They Said It… (7/12/13)

EDWARD SNOWDEN — “AN OBLIGATION TO ACT”:

“I don’t want to live in a world where everything that I say, everything I do, everyone I talk to, every expression of creativity, or love, or friendship is recorded, and that’s not something I’m willing to support, it’s not something I’m willing to build, and it’s not something I’m willing to live under. …I think anyone who opposes that sort of world has an obligation to act in a way they can.” — NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden interviewed by civil liberties journalist Glenn Greenwald, The Guardian, June 6, 2013. (Transcript here.)

DANIEL ELLSBERG ON EDWARD SNOWDEN:

“There has not been in American history a more important leak than Edward Snowden’s release of NSA material — and I include the Pentagon Papers 40 years ago. … the Founders of America never fathomed the kinds of surveillance powers that have now been turned against Americans — nor would they ever have granted to a spy agency the vast, sweeping powers we’ve learned of recently. …this may be our last chance to rein in the surveillance state.” — Daniel Ellsberg, renowned leaker of the Pentagon Papers 40 years ago that exposed the U.S. government’s criminal Vietnam War secret strategy.

LIBERTARIANISM GROWING IN U.S. MILITARY:

“This may come as a surprise to some — especially considering that each and every member of the military is of course a government employee — but there is a very strong libertarian streak running within the United States military, particularly the lower and middle ranks. I wrote during the 2012 primary season about the appeal Ron Paul held for soldiers, and…I’m noticing military libertarianism increasing, not decreasing, among the more politically aware and engaged officers and enlisted.” — David French, “Would a Libertarian Military Be More Lethal?” National Review Online, July 9, 2013.

EVEN PATRIOT ACT AUTHOR IS SHOCKED:

“As the author of the Patriot Act, I am extremely troubled by the FBI’s interpretation of [the Patriot Act]…  Seizing phone records of millions of innocent people is excessive and un-American.” – Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI), who introduced the Patriot Act in 2001, arguing in a press release that the federal government has gone far beyond what he and other Patriot Act supporters ever intended, June 6, 2013.

DO AS WE SAY, NOT AS WE DO:

“US government declares hacking an act of war, then hacks allies.” — headline of Washington Examiner article on recent NSA revelations, July 1, 2013.

MR. GORBACHEV DON’T TEAR DOWN THAT WALL, JUST MOVE IT OVER HERE:

“We’ll be the most militarized border since the fall of the Berlin Wall…” — Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) arguing for legislation to increase the number of border patrol agents by 20,000 and fund the construction of 700 miles of fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border.

JAY LENO ON OBAMA VS LIBERTY:

“President Obama is currently on a week-long trip to Africa, where he will promote freedom, democracy, and economic opportunity. I guess he figured it hasn’t worked here — so try it somewhere else.” — Jay Leno, June 27, 2013.