You are looking at articles written by Barry Eisler.

Author Barry Eisler talks about whistleblowers and secrecy at the Association of Former Intelligence Officers

Author and former CIA officer Barry Eisler spoke at the Association of Former Intelligence Officers opposite ex-CIA and NSA director Michael Hayden on Monday. Below is an adaptation of his …

This is what happens when officials don't get prosecuted for illegally torturing people

Well, I guess this is a thing now…people running for president musing about whether they might reintroduce the torture techniques Obama “prohibited” when he took office. The latest is Jeb …

Snowden DoublePlusUngood: Continuing shades of Orwell in the NSA saga

It was great to read this Edward Snowden New York Times op-ed—great because the piece is as thoughtful and informative as you’d expect, and even better because it’s an …

Why everyone should care about journalist Barrett Brown's sentencing today

Journalist Barrett Brown is expected to be sentenced by a judge today in a highly controversial case brought by the Justice Department. The below excerpt is an adapted and …

Why the court decision to release the Guantanamo force-feeding videos is so important

Okay, this is huge: a federal judge has ordered the government to release videos of Guantanamo force-feedings. Expect the footage to be sickening to watch.Why is this so …

On Torture: The New York Times Gets the Right Result for the Wrong Reasons

I’ve been trying to feel good about the New York Times’ decade-late decision to call torture torture—that is, to “deploy the English language to describe things,” as the Washington …

Don't Cheer Obama's 'Ban' on Torture

I have a question for all the well-meaning people who praise President Obama for “banning” torture: Would you also find it helpful for the president to ban kidnapping? Child abuse? …

Prioritizing Personalities Over a Free Press

One of the most fascinating aspects of Glenn Greenwald’s journalism is the way it provokes various people who think of themselves as journalists to reveal their actual priorities. I wrote …

'Journalist' Argues In NY Times That Publishing Decisions Should Ultimately Be Made By Government

Glenn Greenwald spends the last third of his excellent new book, No Place to Hide: Edward Snowden, the NSA, and the US Surveillance State, exposing the mentality and function …

Motive, Means, and Opportunity: Why NSA Secrecy Should Worry Us All

Even if you haven’t studied criminal law, you’ll immediately understand the concept of motive, means, and opportunity.  Motive is you wanted to kill the victim.  Means is you were holding …