As noted, this declaration by Google does not reflect government requests pursuant to the use of “national security letters”, PATRIOT Act, or the FISA Amendments Act. That said, EPIC has DoJ’s stats on some of those requests over a nearly three-decade period. Note how radically NSL requests have jumped since 2004, and how the Obama administration’s own pattern of use is on par with–if not exceeding–the pattern seen during the Bush 43 presidency.

Kevin,

Have Klaidman or Sanger ever said why they journalistically “disappeared” the boy from their books?

Pat

So the Administration that has prosecuted or attempted to prosecute more whistleblowers than any other in U.S. history issues an election-season directive that specifically omits the Office of Special Counsel as a covered entity to whom intel community whistleblowers can turn. Coincidence?

The only way we will ever see real protections for IC whistleblowers is when a former IC whistleblower is elected to the Senate, where said person could shut down the legislative process until a real law with real teeth is passed.

It’s worth remembering that the AUMF in question was signed into law 11 years ago today: http://www.longstrangejourney.com/journal/2012/9/17/91801-and-the-age-of-endless-war.html

This kind of retaliation could not take place unless the climate for it to flourish had been created by the Administration. More prosecutions of whistleblowers under Obama than any other president–including Bush 43 and Nixon. Think about that for a moment…and think about successive Congresses have compounded the problem by being decidedly unwelcoming to whistleblowers. Anybody know the House or Senate Intel whistleblower hotline number? No? That’s because they don’t exist.

Moreover, the incredible detective work Marisa Taylor had to engage in was made all the harder because of the current climate. Most executive branch employees have been intimidated into silence precisely because they know what the score is: talk to a reporter at your own risk; if we find out it was you, we will come after you with everything we have…even if you’re exposing waste, fraud, abuse or violations of law.

Very surprised people forgot this one:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xgkv37_hole-in-the-world-eagles_music

My thanks again to you, Tim, and to the entire FDL community…and if you haven’t become an FDL Member, please do so!

It helps if you trade arms for hostages…I hear that gets you a prime-time show. :)

people shouldn’t fear their governments, governments should fear their people. :)

My sincere thanks to all!

Multiple Presidents from both parties have used the CIA to overthrow governments and assassinate those the USG wanted out of the way. Weiner’s book (“Legacy of Ashes”) does a pretty good job of chronicling that part of the CIA’s history. The current Oval Office occupant has certainly not shied away from using the CIA for such missions.

It would help if we had a President who did not start his administration by urging us to “look forward, not back.” Accountability–electoral and legal–is the bedrock of a functioning democracy. We do not have such a functioning democracy today. I like to tell people that while we may be living in “The United States of America” we long ago ceased living in “The Republic of the United States of America.” Accountability must be restored to our institutions–executive branch, Congress, and the judiciary. It’s up to us to do it.

Yes, Halabja is a name that will live in infamy in the twisted annals of the history of chemical warfare. Absolutely hideous what was done to the people of that city.

Lindh wasn’t AQ, but with the Taliban, I believe. Bin Laden and his inner circle are extremely adept at practicing operational security; it’s the reason they’re still at large almost 10 years after 9/11.

That’s a good one! :)

One of my favorite topics. On balance, yes, I think the prior agency connections are a clear source of bias/reluctance to really take on the IC. I don’t think prior IC service should be a disqualifier–I just think that anyone who is going to serve on the staff of the House or Senate Intelligence Committees should have to convincingly demonstrate that they have a real commitment to aggressive, probing oversight…and above all an absolute commitment to ensuring the rule of law prevails.

They are absurd. If I put the text in front of a judge and showed him/her what was already in the public domain, they would (I would hope) laugh the CIA out of court. Sometimes I think the folks at the Publication Review Board (that’s what the book censor component is called) feel like they have to go after something in your book in order to justify their salaries. :)

Indeed. And of course, we have our own “Abu Ghraib East” right here in Virginia. Manning’s confinement conditions and treatment are Guantanamo-like.

Yes. I could potentially litigate over them, which I’ve not ruled out.