National Security Whistleblowers Call for Repeal of Patriot Act

[bananas]

Source: Common Dreams

Prominent national security whistleblowers are calling for the full repeal of the USA Patriot Act, charging that under that legislation the federal government has decimated the U.S. Constitution and warning that unless action is taken, there is no end in sight to government secrecy and manipulation.

The group, which included former National Security Agency (NSA) official William Binney and Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg, appeared Monday at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. to voice their backing for H.R. 1466, the Surveillance State Repeal Act, which was recently introduced by Reps. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.).

<snip>

The whistleblowers also widely agreed that the light sentence handed down last week for General David Petraeus exemplifies the favorable treatment given to certain leakers, and stands in marked contrast to the treatment of others such as Chelsea Manning, Edward Snowden, John Kiriakou, and the soon-to-be-sentenced Jeffrey Sterling—who have all been charged under the Espionage Act.

"We all owe a debt of gratitude to General David Petraeus for showing us what a farce (the Obama administration’s) war on whistleblowers and leaks more generally really is," said Radack.

<snip>

Read more: http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/04/28/national-security-whistleblowers-call-repeal-patriot-act

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The group included 7 whistleblowers: Kirk Wiebe, Coleen Rowley, Raymond McGovern, Daniel Ellsberg, William Binney, Jesselyn Radack, and Thomas Drake.

[markpkessinger]

1. Heroes, all of them! n/t

[PSPS]

2. We all know where he who claims to be a "constitutional scholar" stands on this.

[Mnemosyne]

3. I agree. nt

[grasswire]

4. Patriots.

And a good-looking bunch of people, too!

[DirkGently]

5. These people are far more "patriotic" than a domestic spying law.

So of course, we mostly try to put them in jail.

[JDPriestly]

6. K&R.

All of these whistleblowers contributed greatly to the security of our country. Yet Petraeus gets off with a light sentence. Where is the justice in that?

What is good for one is good for all.

We need a strong defense. We need security. We do not need so much secrecy. Too much secrecy can cover up crime and incompetence. We don't need it. We have too much secrecy now.

[blkmusclmachine]

7. Operation Jade Helm 15. War Games in your own backyard, starting July 2015~

http://www.globalresearch.ca/jade-helm-15-police-state-usa-the-end-of-posse-comitatus/5445821

[Blue_Tires]

8. No chance in hell of ever passing

but the folks involved made their point and got a bit of coverage, so mission accomplished...

[Judi Lynn]

9. Real patriots. So good seeing their faces. n/t