Edward Snowden: ‘Faith in Elected Leaders’ Is a Mistake Americans Keep Making
Speaking via video conference from Russia, the NSA whistleblower explains how past U.S. covert actions have led to a lack of accountability today.American whistleblower Edward Snowden recently gave a lengthy interview at an event hosted by acTVism. “Freedom & Democracy — Global Issues in Context,” moderated by acTVism Munich founder and senior editor Zain Raza, also featured interviews with philosopher Srecko Horvat, Real News Network founder Paul Jay, economist Richard D. Wolff, Intercept founding editor Jeremy Scahill, and German writer Jürgen Todenhöfer.
Speaking via video link from Russia, where he has been living since the U.S. revealed espionage charges against him in 2013, Snowden began by discussing the dark history of intelligence agencies and what it says about the U.S. government today. His remarks begin at the 2:58:30 mark in the video above.
“This is what they do in the dark,” Snowden states after highlighting past instances of illegal behavior by the government. “This is what happens when you’re not looking.”
He continues:
The government [is] not actually concerned with saving lives, protecting programs, ensuring that human sources or the efficacy of our security apparatus continues unimpeded. What they’re looking for are easy arguments. Things that sound persuasive at first glance.
Snowden also talks about whistleblower Chelsea Manning, whose prison term was recently commuted by President Obama; weaknesses in mainstream media; mass surveillance; and the newly inaugurated President Donald Trump.
“I think the focus on Trump is a mistake,” Snowden argues. “Faith in elected leaders to fix our problems is the mistake that we keep repeating.”
“When President Obama was elected to the White House, he said all the right things,” Snowden continues. “If we’re hoping for a champion, if we’re waiting for a hero, we’ll be waiting forever.”
—Posted by Emma Niles
Your support is crucial...As we navigate an uncertain 2025, with a new administration questioning press freedoms, the risks are clear: our ability to report freely is under threat.
Your tax-deductible donation enables us to dig deeper, delivering fearless investigative reporting and analysis that exposes the reality beneath the headlines — without compromise.
Now is the time to take action. Stand with our courageous journalists. Donate today to protect a free press, uphold democracy and uncover the stories that need to be told.
TD Original
In Pakistan and Iran, a grassroots women-led movement gives hope to millions of stateless people.
Activism
There is nothing right about a legal system that protects those hurting animals and punishes those trying to save them.
Politics
Advocacy organizations are pushing for new policies on voting rights, finance reforms, and judicial accountability.
Truthdiggers
Friends and mentees remember the mother of the disability rights movement.
Activism
The mission of Indigenous activists continues through their children and grandchildren.
World
Yemeni refugees say they are being abused by border guards and left to die.
You need to be a supporter to comment.
There are currently no responses to this article.
Be the first to respond.