Conason: To Repair The Damage Done In NSA Blowup, Start With Clapper

[LondonReign2]

With the conviction of Bradley Manning and asylum granted to Edward Snowden in Russia, it may be time to turn attention away from the controversy over their actions and toward the government — specifically, the intelligence community. Whatever ultimate judgment is leveled on Manning’s or Snowden’s actions, they have raised real questions about the ways that the United States gathers, uses, and classifies information.

The first order of business is to restore a semblance of democratic order within the government itself. Somehow amid the hunt for Snowden and the trial of Manning, the misconduct of James Clapper, the director of national intelligence, has seemingly been excused. But if the actions of Manning and Snowden required prosecution, then what Clapper did deserves investigation and censure at the very least.

<snip>

Clapper’s false testimony echoed some of the worst trespasses against democratic governance of the previous administration. While it is wrong to say that the Obama administration is just as arrogant and authoritarian as was the Bush (and Cheney) regime, that moment in the Capitol encouraged those unflattering comparisons. It violated President Obama’s promises of integrity and transparency, and his oath to uphold the Constitution.

http://www.nationalmemo.com/to-repair-the-damage-done-in-nsa-blowup-start-with-clapper/

[HangOnKids]

1. K&R

Conason rocks. Thanks for posting.

[Scuba]

2. "The first order of business is to restore a semblance of democratic order within the government .."

Ain't that the truth!

[KoKo]

3. That's a gentle reprimand from Conason.

Let's hope his words are noticed somewhere in that Bubble in DC.

[n2doc]

4. Exactly.

We can go after Barry Bonds for Perjury, but we can't bother going after Clapper, who has fully admitted his crime? Obama's silence on this is deafening.

[LondonReign2]

5. I've asked the ProNSA contingent

why they don't have post after post saying Clapper should be held accountable for his actions as they do for Snowden, and could they please link me to their posts asking for him to be prosecuted.

Silence.

Seems that its OK when the Administration breaks the law, at least when it is the Blue Team.

Just more hypocrisy, like complaining about spying when Bush was in office and defending it tooth and nail under Obama.

Party before principles.

[reusrename]

6. How about some solitary confinement for him while he awaits trial?

Perhaps a little enhanced interrogation to go along with it?

[bemildred]

7. All of these dumb-ass suit-droids need to be retired, at a minimum.

The very fact they presided over the creation of this debacle ought to be quite sufficient.