I apologize if this comes across as an "ass kissing" response. I have been keeping myself out of the comments because I wanted to see if Mr. Snowden was going to find his voice as a journalist. I think it takes some time to become a good writer and it is an industry that is constantly evolving and requires an open mind to accept the changes that are always occurring. Take it from an ex-journalist who did not learn these lessons in his 20s;) Let me just say that this is the best 50 bucks I have spent (Except maybe on Glenn Greenwald who is also a wonderful journalist) on Substack. Thank you again. Your two part series on propaganda was amazing. Keep up the amazing content and know that despite the corrupt and evil two party system that has engulfed and controlled the politics in this country for too long and led you to become a Russian citizen, you will always have the support of the real liberals, right wing Constitutionalists and the libertarians.
Hi Edward. I really like how honest you are with admitting your own ignorance and mistakes in the past, and how you describe the differences between your analysis of the situation from back then and how you analyse it now, and how you have been influenced and your honest admission to it. It is very interesting to read, it is not often I come across a person who observes and analyses things including the way they themselves think, the way that you do. Thank you for interesting read and keep it up. Marianne.
By the word, "ignorance", I mean simply not knowing, nothing negative. It's easy to be influenced whatever stage in life, when something so big and emotional happens.
Hi Marianne, by way of agreement I'd like to just offer this pithy tidbit, admittedly a pedantic, but I hope respectful and reassuring, gesture:
"Every time a new discovery is made, whole new fields of ignorance are opened up."
-Marshall McLuhan
If a person isn't big enough of character to admit ignorance about a fact or a topic, then that person is unable and incapable of ever learning anything new. They are blinded by pride and ego, and fear that they might not be perfect right out of the womb.
Perhaps we can blame the Thesaurus for giving people the false impression that language is merely composed of connotative word-groups, varying only in valence: pejorative or praising. In this ecological media condition, ignorance equates to stupidity, which is something only an ignorant person would erroneously believe, thus compounding and assuring their self-fulfilling cycle of foolishness.
Related to your praise of Ed's constructive introspection, in terms of the rarity of such psychological self-acceptance in the general population, we might also pin some blame on the word Right for its being applied simultaneously to mean Correct and Good, which causes many young men to be very insecure in their self-image upon the most mild or benign failure to be perfect. It is surely an epidemic among the English speaking peoples.
In this sense, Ed has a great deal of emotional intelligence. Only by making mistakes and learning from them in pursuit of doing the right thing does a person gain personal wisdom. Ed's youthful failures amount to our rewards.
My recollection is different. Different country. I was struck by:
😔 What sane person thinks you can fight "terror"?
😔 Why on earth wasn't there a more talk of, and response to, the great candle-lit vigil of support in Tehran's Madar Square?
😔 A time for civilised people, of all nations, to unite against the barbarian?
The opportunity was squandered in so many parts of the world. Mankind has gone down a darker road, including a rise of surveillance both government and commercial, and unthinking cyber attacks that have forced others to retaliate in kind.
While mankind is so dumb we don't have a better future, only a worse.
Be kind and compassionate to your 20 year old self. You responded to the world with what you believed to be truths. Your actions then, and your actions of late, reflect a heart that loves and is protective of the influence of tyranny. We all regret being fooled. A gift is being able to analyze information as it unfolds, self reflect, and take action according to our values. You are a gift.
I would definitely second this sentiment. There are more grounds for self-criticism and regret by those of us who at the time had more wisdom about such things, but were unable to put it into action or pass it to the younger generations.
Within a week of the 9/11 attacks, I warned my email lists that they would soon be under surveillance by three-letter agencies (I had read a bit by James Bamford about the NSA and remembered a lot of things from the 1970s). Not long afterwards, I told one of my lists that invading Afghanistan was a bad idea, and that it ought to be handled as a criminal matter (which the Taliban had offered to do, btw).
Ed should be proud of the wisdom he has not only gained from his own experience, but also been able to share with so many people.
I can't say enough about this superb radio documentary series from WNYC in New York. It is an in-depth, riveting, expertly produced, ten-part radio documentary podcast that details the extensive back-story of 9/11. A fantastic achievement worth listening to. https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/blindspot/articles/bullet
Such a revealing book. It shows the soul of one of the most honourable man alive. Thanks for existing and for sharing your precious insightful thoughts with us.
To me, 9/11 was our Chernobyl - that moment we, and the rest of the world, understood we no longer knew what we were doing.
Starting on 9/12, we sent I’ll equipped workers directly into the reactor, just as the Soviets did.
I don’t know what happens from here, though the fact we have our own tragic Afghanistan withdrawal does amuse me, but I’m reminded that in spite of what happened in Chernobyl life eventually came back.
Green grass and blue skies will return. We only must endure.
The art/documentary "The Russian Woodpecker" will add constructive fodder to your view of the Chernobyl disaster, and offer alternative hypotheses to its causes, but reveal similar hubris akin to our unvarnished 9/11 narratives.
Thanks for writing this. I have a lot of things I’d like to share but never seem to be able to put them down very well. I like it when someone can tap into a thought or story and write it the way you do. I wouldn’t worry so much about dumbing anything down or changing your words though. Some things require more research to understand and if it is your words that confuse people, at least you set them on a path to start researching those lol. Besides, I think you wouldn’t be as interesting if you did change.
Out of curiosity where does the money from the books go now? Last I heard the gov't was stealing all income from the book. I don't mind spending money to support you personally but as a matter of principle I'd rather pirate the book and send money to you directly than help fund the criminals in government.
After discovering the first 9/11 (the Chile coup) was indeed manufactured by the CIA years later than I should have, and in fact having vigorously denied those events for over a decade, the first thing I said when watching the replay of the planes crashing into the WTC was, "Bush did it!".
For those who want to argue that Bush wasn't smart enough to pull it off, of course you are right, but that hardly makes the fact that it was an inside job any less palatable. Haven't we just watched Obama, Trump, and now Biden play the role of useful idiot as the military-industrial complex destroys the American Dream? Or have we always been in this nightmare.
good closing line.. yes indeed the internal will manifest externally as many discussions will wake people up to the lies we have accepted as truth. Like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz we are slowly pulling back the curtains on what really happened. I still find it hard to fathom how many people believe that one fire, way up in a high rise can drop a building, just like the demolation in minutes. No wonder they can stage a plannedmenic so easily, now that homeland security is in place. Freedom is a word that will soon vanish if we dont wake ourselves up.
You never let me down ES. We sure could use you here right now. We are becoming positively post American and if something doesn’t give soon I fear for our freedoms and liberties in very short order. Trump should have pardoned you, I’m sure Mitch and the rest of the pussies on “my side” threatened to convict on the impeachment. He should have done it anyway as he above all else know how brave you were to do what you did. As always, say safe Ed. Thoughts and prayers man.
Here's a question right out of the blue, Ed - what are your thoughts on the recent Google Analytics rollout in Google Calendars? This new feature allows calendar administrators to see how frequently people meet, with whom, and when. Do you think that this feature helps with overall employee and student accountability, or do you think it's more on the side of the admins and the data sales team?
I apologize if this comes across as an "ass kissing" response. I have been keeping myself out of the comments because I wanted to see if Mr. Snowden was going to find his voice as a journalist. I think it takes some time to become a good writer and it is an industry that is constantly evolving and requires an open mind to accept the changes that are always occurring. Take it from an ex-journalist who did not learn these lessons in his 20s;) Let me just say that this is the best 50 bucks I have spent (Except maybe on Glenn Greenwald who is also a wonderful journalist) on Substack. Thank you again. Your two part series on propaganda was amazing. Keep up the amazing content and know that despite the corrupt and evil two party system that has engulfed and controlled the politics in this country for too long and led you to become a Russian citizen, you will always have the support of the real liberals, right wing Constitutionalists and the libertarians.
🎩
🐍 No step on snek 🇺🇸
Hi Edward. I really like how honest you are with admitting your own ignorance and mistakes in the past, and how you describe the differences between your analysis of the situation from back then and how you analyse it now, and how you have been influenced and your honest admission to it. It is very interesting to read, it is not often I come across a person who observes and analyses things including the way they themselves think, the way that you do. Thank you for interesting read and keep it up. Marianne.
By the word, "ignorance", I mean simply not knowing, nothing negative. It's easy to be influenced whatever stage in life, when something so big and emotional happens.
Hi Marianne, by way of agreement I'd like to just offer this pithy tidbit, admittedly a pedantic, but I hope respectful and reassuring, gesture:
"Every time a new discovery is made, whole new fields of ignorance are opened up."
-Marshall McLuhan
If a person isn't big enough of character to admit ignorance about a fact or a topic, then that person is unable and incapable of ever learning anything new. They are blinded by pride and ego, and fear that they might not be perfect right out of the womb.
Perhaps we can blame the Thesaurus for giving people the false impression that language is merely composed of connotative word-groups, varying only in valence: pejorative or praising. In this ecological media condition, ignorance equates to stupidity, which is something only an ignorant person would erroneously believe, thus compounding and assuring their self-fulfilling cycle of foolishness.
Related to your praise of Ed's constructive introspection, in terms of the rarity of such psychological self-acceptance in the general population, we might also pin some blame on the word Right for its being applied simultaneously to mean Correct and Good, which causes many young men to be very insecure in their self-image upon the most mild or benign failure to be perfect. It is surely an epidemic among the English speaking peoples.
In this sense, Ed has a great deal of emotional intelligence. Only by making mistakes and learning from them in pursuit of doing the right thing does a person gain personal wisdom. Ed's youthful failures amount to our rewards.
It's very sad to read. Written so soulfully. Sincerely yours, thank you, Ed.
My recollection is different. Different country. I was struck by:
😔 What sane person thinks you can fight "terror"?
😔 Why on earth wasn't there a more talk of, and response to, the great candle-lit vigil of support in Tehran's Madar Square?
😔 A time for civilised people, of all nations, to unite against the barbarian?
The opportunity was squandered in so many parts of the world. Mankind has gone down a darker road, including a rise of surveillance both government and commercial, and unthinking cyber attacks that have forced others to retaliate in kind.
While mankind is so dumb we don't have a better future, only a worse.
We can do better. How?
Be kind and compassionate to your 20 year old self. You responded to the world with what you believed to be truths. Your actions then, and your actions of late, reflect a heart that loves and is protective of the influence of tyranny. We all regret being fooled. A gift is being able to analyze information as it unfolds, self reflect, and take action according to our values. You are a gift.
I would definitely second this sentiment. There are more grounds for self-criticism and regret by those of us who at the time had more wisdom about such things, but were unable to put it into action or pass it to the younger generations.
Within a week of the 9/11 attacks, I warned my email lists that they would soon be under surveillance by three-letter agencies (I had read a bit by James Bamford about the NSA and remembered a lot of things from the 1970s). Not long afterwards, I told one of my lists that invading Afghanistan was a bad idea, and that it ought to be handled as a criminal matter (which the Taliban had offered to do, btw).
Ed should be proud of the wisdom he has not only gained from his own experience, but also been able to share with so many people.
I can't say enough about this superb radio documentary series from WNYC in New York. It is an in-depth, riveting, expertly produced, ten-part radio documentary podcast that details the extensive back-story of 9/11. A fantastic achievement worth listening to. https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/blindspot/articles/bullet
Thank you for sharing this reflection. It is so meaningful to me
You could not have picked a better time to write this , so relevant.
Such a revealing book. It shows the soul of one of the most honourable man alive. Thanks for existing and for sharing your precious insightful thoughts with us.
To me, 9/11 was our Chernobyl - that moment we, and the rest of the world, understood we no longer knew what we were doing.
Starting on 9/12, we sent I’ll equipped workers directly into the reactor, just as the Soviets did.
I don’t know what happens from here, though the fact we have our own tragic Afghanistan withdrawal does amuse me, but I’m reminded that in spite of what happened in Chernobyl life eventually came back.
Green grass and blue skies will return. We only must endure.
The art/documentary "The Russian Woodpecker" will add constructive fodder to your view of the Chernobyl disaster, and offer alternative hypotheses to its causes, but reveal similar hubris akin to our unvarnished 9/11 narratives.
*ill equipped
My kingdom for an edit button!
There is no edit button. Everything you write here goes on your Permanent Record. 👁️
IS THERE AN EDIT BUTTON IN THIS DOJO?
NO, SENSEI.
Permanent Record. But you can add some words, ' for edition' ;)
Thanks for writing this. I have a lot of things I’d like to share but never seem to be able to put them down very well. I like it when someone can tap into a thought or story and write it the way you do. I wouldn’t worry so much about dumbing anything down or changing your words though. Some things require more research to understand and if it is your words that confuse people, at least you set them on a path to start researching those lol. Besides, I think you wouldn’t be as interesting if you did change.
Out of curiosity where does the money from the books go now? Last I heard the gov't was stealing all income from the book. I don't mind spending money to support you personally but as a matter of principle I'd rather pirate the book and send money to you directly than help fund the criminals in government.
No, the money doesn't go right to Ed. Personally you can ' Give gift', its written here, on the site.
After discovering the first 9/11 (the Chile coup) was indeed manufactured by the CIA years later than I should have, and in fact having vigorously denied those events for over a decade, the first thing I said when watching the replay of the planes crashing into the WTC was, "Bush did it!".
For those who want to argue that Bush wasn't smart enough to pull it off, of course you are right, but that hardly makes the fact that it was an inside job any less palatable. Haven't we just watched Obama, Trump, and now Biden play the role of useful idiot as the military-industrial complex destroys the American Dream? Or have we always been in this nightmare.
good closing line.. yes indeed the internal will manifest externally as many discussions will wake people up to the lies we have accepted as truth. Like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz we are slowly pulling back the curtains on what really happened. I still find it hard to fathom how many people believe that one fire, way up in a high rise can drop a building, just like the demolation in minutes. No wonder they can stage a plannedmenic so easily, now that homeland security is in place. Freedom is a word that will soon vanish if we dont wake ourselves up.
You never let me down ES. We sure could use you here right now. We are becoming positively post American and if something doesn’t give soon I fear for our freedoms and liberties in very short order. Trump should have pardoned you, I’m sure Mitch and the rest of the pussies on “my side” threatened to convict on the impeachment. He should have done it anyway as he above all else know how brave you were to do what you did. As always, say safe Ed. Thoughts and prayers man.
Here's a question right out of the blue, Ed - what are your thoughts on the recent Google Analytics rollout in Google Calendars? This new feature allows calendar administrators to see how frequently people meet, with whom, and when. Do you think that this feature helps with overall employee and student accountability, or do you think it's more on the side of the admins and the data sales team?
If something is free, then you are the product.