Fri Jan 17, 2014, 02:13 PM
Edward Snowden Vindicated: Obama Speech Acknowledges Changes Needed To Surveillance - HuffPo
Edward Snowden Vindicated: Obama Speech Acknowledges Changes Needed To Surveillance
The Huffington Post | By Matt Sledge Posted: 01/17/2014 12:18 pm EST | Updated: 01/17/2014 12:48 pm EST <snip> In a major speech Friday on the future of the National Security Agency, President Barack Obama announced a series of modest reforms to the way the agency does business. While he was doing so, he also reluctantly acknowledged the secret surveillance programs that former NSA contractor Edward Snowden exposed needed changing. "The task before us now is greater than simply repairing the damage done to our operations; or preventing more disclosures from taking place in the future," Obama said. "Instead, we have to make some important decisions about how to protect ourselves and sustain our leadership in the world, while upholding the civil liberties and privacy protections that our ideals -- and our Constitution -- require." Obama's remarks were grudging toward Snowden, who fled to Russia after his leaks were made public and has been charged with violating the Espionage Act. The president said he was "not going to dwell on Mr. Snowden’s actions or motivations," and that "our nation’s defense depends in part on the fidelity of those entrusted with our nation’s secrets." But Snowden's leaks didn't just inform the public debate: in a piece on Thursday, The New York Times reported that Obama himself was unaware until Snowden's disclosures that the NSA was tapping the phones of foreign leaders like German Chancellor Angela Merkel. <snip> More: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/17/obama-edward-snowden_n_4617970.html 
|
76 replies, 8555 views
 76 replies |
Author | Time | Post |
 Edward Snowden Vindicated: Obama Speech Acknowledges Changes Needed To Surveillance - HuffPo (Original post) |
WillyT | Jan 2014 | OP |
| Cali_Democrat | Jan 2014 | #1 | |
| bvar22 | Jan 2014 | #12 | |
| Cali_Democrat | Jan 2014 | #14 | |
| bvar22 | Jan 2014 | #17 | |
| Cali_Democrat | Jan 2014 | #18 | |
| whatchamacallit | Jan 2014 | #27 | |
| HangOnKids | Jan 2014 | #71 | |
| HangOnKids | Jan 2014 | #73 | |
| JDPriestly | Jan 2014 | #69 | |
| sabrina 1 | Jan 2014 | #38 | |
| Number23 | Jan 2014 | #62 | |
| JDPriestly | Jan 2014 | #70 | |
| msanthrope | Jan 2014 | #2 | |
| grantcart | Jan 2014 | #37 | |
| sabrina 1 | Jan 2014 | #39 | |
| whatchamacallit | Jan 2014 | #41 | |
| treestar | Jan 2014 | #65 | |
| msanthrope | Jan 2014 | #66 | |
| DisgustipatedinCA | Jan 2014 | #3 | |
| Rex | Jan 2014 | #4 | |
| mimi85 | Jan 2014 | #22 | |
| sabrina 1 | Jan 2014 | #40 | |
| HangOnKids | Jan 2014 | #74 | |
| The Wielding Truth | Jan 2014 | #36 | |
| JaneyVee | Jan 2014 | #5 | |
| ksoze | Jan 2014 | #6 | |
| Wilms | Jan 2014 | #9 | |
| questionseverything | Jan 2014 | #26 | |
| ConservativeDemocrat | Jan 2014 | #30 | |
| Wilms | Jan 2014 | #33 | |
| treestar | Jan 2014 | #64 | |
| sabrina 1 | Jan 2014 | #44 | |
| Wilms | Jan 2014 | #53 | |
| Lil Missy | Jan 2014 | #7 | |
| Fumesucker | Jan 2014 | #8 | |
| bvar22 | Jan 2014 | #10 | |
| BrotherIvan | Jan 2014 | #15 | |
| xiamiam | Jan 2014 | #16 | |
| Th1onein | Jan 2014 | #61 | |
| ProSense | Jan 2014 | #11 | |
| randome | Jan 2014 | #19 | |
| Hissyspit | Jan 2014 | #25 | |
| ConservativeDemocrat | Jan 2014 | #31 | |
| Fumesucker | Jan 2014 | #34 | |
| ConservativeDemocrat | Jan 2014 | #42 | |
| Fumesucker | Jan 2014 | #43 | |
| ConservativeDemocrat | Jan 2014 | #49 | |
| Rex | Jan 2014 | #54 | |
| sabrina 1 | Jan 2014 | #45 | |
| ConservativeDemocrat | Jan 2014 | #48 | |
| sabrina 1 | Jan 2014 | #51 | |
| ConservativeDemocrat | Jan 2014 | #58 | |
| sabrina 1 | Jan 2014 | #60 | |
| zeemike | Jan 2014 | #21 | |
| randome | Jan 2014 | #23 | |
| zeemike | Jan 2014 | #32 | |
| sabrina 1 | Jan 2014 | #46 | |
| JDPriestly | Jan 2014 | #72 | |
| sabrina 1 | Jan 2014 | #76 | |
| mimi85 | Jan 2014 | #24 | |
| Autumn | Jan 2014 | #13 | |
| LittleBlue | Jan 2014 | #20 | |
| VanillaRhapsody | Jan 2014 | #28 | |
| Blue_Tires | Jan 2014 | #29 | |
| rtracey | Jan 2014 | #35 | |
| sabrina 1 | Jan 2014 | #47 | |
| HangOnKids | Jan 2014 | #75 | |
| baldguy | Jan 2014 | #50 | |
| gcomeau | Jan 2014 | #52 | |
| BeyondGeography | Jan 2014 | #55 | |
| DCBob | Jan 2014 | #56 | |
| Progressive dog | Jan 2014 | #57 | |
| WillyT | Jan 2014 | #59 | |
| Progressive dog | Jan 2014 | #63 | |
| Tierra_y_Libertad | Jan 2014 | #67 | |
| wildbilln864 | Jan 2014 | #68 |
Response to Cali_Democrat (Reply #14)
Sun Jan 19, 2014, 05:40 AM
69. I bet most libertarians also love ice cream and our Constitution and sunny days and Sundays
Response to Cali_Democrat (Reply #1)
Fri Jan 17, 2014, 05:33 PM
38. No self respecting Democrat would ever give a click to that blog. Is it still going?
|
Last edited Fri Jan 17, 2014, 06:28 PM - Edit history (1) |
Response to Cali_Democrat (Reply #1)
Sat Jan 18, 2014, 05:02 AM
62. Nailed it in Post #1
|
Well done.
 You got the screamers immediately screaming. Not that they ever, ever, EVER seem to stop...
Though a loud number here screamed that the folks that didn't think Snowden pissed wine were "in the minority," it has been proven over and over and over again that in fact they are the ones not in touch with majority opinion. Snowden has never cracked higher than low 50s in terms of support and recent polls have the number of people who do not support or approve of his actions GROWING. And that's not just in the United States but around the world where his revelations have damaged relations between many countries. Hell even in Russia, he barely cracked 50% support and that was AFTER his 'Putin is a humanitarian' song and dance. The waaaaay out there fringe will call you an "NSA apologist" but all you have to do is look at the folks doing the name calling to know that if THEY have a problem with what you're saying, you must be saying something true. |
Response to Number23 (Reply #62)
Sun Jan 19, 2014, 05:42 AM
70. You might enjoy the press conference given by whistleblowers Binney, Tice, et al.
Response to msanthrope (Reply #2)
Fri Jan 17, 2014, 04:40 PM
37. No, but
|
The only documented case of protocol abuse was ES and that abuse proved reform is necessary.
|
Response to msanthrope (Reply #2)
Fri Jan 17, 2014, 05:37 PM
39. Have there been any indictments against War Criminals yet?
Response to sabrina 1 (Reply #39)
Sat Jan 18, 2014, 09:41 AM
treestar (79,849 posts)
65. I guess Eddie hasn't been vindicated then
Response to WillyT (Original post)
Fri Jan 17, 2014, 02:18 PM
4. So Obama owes Snowden a solid for a heads up on the spying agencies
|
illegal activities?
 |
Response to mimi85 (Reply #22)
Fri Jan 17, 2014, 05:40 PM
40. I never noticed him asking for shit. He exposed crimes he witnessed that is the duty of any citizen
Response to Rex (Reply #4)
Fri Jan 17, 2014, 04:40 PM
The Wielding Truth (11,324 posts)
36. Didn't the President say something about revising the NSA 3wks. before the Snowden leak?
Response to Wilms (Reply #9)
Fri Jan 17, 2014, 04:11 PM
26. the Constitution is still the law of the land
Response to Wilms (Reply #9)
Fri Jan 17, 2014, 04:15 PM
30. Since this has been upheld dozens of times as Constitutional by the courts...
Response to ConservativeDemocrat (Reply #30)
Sat Jan 18, 2014, 09:37 AM
treestar (79,849 posts)
64. +1
Response to Wilms (Reply #9)
Fri Jan 17, 2014, 05:54 PM
44. That's what I thought also, that the violations of Constitutional Rights using 9/11 was the heart of
Response to sabrina 1 (Reply #44)
Fri Jan 17, 2014, 07:06 PM
53. So you hate Obama too?!?
|
Just kidding.
|
Response to WillyT (Original post)
Fri Jan 17, 2014, 02:24 PM
7. That doesn't "vindicate" Snowden. Not hardly. n/t
Response to WillyT (Original post)
Fri Jan 17, 2014, 02:26 PM
8. Why don't you care that Snowwald had pole dancers in his garage?
|
Missing the forest for the trees again, I see.
|
Response to WillyT (Original post)
Fri Jan 17, 2014, 02:34 PM
10. I am delighted to read that headline.
|
Of course,
the usual defenders of the NSA will get all up in a smoke blowing tizzy trying to distort and deny. (Man they get here FAST! Its like they have nothing else to do.) [font size=3]
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. 
DURec. |
Response to bvar22 (Reply #10)
Sat Jan 18, 2014, 04:39 AM
61. Its like they have nothing else to do...
Response to Hissyspit (Reply #25)
Fri Jan 17, 2014, 04:19 PM
31. Because Snowden isn't in favor of "modest reforms"
Response to ConservativeDemocrat (Reply #31)
Fri Jan 17, 2014, 04:33 PM
34. You have cites to support that Snowden is in favor of no intelligence services at all for the US? nt
Response to Fumesucker (Reply #34)
Fri Jan 17, 2014, 05:47 PM
42. Given all he's broadcast about how we collect from foreign countries TO those countries
Response to Fumesucker (Reply #43)
Fri Jan 17, 2014, 06:24 PM
49. In other news, there are no "cites"
Response to Fumesucker (Reply #43)
Fri Jan 17, 2014, 07:08 PM
54. LOL!
|
Cites?
You expect way too much! |
Response to ConservativeDemocrat (Reply #42)
Fri Jan 17, 2014, 05:57 PM
45. Got a link to this: 'He's told the Chinese ... He's told the Russians' I've asked
Response to sabrina 1 (Reply #45)
Fri Jan 17, 2014, 06:20 PM
48. Sure, I'll be happy to google that for you...
Response to ConservativeDemocrat (Reply #48)
Fri Jan 17, 2014, 06:27 PM
51. You mean he spoke to the press? We know that, that's what Whistle Blowers generally do.
Response to sabrina 1 (Reply #51)
Fri Jan 17, 2014, 08:02 PM
58. Are you seriously trying to say, Sabrina, that no one in China reads Chinese newspapers?
Response to ConservativeDemocrat (Reply #58)
Sat Jan 18, 2014, 12:43 AM
60. When the NYT published the Pentagon Papers are you seriously saying that no one in Russia
Response to ProSense (Reply #11)
Fri Jan 17, 2014, 03:47 PM
21. He will get credit for it when he does it.
Response to randome (Reply #23)
Fri Jan 17, 2014, 05:58 PM
46. Have there been any indictments against War Criminals, Wall St Criminals, Torturers, people who lie
Response to sabrina 1 (Reply #46)
Sun Jan 19, 2014, 05:43 AM
72. Sabrina, did you get a chance to watch the news conference by the other whistleblowers including
Response to JDPriestly (Reply #72)
Mon Jan 20, 2014, 01:57 AM
76. Just saw this JDPriestly, thank you. I will listen to it.
Response to WillyT (Original post)
Fri Jan 17, 2014, 02:37 PM
13. Recommended, for the headline alone.
Response to WillyT (Original post)
Fri Jan 17, 2014, 04:14 PM
29. I don't care much for the word "vindicated", as it implies
Response to rtracey (Reply #35)
Fri Jan 17, 2014, 06:07 PM
47. Like Ellsberg, a thief like Ellsberg you mean?
Response to WillyT (Original post)
Fri Jan 17, 2014, 07:09 PM
BeyondGeography (37,897 posts)
55. A lot of good that'll do him
Response to WillyT (Original post)
Fri Jan 17, 2014, 07:11 PM
56. The biggest changes will be to stop future "Snowdens" from getting access to sensistive data.
Response to WillyT (Original post)
Fri Jan 17, 2014, 07:31 PM
Progressive dog (6,307 posts)
57. So they're going to ask Eddie
Response to Progressive dog (Reply #57)
Sat Jan 18, 2014, 12:26 AM
59. Yeah...And Our Politician's "Fidelity" To This Nation Is Underwhelming...
|
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
That's how I see it. 
|
Response to WillyT (Reply #59)
Sat Jan 18, 2014, 09:35 AM
Progressive dog (6,307 posts)
63. Our politicians get elected because We The People
