Despite the risks to his personal safety, the whistleblower who leaked the FISA court order and NSA surveillance programs to The Guardian has revealed himself. Prior to giving the tapes to columnist Glenn Greenwald, the 29 year old Edward Snowden chose to leave the US for Hong Kong because of it long history of respect for freedom of speech. Like six other whistleblowers, he expects that he will be charged by the Obama administration under the 1917 Espionage Act. In the 12 minute video that was produced and copyrighted* by American documentary film director and producer, Laura Poitras, he explains his decision to give the secret warrant and programs to Greenwald and leave the United States.
by Glenn Greenwald, Ewen MacAskill and Laura Poitras, The Guardian
The 29-year-old source behind the biggest intelligence leak in the NSA’s history explains his motives, his uncertain future and why he never intended on hiding in the shadows
The individual responsible for one of the most significant leaks in US political history is Edward Snowden, a 29-year-old former technical assistant for the CIA and current employee of the defence contractor Booz Allen Hamilton. Snowden has been working at the National Security Agency for the last four years as an employee of various outside contractors, including Booz Allen and Dell.
The Guardian, after several days of interviews, is revealing his identity at his request. From the moment he decided to disclose numerous top-secret documents to the public, he was determined not to opt for the protection of anonymity. “I have no intention of hiding who I am because I know I have done nothing wrong,” he said.
Snowden will go down in history as one of America’s most consequential whistleblowers, alongside Daniel Ellsberg and Bradley Manning. He is responsible for handing over material from one of the world’s most secretive organisations – the NSA.
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Despite the consequences of whistleblowing for so many, still more whistleblowers are coming to fore. THIS is exactly what is needed. These individuals from Assange, Manning, Kierui(sp?) and others, we may not know about, and now, this brave soul, Snowden, have taken courageous stands for what they know is “wrong” from right. All of these dear souls deserve the uttermost support from ALL peoples the world over, for they are the voice of truth and, possibly, our “saviors.”
Since warrantless wire-tapping and spying on all types of communications was being utilized way back, after 2001, on suspected “terrorists,” it leads one to wonder why would it be necessary to spy on all Americans, in other words, broadening the NSA efforts to expand to any and all Americans! WHY?
My take is, it probably has little to do with searching for would be or real terrorists, but, rather, has to do with putting Americans on notice, should they become too dissident with their government: suppression. What led me to think this? Well, think about all the whistleblowers and the treatment they have received. Think about the suppression of the Occupy movement. Think about the many outrageous Police actions, with their goon outfits. Think about the FBI and their “false flag” events. Think about the Martial Law literal enactment played out after the Boston Marathon. Just some examples of how there is a definite pattern being played out, and one that is all too reminiscent of past history!