EXCLUSIVE: Edward Snowden Tells Brian Williams: 'I Was Trained as a Spy'
Source: NBC News
Edward Snowden, in an exclusive interview with "Nightly News" anchor Brian Williams, is fighting back against critics who dismissed him as a low-level hacker saying he was trained as a spy and offered technical expertise to high levels of government.
Snowden defended his expertise in portions of the interview that aired at 6:30 p.m. ET on Nightly News. The extended, wide-ranging interview with Williams, his first with a U.S. television network, airs Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET on NBC.
I was trained as a spy in sort of the traditional sense of the word, in that I lived and worked undercover overseas pretending to work in a job that Im not and even being assigned a name that was not mine, Snowden said in the interview.
Snowden described himself as a technical expert who has worked for the United States at high levels, including as a lecturer in a counterintelligence academy for the Defense Intelligence Agency and undercover work for the CIA and National Security Agency.
Read more: http://www.nbcnews.com/feature/edward-snowden-interview/exclusive-edward-snowden-tells-brian-williams-i-was-trained-spy-n115746
951-Riverside
(7,234 posts)Jesus Malverde
(10,274 posts)sammytko
(2,480 posts)he's spying on the soviets
24601
(3,963 posts)KurtNYC
(14,549 posts)Lots of parallels -- high security clearance, Oswald worked in surveillance (U2 flights), the soviets intially rejected both Oswald and Snowden's much publicized entries. They even look somewhat similar.
lostincalifornia
(3,639 posts)Jesus Malverde
(10,274 posts)Exposing the most pervasive police state since the stazi and changing the course of history might have that effect.
The question is....is the grandeur an illusion or reality.
What have you done lately?
lostincalifornia
(3,639 posts)reACTIONary
(5,785 posts)Pholus
(4,062 posts)Your "bullshit" seems, well, also good for plant nutrition!
JackRiddler
(24,979 posts)Pholus
(4,062 posts)Certainly, the Prison Industrial Complex needs to get paid!
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)Police state means governmental repression and control over the entire population and squelching of individual liberty.
As in dictatorships.
Nice try to deflect though. But, hey move to China or Russia since they do the freedom thing so much better than we do.
Pholus
(4,062 posts)Being concerned with state of our democracy and freedoms does not imply a desire to "move to China or Russia."
Logic fail. Completely expected though.
And as far as all this Cheney-inspired NSA monitoring technology you love so much? Yeah, it actually gets used by real police states:
http://www.npr.org/2011/12/14/143639670/the-technology-helping-repressive-regimes-spy
Thanks to open-minded thinkers like yourself, supporting this bullshit, we're just a "President Palin" away from our own little private (and profitable) police state.
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)buying the "worse than North Korea and Russia" crapola to which I responded.
It's the difference between intelligent dissent and intellectually lazy anti-Americanism .
Pholus
(4,062 posts)I'll let ya know.
Peace out!
grahamhgreen
(15,741 posts)WhoWoodaKnew
(847 posts)geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)I'll take "Stupid shit people who believe everything they read at rt.com say for $800, Alex."
US doesn't even win the Western Hemisphere--the USG wishes they had a domestic spy network like the Castros enjoy.
lostincalifornia
(3,639 posts)JackRiddler
(24,979 posts)Denial is so powerful, but it only makes things worse.
Speaking of Cuba (a very lucky country to have avoided the death-squad governments imposed by the U.S. around the region), there's a Syrian prisoner there, held 12 years without charges. He wants desperately to die and is currently being force-fed. He is an American prisoner at Guantanamo.
George II
(67,782 posts)On what do you base that sweeping proclamation?
PS - it was "Stasi".
grahamhgreen
(15,741 posts)big_dog
(4,144 posts)Last edited Tue May 27, 2014, 09:29 PM - Edit history (1)
JackRiddler
(24,979 posts)Good work, comrade!
Historic NY
(37,453 posts)The army suggests he never completed training period...
giftedgirl77
(4,713 posts)While Snowden talks about giving talks to the CIA while working for the DIA all he is referring to is IT & commo, nothing Intel related. From the article "Defense Intelligence Agency confirmed to NBC News that Snowden, as a contractor, had spoken at three of their conferences. Two intelligence sources tell NBC that Snowden worked for the CIA at an overseas station in IT and communications."
This explains why he had to steal someone's password to gain restricted access. The guy was there to build networks.
itsrobert
(14,157 posts)most likely scenario.
Cryptoad
(8,254 posts)get back here in time to be Papa Paul's running mate in 2016!
I don't know...isn't he busy keeping Czar Putin's lap warm?!?
jberryhill
(62,444 posts)perdita9
(1,144 posts)That was my impression watching Snowden in the interview
ucrdem
(15,512 posts)but now I'm beginning to wonder if he's some kind of test-tube patsy or who the hell knows what. Spies don't casually admit to TV hosts that they're spies.
Response to Jesus Malverde (Original post)
Post removed
VanillaRhapsody
(21,115 posts)joshcryer
(62,276 posts)'cause I want to see that episode.
VanillaRhapsody
(21,115 posts)If you want to see it just search Bill Maher Snowden.....even DU shows up at the top!
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)security of the authoritative state of Gen Clapper and the Carlyle Group.
joshcryer
(62,276 posts)In bigoted, ultra-nationalist, Russia.
VanillaRhapsody
(21,115 posts)rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)CIA? Maybe I dont drink the "right" cool aid. Why would liberals accept a NSA/CIA/FBI security state? They dont. Only the LINO's do.
karynnj
(59,504 posts)Snowden did not struggle for freedom and liberty, nor is the United States an authoritarian state. From Snowden's own writings he was a libertarian. Unless you are too, it is a huge jump to argue that freedom and liberty are at risk because phone records (not content) were retained in a database by the government. The key was ALWAYS controlling who and under what circumstances the data could be pulled and analyzed.
As to saving it, if you were asked to figure out what information to collect that would let you investigate who was connected to someone identified as a terrorist, wouldn't this be on your list? The key is to prevent abuse.
Leopolds Ghost
(12,875 posts)According to the Washington Post, NSA had four main programs, two for metadata, two for content of domestic and international calls (anything going through the wires, so to speak.)
All the attention has been on the metadata programs because that was the portion of the leaks that the Obama administration has acknowledged to be true.
However, pursuant to Thomas Drake's similar leaks (and I don't hear you guys accusing him of being a traitor, even though he was a high level NSA officer who was acquitted in federal court), we knew about it years ago, and discussed the issue here on DU years ago, pursuant to articles in Harpers, NYT, etc. about the earlier leaks. Remember the NSA data centers they are building capable of storing everything, petabytes of data? That was in Harpers years ago. Now it's been confirmed. At the time they could only store everything for up to two days' of voice and email content. That's changed however.
pnwmom
(108,995 posts)to Russia.
And how is this supposed to help his case?
rtracey
(2,062 posts)Wanted to go to CUBA, then Latin America......
Soylent Brice
(8,308 posts)It has become surreal to watch so - called progressives actually go after a whistleblower, rather than those in which the whistle was blown on.
It's like reading comments in freeperville.
Pholus
(4,062 posts)Oh well, keep fighting the good fight! Personally, I think some might be nervous about the upcoming release of who has been surveilled. After all the official line is that this surveillance is only for the purposes of finding "Terraists!"
One wonders if Russell Tice's claims will find some support regarding the targeting of a certain freshman senator from Illinois who suddenly and inexplicably flip-flopped on domestic surveillance a few years back...
freebrew
(1,917 posts)KoKo
(84,711 posts)because many have not taken time to read the Guardian and other articles about Snowden to follow the whole event.
And maybe they missed the "PBS Frontline" Parts I and II about whistleblowers who tried to get the surveillance on US Citizens out there for years under Bush which then follows Snowden and Greenwald breaking the story and Part II where they show the complicity of Silicon Valley.
The series is three hours long and well worth the watch...but either some didn't want to watch, couldn't watch for whatever connection reasons or wanted to avoid it all to pre-judge.
CanSocDem
(3,286 posts)...by the responses and agree that after spending their lives in front of a television, they apparently missed some of the best TV ever.
And so, in the interests of transparency...
from PBS Frontline:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/united-states-of-secrets/#part-two---privacy-lost
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/united-states-of-secrets/#part-one---the-program
.
blm
(113,097 posts)president has ever controlled.
It was the first big giant step to setting up Jeb2016. Get the media and the public to declare that Obama is no different than Bush - makes Bush look better, especially since Obama's current WH will bear the brunt of the backlash.
Recursion
(56,582 posts)The original article about him said he had diplomatic cover in Geneva before "leaving" the CIA and getting a job as a contractor for the NSA.
blm
(113,097 posts)'worked' for just happened to be a firm loyal to BushInc.
Adamsmith8820
(9 posts)Long time reader on here, first time poster....Wanted to say, I understand why he has come forward on some of these things you is saying..but some things he is stating shouldnt be said. Seriously, he shouldnt come out and tell us he was a spy for a few agencies...thats horrible on his part, and it realy doesnt effect anyone. He just needs to fade away in the dusk, he is trying to keep his name in the news, waiting for that big payday for a book or movie...of course, this is all just my opinion..sorry for any m/s, im at work, trying to type fast
rtracey
(2,062 posts)Funny thing is he can be lying through his teeth about the CIA, NAS, and all this other crap, and who's going to counter his claims...Of course the CIA will deny he was a spy for them, so his illusions of greatness can remain what they are..... ramblings.
CanSocDem
(3,286 posts)...take a big hit when Americans weigh in on freedom and world politics. A corrupted, corporatist delusion of FREEDOM coupled with an outdated and uneducated militaristic analysis of the world and specifically Russia makes DU cringe...
.
George II
(67,782 posts)KoKo
(84,711 posts)Link here and Part I is at the Website. Both are well worth the watch so that you can be more informed about what exactly Snowden Whistleblew and others before him.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024993287
George II
(67,782 posts)...as a "spy". All from his cushy hideaway in Moscow.
Unless he's a double agent, he's a traitor. And he basically has now admitted it.
ozone_man
(4,825 posts)All of our founders would have been held for treason had they lost the war. As citizens, it is our responsibility to throw off a despotic government. I think it is good enough at this point to made aware of our government's abuses, and I'm glad Snowden could do so.
"But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Declaration_of_Independence
George II
(67,782 posts)One doesn't "throw off a despotic government" (which ours most certainly is NOT!) by plotting and dealing with another despotic government.
So, in place of this so-called "despotic government" that you wish to "throw off", with what do you choose to replace it?
I suggest you spend a little more time surfing Webster's website instead of Wikipedia.
ozone_man
(4,825 posts)Despotism surely includes the U.S. government, which is an oligarchy.
Despotism is a form of government in which a single entity rules with absolute power. That entity may be an individual, as in an autocracy, or it may be a group,[1] as in an oligarchy. The word despotism means to "rule in the fashion of a despot" and does not necessarily require a singular "despot", an individual.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Despotism
When was the last time a Wall Street banker or bank went to jail over the financial crisis? Why do we have a military industrial complex that consumes half of our national budget? Why are we endlessly fighting unjust wars that our populace does not want? Why do we have an out of control NSA that has breached our privacy rights protected by the constitution? Why is there a 1% that owns 90% of the wealth? Not because most Americans want it that way. I'd say that was a despotic government.
Don't deflect it by talking about Russia. This is about the U.S. That Snowden has asylum in Russia prevents a situation like that of Bradley Manning. We need him to speak out, not be silenced.
On the subject of oligarchy from our Vermont senator:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-bernie-sanders/democracy-vs-oligarchy_b_5065514.html
George II
(67,782 posts)And just who might that "single entity" be?
In case you're interested (doubtful), the reason that I use the Canadian flag as my avatar is in tribute to my Canadian born mother.
I was born in Brooklyn New York, and have lived in the United States all of my life.
So, with all due respect, you can just go fuck yourself!
ozone_man
(4,825 posts)"But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."
- Declaration of Independence
"Despotism is a form of government in which a single entity rules with absolute power. That entity may be an individual, as in an autocracy, or it may be a group, as in an oligarchy. The word despotism means to "rule in the fashion of a despot" and does not necessarily require a singular "despot", an individual."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Despotism
Rather than get bogged down with definitions, if a government has enough of the attributes of a despotism or oligarchy, e.g., "long train of abuses and usurpations," then for all intents and purposes they are the same. If these "abuses and usurpations" are unconstitutional or don't reflect the will of the people by a large extent, then maybe it is our duty to have regime change as our founders said was a duty, peacefully I hope. Snowden has allowed a dialogue to begin in some of the areas concerning fundamental rights of privacy guaranteed by the constitution.
I only asked about Canada/U.S., since I wanted to make sure we weren't cross talking about the issue.
Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)his "official" story has a lot more credibility as a know-nothing low-level outsider IT contractor who made a series of shocking discoveries while testing the network for security weaknesses...
Now that he brought up the 'spy' word, he's opened himself up to a world of difficult questions...
Ash_F
(5,861 posts)I don't really need to hear more, frankly.
BlueInPhilly
(870 posts)Snowden was NOT a spy. He was just give a cover, a SOP for employees of the agency. Unless he trained at the Farm, he was just another federal employee. Now he is just sounding like the idiot that he is. An arrogant idiot.
KurtNYC
(14,549 posts)during the start of his career in surveillance and covert action.
If Snowden is an "idiot" and not a spook how did he work:
2006: CIA, IT security.
2007-2009: CIA, diplomatic cover, Switzerland.
2009-2013: NSA Contractor, Dell and later Booz Allen Hamilton.
Salary: around $200,000.
Quite the resume and salary for an "idiot."
http://directorblue.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-resume-of-nsa-whistleblower-edward.html
BlueInPhilly
(870 posts)And he exaggerated - his salary was more like $110k a year. For DC, that's not much.