(no subject)
Thirty-eight years ago the Washington Post began publishing a series of pieces of investigative journalism which spanned more than two years and culminated in the resignation of Richard M. Nixon. I refer, of course, to what we now collectively refer to as the Watergate scandal.
It would take a lot to equal the revelations that Woodward and Bernstein made regarding the activities of the Committee to Re-elect the President (CREEP) and of the role of former intelligence agents and assets in those roles. The Washington Post is giving it a shot.
Over the last week or so the Washington Post has launched a series and website called Top Secret America. These articles examine the growth and nature of America's intelligence organisations since the attacks in September, 2001.
It is, of course, a fascinating subject and well worth reading through. The more so for those of us who are not American citizens and who will routinely have our communications swept up by one or more of these American intelligence organisations (most often by data passing through one of the major American telecommunications carriers which shares data with the NSA).
I also suggest reading Mark Colvin's article on the Washington Post pieces. Colvin cites these articles as a good example of what traditional investigative journalism can achieve compared to the faster online world of blogging and event-specific reporting. He also points out the points of comparison with Australia's growth in intelligence and security services since 2001, though certainly not to the same scale as in the United States.
It would take a lot to equal the revelations that Woodward and Bernstein made regarding the activities of the Committee to Re-elect the President (CREEP) and of the role of former intelligence agents and assets in those roles. The Washington Post is giving it a shot.
Over the last week or so the Washington Post has launched a series and website called Top Secret America. These articles examine the growth and nature of America's intelligence organisations since the attacks in September, 2001.
It is, of course, a fascinating subject and well worth reading through. The more so for those of us who are not American citizens and who will routinely have our communications swept up by one or more of these American intelligence organisations (most often by data passing through one of the major American telecommunications carriers which shares data with the NSA).
I also suggest reading Mark Colvin's article on the Washington Post pieces. Colvin cites these articles as a good example of what traditional investigative journalism can achieve compared to the faster online world of blogging and event-specific reporting. He also points out the points of comparison with Australia's growth in intelligence and security services since 2001, though certainly not to the same scale as in the United States.