Coleen Rowley-- Just Back from Meeting With Ed Snowden in Moscow

Broadcast 10/16/2013 at 10:01 AM EDT (93 Listens, 70 Downloads, 998 Itunes)
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Coleen Rowley is a retired FBI agent and former chief division counsel in Minneapolis. She's now a dedicated peace and justice activist and board member of the Women Against Military Madness.

My rough interview notes-- mostly my questions

You recently traveled to Moscow to present an award to Edward Snowden. Can you tell us about the award?

      Sam Adam Associates for Integrity in Intelligence

      War of Numbers-- story about Sam Adam

So, when intelligence officials and the people they report to lie, people die.

Tell me a bit more about your visit with Edward Snowden. What was the setting?

    Ray McGovern,  Tom Drake, Jessalyn Radick presented the award with Coleen Rowley. 

Did Snowden talk about his concerns about his safety?

Let's hear about the discussions. What did you learn from Snowden?

     Snowden would like to see the Patriot Act and the FISA amendments repealed (portions)

It's interesting that the legislation was by Justin Amash, a tea party member. (Opposition to NSA spying.)

What did you learn from your conversation with Snowden, that you didn't know before you made the trip to Moscow?

      MSM has painted him as a low-level contractor who abused his position to get access. 

       That's not the case. He was working on hi-level projects. 

       Most analysts are compartmentalized so they can't see the big picture. 

Compartmentalization has returned since pre-911, and is worse due to the insider Threat program which is in every agency. 

What did he tell you that made you believe he was not a low level person and not compartmentalized?

   There were high level programs that he was integral to and helped to establish. 

Anything else besides his access to information?

     He didn't control the data-- he 

Are you saying that he did not have possession of the data, that he transferred it to others. 

So he no longer has the data?

What else did you learn about him that you didn't know before you went to Moscow?

And what else?

Is there a way for you to continue to stay in touch with him?

Snowden provided a statement to the European Union.

Did he have anything to say about Clapper and Alexander, the people who lied to congress?

    Yes.

How did he look health wise. Was he cheerful? How was his attitude?

Did he have any priority message that he wanted you to bring back?

     Has had Sarah Harrison at his side 

     Mention of how Hayden talked about Snowden on the kill list. 

      Ben Franklin was whistleblower in 1774, called traitor-- same names Edward Snowden was called. 

       FISA amendment act-- 702--  and excessive secrecy overall. 

Did he say anything specific about secrecy?

Did he bring up any names of people

     had learned a lot from Thomas Drake and other NSA whistleblowers.

Did he have anything to say about Glenn Greenwald and Laura Poitras, the people who brought his story to the world?

Did he say anything about Chelsea / Bradley Manning?

Did you feel at all at risk because you were aiding a man who the President and others have characterized as a terrorist?

You recently wrote an article about Diane Feinstein. Can you talk about it?

Do you believe what Chief Alexander has claimed, that NSA spying on Americans  has stopped over 50 terrorist attacks?

Fascination with Big data combined with Insider threat program and compartmentalization seem to be the kind of thing that caused the smokestack problem that prevented intelligence agencies from sharing info before 911, info that could have prevented it. 

It seems to me that if the technology is available, the intelligence agencies will use it, regardless of the effect upon constitutional rights and freedoms. 

Economic harm-- Snowden points out-- trillions going to damaging intelligence policies. 

What did Snowden say about economic impact-- huge amounts of money. 

We need to wrap up now. Anything you want to finish up with?

         Pay attention to intelligence hearings in the senate and judiciary hearings in the house. 

We have to pay a lot more attention to what congress is doing. We have some power. 

Look at the comments on articles 

Just one last thing. What's your take on opednews?   I've recommended to a lot of people 

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