'We're in the Abyss': My KPFK 'BradCast' Interview with Daniel Ellsberg on Edward Snowden

[BradBlog]

(Reposting here after thread was locked at LBN, for some reason.)



'We're in the Abyss': My KPFK 'BradCast' Interview with Daniel Ellsberg on Edward Snowden
EXCLUSIVE: Legendary 'Pentagon Papers' whistleblower offers frank comment on the NSA whistleblower; the dangers of our privatized surveillance state; the failure of Congressional oversight; and journalists 'discrediting their professions'...

In his column over the weekend, lauding the "conscience and patriotism" of NSA contractor-turned-whistleblower Edward Snowden, legendary "Pentagon Papers" whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg cited a 1975 warning about the NSA from Sen. Frank Church (D-ID), chairman of the U.S. Senate Select Committee tasked with investigating unlawful intelligence gathering by the NSA, CIA and FBI following the Watergate scandal.

"I know the capacity that is there to make tyranny total in America," Church said, "and we must see to it that this agency and all agencies that possess this technology operate within the law and under proper supervision, so that we never cross over that abyss. That is the abyss from which there is no return."

On Wednesday, during a fascinating interview on The BradCast on KPFK/Pacifica Radio, Ellsberg said directly, in the wake of Snowden's disclosures: "We're in the abyss. What he feared has come to pass".

Ellsberg went on to share very frank thoughts on Edward Snowden, his disclosures, the privatized surveillance state, failure of Congressional oversight and he calls out several reporters, by name, for 'discrediting their professions' and for being 'stupid and misguided'...

LISTEN, FULL STORY: http://www.bradblog.com/?p=10067

[Autumn]

1. An American patriot and hero

recommended and thank you for this.

[sabrina 1]

2. Church wasn't the only one to make that observation, Thomas Jefferson warned the people against

HIMSELF and the other FFs who agreed, that no one rising to a position of power should EVER be trusted or left without oversight, not even the FFs themselves. The temptation to misuse it is so great.

But we have some very trusting souls around 'left' boards these days, the trust Republican Corporations and Republican Directors of Intelligence, Republicans in Defense, Finance etc and they trust them never to be affected by the Billions of dollars they push for in Congress as they pass from Corps like Booz Allen as Clapper did right into Government.

How can anyone be that naive? Or is it something else, because I do not believe any one over the age of six could be that naive.

[Avalux]

3. I just got the chills. I've been thinking the same thing.

There no longer seems to be an anchor, chaos abound....pandora's box is wide open.

[ReRe]

4. Thanks Bradblog!

Last edited Thu Jun 13, 2013, 11:06 PM - Edit history (1)

Things do have a way of disappearing on here. So I'm going to listen to this before it disappears!

Edited at 11:05PM: Wow! that was a great interview!!!

[Mnemosyne]

5. Thanks Brad. Great interview, chilling thoughts.

Good to see you!

[kenny blankenship]

6. D.E.: If Snowden had stayed in US he'd be in Gitmo now and unable to tell his story at all

or get his info out.

Whereas 40 years ago, Ellsberg was able to stay out on bond during the progression of his case, after turning himself in. He could try to defend himself in the court of public opinion and not have to languish in a cold cell like Bradley Manning hearing only second hand about shit the govt was saying about him only when he got a visit from his atty, with no way to counter. This is just one difference between our time and 1971.

[sabrina 1]

7. Exaclty, things are so much worse now than they were then. We had some semblance of a democracy

and some of the Republicans back then make some of today's Democrats look like far right Republicans.

Manning will never get a fair trial in this country and I think Snowden's decision will be the one made by future whistle blowers. As you say, being free he can tell his side of the story, in Gitmo or the equivalent where Manning ended up, tortured and isolated, only the Government's side would be heard.

However we actually have people here who do not want him to be heard, who WANT to hear only the Government's side. And I mean on the 'left', which shows just how far we have sunk over the past ten years.

History will not record this as one of our finest hours.

[kenny blankenship]

8. So much so, that "All the things done to me then... they're legal now."

and the obvious consequence is that Ellsberg and Russo would have gone to jail, probably for the rest of their lives, if Nixon had had the post 9-11 powers and "legal" environment to work in that Obama now has. Or maybe Ellsberg would have been Awlakied.

[slipslidingaway]

9. knr nt