AP: Journalist Glenn Greenwald to Investigate the NSA's Role in Washington's Assassination Program
Source: Associated Press
@AP: Journalist Glenn Greenwald to investigate the NSA's role in Washington's assassination program: http://t.co/GrB1SBROBv -KH
GLENN GREENWALD WORKING ON NEW NSA REVELATIONS
By JENNY BARCHFIELD
Sep. 28 10:15 PM EDT
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) Two American journalists known for their investigations of the United States' government said Saturday they've teamed up to report on the National Security Agency's role in what they described as a U.S. assassination program.
Glenn Greenwald, the Rio-based journalist who has written stories about U.S. surveillance programs based on documents leaked by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, is now working with Jeremy Scahill, a contributor to The Nation magazine and the New York Times best-selling author of "Dirty Wars."
"The connections between war and surveillance are clear. I don't want to give too much away but Glenn and I are working on a project right now that has at its center how the National Security Agency plays a significant, central role on the U.S. assassination program," said Scahill, speaking to moviegoers in Rio de Janeiro, where the documentary based on his book made its Latin American debut at the Rio Film Festival.
"There are so many stories that are yet to be published that we hope will produce 'actionable intelligence,' or information that ordinary citizens across the world can use to try to fight for change, to try to confront those in power," said Scahill.
Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/glenn-greenwald-working-new-nsa-revelations
starroute
(12,977 posts)I'm looking forward to this one.
nashville_brook
(20,958 posts)TheDebbieDee
(11,119 posts)Glenn Greenwald knows TOO MANY SECRETS!
Phuck him and the horse he rode in on!
nashville_brook
(20,958 posts)NealK
(1,899 posts)Newsjock
(11,733 posts)Will this be a simple five-in-a-row, or are we going for Total Blackout this time?
PSPS
(13,647 posts)I see one of the reliable clan is already here with meaningless non sequiturs.
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)Complain about spying and then do the same. I knew this was happening, is this legal spying, was there a warrant issued? What court was the warrant issued? Was it a secret court? Was it a kangaroo court?
christx30
(6,241 posts)without doing some digging? This is what investigative reporting is all about. It's not just reading and copying a White House press briefing. I can't wait to hear what they uncover. If the bad guys are so worried about their deeds getting out, maybe they should look at just not doing those things any more.
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)christx30
(6,241 posts)don't know the nature of investigative journalism?
Reporters don't get warrants. They can't subpoena information or or compel testimony. You're thinking of the police. That's why if you watch The Newsroom, you never see Mac or Will tell their reporters to get warrants, or "Make sure you get a judge's signature by 1PM so we can get it on the show tonight."
They don't have to. They are not government agents.
Would you say that Woodward and Bernstein were dirty, no good spies because of what they got the information about the Watergate hotel? There was a time that reporters actually did their job and reported to the American people things that the government would rather get out.
If they report on something that sparks an independent government investigation and people are in danger of going to jail, THEN warrants will be issued for more information. But reporters are not spies or cops. These men are doing their jobs.
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)Investigative reporting which is sometimes very similar in nature to security evaluations but some people just don't seem to think it is the same. I get very tired of hearing those who want total privacy and still want to spy on others and think this is okay.
christx30
(6,241 posts)to "spy" on the government. Go after stories they might not want us to know about.
Did the government use signals intelligence to track down and murder people without trial or due process? I don't know, but I wouldn't be surprised. Let's find out. The White House and the intelligence community sure as hell aren't going to just come out and tell us in a press packet. So we need journalists to find out. Did it happen? If it did, who authorized/ordered it? What legal justification was used? How many people are on this list of targets? Is this how they found and killed Anwar al-Awlaki? None of these questions will be answered voluntarily. So we need people like Greenwald to find out the answers for us. This is not about your or anyone else's personal life. This is about how far into illegality/unconstitutional activity they have gone.
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)This is one time the public was told and Greenwald did not come out until 2013. This makes what Greenwald does attempting to make a scandal and the only scandal is Greenwald. Snowden is a patsy to purposely go to work for the NSA with full intent to spy and steal, if many are concerned with their private information being released you need to worry about scumbags like Snowden and Greenwald wanting to release your private information Snowden stole.
christx30
(6,241 posts)It's about using signals intelligence to target people for extra-judicial killing.
And even if Snowden is a scumbag that steals data, isn't it worse that the NSA is collecting it in the first place?
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)christx30
(6,241 posts)a rubberstamping court (150 warrants applied for, with 149 approved outright) hand picked by John Roberts. Not exactly checks and balances. Plus, they have a blanket warrant (which isn't really a warrant, and more like a "We can do anything we want to." , and not for individual cases. Everyone's information is being grabbed, and not just the bad guys.
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)christx30
(6,241 posts)the government assassinating people without due process, then.
DirkGently
(12,151 posts)Spies collect secret information for private or authoritarian use.
Pretty tough to honestly conflate the practice of revealing secret government activity against the people, to the people, and conducting secret surveillance against the people to use against the people.
inch4progress
(270 posts)Jeesh, he set himself up for that one.
JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)The NSA spying intrudes on individuals' private lives. That is objectionable and in my opinion a violation of several articles and amendments of the Constitution.
Investigative reporting about the government concerns finding out what the government is trying to hide from the people and revealing those secrets to the people.
The goal of the spying is to create a secret record of very personal information, in this case, primarily about individuals or companies.
The goal of investigative reporting is to serve the public interest by finding out and publish a truth, usually about some scandalous behavior on the part of the government or someone in the government or a private entity or individual that the government or some entity or person is trying to keep secret, but which the public should have the right to know.
Greenwald is doing investigative reporting. It is an essential function in a democracy.
nashville_brook
(20,958 posts)i think that's the ultimate concern for myself.
spy on terrorists all you want. find them and stop them before they bomb marathons and malls (if you can).
but the dragnet must stop. there is no reason for dragnet surveillance except to control large numbers of people thru fear -- and that's unacceptable.
some privileged Americans have a difficult time seeing the difference here. they think that spying is itself evidence that the spied-upon is guilty. this is exactly the dystopian tableau i'd like to eliminate.
Celefin
(532 posts)Actual news media should be illegal? Are you serious? Soviet Pravda preferable?
Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed: everything else is public relations.
-George Orwell
nashville_brook
(20,958 posts)if it's a good faith mistake it's sad. if it's rhetorical posturing it's even more sad.
Wilms
(26,795 posts)"The really important thing to realize is the desire for surveillance is not a uniquely American attribute," said Greenwald. "America has just devoted way more money and way more resources than anyone else to spying on the world.
pnwmom
(109,028 posts)Kolesar
(31,182 posts)pnwmom
(109,028 posts)Not that it matters, because no one's saying that politicians these days are gentlemen.
nashville_brook
(20,958 posts)doesn't mean we will always have control of it.
Wilms
(26,795 posts)That's how Snowden was able to do what he did.
nashville_brook
(20,958 posts)that these programs need to be put under strict control appropriate to the power they have. definitely not something we want spread around into a zillion little pieces to a zillion subcontractors.
silvershadow
(10,336 posts)People investigating things generally don't last long. (The car won't guarantee him safety, but it's one less thing to worry about).
On edit: Reference Michael Hastings.
reddread
(6,896 posts)black 63 500 sedan. 427, couple of four barrels. much more fun than a rolls, even if they werent smoother than a rolls
until 65.
leveymg
(36,418 posts)I still prefer this '67 model with the same engine, personally:
reddread
(6,896 posts)I'll settle for my sedan, wish I had a picture to post on this coast.
Bar none, the sexiest ass on any car ever,
when you dont have that addon roof line to distract.
The most exotic of iron exhaust manifold castings. Chrome Baldies etc.
A bundle of snakes on a Lotus about the only thing sexier.
But any Ford in a storm.
struggle4progress
(118,379 posts)jsr
(7,712 posts)Maedhros
(10,007 posts)This will be an important piece of journalism.
vanlassie
(5,695 posts)Ellipsis
(9,124 posts)dkf
(37,305 posts)If I hadn't been following the NSA story I wouldn't understand the significance of what was happening there. It was pretty uncanny in its concerns of rogue officials. The sad thing is the movies had consequences while real life has none.
2banon
(7,321 posts)Must have been a beaut!!
dkf
(37,305 posts)2banon
(7,321 posts)'particularly young Americans who think he's some kind of Jason Bourne'...
Thanks for the belly laugh!
priceless... well maybe there's hope for the old fart after all, though I doubt it!
99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)2banon
(7,321 posts)been worrying about Scahill since days of his reporting on Blackwater ...
DeSwiss
(27,137 posts)I wonder how far back he'll be going?
- K&R
Peace Patriot
(24,010 posts)Recommended: "JFK and the Unspeakable: Why He Died and Why It Matters," by James Douglass.
The new investigators won't have to lift a finger, except to open that book. But there are certainly other CIA assassinations to be exposed.
I suspect that they have been investigating more recent events. I don't know who or what, but I guess we all have our lists of suspicious deaths* and wished we had the investigative resources to look into them. I wonder who is on their lists and what they've found out.
----------------
*Some names on my list:
David Kelly.
John Wheeler.
Ashley Turton.
Attempt on Gabriella Giffords.
Chandra Levy.
Paul Wellstone.
The phenomenon of crazy, random shooters.
nashville_brook
(20,958 posts)DeSwiss
(27,137 posts)SoapBox
(18,791 posts)Yawn. ...he's got no cred.
pnwmom
(109,028 posts)I'd rather target and "assassinate" someone like bin Laden than be involved in a needless war.
inch4progress
(270 posts)Whichever prison Bin Laden might have been placed in would immediately have become a target for terrorists! Either they would kill our guys trying to liberate him or try to blow the place up, making a martyr out of Bin Laden.
I'm glad Obama has more sense and composure than I do!
reddread
(6,896 posts)no justice. Just lies and more lies.
pnwmom
(109,028 posts)reddread
(6,896 posts)not justice. not closure. not truth. not preventative.
not even factual.
every other bad guy got a pretty public farewell.
what made him special??
the truth.
pnwmom
(109,028 posts)Or even an ugly one. I'm glad that this megalomanic attention-seeker died out of sight and rests forever in obscurity.
Wilms
(26,795 posts)But that it wasn't for 9/11?
Interesting stuff to research and consider.
pnwmom
(109,028 posts)He was wanted for them.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/27/AR2006082700687.html
And I'm specifically referring to him NOT being on the 10 Most wanted in connection to 9/11.
I admit, that has caught my attention.
pnwmom
(109,028 posts)and he never was, not for 9/11.
For 9/11, he was being treated as a war criminal, not as someone who would be indicted under the US criminal justice system. When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, we didn't put anyone on the F.B.I. list for that crime, either.
Wilms
(26,795 posts)I relied on reports of the FBI's answer.
Surprised by the ease in which this FBI spokesman made such an astonishing statement, I asked, How this was possible? Tomb continued, Bin Laden has not been formally charged in connection to 9/11. I asked, How does that work? Tomb continued, The FBI gathers evidence. Once evidence is gathered, it is turned over to the Department of Justice. The Department of Justice than decides whether it has enough evidence to present to a federal grand jury. In the case of the 1998 United States Embassies being bombed, Bin Laden has been formally indicted and charged by a grand jury. He has not been formally indicted and charged in connection with 9/11 because the FBI has no hard evidence connected Bin Laden to 9/11.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article13664.htm
pnwmom
(109,028 posts)Hard or otherwise.
9/11 was treated as an act of war almost immediately, and people who commit acts of war don't get investigated by the FDI or indicted in a U.S. court.
Wilms
(26,795 posts)http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/history/famous-cases/9-11-investigation
But really, I think I see where you're coming from.
pnwmom
(109,028 posts)But it clearly happened at some point. Since they already had him on the wanted list for the Embassy crime, why would they need to add him to it again? What difference would it have made?
Wilms
(26,795 posts)But in this case, I linked a report where the FBI said it was a result of not having any evidence. Period. This is among an array of inconsistencies in the official story.
Check out the unanswered "Question" on the 9/11 Commission site:
http://www.911independentcommission.org/questions.html
Check out Operation Northwoods' "Plane Swapping".
http://www2.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/news/20010430/index.html
These aren't Alex Jones sites.
There are serious people asking serious questions. Never mind the ones who say Martians did it with X-ray beams or whatever. That's noise intended to feed the "nutty" "conspiracy theory" meme and discredit individuals.
I was pretty happy with the official story for a while and accidentally bumped into the questions. I dug. I don't know what happened on 9/11. But I know it isn't what I had thought. It was an extremely uncomfortable realization. Extremely. I understand those not wanting to look too closely at this.
pnwmom
(109,028 posts)Or maybe they made that statement earlier?
Wilms
(26,795 posts)Then "he" said he did.
Now there's a lot of fund-raising he could do claiming responsibility...so he figures, "why not cash in". Or maybe he was already dead, and someone is faking the videos. And that someone doesn't even have to be the "CIA". It's not clear to me. But that's because it's not clear. And that's my main point. It's not always necessary to be right but it helps to know when something doesn't add up.
Have a look at those links I posted.
pnwmom
(109,028 posts)The Associated Press said Mr. bin Laden also went on to say in the videotape: "God knows that it had not occurred to our mind to attack the towers, but after our patience ran out and we saw the injustice and inflexibility of the American-Israeli alliance toward our people in Palestine and Lebanon, this came to my mind."
"To the U.S. people, my talk is to you about the best way to avoid another disaster," The A.P. reported him as saying. "I tell you, security is an important element of human life and free people do not give up their security."
He went on to say: "If Bush says we hate freedom, let him tell us why we didn't attack Sweden, for example. It is known that those who hate freedom do not have dignified souls, like those of the 19 blessed ones," he said, referring to the 19 hijackers.
Wilms
(26,795 posts)I have warned that the material is disturbing. But I'm here to help point you toward it, not review the pretty well known official story elements.
If you don't want to look at those links, I understand.
pnwmom
(109,028 posts)Wilms
(26,795 posts)Again, I have provided government links. If you want to peruse them, you may.
I am not here to win you over to any point of view, merely to aid objectivity. And I'm certainly not here to assist your disinterest.
Best regards.
pnwmom
(109,028 posts)But go ahead and enjoy your trip.
Wilms
(26,795 posts)Click 'em.
2banon
(7,321 posts)2007 interview with David Frost, she just mentions in passing that Osama was killed in Dec 2001 by someone she names as Omar Sheikh.. (not sure who he is). anyhow I posted that vid in a different post yesterday.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3744088
[link:
Wilms
(26,795 posts)Who knows? But the whole thing stinks. That much my nose is certain of.
check out that vid, if you have a couple of minutes.. it's not the full interview, just a segment with the relevant and startling factoid among other things.
And I heard her.
Like I said. It's really not clear what happened.
and that's the way it supposed to be...
2banon
(7,321 posts)straight from the horses mouth.. interesting this didn't get more attention at the time.. and because it didn't, most everyone in this country bought hook line and sinker that OBL was the bogeyman..
I wonder who the 'cut out' was in Pakistan ?
That operation must have been pre-approved by the Pakistan govt.. who then feigned outrage once "mission was accomplished" finally closing this chapter of one of the biggest fictions ever told to the American Public, and got away with.
reddread
(6,896 posts)the truth is out there, somewhere.
disregarded.
History being malleable with a little cooperation from consolidated corporate "journalists"
https://www.google.com/#psj=1&q=bin+laden+khobar+towers
pnwmom
(109,028 posts)reddread
(6,896 posts)you are seated right beside GWB and JEB if you wish to join the list of ]people to publically accuse me.
And you do show a complete disregard for the victims of terrorism.
you do.
shame on you.
pnwmom
(109,028 posts)I'm not going on a random google search to please you.
reddread
(6,896 posts)Surely they come in handy sometimes?
there are loads of articles out there.
Not conspiracy theory, REPORTING.
olddad56
(5,732 posts)reddread
(6,896 posts)that the military and subcontractors might consider spamming message boards with
anything but usable information.
That will be the last shoe that drops in the NSA unveiling.
that will outrage us all.
I dont mean maybe.
reddread
(6,896 posts)not your problem?
what is that old saw about those who forget history?
pnwmom
(109,028 posts)I haven't heard a single one speak out against the way this was handled. Have you?
reddread
(6,896 posts)only what is left of my family.
pnwmom
(109,028 posts)Yeah, maybe i should.
are you ok disrespecting the victims of terrorism?
Seems so unAmerican.
pnwmom
(109,028 posts)And I don't believe that killing bin Laden and burying him at sea was disrespectful to anyone.
well, enjoy your version of reality, i wont waste another moment of your time.
like Roger Waters sang- history is for fools.
No fool you.
reddread
(6,896 posts)you dont waste time contradicting yourself, do you?
Mojorabbit
(16,020 posts)people in the party don't think that it is ok for the govt to assassinate people. That can lead to a slippery slope and is against everything this country stands for.
pnwmom
(109,028 posts)that "most people in the party" had any disagreement with our armed forces killing bin Laden?
Or even most DUers?
Mojorabbit
(16,020 posts)This country's centerpiece is rule of law. Not just when it is convenient.
alcibiades_mystery
(36,437 posts)polynomial
(750 posts)Obvious hype from authors like this builds a story as an Alice in wonderland. Doors open, and close in a fast paced theater action pact. Perhaps the leading characters are already selected. There convergence of conviction just an incredible fairy tale new scene of intrigue carnage, sex, mutilation, torture, money swindling, tied to government officials. They go to jail on screen in a pretend world that fills your ego with justice served. Hopefully those politico people know their constituents will feel good because they saw justice served and the guilty imprisoned on cable or DVD.
Thats it for any repentance, thats it for justice, thats it for the guilty going to jail. Thats it for money swindling or big bail out, thats it for too big to fail.
What the heck does it mean thats it? It means Hollywood is on the sidelines putting together that Cecil B Demille's greatest story ever told for that topic. Take the Bible played so much over the years it turns questionable in authority, sort of like looking at an old black and white how could people think that way. Or wonder if Indiana Jones really knew the arc of the covenant is really not a thing like a challis, or what some now think as a mathematical formula that is basic ballistics. That something cool the NSA would use from point a, to point b.
skying05
(5 posts)recomment
blkmusclmachine
(16,149 posts).
Uncle Joe
(58,596 posts)Thanks for the thread, Hissyspit.
bananas
(27,509 posts)Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)Thank whomever for people like him, Sy Hersch, Chris Hedges, Robert Fisk, and the few remaining anti-establishment journalists.
This will be interesting.....
keep us posted!
2banon
(7,321 posts)should use good manners and stay out of this thread, please
nashville_brook
(20,958 posts)how twisted their logic is.
their lack in manners reveals their lack of sound argument.
2banon
(7,321 posts)It's just that I'd like to see a good discussion on the heart of the story, anything more to add, minus all the bogus strawman or nonsensical bs that distract.
sigh...
nashville_brook
(20,958 posts)here's a story about German start-ups developing off-shore spy-free data centers:
http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB10001424052702303983904579096082938662594-lMyQjAxMTAzMDIwNzEyNDcyWj.html
sooooo... pretty ironic that Germany is leading the way, but not surprising b/c of post-Stasi reforms. they just don't tolerate this like we do. ironic, again.
2banon
(7,321 posts)to be forgotten.
I saw fantastic film a few years ago, trying to remember the title...
Setting East Germany, I think Berlin perhaps, period sometime just before the wall came down.
Musician, actress and other dissident artists & friends were being surveilled and harassed by the stazi regime. Apartment was bugged, and "listeners" were appointed to listen and record everything in every room of that apartment 24/7.
There was an interesting transformation that took place with the officer in charge following the suicide of one of the dissidents.
I wanted to say it was called The Listener, but I just googled that title, the listings doesn't match the film I saw in the theatres here.
darn!
excellent film whatever it was called.
nashville_brook
(20,958 posts)it gave you a sense of how mundane that dystopia is. it just becomes the norm and lives go on with this dreary weight.
2banon
(7,321 posts)It was an interesting peak into the window of that dark strange world...
and yes, what you said.. so perfectly.
and wasn't that the point? And then, the transformation... the awakening with the stazi officer in charge..
and then all of those files and files of index cards. my god..
NSA has it so easy, everything digitized - no hard copy required.
2banon
(7,321 posts)I'll have to give it a careful read at some point.. but just doing a quick skim through, it appears that Snowden's whistleblowing has had quite a major impact on hi-tech business operations due to the revelations of NSA collecting personal data. Cancelled contracts, I think I read 10% drop in Cloud usage (?) I would say that one was obvious right?
A major paradigm shift is what I'm hoping to see, but I thinks thats pipe dreaming. It would require Google, et al to tell NSA jump off a cliff, and I believe I recall reading somewhere that Google is a major contractor working with NSA. (needs fact checking)..
Not expecting that to happen, but maybe a genuine "do no evil" counter will surface, and we can all say g'bye google, it was nice for a little while, too bad you betrayed us.
Very interesting...thanks for the link.
nashville_brook
(20,958 posts)yes, i think this has rocked many corners of tech. it's a game changer.
treestar
(82,383 posts)nashville_brook
(20,958 posts)between surveillance and assassination. pretty important stuff if you ask me.
2banon
(7,321 posts)with certain posters here, if you get my drift.
Completely agree with you on importance.
treestar
(82,383 posts)And talk about facts. We already know these two have made up their minds. They don't even pretend objectivity.
Maedhros
(10,007 posts)On what grounds?
Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)to crying about anything and anyone that might reflect bad on the president. They have galloping ODS.
DirkGently
(12,151 posts)The headline says they're investigating. The piece says they're readying a report.
A very poor attempt at spin.
A very poor attempt at spin indeed.
bvar22
(39,909 posts)For those who don't know:
Jeremy Scahill (born October 18, 1974) is the National Security Correspondent for The Nation magazine and author of the international bestseller Blackwater: The Rise of the Worlds Most Powerful Mercenary Army, which won the George Polk Book Award. His newest book is Dirty Wars: The World Is a Battlefield, published by Nation Books on April 23, 2013. On January 8, 2013, the documentary film of the same name was released.
Scahill is a Fellow at The Nation Institute. He is also a producer and writer of the film Dirty Wars, which premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. Scahill learned the journalism trade and got his start as a journalist on the independently syndicated daily news show Democracy Now!. He lives in Brooklyn, NY.
[font size=3]Long March of Jeremy Scahill's 'Dirty Wars'[/font]
Americas covert warfarea bizarre form of unconscious wish fulfillmentwarrants Scahills unembedded, dogged, independent reporting.
http://www.thenation.com/article/173986/long-march-jeremy-scahills-dirty-wars#
Jeremy Scahill is one of the very best!
Greenwald & Scahill joining forces is good news for those who believe in Transparency and Informed Consent of the Governed.
If you DON'T believe in Transparency and Informed Consent?....well, we don't have much to talk about.
Throw in some Greg Palast, Seymour Hersh, and Bill Moyers for my Dream Team.
Very Happy DURec!!!
I wonder if DiFi considers them "Journalists".
[font color=firebrick size=3][center]"If we don't fight hard enough for the things we stand for,
at some point we have to recognize that we don't really stand for them."
--- Paul Wellstone[/font][/center]
[center][/font]
[font size=1]photo by bvar22
Shortly before Sen Wellstone was killed[/center][/font]
[font size=5 color=firebrick]Solidarity![/font]
nashville_brook
(20,958 posts)appacom
(296 posts)if what he finds goes against his preconceptions.