Cherchez la Verite: On Friday President Obama gave a speech wherein he suggested new limitations on NSA's surveillance activities. In the first video below, NSA whistleblowers argue that his "limitations" don't even begin to restore our 4th Amendment rights and strongly suggested that a non-government group of hackers be appointed to determine and make public exactly what the NSA is and isn't doing. In the second video, Michael Ratner, President Emeritus, Center for Constitutional Rights, opens by saying "I sat there watching [Obama's speech] really astounded, because I didn't expect a lot, but I think we got almost nothing in what I call this national surveillance state."

Sunday, January 19, 2014

On Friday President Obama gave a speech wherein he suggested new limitations on NSA's surveillance activities. In the first video below, NSA whistleblowers argue that his "limitations" don't even begin to restore our 4th Amendment rights and strongly suggested that a non-government group of hackers be appointed to determine and make public exactly what the NSA is and isn't doing. In the second video, Michael Ratner, President Emeritus, Center for Constitutional Rights, opens by saying "I sat there watching [Obama's speech] really astounded, because I didn't expect a lot, but I think we got almost nothing in what I call this national surveillance state."

Originals here and here

NSA Whistleblowers Criticize Obama's Proposed Reforms

Reforms must include independent oversight with unrestricted access to all intelligence databases, say whistleblowers - January 18, 14

Bio .

Jessica Desvarieux is a producer and correspondent for the Real News Network. She covers politics and foreign affairs.

Obama NSA Reforms Are "A Bouquet of Roses" to the Intelligence Agencies

Michael Ratner: By portraying NSA surveillance as "patriotic," President Obama ignores the violations of Americans' constitutional rights - January 17, 2014

Bio .

Michael Ratner is President Emeritus of the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) in New York and Chair of the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights in Berlin. He is currently a legal adviser to Wikileaks and Julian Assange. He and CCR brought the first case challenging the Guantanamo detentions and continue in their efforts to close Guantanamo. He taught at Yale Law School, and Columbia Law School, and was President of the National Lawyers Guild. His current books include "Hell No: Your Right to Dissent in the Twenty-First Century America," and “ Who Killed Che? How the CIA Got Away With Murder.” NOTE: Mr. Ratner speaks on his own behalf and not for any organization with which he is affiliated.