be read as propaganda targeted toward the CIA's staff who will consume these documents. The critical giveaway here is the phrase "checkered employment history". Snowden's employment history isn't checkered, it was a clear upward trajectory, starting at the very bottom. It's to their benefit to form their propaganda in a very dry "factual" sounding way such that it can more easily dodge the perception of bias. Of course, it's merely a biased presentation of some facts and twisting/fabrication of others in a way that favors the agency.
- sremani 12y agoEspecially given the "checkered employment history" he worked at CIA with security clearance.
- logfromblammo 12y agoSome might consider that to be the black square on his checkerboard.
- AnkhMorporkian 12y agoThe CIA can pass the buck there as the FBI conducts clearance investigations. The CIA does do additional screening for access to certain information, but if it's anything like most other agencies then they likely trust the FBI's judgement on non-sensitive positions that only need collateral clearance.
- vonmoltke 12y agoActually, the CIA runs its own background investigations, as well as those for the ODNI. Additionally, Snowden was cleared through the DOD contractor process which means he was investigated by either DSS or OPM initially, depending on when he got his initial clearance.