Edward Snowden pushes back against a House Intelligence Committee report released about him.
The anti-Russian propaganda launched into overdrive today with a two-for-one special.
First, the “CrowdStrike” cybersecurity firm run by an anti-Putin Russian Dmitri Alperovitch, alleged that the Russian hacking of the “elections” was similar to Russian hacking of Ukraine artillery units (CrowdStrike was the same company which immediately in the aftermath of the DNC hack also was the “experts” cited by everyone as evidence Putin was responsible for breaching the the Democrats’ server).
Then, according to newly declassified portions of a 37 page report by the House Intelligence Committee released on Thursday, it was none other than Edward Snowden – who lives in Russia under a 2013 asylum deal – that was again attacked by the US with accusations the former NSA contractor “had and continues to have contact” with Russian intelligence services. According to the report, the Pentagon found 13 undisclosed “high risk” security issues caused by Snowden’s disclosure to media outlets of tens of thousands of the U.S. eavesdropping agency’s most sensitive documents.
The report was announced in September, right before the premiere of Oliver Stone’s Snowden movie. Only the highlights were released to the public at the time, and Snowden likewise challenged them. The full report was published on Thursday, after it went through the redaction and declassification process.
If the Chinese or Russians obtained access to materials related to these issues, “American troops will be at greater risk in any future conflict,” the report said. “The committee remains concerned that more than three years after the start of the unauthorized disclosures, NSA, and the IC (Intelligence Community) as a whole, have not done enough to minimize the risk of another massive unauthorized disclosure,” the report said.
The report further accuses Snowden, whom it accused of being a “serial exaggerator and fabricator” and “poor student”, of causing “tremendous damage to national security” by making the information he shared with the public available to “Russian, Chinese, Iranian and North Korean government intelligence services; any terrorist with internet access.” As of June 2016, the Pentagon had identified 13 “high-risk issues” among the 1.5 million documents Snowden accessed, the report said, adding that if Russian or Chinese governments had access to eight of those issues – redacted in full – “American troops will be at greater risk in any future conflict.”
Edward Snowden on Twitter: “Unsurprising that HPSCI’s report is rifled with obvious falsehoods. The only surprise is how accidentally exonerating it is. 1/x / Twitter”
Unsurprising that HPSCI’s report is rifled with obvious falsehoods. The only surprise is how accidentally exonerating it is. 1/x
Edward Snowden on Twitter: “After three years of investigation and millions of dollars, they can present no evidence of harmful intent, foreign influence, or harm. Wow. / Twitter”
After three years of investigation and millions of dollars, they can present no evidence of harmful intent, foreign influence, or harm. Wow.
Edward Snowden on Twitter: “First, read three-time Pulitzer-winner @BartonGellman’s takedown of several documented, provably false claims: https://t.co/4kpK06sAdW / Twitter”
First, read three-time Pulitzer-winner @BartonGellman’s takedown of several documented, provably false claims: https://t.co/4kpK06sAdW
Edward Snowden on Twitter: “An indicator of HPSCI’s slant is the knowing omission of my strident, well-documented criticisms of Russian policy: https://t.co/rbAUeGZPd7 / Twitter”
An indicator of HPSCI’s slant is the knowing omission of my strident, well-documented criticisms of Russian policy: https://t.co/rbAUeGZPd7
Edward Snowden on Twitter: “Despite this, they claim without evidence I’m in cahoots with Russian intel. Everyone knows this is false, but let’s examine their basis: / Twitter”
Despite this, they claim without evidence I’m in cahoots with Russian intel. Everyone knows this is false, but let’s examine their basis:
Edward Snowden on Twitter: “A quote from a Russian guy who just this week claimed NATO assassinated Russia’s Ambassador. Not kidding: https://t.co/wYuKWyF0bb / Twitter”
A quote from a Russian guy who just this week claimed NATO assassinated Russia’s Ambassador. Not kidding: https://t.co/wYuKWyF0bb
Edward Snowden on Twitter: “Moreover, Klintsevich states clearly in the audio (which NPR omits from English translation) that he’s only speculating (“Ya dumayu sto…”) / Twitter”
Moreover, Klintsevich states clearly in the audio (which NPR omits from English translation) that he’s only speculating (“Ya dumayu sto…”)
Edward Snowden on Twitter: “This is the standard of evidence the worst claims they level are based on, after three years and millions of dollars. But it goes on. / Twitter”
This is the standard of evidence the worst claims they level are based on, after three years and millions of dollars. But it goes on.
Edward Snowden on Twitter: “Claim: I took a trip to trip to the PRC while in Japan. Never happened — not even transit. And USG knows this, because of passport control. / Twitter”
Claim: I took a trip to trip to the PRC while in Japan. Never happened — not even transit. And USG knows this, because of passport control.
Edward Snowden on Twitter: “Claim: I went to a hacker conference, met Chinese hackers, then told people at NSA how great China is (seriously?). False and insane. / Twitter”
Claim: I went to a hacker conference, met Chinese hackers, then told people at NSA how great China is (seriously?). False and insane.
Edward Snowden on Twitter: “Moreover, I never went to any hacker con during my time in government, IIRC. Think my first was HOPE, speaking alongside Ellsberg– in 2014! / Twitter”
Moreover, I never went to any hacker con during my time in government, IIRC. Think my first was HOPE, speaking alongside Ellsberg– in 2014!
Edward Snowden on Twitter: “I could go on forever. It is an endless parade of falsity so unbelievable it comes across as parody. Yet unintentionally exonerating: / Twitter”
I could go on forever. It is an endless parade of falsity so unbelievable it comes across as parody. Yet unintentionally exonerating:
Edward Snowden on Twitter: “They document me going, again and again — over years, despite punishments — to superiors to report complaints of waste, fraud, and abuse. / Twitter”
They document me going, again and again — over years, despite punishments — to superiors to report complaints of waste, fraud, and abuse.
Edward Snowden on Twitter: “They characterize many of the best things I ever did — standing up for co-workers, reporting XSS vulns in TS/SCI systems — as wrongs. / Twitter”
They characterize many of the best things I ever did — standing up for co-workers, reporting XSS vulns in TS/SCI systems — as wrongs.
Edward Snowden on Twitter: “Not one page mentions this journalism won the Pulitzer Prize for Public service, reformed our laws, and changed even the President’s mind. / Twitter”
Not one page mentions this journalism won the Pulitzer Prize for Public service, reformed our laws, and changed even the President’s mind.
Edward Snowden on Twitter: “Yet they argue at length I should have gone to NSA’s Inspector General. That he would end these abuses and protect whistleblowers. / Twitter”
Yet they argue at length I should have gone to NSA’s Inspector General. That he would end these abuses and protect whistleblowers.
Edward Snowden on Twitter: “But George Ellard, the NSA Inspector General, was just fired for retaliating against a whistleblower just like me. https://t.co/Udl9YK38XF / Twitter”
But George Ellard, the NSA Inspector General, was just fired for retaliating against a whistleblower just like me. https://t.co/Udl9YK38XF
Edward Snowden on Twitter: “John Crane, who worked for DOD’s IG, claims they intentionally destroyed exculpatory evidence about @Thomas_Drake1. https://t.co/7kU0ISjaXE / Twitter”
John Crane, who worked for DOD’s IG, claims they intentionally destroyed exculpatory evidence about @Thomas_Drake1. https://t.co/7kU0ISjaXE
https://twitter.com/Snowden/status/811980003474862080
Edward Snowden on Twitter: “Final note: HPSCI’s report admits I purged and abandoned hard drives rather than risk bringing them through Russia. Glad it’s settled. / Twitter”
Final note: HPSCI’s report admits I purged and abandoned hard drives rather than risk bringing them through Russia. Glad it’s settled.
Via ZeroHedge