NSA Whistleblower Thomas Drake: The US Is Becoming more and more a Security State like E. Germany

Thomas Drake

NSA Whistleblower

talking about new developments, with background, on what's going on with the Obama Administration and NSA and the USA's move towards a security state. 

related article: 

Thomas Drake and I on Democracy Now Discussing NSA's Warrantless Spying

NSA is the most highly funded security agency. 

Also has military connection-- central security service. 

The most secretive of the agencies. 

Came about in 1952 during Truman administration. 

First three months post 911 were the basis for the whistle blowing that took place later. 

After 911 serious questions were being raised b congress, particularly about how it happened. 

Tom specialized in weapons of mass destruction, specializing in SW Asia-- 

Another desk he sat on was the terrorism desk. In late 90's he got to know and understand Al Qaeda. 

The first attempt on the WTC didn't seem to wake up an appropriate response. 

became aware that the whitehouse revealed had created a super secret program "Stellar Wind" an arrangement between Cheney and the Whitehouse. -- 

details of that program are one of the most secret in the US today. James Bamford wrote about it in an article in Wired Magazine-- Inside the Matrix. 

NSA began spying on Americans. 

I asked, and others asked, "What are we doing focusing the vast resource of the NSA on citizens of our country. 

Special counsel told Tom that the Whitehouse had ordered this and that it was all legal. 

i realized that the NSA had set itself on a course that had both intended and unintended consequences. I could not stand by and watch the subversion of the constitution-- 

was a material witness for two congressional investigations. 

Spin thread?

Trailblazer"  violation of FISA.

combine secrecy with power and it's ripe for abuse. 

In the last six months?

This administration is prosecuting and charging whistleblowers under the espionage act. 

You are an enemy 

You are seeing the continuing expansion of the national security state under this administration. it's anathema to the constitution. 

They dropped all the charges. 

negotiated 240 hours of community service. 

I was told internally that Cheney gave the orders to "find and fry" the leakers. 

What can people do/

Press Wyden and Udall about section 215 of the patriot act, which is being abused to get electronic records. 

Can we really afford spending trillions on the nation security state. 

The big elephant in the room is the military industrial, cybersecurity. It raises the spectre of a true police state. 

The country I specialized in during the cold war was  E. Germany, where one out of four citizens were spying on each other. DO we really want an expanding surveillance state. That's the direction we're heading in. 

Today's era makes the Nixon era look like pikers.