How George W. Bush Dissed the U.S. Intelligence Community

By Juan Cole / Informed Comment Jan 5, 2017 Although the former commander in chief and his vice president had a rule that they did not trash talk people in public, they displayed the utmost disrespect for intelligence professionals who would not tell them (and the public) what they wanted to hear. Dig deeper ( 8 Min. Read )

Truthdigger of the Week: Former British Ambassador and Whistleblower Craig Murray

Emma Niles / Truthdig Sep 10, 2016 Murray, who has been denied entry into the United States to travel to an intelligence-community conference, was removed from the British diplomatic service after he exposed human rights abuses in Uzbekistan. Dig deeper ( 7 Min. Read )

Benjamin Netanyahu Ratchets Up the Conflict Between Israel’s Politicians and Military

Staff / Truthdig May 25, 2016 It's a dangerous inversion: In Israel, according to Ronen Bergman in his analysis for The New York Times, the relationship that Benjamin Netanyahu and other politicians are cultivating with their country's military and intelligence leaders is one in which the wrong side is making the case for caution. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

The [Redacted] Truth About the CIA

By John Kiriakou / OtherWords Feb 17, 2016 America's most notorious spy agency even deceives its own employees. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Why Government Access to Encrypted Messages Won’t Make Us Safer

Thor Benson / Truthdig Nov 25, 2015 Since the Paris attacks, some officials and pundits have argued that government agencies should have a "back door" to encoded apps But such a capability would only compromise the communications of law-abiding citizens, and terrorists would quickly find new ways to evade detectionSince the Paris attacks, some officials have argued that government should have a "back door" to encoded apps. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Inside AT&T’s ‘Deeply Collaborative’ Relationship With the NSA

Kasia Anderson / Truthdig Aug 17, 2015 Although the fact that telecom giants have been in cahoots with the National Security Agency at the expense of consumers' privacy isn't news, a fresh exposé by The New York Times about AT&T's eager service to the intelligence organization is enough to make users unplug from the company once and for all. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

George Washington’s Farewell Address: A ‘Warning Against the Impostures of Pretended Patriotism’

Staff / Truthdig Jul 4, 2015 On Independence Day, against official claims that mass domestic surveillance is needed to ensure U.S. security, Truthdig reprints the farewell address of the first president of the United States. Dig deeper ( 23 Min. Read )

Government Wants to Improve Its Cybersecurity and Weaken Ours

Thor Benson / Truthdig Jun 24, 2015 The FBI wants tech companies to build “back doors” into encryption that protects user information but allows government to access the data. But even if that was OK with you, it wouldn’t work, says one expert. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Has America Changed Since Edward Snowden’s Disclosures?

David Sirota / Truthdig Jun 15, 2015 On the second anniversary of Snowden's historic act of civil disobedience, it is worth reviewing what has changed -- and what has not. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

NSA Whistleblower William Binney: Seeking Blackmail Power, U.S. Officials Enabled 9/11

Alexander Reed Kelly / Truthdig May 15, 2015 The 31-year National Security Agency veteran blew the whistle when he realized technology that he had developed to protect Americans was being used to spy on them. In a wide-ranging, 45-minute discussion, he and Truthdig Editor-in-Chief Robert Scheer discuss who's responsible for the surveillance program, how authorities' desire for blackmail power through mass spying was a factor in their failure to stop the 9/11 attacks, and more. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Terrorism, Violence, and the Culture of Madness

By Henry A. Giroux, Counterpunch Apr 1, 2015 So-called free market policies, values, and practices with their emphasis on the privatization of public wealth, the elimination of social protections, and the deregulation of economic activity now shape practically every commanding political and economic institution in the United States. Dig deeper ( 16 Min. Read )

U.S. Threatened Germany Over Snowden, Vice Chancellor Says

Alexander Reed Kelly / Truthdig Mar 20, 2015 German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel has said the U.S. government threatened to stop sharing intelligence with Germany if Berlin gave asylum to the National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden or otherwise arranged for him to travel there. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )