Changes

{{Cquote|the C.I.A. has acknowledged that it has detained about 100 terrorists since 9/11, and about a third of them have been subjected to what the C.I.A. refers to as enhanced interrogation tactics, and only a small proportion of those have in fact been subjected to the most serious types of enhanced procedures ... There have been a lot of information that has come out from these interrogation procedures that the agency has in fact used against the real hard-core terrorists. It has saved lives. And let's not forget, these are hardened terrorists who have been responsible for 9/11, who have shown no remorse at all for the deaths of 3,000 innocents.<ref>''The Early Show'' on [[CBS]], John Brennan interview with Harry Smith. [https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/01/07/us/politics/07brennan-issues.html]</ref>}}

{{Cquote|the C.I.A. has acknowledged that it has detained about 100 terrorists since 9/11, and about a third of them have been subjected to what the C.I.A. refers to as enhanced interrogation tactics, and only a small proportion of those have in fact been subjected to the most serious types of enhanced procedures ... There have been a lot of information that has come out from these interrogation procedures that the agency has in fact used against the real hard-core terrorists. It has saved lives. And let's not forget, these are hardened terrorists who have been responsible for 9/11, who have shown no remorse at all for the deaths of 3,000 innocents.<ref>''The Early Show'' on [[CBS]], John Brennan interview with Harry Smith. [https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/01/07/us/politics/07brennan-issues.html]</ref>}}

Brennan told [[ABC]], "Our review indicates that interrogations of detainees on whom EITs [enhanced interrogation techniques] were used did produce intelligence that helped thwart attack plans, capture terrorists, and save lives."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/cia-pushes-back-assertion-overstated-intelligence-detention-program/story?id=27486128|title=CIA Pushes Back on Assertion That It Overstated Intelligence From Detention Program|author=ABC News|work=ABC News}}</ref>

Brennan told [[ABC]], "Our review indicates that interrogations of detainees on whom EITs [enhanced interrogation techniques] were used did produce intelligence that helped thwart attack plans, capture terrorists, and save lives."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/cia-pushes-back-assertion-overstated-intelligence-detention-program/story?id=27486128|title=CIA Pushes Back on Assertion That It Overstated Intelligence From Detention Program|author=ABC News|work=ABC News}}</ref>

After the terrorist attacks on 9/11, the Bush administration in its 2002 National Security Strategy promulgated a new [[preventive war doctrine]], and initiated a program of targeted killings using weaponized Unarmed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), drones, and other means. President Obama greatly expanded the employment of drones to kill people. Brennan was put in charge of selecting targets.

After the terrorist attacks on 9/11, the Bush administration in its 2002 National Security Strategy promulgated a new [[preventive war doctrine]], and initiated a program of targeted killings using weaponized Unarmed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), drones, and other means. President Obama greatly expanded the employment of drones to kill people. Brennan was put in charge of selecting targets.

==Obama administration==

==Obama administration==

During the transition Obama nominated Brennan as CIA Director.<ref>[http://www.salon.com/2008/11/16/brennan/ John Brennan and Bush’s interrogation/detention policies,] Examining the actual record of Obama's top adviser for intelligence policy, By Glenn Greenwald, Salon.com, Nov 16, 2008.</ref><ref>[http://www.harpers.org/archive/2008/11/hbc-90003909 John Brennan for CIA? Think Again], Scott Horton, ''[[Harper's Magazine]]'', November 24, 2008.</ref><ref>[http://www.nationaljournal.com/njmagazine/ad_20081206_1783.php What's Behind Brennan's Withdrawal? Some former spies say left-leaning bloggers and columnists drove John Brennan out of consideration for CIA director], Shane Harris, ''National Journal Magazine'', Dec. 6, 2008.</ref> The nomination was withdrawn however as Brennan's torture program became public. Brennan went to work inside the [[White House]] on Obama's personal staff.

During the transition Obama nominated Brennan as CIA Director.<ref>[https://www.salon.com/2008/11/16/brennan/ John Brennan and Bush’s interrogation/detention policies,] Examining the actual record of Obama's top adviser for intelligence policy, By Glenn Greenwald, Salon.com, Nov 16, 2008.</ref><ref>[http://www.harpers.org/archive/2008/11/hbc-90003909 John Brennan for CIA? Think Again], Scott Horton, ''[[Harper's Magazine]]'', November 24, 2008.</ref><ref>[http://www.nationaljournal.com/njmagazine/ad_20081206_1783.php What's Behind Brennan's Withdrawal? Some former spies say left-leaning bloggers and columnists drove John Brennan out of consideration for CIA director], Shane Harris, ''National Journal Magazine'', Dec. 6, 2008.</ref> The nomination was withdrawn however as Brennan's torture program became public. Brennan went to work inside the [[White House]] on Obama's personal staff.

Under both the Bush and Obama administrations, Brennan allowed rumors of illegal domestic surveillance to circulate as a ploy to disguise the real source of his information - the CIA Torture Program, which he managed.

Under both the Bush and Obama administrations, Brennan allowed rumors of illegal domestic surveillance to circulate as a ploy to disguise the real source of his information - the CIA Torture Program, which he managed.

The controvercy over warrantless wiretaps was always only cover for the the real source where information was gained - Brennan's torture program. At the same time it served public notice Americans had to surrender some freedoms and civil liberties to a group of insiders who knew what was best for them. Legalities didn't matter anymore.  

The controvercy over warrantless wiretaps was always only cover for the the real source where information was gained - Brennan's torture program. At the same time it served public notice Americans had to surrender some freedoms and civil liberties to a group of insiders who knew what was best for them. Legalities didn't matter anymore.  

During "a profanity-laced screaming match at the [[White House]]" in August 2009<ref>[http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=8398902 Obama White House v. CIA; Panetta Threatened to Quit Tensions Lead to CIA Director's "Screaming Match" at the White House], Matthew Cole, Richard Espisito, and Brian Ross, ''[[ABC News]]'', August 24, 2009.</ref> [[CIA]] Director [[Leon Panetta]] protested Obama's decision to create a team of interrogators overseen by the White House.<ref>[http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112169988 ''White House To Oversee New Interrogation Team''], Dina Temple-Raston, npr.org August 24, 2009.</ref> Responsibility for interrogations of suspects was shifted away from the CIA, and the White House National Security Council staff given direct control.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/23/AR2009082302598.html ''New Unit to Question Key Terror Suspects - Move Shifts Interrogation Oversight From the CIA to the White House]'', Anne E. Kornblut, ''[[Washington Post]]'', August 24, 2009.</ref> Brennan was placed in charge of the program.

During "a profanity-laced screaming match at the [[White House]]" in August 2009<ref>[https://abcnews.go.com/print?id=8398902 Obama White House v. CIA; Panetta Threatened to Quit Tensions Lead to CIA Director's "Screaming Match" at the White House], Matthew Cole, Richard Espisito, and Brian Ross, ''[[ABC News]]'', August 24, 2009.</ref> [[CIA]] Director [[Leon Panetta]] protested Obama's decision to create a team of interrogators overseen by the White House.<ref>[https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112169988 ''White House To Oversee New Interrogation Team''], Dina Temple-Raston, npr.org August 24, 2009.</ref> Responsibility for interrogations of suspects was shifted away from the CIA, and the White House National Security Council staff given direct control.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/23/AR2009082302598.html ''New Unit to Question Key Terror Suspects - Move Shifts Interrogation Oversight From the CIA to the White House]'', Anne E. Kornblut, ''[[Washington Post]]'', August 24, 2009.</ref> Brennan was placed in charge of the program.

Unlike executive departments and agencies such as the [[Department of Justice]], [[FBI]], and CIA, the  National Security Council staff are not subject to Congressional oversight, and operate outside the spotlight of public view.<ref>[http://www.commentarymagazine.com/blogs/index.php/j-e-dyer/78202 National Security Council Reloaded], J. E. Dyer, ''Commentary blog'', 08.25.2009.</ref><ref>Tower Commission Report, p. 13.</ref> The [[American Civil Liberties Union]] made this point during the [[United States Presidential Election, 2008|elections of 2008]] when the George W. Bush NSC staff was involved only in decisions and authorizations and before the Obama NSC staff took on an operational role.<ref>[https://www.aclu.org/safefree/torture/35595prs20080610.html?s_src=RSS ACLU Urges Congress to Examine White House National Security Council as Central Decision-Maker on Torture], ACLU Press Release, (6/10/2008).</ref>  

Unlike executive departments and agencies such as the [[Department of Justice]], [[FBI]], and CIA, the  National Security Council staff are not subject to Congressional oversight, and operate outside the spotlight of public view.<ref>[http://www.commentarymagazine.com/blogs/index.php/j-e-dyer/78202 National Security Council Reloaded], J. E. Dyer, ''Commentary blog'', 08.25.2009.</ref><ref>Tower Commission Report, p. 13.</ref> The [[American Civil Liberties Union]] made this point during the [[United States Presidential Election, 2008|elections of 2008]] when the George W. Bush NSC staff was involved only in decisions and authorizations and before the Obama NSC staff took on an operational role.<ref>[https://www.aclu.org/safefree/torture/35595prs20080610.html?s_src=RSS ACLU Urges Congress to Examine White House National Security Council as Central Decision-Maker on Torture], ACLU Press Release, (6/10/2008).</ref>  

The World Socialist Web Site wrote that "the Obama administration has arrogated to itself the most extreme power that can be asserted by any [[dictator]]ship—that of ordering citizens put to death without presenting charges against them, much less proving them in a court of law". They later criticized the relative silence in the media and the political establishment following the revelation.<ref>{{cite news|title=American democracy and the "disposition matrix" |first=Joseph |last=Kishore |url=http://www.wsws.org/articles/2012/oct2012/pers-o31.shtml |newspaper=World Socialist Web Site |date=31 October 2012 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6BzfXBntR?url=http://www.wsws.org/articles/2012/oct2012/pers-o31.shtml |deadurl=no |df=dmy }}</ref>

The World Socialist Web Site wrote that "the Obama administration has arrogated to itself the most extreme power that can be asserted by any [[dictator]]ship—that of ordering citizens put to death without presenting charges against them, much less proving them in a court of law". They later criticized the relative silence in the media and the political establishment following the revelation.<ref>{{cite news|title=American democracy and the "disposition matrix" |first=Joseph |last=Kishore |url=http://www.wsws.org/articles/2012/oct2012/pers-o31.shtml |newspaper=World Socialist Web Site |date=31 October 2012 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6BzfXBntR?url=http://www.wsws.org/articles/2012/oct2012/pers-o31.shtml |deadurl=no |df=dmy }}</ref>

Obama's kill list has been criticized internationally as "targeted executions" and "extrajudicial murders."<ref name=rt1024>{{cite news|title=Kill-list 2.0: Obama’s ‘disposition matrix’ maps out extrajudicial murders for years to come |url=http://rt.com/usa/news/disposition-matrix-kill-obama-146/ |newspaper=Russia Today |date=24 October 2012 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6BhOhc89I?url=http://rt.com/usa/news/disposition-matrix-kill-obama-146/ |deadurl=no |df=dmy }}</ref> "[I]n essence, this means that based on intelligence evidence, the administration assumes the right to judge and execute anyone without bothering about such minor things as proper court hearings, or the right of the accused person for proper legal defense...the fact that such operations clearly violate the principles propagated by the U.S. itself, like the right of everyone for legal defense, does not seem to bother the administration."<ref name=vor1026>{{cite news|title=Barack Obama widens the practice of extrajudicial killings |first=Boris |last=Volkhonsky |url=http://english.ruvr.ru/2012_10_26/Barack-Obama-widens-the-practice-of-extrajudicial-killings/ |publisher=Voice of Russia |date=26 October 2012 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6Bp3m7GtF?url=http://english.ruvr.ru/2012_10_26/Barack-Obama-widens-the-practice-of-extrajudicial-killings/ |deadurl=no |df=dmy }}</ref> Speaking at [[Harvard Law School]] on 25 October 2012, United Nations Special Rapporteur on [[human rights]] and counter terrorism, Ben Emmerson, stated that he would launch an investigation unit within the United Nations Human Rights Council.<ref name=rt1026>{{cite news|title=United Nations to begin investigating US drone strike targeted kills |url=http://rt.com/usa/news/us-drone-emmerson-un-256/ |newspaper=Russia Today |date=26 October 2012 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6BhOjRYIp?url=http://rt.com/usa/news/us-drone-emmerson-un-256/ |deadurl=no |df=dmy }}</ref> Emmerson and Christof Heyns, UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions, have described some Obama admimistraion targeted killings as [[war crime]]s.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/jun/21/drone-strikes-international-law-un Drone strikes threaten 50 years of international law, says UN rapporteur], Owen Bowcott, ''[[The Guardian]]'',  21 June 2012</ref><ref>http://web.archive.org/web/20131030231702/http://rt.com/usa/us-drone-emmerson-un-256/</ref>

Obama's kill list has been criticized internationally as "targeted executions" and "extrajudicial murders."<ref name=rt1024>{{cite news|title=Kill-list 2.0: Obama’s ‘disposition matrix’ maps out extrajudicial murders for years to come |url=http://rt.com/usa/news/disposition-matrix-kill-obama-146/ |newspaper=Russia Today |date=24 October 2012 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6BhOhc89I?url=http://rt.com/usa/news/disposition-matrix-kill-obama-146/ |deadurl=no |df=dmy }}</ref> "[I]n essence, this means that based on intelligence evidence, the administration assumes the right to judge and execute anyone without bothering about such minor things as proper court hearings, or the right of the accused person for proper legal defense...the fact that such operations clearly violate the principles propagated by the U.S. itself, like the right of everyone for legal defense, does not seem to bother the administration."<ref name=vor1026>{{cite news|title=Barack Obama widens the practice of extrajudicial killings |first=Boris |last=Volkhonsky |url=http://english.ruvr.ru/2012_10_26/Barack-Obama-widens-the-practice-of-extrajudicial-killings/ |publisher=Voice of Russia |date=26 October 2012 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6Bp3m7GtF?url=http://english.ruvr.ru/2012_10_26/Barack-Obama-widens-the-practice-of-extrajudicial-killings/ |deadurl=no |df=dmy }}</ref> Speaking at [[Harvard Law School]] on 25 October 2012, United Nations Special Rapporteur on [[human rights]] and counter terrorism, Ben Emmerson, stated that he would launch an investigation unit within the United Nations Human Rights Council.<ref name=rt1026>{{cite news|title=United Nations to begin investigating US drone strike targeted kills |url=http://rt.com/usa/news/us-drone-emmerson-un-256/ |newspaper=Russia Today |date=26 October 2012 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6BhOjRYIp?url=http://rt.com/usa/news/us-drone-emmerson-un-256/ |deadurl=no |df=dmy }}</ref> Emmerson and Christof Heyns, UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions, have described some Obama admimistraion targeted killings as [[war crime]]s.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/jun/21/drone-strikes-international-law-un Drone strikes threaten 50 years of international law, says UN rapporteur], Owen Bowcott, ''[[The Guardian]]'',  21 June 2012</ref><ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20131030231702/http://rt.com/usa/us-drone-emmerson-un-256/</ref>

[[Glenn Greenwald]] has written that "the central role played by the NCTC in determining who should be killed [is] rather odious... the NCTC operates a gigantic data-mining operation, in which all sorts of information about innocent Americans is systematically monitored, stored, and analyzed".<ref name=gw1024>{{cite news|title=Obama moves to make the War on Terror permanent |first=Glenn |last=Greenwald |authorlink=Glenn Greenwald |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/oct/24/obama-terrorism-kill-list |newspaper=The Guardian |date=24 October 2012 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6BhOg4QS6?url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/oct/24/obama-terrorism-kill-list |deadurl=no |location=London |df=dmy }}</ref> Greenwald concludes that the Kill list has established "simultaneously a surveillance state and a secretive, unaccountable judicial body that analyzes who you are and then decrees what should be done with you, how you should be "disposed" of, beyond the reach of any minimal accountability or transparency".<ref name=gw1024 /> Former [[counterterrorism]] specialist and [[military intelligence]] officer Philip Giraldi has criticized the disposition matrix's "everyday" killing of targets with what he calls "little or no evidence", leaving the White House "completely unaccountable".<ref>{{cite news|title=Kill Lists Will Continue |first=Philip |last=Giraldi |authorlink=|url=http://original.antiwar.com/giraldi/2012/11/07/kill-lists-will-continue/ |work=[[Antiwar.com]] |date=8 November 2012 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6C2YMHo57?url=http://original.antiwar.com/giraldi/2012/11/07/kill-lists-will-continue/ |deadurl=no |df=dmy }}</ref><ref>[http://original.antiwar.com/giraldi/2012/12/05/the-protocols-for-death/ The Protocols for Death], by Philip Giraldi, [[Antiwar.com]], 06 December 2012</ref>

[[Glenn Greenwald]] has written that "the central role played by the NCTC in determining who should be killed [is] rather odious... the NCTC operates a gigantic data-mining operation, in which all sorts of information about innocent Americans is systematically monitored, stored, and analyzed".<ref name=gw1024>{{cite news|title=Obama moves to make the War on Terror permanent |first=Glenn |last=Greenwald |authorlink=Glenn Greenwald |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/oct/24/obama-terrorism-kill-list |newspaper=The Guardian |date=24 October 2012 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6BhOg4QS6?url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/oct/24/obama-terrorism-kill-list |deadurl=no |location=London |df=dmy }}</ref> Greenwald concludes that the Kill list has established "simultaneously a surveillance state and a secretive, unaccountable judicial body that analyzes who you are and then decrees what should be done with you, how you should be "disposed" of, beyond the reach of any minimal accountability or transparency".<ref name=gw1024 /> Former [[counterterrorism]] specialist and [[military intelligence]] officer Philip Giraldi has criticized the disposition matrix's "everyday" killing of targets with what he calls "little or no evidence", leaving the White House "completely unaccountable".<ref>{{cite news|title=Kill Lists Will Continue |first=Philip |last=Giraldi |authorlink=|url=http://original.antiwar.com/giraldi/2012/11/07/kill-lists-will-continue/ |work=[[Antiwar.com]] |date=8 November 2012 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6C2YMHo57?url=http://original.antiwar.com/giraldi/2012/11/07/kill-lists-will-continue/ |deadurl=no |df=dmy }}</ref><ref>[http://original.antiwar.com/giraldi/2012/12/05/the-protocols-for-death/ The Protocols for Death], by Philip Giraldi, [[Antiwar.com]], 06 December 2012</ref>

The fact that the early [[leak]]s appeared in the British press suggested that the source might have been British intelligence. Under Executive Orders dating back to 1938, the US can ask UK intelligence to monitor an American citizen to circumvent the [[Fourth Amendment]], and vice versa. The National Security Agency may share data with the UK's GCHQ to evade U.S. legal restrictions regarding the handling of such data.<ref>"[http://www.dailywire.com/news/14394/bombshell-fox-news-sources-say-obama-used-brits-john-nolte BOMBSHELL: Fox News Sources Say Obama Used Brits To Spy On Donald Trump].", ''DailyWire,'' March 14, 2017.</ref> The Obama administration's wiretaps against the Trump campaign were first reported by the British news site ''Heat Street'' on November 7, 2016.<ref>"[https://heatst.com/world/exclusive-fbi-granted-fisa-warrant-covering-trump-camps-ties-to-russia/ EXCLUSIVE: FBI ‘Granted FISA Warrant’ Covering Trump Camp’s Ties To Russia]," ''Heat Street'', Nov. 7, 2016.</ref>  

The fact that the early [[leak]]s appeared in the British press suggested that the source might have been British intelligence. Under Executive Orders dating back to 1938, the US can ask UK intelligence to monitor an American citizen to circumvent the [[Fourth Amendment]], and vice versa. The National Security Agency may share data with the UK's GCHQ to evade U.S. legal restrictions regarding the handling of such data.<ref>"[http://www.dailywire.com/news/14394/bombshell-fox-news-sources-say-obama-used-brits-john-nolte BOMBSHELL: Fox News Sources Say Obama Used Brits To Spy On Donald Trump].", ''DailyWire,'' March 14, 2017.</ref> The Obama administration's wiretaps against the Trump campaign were first reported by the British news site ''Heat Street'' on November 7, 2016.<ref>"[https://heatst.com/world/exclusive-fbi-granted-fisa-warrant-covering-trump-camps-ties-to-russia/ EXCLUSIVE: FBI ‘Granted FISA Warrant’ Covering Trump Camp’s Ties To Russia]," ''Heat Street'', Nov. 7, 2016.</ref>  

In January 2017 the [[BBC]] suggested that the investigation of the Trump campaign was orchestrated by CIA Director John Brennan.<ref>"[https://spectator.org/all-roads-lead-back-to-brennan/ All Roads Lead Back to Brennan]," ''American Spectator'', March 6, 2017.</ref><ref>"Their first application, in June, was rejected outright by the judge. They returned with a more narrowly drawn order in July and were rejected again. Finally, before a new judge, the order was granted, on 15 October, three weeks before election day," according to the BBC. "[http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38589427 Trump 'compromising' claims: How and why did we get here?]", BBC, Jan. 12, 2017.</ref>

In January 2017 the [[BBC]] suggested that the investigation of the Trump campaign was orchestrated by CIA Director John Brennan.<ref>"[https://spectator.org/all-roads-lead-back-to-brennan/ All Roads Lead Back to Brennan]," ''American Spectator'', March 6, 2017.</ref><ref>"Their first application, in June, was rejected outright by the judge. They returned with a more narrowly drawn order in July and were rejected again. Finally, before a new judge, the order was granted, on 15 October, three weeks before election day," according to the BBC. "[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38589427 Trump 'compromising' claims: How and why did we get here?]", BBC, Jan. 12, 2017.</ref>

On January 4, 2017 the Office of National Intelligence issued a report written by Brennan entitled, ''Joint Analysis Report: Assessing Russian Activities and Intentions in Recent US Elections.”''<ref>The declassified version is "[https://www.dni.gov/files/documents/ICA_2017_01.pdf Background to “Assessing Russian Activities and Intentions in Recent US Elections”: The Analytic Process and Cyber Incident Attribution]"</ref> Two pages of the DNC and Clinton campaign's ''[[Steele dossier]]'' were included in the report. The following day in an [[Oval Office]] meeting with Brennan, [[Clapper]], Comey, [[Susan Rice]], and [[Biden]], President Obama approved the attempt to [[blackmail]] President-elect [[Donald Trump]] with "salacious and unverified" sexual innuendo from the report.  

On January 4, 2017 the Office of National Intelligence issued a report written by Brennan entitled, ''Joint Analysis Report: Assessing Russian Activities and Intentions in Recent US Elections.”''<ref>The declassified version is "[https://www.dni.gov/files/documents/ICA_2017_01.pdf Background to “Assessing Russian Activities and Intentions in Recent US Elections”: The Analytic Process and Cyber Incident Attribution]"</ref> Two pages of the DNC and Clinton campaign's ''[[Steele dossier]]'' were included in the report. The following day in an [[Oval Office]] meeting with Brennan, [[Clapper]], Comey, [[Susan Rice]], and [[Biden]], President Obama approved the attempt to [[blackmail]] President-elect [[Donald Trump]] with "salacious and unverified" sexual innuendo from the report.  

To justify the illegal surveillance, Trump associates were labeled "agents of a foreign power" in order to hoax the FISA court into approving warrant applications. Obama additionally signed Executive Orders to circulate the slurs and innuendo more widely within the government.<ref>"[https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/12/us/politics/nsa-gets-more-latitude-to-share-intercepted-communications.html?_r=0 N.S.A. Gets More Latitude to Share Intercepted Communications]", ''New York Times, Jan. 12, 2017.</ref><ref>According to Executive Order 12333 issued by President [[Ronald Reagan]] in December 1981, "Elements of the Intelligence Community are authorized to collect, retain, or disseminate information concerning United States persons...obtained in the course of a lawful foreign intelligence, counterintelligence, international drug or international terrorism investigation." Thus the U.S. intelligence community can perform surveillance without a warrant as long as the target of the investigation is, at least nominally, something other than a "U.S. person". [https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/meet-executive-order-12333-the-reagan-rule-that-lets-the-nsa-spy-on-americans/2014/07/18/93d2ac22-0b93-11e4-b8e5-d0de80767fc2_story.html Meet Executive Order 12333: The Reagan rule that lets the NSA spy on Americans]", ''Washington Post'', July 18, 2014.</ref><ref>Saagar Enjeti, "[https://dailycaller.com/2017/03/09/how-are-all-these-intel-leaks-happening-look-at-one-of-the-last-things-obama-did-before-leaving-office/ How Are All These Intel Leaks Happening? Look At One Of The Last Things Obama Did Before Leaving Office]," ''Daily Caller,'' 03/09/2017.</ref> These developments were followed by a series of leaks that disregarded privacy rights.

To justify the illegal surveillance, Trump associates were labeled "agents of a foreign power" in order to hoax the FISA court into approving warrant applications. Obama additionally signed Executive Orders to circulate the slurs and innuendo more widely within the government.<ref>"[https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/12/us/politics/nsa-gets-more-latitude-to-share-intercepted-communications.html?_r=0 N.S.A. Gets More Latitude to Share Intercepted Communications]", ''New York Times, Jan. 12, 2017.</ref><ref>According to Executive Order 12333 issued by President [[Ronald Reagan]] in December 1981, "Elements of the Intelligence Community are authorized to collect, retain, or disseminate information concerning United States persons...obtained in the course of a lawful foreign intelligence, counterintelligence, international drug or international terrorism investigation." Thus the U.S. intelligence community can perform surveillance without a warrant as long as the target of the investigation is, at least nominally, something other than a "U.S. person". [https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/meet-executive-order-12333-the-reagan-rule-that-lets-the-nsa-spy-on-americans/2014/07/18/93d2ac22-0b93-11e4-b8e5-d0de80767fc2_story.html Meet Executive Order 12333: The Reagan rule that lets the NSA spy on Americans]", ''Washington Post'', July 18, 2014.</ref><ref>Saagar Enjeti, "[https://dailycaller.com/2017/03/09/how-are-all-these-intel-leaks-happening-look-at-one-of-the-last-things-obama-did-before-leaving-office/ How Are All These Intel Leaks Happening? Look At One Of The Last Things Obama Did Before Leaving Office]," ''Daily Caller,'' 03/09/2017.</ref> These developments were followed by a series of leaks that disregarded privacy rights.

On January 17, 2017 ''McClatchy News'' reported that an informal, interagency group had been working for months on the issue of Russian attempts to influence the the election. The group included representatives of the FBI, the CIA, the National Security Agency, the Justice Department, the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and the office of the director of national intelligence.<ref>"[http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/article127231799.html#storylink=cpy FBI, 5 other agencies probe possible covert Kremlin aid to Trump]", ''McClatchy,'' January 18, 2017.</ref> The day before inauguration ''The New York Times'' reported that the White House was directly involved in the investigation: “… wiretapped communications had been provided to the (Obama) White House.”<ref>"[https://www.rushlimbaugh.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/NY-Times-FP-012017.jpg Wiretapped data used in inquiry of Trump aides; Examining Russian Ties; Business dealings of Campaign Advisers are investigated]." ''New York Times'', January 20, 2017. On the NYT website, the headline is given as “[https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/19/us/politics/trump-russia-associates-investigation.html Intercepted Russian Communications Part of Inquiry Into Trump Associates].”</ref><ref>"[https://www.breitbart.com/big-journalism/2017/03/05/new-york-times-trashes-its-own-reporting-on-obama-admin-wiretapping/ New York Times Trashes Its Own Reporting on Obama Admin Wiretapping], ''Breitbart'', 5 Mar 2017.</ref>

On January 17, 2017 ''McClatchy News'' reported that an informal, interagency group had been working for months on the issue of Russian attempts to influence the the election. The group included representatives of the FBI, the CIA, the National Security Agency, the Justice Department, the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and the office of the director of national intelligence.<ref>"[https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/article127231799.html#storylink=cpy FBI, 5 other agencies probe possible covert Kremlin aid to Trump]", ''McClatchy,'' January 18, 2017.</ref> The day before inauguration ''The New York Times'' reported that the White House was directly involved in the investigation: “… wiretapped communications had been provided to the (Obama) White House.”<ref>"[https://www.rushlimbaugh.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/NY-Times-FP-012017.jpg Wiretapped data used in inquiry of Trump aides; Examining Russian Ties; Business dealings of Campaign Advisers are investigated]." ''New York Times'', January 20, 2017. On the NYT website, the headline is given as “[https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/19/us/politics/trump-russia-associates-investigation.html Intercepted Russian Communications Part of Inquiry Into Trump Associates].”</ref><ref>"[https://www.breitbart.com/big-journalism/2017/03/05/new-york-times-trashes-its-own-reporting-on-obama-admin-wiretapping/ New York Times Trashes Its Own Reporting on Obama Admin Wiretapping], ''Breitbart'', 5 Mar 2017.</ref>

On March 1, the ''Times'' reported that the FBI was in the midst of a "wide-ranging investigation" of "links between Mr. Trump’s associates and the Russian government."<ref>"[https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/01/us/politics/obama-trump-russia-election-hacking.html Obama Administration Rushed to Preserve Intelligence of Russian Election Hacking]," ''New York Times'', March 1, 2017.</ref> Although Trump had been president for six weeks at this point, the FBI was still being run by Director [[James Comey]], who had been appointed by Obama.

On March 1, the ''Times'' reported that the FBI was in the midst of a "wide-ranging investigation" of "links between Mr. Trump’s associates and the Russian government."<ref>"[https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/01/us/politics/obama-trump-russia-election-hacking.html Obama Administration Rushed to Preserve Intelligence of Russian Election Hacking]," ''New York Times'', March 1, 2017.</ref> Although Trump had been president for six weeks at this point, the FBI was still being run by Director [[James Comey]], who had been appointed by Obama.

==External links==

==External links==

:'''Warning: These photographs are quite graphic!'''

:'''Warning: These photographs are quite graphic!'''

*[http://www.salon.com/news/abu_ghraib/2006/03/14/introduction/] Salon.com Abu Ghraib Photo Archives

*[https://www.salon.com/news/abu_ghraib/2006/03/14/introduction/] Salon.com Abu Ghraib Photo Archives

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brennan, John}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brennan, John}}