An NSA Whistleblower Speaks Out

Democracy Now!. Posted January 7, 2006.

Editor's Note: Bush's decision to order the National Security Agency to eavesdrop on U.S. citizens was first revealed in the New York Times in mid-December. The Times published the expose after holding the story for more than a year under pressure from the White House.

Since the story broke, calls for Congressional hearings and the possible impeachment of the president have intensified. Now Congress is considering a new round of hearings on Bush's domestic spying program, with a bipartisan group of Senators issuing their public support.

Former NSA intelligence officer Russel Tice recently announced that he wants to testify before Congress. He was fired in May 2005 after he spoke out as a whistleblower.

The following is an edited transcript of an interview between Amy Goodman of Democracy Now! and former NSA intelligence agent Russell Tice.

Amy Goodman: This is President Bush speaking on Sunday:

President George W. Bush: I can say that if somebody from al-Qaeda is calling you, we'd like to know why. In the meantime, this program is conscious of people's civil liberties, as am I. This is a limited program designed to prevent attacks on the United States of America. And I repeat: limited. And it's limited to calls from outside the United States to calls within the United States. But, they are of known numbers of known al Qaeda members or affiliates. And I think most Americans understand the need to find out what the enemy is thinking. And that's what we are doing. We're at war with a bunch of cold-blooded killers who will kill on a moment's notice. And I have a responsibility, obviously, to act within the law, which I am doing. It's a program has been reviewed constantly by Justice Department officials, a program to which the Congress has been briefed, and a program that is in my judgment necessary to win this war and to protect the American people.

Amy Goodman: Two weeks ago, a former N.S.A. intelligence officer publicly announced he wants to testify before Congress. His name is Russell Tice. For the past two decades he has worked in the intelligence field, both inside and outside of government, most recently with the National Security Agency and the Defense Intelligence Agency. He was fired in May 2005, after he spoke out as a whistleblower.

In his letter, Tice wrote, quote, "It's with my oath as a U.S. intelligence officer weighing heavy on my mind that I wish to report to Congress acts I believe are unlawful and unconstitutional. The freedom of the American people cannot be protected when our constitutional liberties are ignored and our nation has decayed into a police state." Russell Tice joins us now in our Washington studio. Welcome to Democracy Now!

Russell Tice: Good morning.

Amy Goodman: What made you decide to come forward? You worked for the top-secret agency of this government, one that is far larger and even more secret than the C.I.A.

Russell Tice: Well, the main reason is that I'm involved with some certain aspects of the intelligence community, which are very closely held, and I believe I have seen some things that are illegal. Ultimately it's Congress's responsibility to conduct oversight in these things. I don't see it happening. Another reason is there was a certain roadblock that was sort of lifted that allowed me to do this, and I can't explain, but I will to Congress if allowed to.

Amy Goodman: Can you talk about the letter you have written to Congress, your request to testify?

Russell Tice: Well, it's just a simple request under the Intelligence Community Whistleblower Protection Act, which is a legal means to contact Congress and tell them that you believe that something has gone wrong in the intelligence community.

Amy Goodman: Can you start off by talking overall? Since most people -- until this latest story of President Bush engaging in these wiretaps of American citizens, as well as foreign nationals in this country -- perhaps hadn't even heard of the N.S.A., can you just describe for us what is the National Security Agency? How does it monitor these communications?

Russell Tice: The National Security Agency is an agency that deals with monitoring communications for the defense of the country. The charter basically says that the N.S.A. will deal with communications of -- overseas. We're not allowed to go after Americans, and I think ultimately that's what the big fuss is now. But as far as the details of how N.S.A. does that, unfortunately, I'm not at liberty to say that. I don't want to walk out of here and end up in an F.B.I. interrogation room.

Amy Goodman: Can you talk about your response to the revelations that the Times, knowing the story well before the election, revealed a few weeks ago about the wiretapping of American citizens?

Russell Tice: Well, as far as an intelligence officer, especially a SIGINT officer at N.S.A., we're taught from very early on in our careers that you just do not do this. This is probably the number one commandment of the SIGINT Ten Commandments -- you will not spy on Americans.

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