David Gregory’s “Hey I’m just asking but are you a criminal?” question on Sunday’s Meet the Press has been getting a lot of attention, but it’s not the only Sunday morning discussion of Edward Snowden that deserves a look.
On ABC‘s This Week, former Iraq War military spokesperson Dan Senor offered his take, along with ABC military correspondent Martha Raddatz (6/23/13):
SENOR: Snowden’s, you know, interviews that he gave, and documents he released to the Chinese press, obviously puts us in a very uncomfortable position. But I think domestically, the U.S., I think this further strengthens the center on national security. I think there was a real risk over the last couple weeks that there would be this left/right coalition that would backlash against the United States government, sort of libertarian uprising. And I think Snowden just traveling around the world, flying to these anti-American capitals, behaving the way he’s doing further strengthens—I think the center is holding right now in the U.S., and I think that’s a positive development.
RADDATZ: How about the great irony here, that he’s complaining about the United States and all these things the United States is doing wrong, and he might end up in Venezuela? Good luck, pal.
SENOR: Right.
So we have the usual scoffing about Snowden’s possible destination—Venezuela, where Raddatz apparently thinks criticizing the government isn’t allowed. But Senor’s other point is deeper, and more revealing. To him, “there was a real risk” that the Snowden story would produce a “left/right coalition” that would oppose NSA’s policies. But Snowden’s behavior has thankfully put a damper on that.
It’s a point that was made elsewhere in the show—which, to be clear, did not try very hard to present a wide-ranging debate on this issue. Richard Haass of the Council on Foreign Relations had this to say:
Look, so many people in media and elsewhere called this guy a whistleblower. He’s not a whistleblower. He’s a felon. He has endangered the lives of Americans. I think this story is beginning to turn, and that’s important.
ABC host George Stephanopoulos could have pointed out that being accused of a crime isn’t the same thing as being guilty. Or he could have asked Haass to explain how Snowden has endangered millions. Instead, he said this:
And the majority of Americans, as you point out, do believe he should be prosecuted.
Well, thanks for that.
So is the center “holding” on Snowden and the NSA’s surveillance? That’s hard to say. A Gallup poll (6/12/13) found 53 percent disapproved of the NSA surveillance program, with 37 percent approving. Much of the public discussion about Snowden notes that there are certain incongruities; many support prosecuting Snowden, but also believe that his disclosures served the public interest—49 percent to 44 percent, according to a recent USA Today/Pew poll (6/18/13).
Interestingly, ABC (6/19/13) has its own polling on the issue of prosecuting Snowden. They found 43 percent supported charging him—and 48 percent opposed. So “the majority of Americans” are not telling Stephanopoulos’ network that they believe Snowden should be prosecuted.
Given the media debate about the Snowden revelations—when shows like This Week have discussions that feature three different flavors of Snowden criticism—the fact that many in the public still support his whistleblowing suggests that Senor’s fears of a broad pro-transparency movement might be well-placed.
By the way, I just noticed the author of this article posts his twitter address as peterfhart … that seems kind of clueless, it reads like peter f-hart … peterfart.
That graphic in the accompanying screenshot is rather revealing, don’t you think?
“Finding America’s #1 Fugitive” certainly conveys the tone of corpress coverage and commentary
But “Whistleblower Manhunt” is something of a Freudian slip, considering that Snowden’s been stripped of that appellation among all the fine young and old cannibals, who salivate over the prospect of his entrails as a savory appetizer.
Call it a dollop of truth
In a steaming mass of manipulation.
This is not the first (or second or third) time that Administration mouthpieces have come right our and said that the TOP concern following Snowden’s disclosures is that there will be a national debate — the kind with input from the people. For instance, that’s what James Clapper, Director of National Intelligence said when asked, point blank, by Andrea Mitchell (on June 8 ) to describe what the harm is:
ANDREA MITCHELL: How has it hurt American intelligence?
JAMES CLAPPER: Well, while we’re having this debate, discussion, and all this media explosion– which of course supports transparency, which is a great thing in this country, but that same transparency has a double-edged sword. And that our adversaries, whether a nation state adversaries or nefarious groups benefit from that same transparency. So as we speak, they’re going to school and learning how we do this. And so that’s why it potentially has– can render great damage to our intelligence capabilities.
Source: http://www.nbcuni.com/corporate/newsroom/nbc-news-exclusive-transcript-of-andrea-mitchells-interview-with-director-of-national-intelligence-james-clapper/
The concern is not that Snowden’s materials revealed anything. The concern is that Snowden’s materials might raise a national consciousness about intrusions into private matters and that, in turn, will lead to a public debate. Clapper fears that our enemies might learn from our democratic process. That’s ambitious thinking on his part. I’m simply hoping that our own government will pick up a pointer or two.
Where have all the journalists gone? Long time passing.
Where have all the journalists gone? Long time ago.
Where have all the journalists gone?
Pols have picked them every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?
Tired of your rights being exploited by the NSA?
Here’s the REAL problem: Freedom on the Rocks – Federal Tyranny versus Terrorism will give you the true scope, intent and end-goal of the NSA’s digital dragnet:
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Here’s the solution (at least individually). It’s a free Digital Privacy Black Paper; it shows you, with simple technical references and resources, how to disappear yourself and your personal communications from the prying eyes and master data recorders of the NSA and other elements of our intrusive national security apparatus. Enjoy!
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Please pass this onto your friends, family, and business associates.
He does need to come to trial, and present his side; but the trial must be public, and totally transparent. They don’t have to release the data he took, but he does have to show why he did what he did.
A TRAITOR TO CORPORATE RULE IS A HERO TO DEMOCRACY!
Open letter to ABC et all you corporate media,
Let’s get one thing straight:
There is no higher law than the U.S. Constitution, which Obama is guilty of violating through the NSA and other crimes. Obama belongs in prison (along with Bush Sr…etc) and must be impeached for his crimes against the US Constitution and the American people. (And if you will recall, Nixon resigned for much lesser crimes)
The only thing Snowden did was expose Obama’s crimes against the US Constitution. Anyone who is against what Snowden did is only showing their true colors as the “seig heil” traitors they are, more devoted to the mysterious corporate agenda of “national security” than they are to the core of our democracy.
Obama’s hunt for Snowden, only adds to the transparency that “national security” is all about protecting the corporate interests of the 1% from democracy.
And we all know from experience that “national security” has not a damned thing to do with protecting the American tax-payer from criminal bankers destroying our economy…etc. right?!
They see us. We see them…
So, what remains now is for the American people to make that final move of doing away with ALL corporate media and their outlets for all their blatant lies and breach of trust, and remove their licenses to use our public airwaves. And that’s just to start.
But most importantly-
With regards to the “war on terrorism,” which has been used for years as the main justification for deferring to the mysterious “national security” over the US Constitution-
When you have architects and engineers from all over the world saying the 3 buildings that fell on 9/11/2001 were controlled demolitions, then that’s what they were whether we like it or not.
Science is not a conspiracy theory. But the theory that we need to give up our civil liberties for our government to protect us better from the terrorists has got to be the STUPIDEST CONSPIRACY THEORY OF ALL.
It is therefore, impossible not to conclude that the govt (granted, corporate-controlled, clearly NOT democratically controlled) is covering up and was directly involved in the heinous 9/11 attack on the American people of New York City for the sole purpose of getting us to agree to lose our civil liberties, thereby making the transition to a totalitarian corporate dictatorship much smoother (if you still don’t believe that then take a look at Obama’s goddamned TPP!).
If we don’t have the guts to speak the obvious for fear of being called a “conspiracy theorist” by those who believe the stupidest conspiracy theory of them all, then we’re certainly not the “laaaand of the freeeeeeee, and the home of the braaave,” are we?
(Jesus! All this shit going down just in time for the 4th of July -should make for interesting dinner conversation- WHAT THE FUCK ARE WE CELEBRATING?!)
Keen insights as always, Brux.
Mr. Senor is wrong, and even Yeats knew that long ago, I don’t think the center is holding
The Second Coming.
“Turning and turning in the widening gyre,
the falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart, the center cannot hold,
mere anarchy is loosed upon the world.
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed
and everywhere the ceremony of innocence is drowned.
The best lack all convicctions and the worst are filled with passionate intensity..” ( that part pretty much sounds like Congress right now.)
There are more stanzas, but somehow this part seems like where we are right now.
The center is not holding.
When I keep hearing about abuses of reason and the truth by people like Stephenopoulos, I remember why I threw out my Television and my Radio back in 2009 – the people allowed to address the public in the mainstream media have no respect for the truth whatsoever and so there’s no reason to consume anything from the MSM. What I think would be a healthy sign would be to hear how 53% of the public had completely and totally tuned out of that lie-and-propaganda circus as I have – and how the MSM’s revenues were CRASHING as a result. But, no such luck. The circus continues merrily along … I can only continue to suggest, again and again, that we, all of us, BOYCOTT the whole nonsense until it truly dies from our lack of interest. I used to think it was extreme but for a while now I have understood how good and profound the advice is – the bumper sticker that says KILL YOUR TELEVISION.
Tere are two dynamics going on here.The first is:Is Snowden a hero whistle blower,or is he a traitor?As we find out more,I think Public sentiment is turning against him.That being said ,some of the information he released has everyone angry at government over reach.So in a sense we(the majority)are meeting in agreement.On both these issues.
We would never know anything if not for the whistle blowers.
It is NOT patriotic to take the governments’ word for what they are doing at any given time, knowing the history of humans and their leaders.
I laugh at the pronouncements of the press that we all want gun control, cameras on every corner, and anyone who speaks the truth silenced. If you take the opposite of what they tell you, then you are getting close to the truth.
Here’s an idea….How about our leaders not doing things that have to be uncovered? Man, they hate it when you think for yourself instead of letting them tell you what to think.
Dan Senor views should always scrutinized as a person who has also pledged allegiance to a foreign entity and divided “patriotism”. As Ian Master covered during the bush elections (and possibly in Middle East In Focus – kpfk), Senor’s wife runs AIPAC in Israel.
We would never stand to have so many dual agenda operatives of a foreign power in government buying and blackmailing for political influence and coersion as one particular group. We objected when dubai wanted to buy the shipping ports, China when they wanted to buy unocal and now smithfiled. Imagine if they had the same number of people installed in positions of influence and news “punditry” sto that they also always got their way for their foreign self interest. Clearly there is a double standard at work.