Reported participants in NSA surveillance review panel spell likely failure from the beginningMadison Ruppert That is, of course, if you expect it to actually be an independent, critical review body or anything resembling it. However, many readers likely have no such expectation given the fact that it was established by Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, who admittedthat he lied to Congress about the NSA programs. The group will reportedly include Michael Morell, Richard Clarke, Cass Sunstein and Peter Swire, according to ABC News. Michael Morell Morell has worked in a variety of senior positions at the CIA since 1980 and was serving as intelligence briefer to President George W. Bush on September 11, 2001. Its hard to imagine that Morell, a long-time CIA veteran, would be impartial when reviewing the surveillance programs of the NSA. In June, Morell resigned, saying he just wanted to spend more time with his family. The timing was interesting, to say the least, because it came on the heels of the NSA leaks and various other Obama administration scandals. Clarke appears to be a reason to hope that there might be at least some independent, critical analysis in the group. He has notably publicized the fact that the U.S. government is putting Americans at risk in their quest for offensive cyberwarfare capabilities. He also pointed out in his book Against All Enemies that the intelligence community always understood after September 11, 2001 that there was no link between Iraq and al Qaeda, despite claims made by Bush administration officials. While some might see hope in Clarkes presence, one must evaluate the rest of the participants. Cass Sunstein Sunstein served as the administrator of the Obama administrations Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, a position which is better known as the regulatory czar. Sunstein is perhaps best known among certain circles for his work on the 2008 paper, Conspiracy Theories, with Adrian Vermeule. The paper claimed that, The existence of both domestic and foreign conspiracy theories, we suggest, is no trivial matter, posing real risks to the governments antiterrorism policies, whatever the latter may be. Sunstein and Vermeule contend that, the best response consists in cognitive infiltration of extremist groups. Among other tactics, the two write that Government agents (and their allies) might enter chat rooms, online social networks, or even real-space groups and attempt to undermine percolating conspiracy theories by raising doubts about their factual premises, causal logic or implications for political action. In the paper they also refer to groups contending that the U.S. government was either responsible for or complicit in the September 11, 2001 attacks as extremist groups. Most notably, however, Sunstein and Vermeule wrote, We can readily imagine a series of possible responses. (1) Government might ban conspiracy theorizing. (2) Government might impose some kind of tax, financial or otherwise, on those who disseminate such theories. Sunstein also would likely disappoint many libertarian-minded readers with his claims that money isnt really ours and that, Without taxes, there would be no liberty. Given Sunsteins past approach to those who criticize the government in one way or another, its hard to imagine that he will be able to bring any truly independent, critical approach to the evaluation of NSA surveillance. Peter Swire While Swire has been an advocate of privacy, he can hardly be considered independent given that he worked for the Obama administration in the National Economic Council in 2009 and 2010 as Special Assistant to President Obama for Economic Policy. Currently, Swire is a senior fellow at the industry-funded Future of Privacy Forum and a senior fellow at the blatantly pro-Obama and far from transparent Center for American Progress. Swire is also a privacy fellow at the Center for Democracy and Technology, a group which was created with seed money from ATT, Bell Atlantic, Nynex, Apple Computer and Microsoft. The Center for Democracy and Technology receives around 1/3 of its funding from foundations and a great deal from corporations ranging from AOL to Amazon to Intel to Adobe and more. Suffice it to say, Swire is hardly an independent critic. Keeping all of the above in mind, its hard to argue that the above will be a truly independent, critical review group. Indeed, it seems to be the exact opposite. Id love to hear your opinion, take a look at your story tips and even your original writing if you would like to get it published. I am also available for interviews on radio, television or any other format. Please email me at Admin@EndtheLie.com This article first appeared at End the Lie. Madison Ruppert is the Editor and Owner-Operator of the alternative news and analysis databaseEnd The Lie and has no affiliation with any NGO, political party, economic school, or other organization/cause. He is available for podcast and radio interviews. Madison also now has his own radio show on UCYTV Monday nights 7 PM 9 PM PT/10 PM 12 AM ET. Show page link here: http://UCY.TV/EndtheLie. If you have questions, comments, or corrections feel free to contact him at admin@EndtheLie.com linkwithin_text=Related Articles: 