EXCLUSIVE: Edward Snowden Tells Brian Williams: 'I Was Trained as a Spy'

[Luminous Animal]

22. In rebuttal

(1) His claim was that he could "wiretap" the President IF he had Obama's personal email. And XKeyscore was the tool that he could have used.

But training materials for XKeyscore detail how analysts can use it and other systems to mine enormous agency databases by filling in a simple on-screen form giving only a broad justification for the search. The request is not reviewed by a court or any NSA personnel before it is processed.

XKeyscore, the documents boast, is the NSA's "widest reaching" system developing intelligence from computer networks – what the agency calls Digital Network Intelligence (DNI). One presentation claims the program covers "nearly everything a typical user does on the internet", including the content of emails, websites visited and searches, as well as their metadata.

Analysts can also use XKeyscore and other NSA systems to obtain ongoing "real-time" interception of an individual's internet activity.

Under US law, the NSA is required to obtain an individualized Fisa warrant only if the target of their surveillance is a 'US person', though no such warrant is required for intercepting the communications of Americans with foreign targets. But XKeyscore provides the technological capability, if not the legal authority, to target even US persons for extensive electronic surveillance without a warrant provided that some identifying information, such as their email or IP address, is known to the analyst.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jul/31/nsa-top-secret-program-online-data

(2) There is no reason not to believe him. He had Tor and EFF stickers on his computers. He held a public crypto party in Hawaii. His coworkers admitted that he talked openly about Constitutional violations. I also find it laughable that Booz Allen and the government have not made specific denials about this claim. Likely, because they are concerned that doing so would come back to slap them in the face if Snowden or Greenwald are sitting on evidence that he had made specific complaints.

(3) One of his coworkers came forward (albeit anonymously) and said that no one was tricked but rather, his superiors gave him the keys.

(4) The U.S. army confirmed to the Guardian that Snowden enlisted for special forces.

The US army has confirmed an aspect of surveillance whistleblower Edward Snowden's military service to the Guardian.

As Snowden told the Guardian in announcing his responsibility for detailing multiple mass surveillance efforts by the National Security Agency sweeping up Americans' communications data, he indeed tried to join the elite special forces.

His attempt was unsuccessful.

"His records indicate he enlisted in the army reserve as a special forces recruit (18X) on 7 May 2004 but was discharged 28 September 2004," the US army's chief civilian spokesman, George Wright, said by email on Monday. (In his Guardian interview, Snowden gave the year as 2003.)

"He did not complete any training or receive any awards," Wright added.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jun/10/edward-snowden-army-special-forces

(5) In his original missive to Greenwald he included his CIA ID number and his CIA alias. In the published version, that info is redacted. The CIA has been silent, as it should be, but the evidence exists. (Edited to add Vattel's info from below.)

The Defense Intelligence Agency confirmed to NBC News that Snowden, as a contractor, had spoken at three of their conferences. Two intelligence sources tell NBC that Snowden worked for the CIA at an overseas station in IT and communications.

http://www.nbcnews.com/feature/edward-snowden-interview/exclusive-edward-snowden-tells-brian-williams-i-was-trained-spy-n115746