An NSA Whistleblower Speaks Out

Democracy Now!. Posted January 7, 2006.

Russell Tice explains why he wants to tell Congress about what he saw on the job -- and what he thinks should happen to president Bush.

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.