NSA Whistleblowers Were Allegedly Isolated, Intimidated

[cascadiance]

The second of a two part article by Sherrie Gossett of TownHall.com on abuse of those working in the NSA...

This is a great article that shows a number of other whistleblowers in addition to Russell Tice getting trashed by the NSA and how this organization is hopelessly messed up. General Hayden's comments yesterday reflecting a basic lack of knowledge (or a conscious effort to dismiss it) of our constitution is the tip of the iceberg.

And a number of these whistleblowers were conservative Republicans too! Folks, we are seeing a destruction of our system of government. Copy this article to other folks. We need to show our support for Sibel Edmonds' NSWBC and help them get more power in Washington!

http://www.townhall.com/news/ext_wire.html?rowid=46488

-------------------------

NSA Whistleblowers Were Allegedly Isolated, Intimidated

By Sherrie Gossett

Jan 26, 2006

(The following is the second of a two-part series on the National Security Agency's alleged abuse of employee whistleblowers.)

Read Part One: NSA Accused of Psychologically Abusing Whistleblowers

(CNSNews.com) - Whistleblowers who have stepped forward to accuse the National Security Agency of retaliating against them by falsely labeling them "paranoid," "delusional," or "psychotic," cover a range of political views. Russell D. Tice, a self-described conservative, believes President Bush should be impeached over the current controversy involving the NSA's domestic surveillance program. Another whistleblower, Diane Ring, is a staunch Bush supporter who supports the surveillance program.

Ring is a former NSA computer scientist who said she was ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation after she ran afoul of a colonel at the Pentagon. Her case differs from the others in that she was not initially a whistleblower, but believes the retaliation arose from a personal vendetta against her. The colonel had chastised Ring for missing a briefing. When Ring explained that she had been directed by her branch chief, who was her superior, to work on a classified program during the briefing period and that the directive took priority, the official reportedly "blew up."

Ring said she was first given a "management consult," instructing her to seek counseling then was pressed to see NSA forensic psychologist Dr. John Michael Schmidt. After she lodged a complaint about the alleged retaliation with the NSA inspector general, Ring said the agency moved to revoke her security clearance, "red-badging" her. "Red-badged" employees only have access to the corridors at the NSA.

"I had just received a 4.5 out of 5.0 job evaluation rating 3 months prior," Ring told Cybercast News Service.

According to Ring, her colleagues told her in the hallways at NSA that they had been ordered not to communicate with her. Ring said she was assigned to spend her days in a room full of other "red-badgers." She believes the isolation was one part of an intentional campaign to break her and drive her out of the NSA.

...

[TahitiNut]

1. Whistleblowers are subjected to this treatment in a LOT of places.

I know. I blew the whistle and was required to undergo a psychiatric examination - and my "privacy" under that examination was virtually ignored. What should be needless to say, I 'passed' with flying colors - needing only to deal with an extraordinary degree of workplace stress resulting from the intense management animosity for a whistleblower.

People apparently have no idea how totally vicious and malicious 'Corporate America' is with whistleblowers!

[Mnemosyne]

2. President Gore called for

immediate protection for all Executive branch whistle-blowers in his speech on MLK's official day. I wonder why it hasn't been implemented yet.

Any honest leader would want those having knowledge of crimes being committed to come forward and be protected from such abuse. An honest leader would want transparency and accountability. He would uphold and protect the Constitution of our country as is his duty.

What's that dumbasses name that thinks he's running the country again?

In peace,
V

[Moderator]

3. Duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=2065505