Truthdig Editor-in-Chief Robert Scheer and National Security Agency whistleblower William Binney discuss the difference between intelligence gathering and ordinary police work, why the NSA failed after 9/11 and how the agency collects data on ordinary Americans.

“When they started that collection, as far as I was concerned, that’s a direct violation of the constitutional rights of everybody in the country,” Binney explains. “So, they’re scrapping our Constitution and that’s when I said I have to get out.”

Also watch Scheer, Binney and Truthdig columnist Bill Blum talk about the NSA’s ability to ignore the provisions of the Patriot Act.

Read about the software program that allows the NSA to search phone calls here:

–Posted by Jenna Berbeo