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NSA Releases New Snowden Documents (vice.com)
An anonymous reader writes: Hundreds of internal NSA documents have been declassified and released to VICE in response to their FOIA lawsuit. They're now sharing them all online, calling it "an extraordinary behind-the-scenes look at the efforts by the NSA, the White House, and US Senator Dianne Feinstein to discredit Snowden [that] call into question aspects of the U.S. government's long-running narrative about Snowden's time at the NSA." The documents officially confirm that Snowden had also worked with the CIA, and show a vigorous internal discussion about how to respond to Snowden's leaks that apparently led the NSA to erroneously assert that Snowden hadn't voiced his objections about the surveillance of U.S. citizens within the NSA before going public.
Living in Russia now, Snowden himself refused to comment on the new releases, with his attorney saying Snowden "believes the NSA is still playing games with selective releases, and [he] therefore chooses not to participate in this effort. He doesn't trust that the intelligence community will operate in good faith."
The EFF is also marking the three-year anniversary of Snowden's leaks, saying they led directly to the first legislation curtailing the NSA's power in over 30 years and changed the way the world perceives government surveillance. Snowden was inspired in part by a desire to keep the internet free, saying in 2014 that "I remember what the Internet was like before it was being watched, and there's never been anything in the history of man that's like it."
Living in Russia now, Snowden himself refused to comment on the new releases, with his attorney saying Snowden "believes the NSA is still playing games with selective releases, and [he] therefore chooses not to participate in this effort. He doesn't trust that the intelligence community will operate in good faith."
The EFF is also marking the three-year anniversary of Snowden's leaks, saying they led directly to the first legislation curtailing the NSA's power in over 30 years and changed the way the world perceives government surveillance. Snowden was inspired in part by a desire to keep the internet free, saying in 2014 that "I remember what the Internet was like before it was being watched, and there's never been anything in the history of man that's like it."
If you don't know what it means, search it.
There was absolutely nothing "erroneous" - it was all an intentional bunch of cover-your-ass lying.
I guess "erroneously assert" is the new "that statement is no longer operative". Nixon should sue for some sort of infringement.
"Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
Any efforts to discredit this man are a fucking disgrace that should be called out as such. The founding fathers had a vision. It certainly didn't include anything like the FBI, CIA, or NSA spying on their own countrymen.
Snowden releases NSA documents!
Reading through the Vice article it seems as if Snowden didn't exactly come out and say "I think what we're doing is illegal". It was much more along the lines of him questioning their training on oversight and the boundaries. He was asking questions about the relative priorities of Congressional Law vs Executive Orders.
The thing is, we don't know what was discussed in a couple of the verbal meetings, so he very well could have pointed out that the reason he was asking is the decision that was the foundation for some of the programs was a Classified Executive Order that went against Statute.
He implied as such when he was pointing out the training materials, including some SOPs, were out of date and referred to lapsed or repealed laws.
On the other hand, I'm thinking if he went to the IG and flat out said "Hey, I think these programs I'm working on are illegal", I'm pretty sure the response would have been something along the lines of "you're fired -- allow us to remind you of your NDA and the consequences".
Learning HOW to think is more important than learning WHAT to think.
Snowden is no more a traitor than any whistle blower who tries to get the government, their employer, etc. to live up to the law and stop breaking the Constitution. The constitution is pretty clear as to what constitutes treason.
Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.
Snowden has not carried on a war against the US, nor become a citizen of one of their enemies, nor given them aid and comfort. And before you start prattling on about how Russia or China or Germany has been given "aid and comfort", the US is not at war with any of them.
The CIA, on the other hand, has committed treason on numerous occasions.
"Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
....how does it benefit the American people to disclose that the US is spying on leaders like Angela Merkel?
Because in our Republic, I have a right to know what my government is doing. Because I do not want my government doing something belligerent and when retaliated against, turn to the media and act like some innocent victim of another country's aggression and start a long expensive war that costs thousands and thousands of lives.
Much of the bullshit in the World and violence directed at us - the USA - is the karma that our leaders in the past have committed. We wouldn't be dealing with this Islamic terrorism if it weren't for the fact that our government has been shitting all over those people to secure our oil supplies. And even though new technology has allowed the US to have plenty of domestic oil (although a little pricey compared to World prices - for now), we have to still deal with the hatred towards us.
And we see how effective the propaganda is. We are told the BS story that we are over there "fighting for freedom" when the truth is we are fighting for oil. But regular Joes still believe the lies and condemn folks who understand the geo politics of oil (Carter Doctrine) as being unAmerican or some other name calling - like traitor. And the irony that a Democrat's policies wasn't pointed by conservatives just shows how the American people are gullible and easily manipulated - or choose to be blind so that it fits into their opinion that we stand for Freedom and Truth and our young people aren't dying for just oil
It is a basic right of all humans to have privacy - in their personal lives, in their communications, in every type of comportment they make be it electronic or otherwise. Edward Snowden is a great crusader for one of the most basic, fundamental human rights that belongs to all: Not just Americans. Not just those who are not foreign leaders. But all.
The surveillance apparatus is an abomination against humanity and must be immediately and permanently dismantled.
Also, the "open Court" is actually what Snowden himself has listed as a condition of returning to the US to stand trial. As of yet, this hasn't been any mention of a guarantee of this by any judicial activists. We all know this will never happen because the CIA/NSA doesn't want their dirty laundry aired to the public anymore.
from TFA: "and US Senator Dianne Feinstein to discredit Snowden" Gee, what else has Feinstein tried to do? Weaken/destroy encryption? Her own staff hacked by the CIA? Repeatedly tried to push bills that empower law enforcement to violate the 4th Amendment? Makes me wonder if the NSA/CIA has some leverage on her, something they know about her, to get her to have such zeal in violating her oath to uphold the Constitution.
While I agree with exposing the spying on US citizens, how does it benefit the American people to disclose that the US is spying on leaders like Angela Merkel?
In the sense that the American people is then informed on what the fuck their government is doing. Knowledge has this funny side effect of forcing responsibility: if you know your leaders are up to no good is up to you to demand solutions. Or not. But that ball is now in your court.
If the docs aren't redacted 16 ways to Sunday they're part of someone's narrative.
Excellent point. Better watch for it - you're now an enemy of the state.
"Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
for what it's worth, the french are notorious for industrial espionage. do you think they aren't trying to steal from Boeing constantly?
It's a bloody long article, but here's what caught my eye.
If the OGC lawyer had added "I'm not sure within the context of the training program whether the training slide attests to such a serious misrepresentation, but if it does, you need to suspend teaching this slide immediately" we might all now be in a different place.
The NSA culture in effect seemed to regard providing timely and correct training materials concerning the chain of agency authority as a "best effort" (warranting an administrative follow up) rather than "mission critical" (warranting an internal bow-shot cease and desist).
Hayden's book Playing to the Edge contains tedious chapter upon chapter about endless compliance politics played at the top level, all lawyered up six ways from Sunday, but did the organization deeply communicate the resulting values internally, as forcefully as described by John Kotter in his book Leading Change?
Think You're Communicating Enough? Think Again
If the OGC lawyer had the required ten reminders from on high spilling out of her inbox, she might have gone down the cease and desist track instead, giving Snowden immediate reason to believe that someone on the other side actually gave a shit.
Robert Litt, general counsel of the ODNI:
I would argue here that the other side of "playing close to the edge" is that a single page of unclear training material, if it's the wrong page, is no laughing matter.
Narrow sidelines poorly communicated. What could possibly go wrong?
Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort.
And if the US Government gets ahold of Snowden, these three things are what they will charge, just look at how the definition of "terrorism" has evolved in the last 10 or so years. Most "judges" will accept it.
Snowden can come back and be the stand-up guy that will throw it all away for the slim chance at "justice", but chances are that means living the rest of his life in a Federal Prison. He can talk math with Ted Kaczynski who actually is a dangerous and crazy guy...
Snowden will live out his life in Russia if he is smart, which is a shame. Being an intelligent and educated man, I'm sure his Russian language skills are pretty good at this point.
If you want news from today, you have to come back tomorrow.
These releases have shown that the US gov't, at the very least, considers all of it's own citizens as "potential enemies", and treats them as such. Or unindicted criminals living in the community.
Sleep your way to a whiter smile...date a dentist!
You don't need to overthrown a government to make it accountable. This is not Game of Thrones.
If The Donald does glom on to the White House [shudder], one of the first things that will happen is that the Freedom of Information Act will be XOed out of existence (then rubber-stamped by a Red majority Supreme Court followed by the GOP-controlled Congress jumping on board to kill it permanently).
Cockroaches despise it when the kitchen light is turned on.
The US cannot seem to exist WITHOUT ENEMIES.
IMO, this is done for control of the populace's attitudes and opinions. People are compliant and acquiescent to authority when they feel threatened.
"What the American public doesn't know is what makes them the American public." -Ray Zalinsky (Tommy Boy)