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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums"The Man Who Knows Too Much?" "GQ" interview with Greenwald..."More Bombs to Come"
(Good Interview...talks about his childhood, being gay, religion and answers some of the criticism against Snowden.)
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He works at the white-hot center of the media universe as the most reliable source for NSA surveillance scoops. He talks to Edward Snowden most days and has full access to the complete archive. And while Glenn Greenwald has spent the past year publishing revelations from arguably the largest cache of breached secrets in American-intelligence history, he promises the biggest bombs are still to come
By Michael Paterniti
May 2014
What has been your philosophy with the archive?
I knew from the start that I was going to be super-aggressive with how it got reported. If I had a document about Norway or Brazil, I was going to try to team with a journalist in those places. I knew that I wasn't going to abide by the normal rules that the U.S. government has told media outlets they have to abide by if they want to do this stuff without being prosecuted. I knew I was going to cross those lines, because I don't believe in those lines.
And so it wasn't so much that I knew that I had this huge archive and could get in trouble for having it, it was more that I knew that what I was about to do and the way that I wanted to do it was going to be extremely controversial and would create legal risks. But then, I admired Snowden's example, the risks that he had rushed headlong into. To worry over my own risksor limit themwould have just been untenable, psychologically, for me.
How much more is there to releaseand what burden do you feel to get it out there?
We published the first article [about the NSA collecting Verizon phone records] while I was in Hong Kong last June and won't stop until we're done. I think we will end the big stories in about three months or so [June or July 2014]. I like to think of it as a fireworks show: You want to save your best for last. There's a story that from the beginning I thought would be our biggest, and I'm saving that. The last one is the one where the sky is all covered in spectacular multicolored hues. This will be the finale, a big missing piece. Snowden knows about it and is excited about it.
Afterwards, there'll be more to releaseI made a promise to Snowden that we'd get as much of the archive out as possiblebut I think the big media splashes will probably be over. But it takes time. We're reporting on stories right now, finding things in the archive still that we're trying to corroborate. We have one reporter who has done nothing but read documents, trying to cross-reference and make connections, every day since November.
Sometimes people think that, like, we have the entire NSA archive and that we can just go in and pick whatever we want at any moment and just report it. We don't have the entire NSA archive. We have snippets of the NSA archive. Some things we have a pretty comprehensive look at, because there's a lot of proximity to that program and Snowden's access and what he was doing. Other things were much more remote, and he was only able to grab portions of things. So we have kind of a fractured window into some things that needs to be connected to other things, where reporting needs to be done for us to get the full picture in order to report it. But yes, I feel a ton of pressure to get these documents out into the world. Somebody has risked their liberty to give me all these documents, with the intention of informing the world about what is being done. And every day that I don't work on the archive, I feel a little bit guilty. Like, I've almost failed in my obligation, right?
If Snowden had been nabbed before you guys had completed the full transfer in Hong Kong, did he have a backup plan?
Oh yeah. I don't want to say what his specific plans were. I don't actually even know them all. But yeah, he had multiple plans, Plan A, Plan B, Plan C, Plan D, Plan E, Plan F contingencies, because he was determined this story was going to get reported no matter what happened, no matter how extreme people got, no matter how unanticipated the events werethat there was no stopping the information from getting out. And I mean, that's still true. Like, he still has plans for that.
But he claims he doesn't have anything nowand nothing to offer Russia, for instance?
He says he has nothing with him. The only reason he's in Russia is that the U.S. blocked his attempt to go to Ecuador. Russia is planning on extending his visa either for another year or for five years or maybe even permanently. But it's an odd situation, because he's obviously expressed interest in having asylum in other places. At the same time, if you're him, I think it's sort of a bird-in-the-hand mentality, that you want permanent asylum somewhere, because you know that the U.S. is desperate to get ahold of you.
Interesting Interview..continued at:
http://www.gq.com/news-politics/newsmakers/201406/glenn-greenwald-edward-snowden-no-place-to-hide?currentPage=1
Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)How far have the negotiations progressed?
Is that title supposed to be ironic or something?
KoKo
(84,711 posts)some sound and action extravaganza with no plot.
And maybe that's the irony of the title of the article.
Autumn
(45,071 posts)Tierra_y_Libertad
(50,414 posts)It may be slow, but it's a helluva lot faster than waiting for our "transparent" government to do the job.
Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)nobody wants to address, and a year later I've still never gotten any satisfactory answers for...
Until then, I'll still have my doubts and criticisms...
KoKo
(84,711 posts)Also..talks about his childhood, being gay, religion and answers some of the criticism about Snowden.
Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)reads more like a smokescreen than anything else, and I give less than a shit about his upbringing, sexual orientation or religious heritage...
Although I do give some credit to GQ for coming at a different angle and trying to ask some kind-of real questions and not make it the complete puff piece like all the other Snow-Wald interviews....
KoKo
(84,711 posts)merrily
(45,251 posts)365fx
(12 posts)?
Tierra_y_Libertad
(50,414 posts)""The Man Who Knows Too Much?" Esquire interview with Greenwald..."More Bombs to Come""
...GQ, not "Esquire."
Greenwald: "Hillary is banal, corrupted, drained of vibrancy and passion...a fucking hawk..."
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024943455
hueymahl
(2,495 posts)That is the icing on a beautiful ant-statism cake!
Skidmore
(37,364 posts)to line up the "bombs" with Rand Paul's campaign strategies. I do not trust Greenwald.
merrily
(45,251 posts)Skidmore
(37,364 posts)visceral reaction I have had to Greenwald over the years. I do not trust him or his motives and no amount of harranging by anyone will change my views about this man. I am commenting on the man.
merrily
(45,251 posts)the personality of Greenwald or Snowden or anyone else.
Skidmore
(37,364 posts)Do not believe him to be a fully honest broker of facts.
merrily
(45,251 posts)Skidmore
(37,364 posts)I also think that this has been going on from early in the Bush years. We discussed these issues on DU at least a decade ago. I am neither surprised by it or why a technology which went unregulated for nearly 30 years being used in this fashion is shocking. It speaks to the shortsightedness of a gizmo infatuated culture obsessed with obtaining the latest electronic gadget. Call me cynical but I think that horse was out of the barn door and the farm long ago. I don't think much good will come of the manner in which Greenwald and Snowden are manipulating whatever information they may or may not have. In fact, I am rather appalled at the manner in which they have comported themselves and the grandstanding detracts from their evershifting messages.
merrily
(45,251 posts)I also think that this has been going on from early in the Bush years.
So?
Maedhros
(10,007 posts)Saves time on my part.
Skidmore
(37,364 posts)I don't put people on ignore even when I disagree with them.
KoKo
(84,711 posts)I can't understand unless you put out there what bothers you about what he has revealed.
Skidmore
(37,364 posts)I think they are duplicitous and like have no qualms about causing as much harm as they do good. Chaos theory operationalized, I guess. To me, they behave like loose cannons and it appears that Greenwald is attempting to be a kingmaker here and I really have no clue as to what Snowden is trying to accomplish and I don't believe that either of them have such as simple agenda as just exposing that spying takes place. We don't need more "bombs" in an unstable world or posturing. Why not turn this over to people who can actually act on it lawfully. Believe me, if somehow the Rs get back into power, the doors will slam shut.
KoKo
(84,711 posts)I think many of us sometimes just see some politician that reminds us of someone we met or knew somewhere that "turned us off" and we maybe had bad experience or our vibes just pick up something.
But, given that they've Won World Wide Awards....can you discount that what they revealed was really for the good of USA and other Countries going forward?
A MASSIVE over reach of our NSA and the CIA/FBIA to go after Average Americans Personal Info and why that's offensive and should be against the law?
I guess that's what I don't understand when I hear people trashing Snowden/Greenwald who were here on DU during the Bush II Coup when we were all together here on DU opposing that? I thought we were all in this together during the Bush II years and were working for Change.
That's what I don't get.
Skidmore
(37,364 posts)However, my sense is that reordering the legal parameters of this cannot be accomplished unless we get meaningful Congressional change in the election this year. We need a Congress and not a couple of renegades interested only in making incendiary charges. We need even more protection from the overreach of corporations in our lives. Do you remember all the discussions we used to have here during the Bush years about the theft of computers containing customer data owned by banks and you name it?
Lordy, I loathe the Bush cabal and it makes my skin crawl to think that Jeb it teeing up to run and that should he fail, there is a whole ball of reptiles who would gladly slither in his stead.
I don't think it is necessary to insist that everyone glom onto Snowden/Greenwald as shining knights. Their initial service has finished and now, in my opinion, they traffic in just being destructive on a global scale. I am not enamored of a world at war. Have had a front seat in one war in the 1980s.
KoKo
(84,711 posts)revealed that it wasn't China that was the Problem but...OUR Global Spying.
And yes...you and I have been here on DU for many years ...and, that's why I asked.
Skidmore
(37,364 posts)to have hauled around the world not have been accessed by more than themselves and used to who knows what end? I just believe it is more complex than what people believe. Too many moving parts. Too many people. Too few avenues to actually do something meaningful about it except play political games.
KoKo
(84,711 posts)Who else had and still has access to exactly what he downloaded and more.
He showed a breach in our Security System where someone without much training but with good internet skills could break in and download this "super secret info" on Average Americans and do with it what they wanted. Sell it to other countries...use it to blackmail people or sell it to Criminal Elements.
Snowden was the GOOD GUY who revealed this and didn't seel it off..blackmail anyone or look for money. Instead he is now a "wanted man," because he told WE, THE PEOPLE that our information could be bought and sold and used by Private Military Contractors that our Government Outsourced all our Private Info out to...without our knowing about it.
That's the way I see it....imho.
Maedhros
(10,007 posts)Because this post is stupid. The thought of Greenwald supporting a Rand Paul campaign is laughable to anyone with even a casual knowledge of Greenwald's writing.
Whisp
(24,096 posts)Buy Buy Buy
Buy Buy My Book
What a transparent scammer.
Warren Stupidity
(48,181 posts)And asserting that any individual who promotes their book is a "transparent scammer"?
Whisp
(24,096 posts)Warren Stupidity
(48,181 posts)merrily
(45,251 posts)grasswire
(50,130 posts)It is the job of an author to sell his/her book. The author is made available for media interviews. He or she proffers some tidbits. That's the trade and art of selling books. Ridiculing that process is silly, at best.
Louisiana1976
(3,962 posts)Warren Stupidity
(48,181 posts)nationalize the fed
(2,169 posts)"he promises the biggest bombs are still to come"
I tend to believe him.
randome
(34,845 posts)[hr][font color="blue"][center]There is nothing you can't do if you put your mind to it.
Nothing.[/center][/font][hr]
bvar22
(39,909 posts)Greenwald & Snowden have demonstrated a very good understanding of the US Media and the ADD US Public.
If they had dumped everything,
it would have been much easier to bury.
Using our Media itself to call attention to these revelations of Government Over Reach
have inserted their disclosures into near every household in the US.
These abuses of our Constitution will not stop until we as citizens reach the Critical Mass to STOP IT ourselves.
Releasing the information in digestible, focused bites has enabled much more discussion and processing of the implications. If they had done it the way the Pro-NSA Authoritarians demand,
it would all be Old News by now.
Good Job, Greenwald & Snowden.
You deserved the Pulitzer for Public Service.
*Rampant Government Secrecy and Democracy can not co-exist.
*Persecution of Whistle Blowers and Democracy can not co-exist.
*Government surveillance of the citizenry and Democracy can not co-exist.
*Secret Laws and Democracy can not co-exist.
*Secret Courts and Democracy can not-co-exist.
*Our Democracy depends on an informed electorate.
You either believe in Democracy,
or you don't.
It IS that simple.
merrily
(45,251 posts)Making it about Snowden or Greenwald or their motives only deflects from that.
Louisiana1976
(3,962 posts)msanthrope
(37,549 posts)Look, I think it's a bit illogical to claim that we are making it about Greenwald when the entire point of the OP is to post about a fluff interview of.....
Greenwald.
hueymahl
(2,495 posts)Thanks!!
scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)Jefferson23
(30,099 posts)merrily
(45,251 posts)msanthrope
(37,549 posts)rainwear, and the 10 Best Dressed Men this week, I am sure we can right down to that.
KoKo
(84,711 posts)arely staircase
(12,482 posts)The guy who got stuck in an airport and now makes agit prop for Putin? That Snowden?
scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)Aerows
(39,961 posts)I have 4 hides (I knew about 2) and it appears that if I say anything I'll be hurled off of DU despite being a host of several groups.
I had no idea that I had 4. I guess it is open season on Aerows.
I'll still comment on this article. I believe Greenwald when he says the biggest bombs are yet to come, because he has already unleashed a set of articles with proof that has made the AG and Administration move to make even discussing that there is a leak a crime.
That tells you right there that some ugly, ugly information is about to be dragged out in the quadrangle for all to see.
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)joshcryer
(62,270 posts)I mean, if his book has even a fraction of the holes as that interview, it's going be trivial and entertaining to tear apart.
Aerows
(39,961 posts)but I kind of like DU.
full ignore for the NSA appreciation brigade.
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)The NSA has new programs starting all of the time and will continue to operate and the reason being is there is success in the programs in the past and will have success in the future.
Warren Stupidity
(48,181 posts)that is what the NSA does, and all legal restrictions on what they can do were pretty much abolished with the patriot act, so the only issues constraining them are technical. You are correct in that the *exact* programs in place a couple of years ago will all be replaced by more invasive and more widespread collection programs and better storage system behind them and better big data analysis programs to use all that shit. But I don't think that is what you meant.
JEB
(4,748 posts)this is very important stuff. Thanks for posting and thanks to Snowden and GG.