Use of Government Intelligence | Thomas Drake

Thomas Andrews Drake speaks of intelligence at the Sam Adams Awards.
SUBSCRIBE for more speakers ► http://is.gd/OxfordUnion
Facebook @ http://fb.me/theoxfordunion
Twitter @   / oxfordunion  
Oxford Union Website @ http://www.oxford-union.org/

Thomas Drake begins by defining intelligence and follows this by saying that intelligence without integrity is like an umbrella with hole or the tail wagging the dog -- pointless.

Secrets that are with held from analysts and policy makers affect decisions made in error and only serve to maintain the status quo of current worldviews. Intelligence is sometimes with held in the interest of selfishness rather that in that of the public. It is often skewed in the interest of a desired outcomes to justify actions such as the invasion of Iraq.

Filmed on Wednesday 23rd January 2013

ABOUT THOMAS ANDREWS DRAKE:
Thomas Andrews Drake is a former senior executive of the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA), a decorated United States Air Force and United States Navy veteran, and a whistleblower. In 2010 the government alleged that Drake 'mishandled' documents, one of the few such Espionage Act cases in U.S. history. Drake's defenders claim that he was instead being persecuted for challenging the Trailblazer Project. He is the 2011 recipient of the Ridenhour Prize for Truth-Telling and co-recipient of the Sam Adams Associates for Integrity in Intelligence (SAAII) award.

ABOUT THE OXFORD UNION SOCIETY:
The Union is the world's most prestigious debating society, with an unparalleled reputation for bringing international guests and speakers to Oxford. It has been established for 189 years, aiming to promote debate and discussion not just in Oxford University, but across the globe.