'Follow Your Conscience': Whistleblowers Issue Open Call for Truth to Intel Employees

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/12/11-2



Ellsberg, Drake, Radack, McGovern among others who publish open letter to those whose jobs are affront to democracy

'Follow Your Conscience': Whistleblowers Issue Open Call for Truth to Intel Employees
- Lauren McCauley, staff writer
Published on Wednesday, December 11, 2013 by Common Dreams

In a plea made directly to the thousands of civil servants whose daily occupation feeds the ever-growing spy state, a group of former whistleblowers published an open letter Wednesday in the Guardian urging those individuals to join Edward Snowden and the other brave truth-tellers "to follow your conscience and let us know what's being done in our names."

"Blowing the whistle on powerful factions is not a fun thing to do, but despite the poor track record of western media, whistleblowing remains the last avenue for truth, balanced debate and upholding democracy," writes the group, which includes Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg, former NSA executive Thomas Drake, and former CIA analyst Ray McGovern among others.

"Edward Snowden just showed you what one person can do," they continue. "But Snowden shouldn't have to stand alone, and his revelations shouldn't be the only ones."

In an open call to those whose days are spent "hidden away" in government offices and intelligence agencies spying, lying to the public and "destroying everything we as a society pretend to care about," the group declares: "You can be part of the solution."