Jay Tamboli speaks with James Bamford about his new book, The Shadow Factory: The Ultra-Secret NSA from 9/11 to the Eavesdropping on America. Bamford talks about the NSA’s monitoring of communications and the lack of oversight of the NSA, the largest intelligence agency in the world. (9:24)
Deputy Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security Paul A. Schneider says that the government has the right to monitor those who try to gain access to their networks. (0:23)
Barry Steinhardt, director of the ACLU Technology and Liberty Program, says that the terrorist watch list is unfair, out of control, incompetently administered, and treats the rights of innocents as an afterthought, and is a very real impediment in the war on terror. (0:29)
FBI Director Robert Mueller says to be successful as a global law enforcement the FBI must strike a balance between safeguarding civil liberties and preventing terrorist attacks. He says scrutiny from Congress, the public, and the press improves the FBI’s ability to protect the people while respecting their rights, and that the bureau’s success depends on the nation’s trust in the FBI. (0:58)
Continuing Whistle blower Week in Washington, the No FEAR institute met this afternoon and heard remarks from Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) who congratulated whistle blowers and pushed for stronger legislation to protect them.
“The only crime that whistle blowers commit is in telling the truth,” said Grassley. Whistle blowers sacrifice their careers, livelihood and even their status in the community to bring those responsible to justice. Grassley calls for stronger legislation that will protect whistle blowers and their civil rights. It is in the constitution to have the freedom of speech and the right to petition your government, but the current policies are making that difficult and discouraged. (more…)
Walter E. Fauntroy discusses the importance of whistleblowers and the maintaining of civil liberties. He also commends Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and her work with the No FEAR legislation today.(0:55)
As part of Whistle Blower week, the No FEAR institute held a tribunal today led by Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) and Walter Fauntroy. The tribunal met and heard from several different federal government employees, medical doctors, nurses, farmers, military personnel, veterans, whistleblowers and other civil rights activist.
The Whistleblower Week in Washington is set up to promote and encourage laws that protect individuals civil rights of those who report on hazardous, illegal conditions, waste, fraud and abuses of authority in government and government funded positions. At the tribunal today, Jackson Lee and those testifying declared that no more illegal activities or civil rights violations will occur, “not on our watch.” (more…)
At a meeting today sponsored by the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, Daniel Fried, assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasia Affairs, spoke on the potential actions of the new Medvedev administration.
Dmitri Medvedev took office Wednesday as Russia’s third president. Medvedev officially elected Vladimir Putin as prime minister. Fried discussed the future actions of the United States in reference to the new administration and discussed what changes could occur. (more…)
Congressman and Republican presidential contender Ron Paul (R-TX) addressed a crowd at a discussion and signing to promote his new book, The Revolution: A Manifesto, currently a number-one bestseller on Amazon.com. Dr. Paul, who will continue to run for the presidency despite Sen. John McCain’s (R-AZ) presumed nomination, said the purpose of his book is to “galvanize” the American people and foster enthusiasm about civil liberties and a return to American libertarian principles.
(more…)
The Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties of the House Judiciary Committee met today in a hearing on Administration Lawyers and Administration Interrogation Rules. Chairman Jerrold Nalder led the discussion of experts in the field to discuss what is known and what the law says about torture and the Bush Administration’s use of torture in Guantanamo Bay in the context of international law.
The Bush Administration’s policies regarding interrogation techniques for captured suspected terrorists have ben sanctioned by various secret legal opinions and memoranda, making questionably illegal methods approved by the highest levels of government. These policies have been discussed by the news media and Nalder is making it a Congressional duty to oversee these actions and determine if they are constitutional. (more…)
