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NSA Says Snowden Emails Exempt From Public Disclosure
AHuxley (892839) writes "The Desk reports on a FOIA request covering "... all e-mails sent by Edward Snowden" and the NSA's refusal to release all documents. "The National Security Agency has acknowledged it retains a record of e-mail communications from former contractor turned whistleblower Edward Snowden, but says those records are exempt from public disclosure under the federal Freedom of Information Act. In a letter responding to a June 27 FOIA request from The Desk, the NSA’s chief FOIA officer Pamela Phillips wrote that while the agency has retained records related to Snowden’s employment as a contractor, they are being withheld from public examination because, among other things, releasing the records 'could interfere with law enforcement proceedings, could cause an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, could reveal the identities of confidential sources or would reveal law enforcement techniques and procedures.' Other records are being withheld because those documents were 'also found to be currently and properly classifiedand remains classified TOP SECRET, SECRET and CONFIDENTIAL.' The letter marks the first time the NSA has publicly acknowledged retaining communication and employment records related to Snowden’s time as a contractor."
And yet they don't seem to have any problem violating the fundamental rights of nearly everyone in and outside the US.
If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
I presume that Snowden has his own copies of the emails in question. Couldn't he release those himself?
LET'S DO THIS!!!
Snowden / Binney 2016!
That image is my original artwork (with friendly tips from Slashdot user Indigo), copyright 2014 Robert Bushman, licensed under CC by-nc-sa. It is properly sized for a 2.75" by 5" sticker with .125" bleed at 300 dpi. I'm getting them printed at psprint.com (I recommend doing a search for "vinyl bumper stickers", since they often have a coupon running on Duck Duck Go). I haven't seen my physical proofs yet, but the on-screen color conversion looked good to me. Please feel free to print a stack and spread them far and wide.
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No longer inhabits the constitutional legal framework of its purpose or foundation.
It is an illegal institution, with no basis for either loyalty or obedience.
"Flyin' in just a sweet place,
Never been known to fail..."
At this point, there are numerous things happening such as laws, inquiries, public debate, and policy changes that are all due to Snowden's release of information. I feel that he has brought to the forefront an important issue and revealed things that the public needed to know. I can understand to some degree that people don't like how he did it, but given the machine that is the government, I don't doubt that this was the only way to bring about such changes (or at least debate and knowledge).
After a bit of a cool down period, I don't hear nearly as much hate for Snowden. Libertarians, Republicans, Democrats and all other flavors should want a more open government. The government does also need to keep some things secret. This gives them a reason, the means, and a public grant of power to keep things from public knowledge. Some times the only way to circumvent that power is through a leak/whistle blower.
As far as this story, the public needs to pressure the government to keep no more secrets about Snowden. The cover of endangering certain sources or resources is no longer being accepted as we have seen little damage and much good from the release. It's time the US Government come clean and it's time we tell them that we demand it.
I finally updated my sig, but now it's lame.
Perhaps they should try and contact Edward Snowden and see if he has copies of those email messages that'd he'd care to release.
The NSA has already admitted to one email to the NSA Office of Counsel. They previously denied that one existed.
...Snowden would waive his right to privacy, but the NSA's answer would no doubt be the same.
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You are absolutely correct but they know perfectly well it would just be followed up with the obvious and very specific request for "All e-mails from Edward Snowden with subject matter relating to the legality of the internet monitoring and cellular meta data gathering activities conducted by the NSA".
And then they'd be right back here were they are now. Having to make the same excuse, which might have some legitimacy as those mails probably are evidence in an on going criminal investigation of Snowden; all though we all know he isn't returning to the States without some kind of immunity agreement so its rather hollow sounding. Think how hollow it would sound if it was a second excuse given.
The reality is Snowden's story about having attempted to raise the issues thru the proper channels is likely truthful and would just expose more NSA and State Department lies. The would rather just look like dicks and someone felt just shutting down the FOIA avenue would look less Dickish than being evasive.
Repeal the 17th Amendment TODAY! Also Please Read http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/right-to-read.html
Second off, this story (and the multitude of Greenwald/Snowden cult of personality reposters) is missing the most important thing in the NSA's response, the last sentence:
You'd have a great point if there were any reason we could trust the NSA. They could be lying outright, or they could be doing it the DC way, which is telling the truth in a misleading way, by overlooking the fact that he approached them in person about it instead of in written form, which I certainly would have, as I'd be nervous as shit about writing an email like that.
He's no patriot, he's just a cowardly little shit.
He gave up his girlfriend and cushy job, he exposed clear evidence of violation of international treaties and the US Constitution by the world's dominant superpower, and then he endured being stuck in the Moscow Airport (there isn't enough Prozac in the world to make this OK) and is now stuck in Russia, which I assure you, is a severe downgrade from Hawaii. There's nothing cowardly about all that.
He's no patriot, he's just a cowardly little shit.
Revealing the government's evil and unconstitutional activities makes you a cowardly little shit? I suppose, in your mind, mindlessly obeying the government is a good example of a patriot in 'the land of the free and the home of the brave'? He sure did a hell of a lot more than you, you authoritarian imbecile.
I personally really advise people to *not* try to go through the internal channels. That alerts them that you're trying to stop what they're doing, and they could put an end to you right there, which decreases the chances that the American people will ever know. The first people to know should be The People. Going through the 'proper channels' is just foolish and unnecessary.
If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
Edward Snowdon understood what would happen if he where to seriously try and push the issue internally.
The global surveillance network was a core NSA policy authorized at the highest levels. This was not simply some rouge agent or rouge department. Previous individuals have attempted to raise concerns internally and failed to achieve any change underlying policy. The NSA has even deliberately lied to congress on the matter.
As a contractor, he has no employment rights. Making noise would likely get his security clearance revoked and his employer finding someone else who doesn't have a moral problem with surveillance. It would also likely get himself added to the NSA watchlist.
As a pragmatist, his decision to publicly release records has successfully created enough political pressure for congress to at least review the NSA's policies. A cowardly little shit who was willing to risk everything on a high risk venture, with a very strong possibility of getting caught, that takes some major balls from someone who knows exactly what the NSA is capable of.
Like ... how? Tip off Snowden that he's wanted?
We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
I see your point that FOIA was designed for specific requests. But in this case the question is if he ever reported this to superiors. It could have been in person, but he probably would have covered himself and sent it in email. The only way to see if he ever sent emails reporting the issues is to see all emails. That request would mean a full release of his emails.
Of course, the reality is that this would have been one or two carefully crated emails. Taking 2-4 emails out of an archive with a daily average of 50 for a tech worker (pulled out my ass), would be unnoticeable. So the whole thing is pointless unless Snowden himself can show undeniable proof of these emails, and for bonus points a response.
I finally updated my sig, but now it's lame.
I'd mod this up purely for "captain fuckface" if I had any left.
A FOIA request can be made for any agency record...
An FOIA request is made which would either prove, or disprove something in question.
I always pronounced it FOIA, like rhymes with Goya. So it would be a FOIA. But is it pronounced F-O-I-A?
... the real story is that Snowden, Libtard hero, never even tried to whistleblow.
He's no patriot, he's just a cowardly little shit.
He did something he knew would raise the ire of the government to the point they would want to capture him and torture him, dooming himself to a life on the run for the rest of his days. Yeah, he's a real yellow-belly.
A grand meme.
Well the government has made one thing very clear. They believe that they are the only beings on earth that are entitled to privacy or secrecy, and they are entitled to ALL of it while simultaneously violating everyone else's eight ways till friday.
Cowardly little shit and major balls don't often go together.
Also, rouge agent steals your makeup, rogue agent steals your data.
This may be the most ironic thing I've seen in a while.
Don't understand why he didn't take and leak the relevant emails?
... to go in and get them.
It little behooves the best of us to comment on the rest of us.
"would reveal law enforcement techniques and procedures"
in other words, it would expose your illegal activities. gotcha.
Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.
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Everyone is assuming that he doesn't have his own emails! MIGHT be waiting for NSA to lay its hand down first, then, maybe, Snowden will release his emails then, maybe... the other point is, if, the amount or size or enormity of the information released by now, didn't shake / shape the world, then, the release of Snowden's own emails will not have any effect anyway... what information in Snowden's emails could be worst then the information released by now??? shakes the trust amongst the allies of America? already out. remember Angela Merkel.. Gives away all the internal mechanics of NSA ?? remember the tools they use. So, what information in those Snowden emails could be more important / dangerous then the information released by now? Would you hold on to them till last minute?
But... but... if I vote for a third party candidate, the other party's guy will get in!!!
the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Illogical; based upon a false assumption. Assumption being that election results are premised upon everyone voting for strictly one of two obvious choices. Based upon that assumption it precludes the possibility of voters electing a third party candidate at some point. History does not determine the future. One does not know in advance what the outcome will be. Your assumption becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. If ... voters were left to their own devises a reasonable chance exists that neither one of the obvious choices will be elected. When voters vote for the sole purpose of being on the winning side and not based upon candidate views, ideas, etc. then they are undermining the very idea of democratic elections.
"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities." - Voltaire
I rather suspect he could have taken copies of his emails. He may not have thought them important at the time. This may have been a mistake. Alternately, he may have formed a plan earlier and executed it, only thinking of his emails later. I do know he isn't going back to retrieve them.
In any case, I have no credible evidence that said emails never existed. Got any?
"When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
And that's why American politics and government is so tucked up. People want to vote for who they think the favorite will be not the best qualified. Which reinforces my assertion that if change is wanted it is not a wasted vote to vote for the best qualified as opposed to a projected winner. Eventually, when voters grasp that things will change. But change will never happen if voters aren't willing to take a chance on someone else. An taking a chance requires the act of voting for that third party candidate.
"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities." - Voltaire