The personal side of taking on the NSA: emerging smears

[FarCenter]

When I made the choice to report aggressively on top-secret NSA programs, I knew that I would inevitably be the target of all sorts of personal attacks and smears. You don't challenge the most powerful state on earth and expect to do so without being attacked. As a superb Guardian editorial noted today: "Those who leak official information will often be denounced, prosecuted or smeared. The more serious the leak, the fiercer the pursuit and the greater the punishment."

One of the greatest honors I've had in my years of writing about politics is the opportunity to work with and befriend my long-time political hero, Daniel Ellsberg. I never quite understood why the Nixon administration, in response to his release of the Pentagon Papers, would want to break into the office of Ellsberg's psychoanalyst and steal his files. That always seemed like a non sequitur to me: how would disclosing Ellsberg's most private thoughts and psychosexual assessments discredit the revelations of the Pentagon Papers?

When I asked Ellsberg about that several years ago, he explained that the state uses those tactics against anyone who dissents from or challenges it simply to distract from the revelations and personally smear the person with whatever they can find to make people uncomfortable with the disclosures.

So I've been fully expecting those kinds of attacks since I began my work on these NSA leaks. The recent journalist-led "debate" about whether I should be prosecuted for my reporting on these stories was precisely the sort of thing I knew was coming.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jun/26/nsa-revelations-response-to-smears

It's no longer about Snowden; it's all about Glenn.

[Vietnameravet]

1. Bull

Snowden could have simply said that there is a massive espionage program going on in the US and had a debate on that. He could have told friendly Senators what was going on and we would have had a debate. He could have gone to the media and revealed the nature of program.

Instead he has chosen to release specific details...and that was uncalled for...and has damaged our security program.

He fled to China and now Russia, our rivals if not enemies. Doesn't that tell you something?

Smear tactics?? He is a liar and a traitor and if some chose to call that patriotism, count me out..

Those that support him because they say our liberties are in danger are no different that those that say their rights are in danger because someone wants to check their backgrounds before they buy an assault rifle ..Tell me what is their response if there is a major attack on an American city because of his actions?

Those that compare Obama to Hitler are no different from Palin and Bachmann and Beck who say Obama hates white people and has no American values..

Smear him? No need to do that.he had done it to himself ..He deserves jail

[RC]

2. Isn't that lock-stepping kinda hard on the knees?

If he had done what you have suggested, no one would have heard of Edward Snowden, as he was quietly disappeared.
Gone to the media? In this country? Surely you jest.

[L0oniX]

6. ...but the brown shirts look so dedicated. It's a shame some side with George Bush...

with the ol ...constitution is just a damn piece of paper.

[Luminous Animal]

3. Three surveillance whistle-blowers did what you suggested and were

persecuted and prosecuted for their efforts. Each of them have flat out stated that they understand why he took the route that he did because going the route that they tried ended up with them losing their CAREERS (not just their jobs) and tens of thousands of legal fees.

[backscatter712]

15. Do they pay you per word, per paragraph, or per post for this? n/t

[Th1onein]

21. Like Drake did?

You know, Thomas Drake, who tried to go through the proper channels, and whose life was ruined for his efforts? You know, Thomas Drake who now works in an Apple retail store? Like that, you mean?

And, by the way, no one is comparing Obama to Hitler, but there are many of us who do NOT want to be spied on by our fucking government. It's that simple.

This isn't about Snowden. Or Greenwald. Or even Obama. It's about surveillance. GET IT?

[OilemFirchen]

4. Glenn, it's ALWAYS been about you.

It always is.

If you weren't such an abysmal failure as a pseudo-journalist, if you actually followed some basic journalistic methods, if you didn't twist everything to conform to your pitifully moronic political philosophy, and if you didn't spend the majority of your useless life promoting yourself, rather than penning articles of interest, then perhaps you wouldn't "inevitably be the target of all sorts of personal attacks and smears".

Fact is, if you were a journalist of merit, you'd actually have an epidermis. I can fucking see the blood coursing through your blue veins every time you open your gullet.

[Luminous Animal]

5. "I can fucking see the blood coursing through your blue veins"... Odd, I was thinking

similar about you when I read your post.

[SidDithers]

9. Nailed it...nt

Sid

[quinnox]

7. I don't like the spin you put on this

Yuck. This article should be re-posted by a progressive.

[backscatter712]

16. +1!

[Marr]

8. Anyone else smell burning irony?

"That always seemed like a non sequitur to me: how would disclosing Ellsberg's most private thoughts and psychosexual assessments discredit the revelations of the Pentagon Papers?

How does suggesting Greenwald is an egotistical attention hound discredit the information he helped put forward?

[arely staircase]

12. it doesn't, his shitty reporting however does

nt

[backscatter712]

13. There's a reason Nixon sent his plumbers to Ellsberg's shrink's office...

Because this sort of character-assassination bullshit works. People are dumb.

"Don't talk about the American Stasi, argue about Snowden!"

"Don't talk about the Pentagon Papers, argue about how Ellsberg's crazy!"

[Luminous Animal]

17. Don't talk about the surveillance state because Greenwald owes back taxes!

[baldguy]

10. And if Snowden or Greenwald was shown kicking a puppy, some DUers would cheer.

After all, didn't the NAZIS like dogs, too?

[Luminous Animal]

14. Let me get this straight...

1) Greenwald shown kicking a dog. (Unlikely - he has 10, 8 of which were rescued off the streets of Rio and found homes for 6 puppies which he flew around the world to adopting families at his own expense... but I digress.)

2) Some DUers cheer him because he is not like a Nazi who loved dogs.

3) Some DUers boo him because those DUers ARE akin to dog-loving Nazis

Okey-doke.

Maybe you could help me out here because I don't know which to choose:

#1 - I am not a Nazi because I am a supporter of a hypothetical dog-kicker.

#2 - I am a DUer and Nazi because I like dogs.

[baldguy]

19. .

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023105604#post6

[Luminous Animal]

20. Still don't get it but that is okay. Thanks for trying, though. I mean it sincerely.

[arely staircase]

11. and his massive ego

nt

[ljm2002]

18. I don't remember Greenwald ever claiming...

...that it was all "about Snowden". So saying "It's no longer about Snowden" is rather a non sequitur, and really just a lazy man's barb.

Furthermore, while it is true that Snowden is being smeared much more vigorously, Greenwald is also being smeared. His journalism is being openly challenged by so-called "journalists" who wouldn't know a real news story if it came up and bit them three times on the ass.

You seem to think he has no right to answer his critics. That when David Gregory asks Greenwald whether he should be arrested for doing what investigative reporters do, he should just sit there and take it. That when Joyce Reid says he is lying about his involvement with Snowden, he should remain silent. That when other journalists say he should be arrested, he should not make his own case in whatever forums he has access to.

That is absurd.