Epstein Secrets

the tip of the iceberg. —RETIRED ADMIRAL MICHAEL MCCONNELL, vice-chairman, Booz Allen Hamilton, 2013 | | E

98 PART TWO THE INTELLIGENCE CRISIS What you've seen so far [in the Snowden theft of documents] is just the tip of the iceberg. —RETIRED ADMIRAL MICHAEL MCCONNELL, vice-chairman, Booz Allen Hamilton, 2013 | | Epst_9780451494566_2p_all_r1.z.indd 111 @ 9/29/16 5:51PM | | HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_019599 | | Epst_978045

ght not be totally coincidental. Snowden blamed high officials in the U.S. government who pur- posely “trapped him” in Russia. He told the editor of The Nation, “I’m in exile. My government revoked my passport intentionally to leave me exiled” and “chose to keep me in Russia.” He repeated that assertion over

be devised. New vulnerabilities could also be targeted in enemy ter- ritories. Although repairing the damage might take many “decades,” according to Michael McConnell, the vice-chairman of Booz Allen, the new director had to get on with that task. McConnell, a for- | | Epst_9780451494566_2p_all_r1.indd 207 @ 9/30/

the damage might take many “decades,” according to Michael McConnell, the vice-chairman of Booz Allen, the new director had to get on with that task. McConnell, a for- | | Epst_9780451494566_2p_all_r1.indd 207 @ 9/30/16 8:13AM | | HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_019695 208 | HOW AMERICA LOST ITS SECRETS mer NSA director

ca, because the CIA can oper- ate with impunity down there,” he explained in the previously cited interview with Katrina vanden Heuvel, the editor of The Nation, in 2014. He had already discussed the likelihood of his being captured in Ecuador with Assange before his departure for Moscow. He later told Alan R

ion to the direct and significant cost to taxpayers represented by this investiga- tion, one measure of how serious the loss has been was revealed by Michael McConnell, the vice-chairman of the company for which Snowden had worked at the time of the breach. McConnell stated publicly, “Snowden has compromised more ca

serious the loss has been was revealed by Michael McConnell, the vice-chairman of the company for which Snowden had worked at the time of the breach. McConnell stated publicly, “Snowden has compromised more capability than any spy in U.S. history.” McConnell had no obvious reason to exaggerate the @ loss be

have caused any harm is preemptively dis- missed as government propaganda. Snowden’s word also is taken over that of government officials because, as The Nation explained, Snowden speaks “truth to power.” Such a formulation of distrust allows those who accept it to dismiss all assertions of government officia

IGHT_020168 HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_020169 18 CHAPTER ONE The Great Divide “What you’ve seen so far is just the tip of the iceberg.” -- retired Admiral Michael McConnell, vice chairman of Booz Allen Hamilton On June 9, 2013, the Guardian, the British newspaper known for the quality and gravity of its reporting posted

hairman Michael McConnell said with the benefit of hindsight. As a result of the theft, he appraised “an entire generation of intelligence was lost.” McConnell, a former NSA director before taking the job at Booz Allen, was in a position to know. Snowden’s sudden career change had both advantages and disadv

g with the intention of staying in Russia, but that the U.S. government “trapped him” at Moscow’s Airport by revoking his passport. He told editor of The Nation magazine: “I’m in exile. My government revoked my passport intentionally to leave me exiled.” He added that the U.S. government “chose to keep me in

ld be devised. New vulnerabilities also could be targeted in enemy territories. Although repairing the damage might take many “decades.” according to Michael McConnell, the Vice Chairman of Booz Allen, the new director had to get on with that task. McConnell, a former NSA director himself, pointed out that the NSA D

the damage might take many “decades.” according to Michael McConnell, the Vice Chairman of Booz Allen, the new director had to get on with that task. McConnell, a former NSA director himself, pointed out that the NSA Director’s “first responsibility is to be the chief cheerleader." Rebuilding the NSA capabil

osed NSA surveillance: James Bamford writing for Wired magazine, Alan Rusbridger, the editor of the Guardian and Katrina vanden Heuvel, the editor of The Nation. He also gave a televised interview to Brian Williams of NBC News in which he explained that since he had no access to the NSA documents in Russia, h