Glenn Greenwald: Petraeus Affair Shines Light on Massive, Unaccountable U.S. Surveillance State

"You are talking about a massively invasive investigation that without any of their knowledge obtained their most intimate communications, all without evidence of any predicate crime," says Guardian columnist Glenn Greenwald on Democracy Now!
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The scandal that brought down CIA Director David Petraeus has spread to the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, General John Allen. The Pentagon says the FBI has uncovered thousands of "potentially inappropriate" emails between Allen and Jill Kelley, the woman who complained of harassment from Petraeus' biographer and lover, Paula Broadwell. Kelley's complaint to the FBI led to the discovery of Broadwell and Petraeus' relationship, prompting Petraeus' resignation on Friday.

"You are talking about a massively invasive investigation that without any of their knowledge obtained their most intimate communications, all without evidence of any predicate crime," says Guardian columnist Glenn Greenwald on Democracy Now!, "It really illustrates how invasive and sprawling this unaccountable surveillance state has become. This happens all the time, just generally to people less powerful and influential than the two generals in question here. I hope that we learn lessons, I hope, about what we have allowed the government do in terms of its investigative powers."

Click here to read the complete transcript of this interview and to see additional reports from Greenwald.

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