if Obama wishes to restore faith in US values, he can begin with the following simple measures [View all]

[Catherina]

Obama seeks more transparent surveillance. He’s having a laugh…
Posted on August 11, 2013

Obama is having a laugh when he stated he intends to reform the surveillance structures of the USA. First, they cannot be reformed, for they are hydra-headed and will simply grow more programs as each one is pared down or lopped off. Secondly, his legacy is one of broken promises, though he still has time to do something about that. The litmus test we propose is simple and one that even a former Chicago lawyer can understand. It is given below: not completing it means he fails.

...

But there is one way in which Obama could redeem himself and satisfy Americans in the process ( as with the Bradley Manning show trial) if he so chooses, and so leave office with a different legacy. Indeed, he could change direction entirely (...). And if Obama wishes to restore faith in US values, he can begin by enacting the following simple measures…

B. The litmus test

1. Issue an unreserved apology re the handling of the case against Aaron Swartz: dismiss the prosecution team whose overreach led to his death and order that all documents relating to the case be made public.

2. Quash the conviction of John Kiriakou, who was responsible for revealing details about water boarding torture by the US.

3. Issue a much belated apology and grant compensation to Thomas Drake , NSA whistleblower who was charged with various offences for simply telling the truth.

4. Apologise to and compensate NSA whistleblower William Binney, who helped expose the Stellar Wind program.

5. Drop all charges against Barrett Brown, who has done nothing wrong except carry out investigations to expose the extra-legal activities of private snooping companies.

6. Free Jeremy Hammond, an investigative researcher who was simply looking into the nefarious affairs of the private intelligence agency, Stratfor.

7. End the investigation into the publishing house Wikileaks and the persecution of Julian Assange, its editor-in-chief, and guarantee that there be no onward extradition to the USA so that he can leave the confines of the Ecuadorian Embassy (and safely answer any outstanding questions from Sweden).

8. Drop all charges against Edward Snowden and issue a guarantee he will not be prosecuted should he decide to return to the USA.

In addition…

If Obama is really genuine in his desire to see major change in US surveillance practice, he could set up a genuine review system (not a pretence one) that will include (should they want to) Edward Snowden, Thomas Drake, Daniel Ellsberg, Glenn Greenwald and representatives from the EFF, Public Intelligence and Wikileaks.

Also, he should sack General Alexander, for damaging US credibility, and the director of National Intelligence, James Clapper, for lying to Congress.

Appendix

A. Complete list of disclosures so far from Edward Snowden and via ancillary investigations in The Guardian. Includes PRISM, Boundless Informant, Tempora and much more.

B. List of additional material via Darkernet:

1. The four Prisms being run by or for the NSA.
2. The total surveillance systems that characterise the USA.
3. The Reach program used by Telstra (Australia)
4. The history of fibre-optic surveillance from the mid-90s onwards
5. Exposing the Australian end of PRISM
6. The NSA Sigint connection
7. More on the NSA social media partners
8. A wide view on Echelon and it’s history and sub-stations

See also why Snowden is the ultimate American patriot.

http://darkernet.in/obama-seeks-more-transparent-surveillance-hes-having-a-laugh/


It's implied but Bradley Manning should be part of the Litmus Test conditions too.