As a result of a posting on my “International Issues” blog
(May 14) on warrantless Department of Justice Monitoring of Associated Press
reporter phone records, I wound up with a free review copy of the new 65-minute
documentary “War on Whistleblowers: Free Press and the National Security State”,
by Robert Greenwald, from Brave New Foundation (link).
Greenwald points out that in the Middle Ages, “Whistleblowers”
on the Church establishment went to prison but laid the foundation for the
modern world – like Galileo.
One of the most important concepts in the film is the
distinction between leaking and whistleblowing.
The latter does not usually involve the release of classified information.
The film interviews many reporters who have investigated the
Federal government’s post 9/11 abuses – like David Cain, Bill Keller, Jessica
Radack, and Michael Isekoff.
The film seems to focus on three or more specific
cases. One was a DOJ lawyer Thomas M.
Tann, who actually reported on the agency’s own abuse of warrantless searches. He resigned, but came home one day in August
2007 to find his wife and family under the control of eighteen federal
agents.
A second case is the NSA’s Tom Drake, and another was
Lockheed’s Michael DeKort.
Often the government will threaten to prosecute under the
Espionage Act, even when there has been no spying.
Bradley Manning’s case (the “friendly fire” killings in
Iraq) is mentioned toward the end. (My
review and embed of “Collateral Murder” appears on my “cf” (“Cautionary”) blog,
April 7. 2010.
The government said it was concerned, in the AP case, about
federal employees disclosing classified information. It wasn’t concerned about
reporters. But now reporters find that
officials may be afraid to talk to them,
The Obama administration is said to be more draconian on "leaks" than even the Bush administration.
What if a blogger accidentally got a hold of classified
information and disclosed it?
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