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Ex-CIA Director Calls For Snowden To Be “Hanged By His Neck Until He Is Dead”

R_James_Woolsey220px-Karl_Morgenschweis_prays_for_Franz_StrasserFormer 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.”

228px-Picture_of_Edward_SnowdenOf 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.

126 thoughts on “Ex-CIA Director Calls For Snowden To Be “Hanged By His Neck Until He Is Dead””

  1. Most appalling is that Obama would never dream of repudiating and distancing himself from the sentiments expressed by Woolsey and Bolton — which says an awful lot if his silence on the matter can itself be judged as a mode of communication.

  3. Michael Murry 1, December 18, 2013 at 1:44 pm

    As the ancient Sanskrit aphorism says: “Satyam Eva Jayati” (Only Truth Conquers)

    So let us have the truth, praise the truth-tellers, and unemploy the liars.
    ——————————-

    Yes.

    “Glenn Greenwald ‏@ggreenwald 5h

    Dear UK media: is Tory MP @JulianSmithMP blatantly lying about today’s EU Parliament testimony? Decide for yourself http://utdocuments.blogspot.com.br/2013/12/the-lie-of-mp-julian-smith.html …”

    http://utdocuments.blogspot.com.br/2013/12/the-lie-of-mp-julian-smith.html

    “I realize that expectations for the veracity and ethics of Tory MPs is exceedingly low, but this sort of lying – which he refused to acknowledge or apologize for once it was brought to his attention – descends well beneath even that low bar. An eagerness to see the Guardian criminally prosecuted for its journalism doesn’t justify public fabrications of this sort from public officials.”

  7. Why aren’t average Joe’s allowed to express themselves in such a way that is afforded these high brow people? To be allowed to go on air and wish, opine, dream of physical harm to the very people that have brought on our pains…
    … Joe plumber wishing for Clapper to be hung, or Sally Smith wishing for Bank CEO Blankfein to be hung, etc.

    Where’s those interviews?
    … ‘Cause I know the people are out there just waiting to be interviewed.

  8. Darren,

    I think that may have been true at one time…. Under Furman….. But since Gregg v Georiga is that still true? This is respect to the Capitol Punishment….

  9. As the ancient Sanskrit aphorism says: “Satyam Eva Jayati” (Only Truth Conquers)

    So let us have the truth, praise the truth-tellers, and unemploy the liars.

  10. How is it that men like James Woolsey climb so high in our democracy when their hearts are aghast at our Bill of Rights?

    Stephan Gregory Patterson

  11. One would think that a former CIA director would know that under federal law a person sentenced to death for espionage the execution method would be that of the state in which the conviction was handed down. If no death penalty is proscribed in that state the judge would be required to hand the case off to another state where the death penalty is authorized. Only two are applicable. New Hampshire only offers hanging if lethal injection was unavailable. Washington allows hanging if the condemned chooses it over lethal injection.

    My advice to Mr. Snowden would be to never trust anyone in the US Government, for obvious reasons. I recognize their are decent people working there but they ultimately report to an administration that only accepts the rule of law when it suits them.

  12. Also let’s not stereotype entire agencies as monolithic – many of these government employees agree with the ACLU and civil liberties groups – and disagree with the leaders of their own agencies trying to become a version of an East German Stasi.

    It is actually possible to have a “constitutional” CIA, constitutional FBI and constitutional NSA – if they would properly separate foreign citizens from American citizens (their employers – us)!

    If we stereotype the entire agency, we attack the “constitution wing” as well. Most subordinates have little control over corrupt leadership at their agencies.

  13. Dear,Ex-Director…. May your children and your children’s children all grow up to be progressive Democrats…

  14. John Bolton is as trustworthy as a snake. I think he and Woolsey are both worried about their names showing up in print from a Snowden leaked document!

  15. Woolsey’s own comments are Exhibit A in why he should never have had anything to do with government, but he has no self-awareness as to why that is true. The main problem with our Intelligence Establishment is that they aren’t.

  16. The ACLU’s position on Snowden by Executive Director, Anthony D. Romero:

    https://www.aclu.org/blog/national-security/edward-snowden-patriot

    A brief excerpt:

    “Edward Snowden is a great American and a true patriot. My colleagues and I at the ACLU are proud to be his legal advisors. We are committed to assisting him on legal issues he may confront.

    Thank goodness for patriots like him, who are willing to endure personal sacrifice to defend truths that we hold self-evident, but which too many Americans take for granted.”

  17. Its good to see so many well informed posters on the Turley site that are not fooled by the selective amnesia, sin of ommission apologists that provide cover for the establishment…

  18. **Bruce 1, December 18, 2013 at 9:27 am

    What this country needs is a French revolution, these politicians win a popularity contest and they think their royalty
    **

    Bruce, et al:

    I’ve seen on the web for the past few years suggestions for revolution and I flat out reject that idea!!!

    First off people need to recognize that there was a group of Nazi type aholes that violently revolted against our nation & now they are largely in control.

    And more importantly if any of you take action towards violence I would bet you will likely be arrested.

    What I think you guys are really wanting to say is you wish to Protect & Defend the US Constitution & use it to Arrest or Run Off the Nazi Aholes causing this trouble so we can restore the Republic.

    Like with myself, I’m Pro USA Government, it is those Nazi Ahole types in keyman slots that are Anti- USA Government!

    Maybe you’d say it different then I, but the point is I don’t anyone getting in trouble because they made a poor choice of words.

  19. It is good to see so many well informed contributors to the Turley site that are not fooled by the selective amnesia, sin of ommission methods of the establishment apologists…that try to muddy the waters to cover for their sins…what legal action can be taken to give Snowden support…?

  20. This response indicates those in the intelligence arena are terrified of Edward Snowden. John Bolton wants the same thing, as if killing Snowden undoes the information already released, nor will it magically erase any copies of it.

    This also seems to indicate Snowden has not yet released what terrifies them the most. It will keep the heat up, but likely not high enough for this Congress to pass any kind of meaningful reform. More courts will have to do some striking down for that to happen.

    But if Woolsey is squealing, we’re on the right track.

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