Former CIA Director James Woolsey has one wish for the holidays: for Edward Snowden to be tried for treason and “hanged.” That was Woolsey’s response to the suggestion of amnesty for Snowden.Of course, the National Intelligence Director can commit perjury and CIA officials can lie to Congress without nary an investigation let alone prosecution. Intelligence officials can run a torture program in violation of treaties and international law without punishment. CIA officials can openly destroy evidence so that it cannot be used against them in a criminal case and continue in office without penalty. The CIA director can even reveal classified evidence to a filmmaker working on a pro-torture movie. All of that is perfectly correct, but Snowden must die.
Woolsey was appearing with former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Hugh Shelton when he proclaimed that Snowden “should be prosecuted for treason. If convicted by a jury of his peers, he should be hanged by his neck until he is dead.”
Of course, Woolsey’s attitude toward holding CIA officials accountable is a bit more generous. When Congress demanded repercussions after the Aldrich Ames disaster on Woolsey’s watch, he refused and said “[s]ome have clamored for heads to roll in order that we could say that heads have rolled. Sorry, that’s not my way.” No, your way is hang whistleblowers while shielding intelligence officials.
After the Snowden disclosures, Congress has pledged reforms. The White House has admitted abuses. Now a federal judge has declared the entire program to be unconstitutional. Yet, Woolsey wants Snowden dead. Welcome back to America’s Animal Farm.
The metaphor at work, which the right-wing has propagandized onto the collective mind of the nation, is as follows:
(Security: Familyland, Fatherland, or Homeland? – 3, quoting Lakoff). Blind trust in “a strong father government” has led to an Orwellian world that the wishful mind of a child simply cannot believe in.
Step up adults.
The fascists are real and aren’t even trying to hide their fascism.
Leave the man alone…. Snowden deserves a Medal of Honor as well as the Nobel peace prize….. More deserving than the one receiving it a few years ago…..
The Woolsey’s and Bolton’s of the world would have us believe that they are speaking as responsible and furious patriots when they call for the prosecution of Snowden.
But the fact is that if we ever take the revelations of Snowden seriously then it is people like Woolsey and Bolton who would likely be prosecuted.
In that sense Woolsey and Bolton are not speaking for the general good but to suppress those who would build the case and give evidence against them.
They are speaking for their own self preservation.
While I and most everyone here consider Snowden a whistleblower, you all must have some level of realization that the government never will. I hope the guy gets amnesty in some stable, nice climate, country. I hope he finds a way to support himself and live comfortably in that country. Like you folks, I wish he could come home and be treated as a righteous whistleblower. But, that isn’t going to happen. I’m an unabashed realist.
It is Animal Farm. Torturers and murderers walk freely among us, some idolized by various members of the “news” media and followers among the population. These are people who simply either can’t or don’t care, to come to terms with the depravity of those they praise and protect at every turn.
We need to be a people united against wrong doing by this govt. and its corporate cronies. We need to unite for the rule of law. This means those who idolize the powerful, who protect and nurture them by ignoring or even praising them, must stop doing this.
As a nation, our powerful class is out of control. To continually present the situation as one of party politics is a form of propagandizing our people. The powerful don’t have a party, they use parties to deliberately obfuscate their power. We must stop buying their propaganda and see things as they are. USG is a vast police state, working hand and glove with corporations and other governments around the world to take resources from the earth and most of its peoples to benefit the few. The powerful have private armies at their disposal. They have media at their disposal.
Snowden is shedding light on the nature of these corporations/governments. Of course those who benefit from the way things are would like him dead. As more information comes out, there will be even more intense propaganda aimed at citizens so that we will not understand what is happening and takes steps to remedy the abuses at hand. The attempts to obfuscate and misdirect the people must be resisted. The truth should be supported. It is the basis of restoring justice.
The CIA tells “good” lies to protect us from outrageous truths.
Snowden exposes truth, to save us from outrageous lies.
If I were James Snowden I wouldn’t trust the government of the United States
What this country needs is a French revolution, these politicians win a popularity contest and they think their royality
Let’s hang James Clapper
The Kings and Queens of Stalingrad have no credibility mixed in with their vitriol, hubris, ignorance, and dishonesty.
James Madison, Ben Franklin and the other Framers must be spinning in their graves with our cuurent state of government! Sounds like a threat by King George III !
Lots of traitors in government need to be hanged. Everyone involved in creating the massive Nazi domestic survielance centers in Utah for instance. Probably all members of previous and currant administration need to have their necks stretched but Snowden is a hero who should, and will be celebrated by millions of free people around the world. Viva La Revolution !
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/john-bolton-snowden-ought-to-swing-from-a-tall-oak-tree Former Bush ambassador to the UN and Romney national security adviser, Jon Bolton, also expressed some similar thoughts.
Woolsey spent his adult life lying. His hatred for whistleblowers is expected.
Obama claimed he would change the government, make it more transparent. His hatred for whistleblowers is a shocking betrayal of the people who voted for him.
Snowden should not beleive any promises from Obama that he will be treated with dignity or respect. As an American, I am ashamed that this is true but it is.
Don’t forget high government fabricating information (lying), about WMDs, Iran Contra, trickle down economics to name a few. And Obama’s ‘Justice’ Department not being able to prosecute one single lying, corrupt, criminal bankster.
As Goebbels knew so well: “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.”
The CIA is living the lie.
Maybe Mr. Woolley should be investigated to see what is in his closet!
Reblogged this on Brittius.com.
Sure, right next to Bush & Cheney!
Do the right thing and you are condemned. Engage in greed, corruption, scams, and violence and you are glorified. We live in an upside-down world.