How I became a CIA whistleblower | John Kiriakou | TEDxFoggyBottom

Поділитися
Вставка
  • Опубліковано 4 чер 2018
  • John Kiriakou had a great career as a CIA analyst, until discovering what he considered to be an unethical torture and interrogation program within the organization. How do you hold your employer accountable when they're the highest authority in the country?
    John Kiriakou is formerly a CIA officer, senior investigator for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and counterterrorism consultant for ABC News. In 2007, Kiriakou blew the whistle on the CIA’s torture program, telling ABC News that the CIA tortured prisoners, that torture was official U.S. government policy, and that the policy was approved by then-President George W. Bush. He was the sixth whistleblower indicted by the Obama administration, and served 23 months in prison. Now, Kiriakou is a noted columnist, radio talk show host, and celebrated author. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

КОМЕНТАРІ • 272

  • @Idalych
    @Idalych 5 років тому +76

    Props to Ted for giving this hero a platform.

  • @SHARON.I
    @SHARON.I 3 роки тому +59

    They screwed him. I wish him so much success. I've been a fan of his since the government started "torturing" him. Whistleblowers are our friends not traitors.

  • @steliosar4996
    @steliosar4996 4 роки тому +162

    I think CIA made a big mistake of recruiting John. In this kind of services you cannot recruit people with good heart and he is a great human being.

    • @elizabethphillips1382
      @elizabethphillips1382 3 роки тому +3

      Amen, so damn true!!!!

    • @bigfellaoo7
      @bigfellaoo7 3 роки тому +5

      Cia is full of assholes.

    • @elizabethphillips1382
      @elizabethphillips1382 3 роки тому +8

      @@bigfellaoo7 Not all are bad guys, but the good ones eventually get out.

    • @vickyhioniskolaiti
      @vickyhioniskolaiti 3 роки тому

      @@elizabethphillips1382 Je pimped kids and they disappeared...is that what he said ?

    • @TH-iv9qf
      @TH-iv9qf 3 роки тому

      @@vickyhioniskolaiti, Do your own research, then please enlighten us.

  • @Raykibb1
    @Raykibb1 5 років тому +83

    The “Patriot Act” proves an old adage that my Constitutional Law professor taught us, “Bad times equal bad laws.”

    • @patroberts9497
      @patroberts9497 3 роки тому +5

      take back our country, elect all new people into congress

  • @DennisTeti
    @DennisTeti 5 років тому +85

    Torture finally made illegal is the same as speeding is illegal.
    It’s illegal but you know it’s still going to go on.

    • @ProductofSeebach
      @ProductofSeebach 5 років тому +11

      Rights exist as propaganda to create the illusion of accountability and stagnate revolutionary rhetoric. If a government violates rights on an institutional level, it can either disband or bribe taxpayers with their own money to buy their silence.

    • @donwheeler1208
      @donwheeler1208 4 роки тому +6

      Dennis Teti right! I ran a red light the other night but I didn’t get caught so therefore I didn’t do anything illegal.

    • @Dhumm81
      @Dhumm81 4 роки тому +8

      Except speeders are constantly pursued and frequently fined, imprisoned, or executed on-site.
      State-sanctioned torturers only at risk if they have loose lips or acquire a conscience.

    • @DennisTeti
      @DennisTeti 4 роки тому +1

      @@donwheeler1208 if no one sees it, did it even happen? I think you may even have imagined it yourself.

    • @lysafisk7123
      @lysafisk7123 4 роки тому +2

      TPB are pretty selective about which laws they enforce & which violators of said laws they'll prosecute.

  • @randycoger2525
    @randycoger2525 4 роки тому +35

    To write your congressman is like writing the tooth fairy.

    • @kenosabi
      @kenosabi Рік тому

      Sht the tooth fairy used to come through pretty regularly. I dont remember the last time anyone in congress did a single thing of use to anyone but themselves and their puppet masters.

  • @eileennelson2275
    @eileennelson2275 5 років тому +32

    Few of us have John Kiriakou's integrity when your're responsible for your family and dependent on a job you love.

    • @wlupusborealis
      @wlupusborealis 5 років тому

      The fact that he 'loved' that job makes me dubious about this man. He was not doing good work, as he seems to think, and he ought to be apologising instead of going on about his great career. He should be ashamed, mourn. He continues to be silent about too many things he did, knows and has seen.

  • @999Giustina
    @999Giustina 6 років тому +35

    Thank you John!

  • @chenlim2165
    @chenlim2165 Місяць тому +3

    This man is a true patriot. We owe him and those like him a lot. 🇺🇸

  • @RobertoGonzalez-ot8hn
    @RobertoGonzalez-ot8hn 3 роки тому +11

    I have the pleasure on meeting Mr. Kiriakou at the Barnes and Nobles bookstore in Lynnwood, WA in 2017. I took a picture with him and he signed my copy of his book The Convenient Terrorist. A decent gentleman.

    • @misskai8158
      @misskai8158 3 роки тому +4

      I'm a huge fan, so amazing you got to meet him!!! I have so much love and respect for his work.

  • @alexfernando4681
    @alexfernando4681 4 роки тому +87

    How in God's name is this man still alive? Amazing stuff!

    • @likeatree7825
      @likeatree7825 4 роки тому +4

      right?

    • @cole5411
      @cole5411 3 роки тому +3

      Because we aren't Russia

    • @fabiojr8082
      @fabiojr8082 2 роки тому +10

      @@cole5411 Gary Webb do not agree with you

    • @gangstalking2904
      @gangstalking2904 2 роки тому

      When we said truth god protect

    • @truettadevil
      @truettadevil 2 роки тому

      Yes. He's clearly recruiting youths to join the CIA. Did you not watch the video?

  • @MorpheusArtStudio4Blues
    @MorpheusArtStudio4Blues 21 день тому

    We need to share this video and I’m doing it as a moral obligation! This corrupt government must be stopped. Thank you Mr. Kiriacou 👏👏👏

  • @TheAlchemicalPortal
    @TheAlchemicalPortal 3 роки тому +13

    This guy is literally in prison right now (Jan. 18, 2021) because he exposed war crimes & crimes against humanity.
    How ironic

  • @Nicksedz
    @Nicksedz 5 років тому +88

    this guy is a legend

    • @Me-xd7bd
      @Me-xd7bd 4 роки тому +4

      How can you say that? He's trained to lie and most likely if he is still alive like this, he really isn't a real whistleblower. You know how many crimes this guy committed in his time with CIA? This dude deserves no praise

    • @subscribefornoreason7390
      @subscribefornoreason7390 4 роки тому +2

      @@Me-xd7bd You are right. Also this could be to distract from real problems.

    • @MrToontuber
      @MrToontuber 4 роки тому +2

      If you think you can do as he sugests you are naive. They have within a blink of an eye. Start covering youre smartphone tablet etc. CAMERA. He's probably a honeypot.

  • @donarnold8268
    @donarnold8268 5 років тому +4

    Thank you!

  • @erasmoc.9514
    @erasmoc.9514 5 років тому +3

    great talk

  • @west3642
    @west3642 6 років тому +37

    Fianlly hes on Ted !

  • @SpecialK0479
    @SpecialK0479 20 днів тому

    This man is an actual hero. I appreciate his sacrifice.

  • @HelpfulHarry
    @HelpfulHarry 2 роки тому +7

    This man is a hero

  • @obeace4495
    @obeace4495 5 років тому +27

    Needs way more views....

  • @commonsenseamerica1685
    @commonsenseamerica1685 4 роки тому +6

    I hope he lives a long happy life.

  • @crescenciolopez2796
    @crescenciolopez2796 3 місяці тому

    Great speaker!

  • @alexanderfamily5142
    @alexanderfamily5142 4 роки тому +9

    God bless John Kiriakou.

  • @DennisTeti
    @DennisTeti 4 роки тому +10

    Always have loved how he speaks. And he's true to his story. I hope he gets pardoned.

    • @IanoNjuguna
      @IanoNjuguna 11 місяців тому +1

      One of the best storytellers you'll ever listen to.

  • @SThrillz
    @SThrillz 5 років тому +12

    Morality is for citizens not for government.

  • @arabmoney3339
    @arabmoney3339 3 роки тому +3

    Definitely a lot happens behind our backs😨

  • @susangreer8070
    @susangreer8070 3 роки тому +1

    I love your heroic stance on life

  • @baqirhemraj7639
    @baqirhemraj7639 Рік тому +9

    I admire whistleblowers who are trying to educate the public on what is the truth about the U.S. government and not justify their actions.

  • @robertvanpiggelen4625
    @robertvanpiggelen4625 5 років тому +62

    @ 8.30 "Torture is illegal in this country" So now the SAME people torture in International waters or somewhere outside the US. Problem solved. Business as usual.

    • @weareallbornmad410
      @weareallbornmad410 5 років тому +4

      That's probably true. However, are there any sources that you can point me to? Or are we just speculating?

    • @claytonzielinski1
      @claytonzielinski1 4 роки тому +2

      Thats why the cia has toture planes

    • @Conbom3
      @Conbom3 3 роки тому +1

      @@weareallbornmad410 have you ever seen the images of “torture flights”, this is why it is said that no torture has occurred on us “soil”

  • @mohammadmujtaba9207
    @mohammadmujtaba9207 2 роки тому +3

    Thank you John
    Long live humanity
    Long live America
    Long live India

  • @512Berlinetta
    @512Berlinetta 2 роки тому

    Respect to John Kiriakou.

  • @abdelrhmandameen2215
    @abdelrhmandameen2215 Рік тому +1

    Some people really watch this and actually believe that torture isn't practiced now in the US.

  • @daniellartey7898
    @daniellartey7898 3 роки тому

    The effect of a reaction to an acceptance is greatly related to ones 'position' in the 'concerned' issue.

  • @wlupusborealis
    @wlupusborealis 5 років тому +41

    This is great, but he's oversimplifying for sake of not going down rabbitholes and getting in trouble all over again. He mentioned 'enhanced interrogation' (separate from waterboarding), which has dozens of components, then drops that like a hot potato. Enhanced interrogation escaped legal scrutiny and definition. It's still going on. It's not just torture, it's _worse_ than torture, and scars for life. I commend Kirikou for his courage, but he didn't go far enough (perhaps because he's human and has a family). U.S. detention camps and military prisons are still open - and they are not treating people humanely in the slightest. The measures still being used are: sleep deprivation, empty and real verbal threats, isolation, sensory deprivation, cold, some forced position torture, disorientation about cause of pain (prisoner is told he is causing his own pain), playing with randomness and time (so that it feels that the torture is infinite and timeless) and with indefinite detention (you are there forever, and this psychologically destroys the prisoner so that most of them stop eating). All these things are worse than a few waterboarding sessions, because the torture never ends, and mentally scars both perpetrators and victims for life. So, in fact, very little has been fixed, and many western states are morally cowardly and retrograde, the consequences of which are destroying the society from within.

    • @weareallbornmad410
      @weareallbornmad410 5 років тому +7

      Thank you for telling us. Can you give us some additional resources to learn about the whole situation?

    • @jossdionne9810
      @jossdionne9810 4 роки тому +1

      USA possessed and...Repossessed!

    • @DanNguyen-xd6wg
      @DanNguyen-xd6wg 4 роки тому +3

      You should search UA-cam for videos of him being interviewed by VICE where he talked about some of those interrogation techniques you are talking about. It’s definitely an eye opening for me.

    • @CrookDanny
      @CrookDanny 3 роки тому +1

      Read his book!

  • @SimplyLimbo
    @SimplyLimbo 5 років тому +15

    The moment he said" the FBI couldnt find anything, i didnt commit a crime", i thought: yeah, but your fellow C.I.A agents will not be so forgiving...you called them out as torturerers, he was the only one of 14 who said no. The program went on, and he blows the whistle, afcourse they gonna see him as a traitor in their eyes. Though he has the ethical element of it on his side, and by making this known, he created an invisible barrier for the U.S. to slide even further down, because what did we used to say again in the western world ? We would never resort to torture ever again ? Well we did, and we promosed we would never sink so low again. Nonetheless they (the admin) signed it. In other words we did a step back as humanity

  • @mkc2lee
    @mkc2lee Рік тому +1

    Thank you John for exposing CIA's war crimes....

  • @philipzaccheus8398
    @philipzaccheus8398 4 місяці тому

    RIGHT IS MIGHTY MIGHT without REMORSE.

  • @johntaylor9320
    @johntaylor9320 4 роки тому +6

    This guy should know Kevin Shipp.

  • @orlanz
    @orlanz 2 роки тому

    A true courageous man you are . We don't confirm to the societies norm but we stand for morals and trutg. We're not rebel by choice. We're the light bringer

  • @TampaDave
    @TampaDave 3 роки тому

    A laugh in the last seconds, as they show something SO FEARSOME! Yet, it is the only thing to fear.

  • @ENLartstudio
    @ENLartstudio 4 роки тому +1

    He still alive? WOW

  • @jacyl21222
    @jacyl21222 4 роки тому +22

    "Torture is finally illegal in this country...". Naive. Torture continues.

    • @macdermesser
      @macdermesser 4 роки тому +3

      And truth is not told. Nearly all we see and hear is deception or distraction.

    • @jacyl21222
      @jacyl21222 4 роки тому +4

      @@macdermesser "Beware lest you be deceived". This is the age of deception

    • @lokisingularity3394
      @lokisingularity3394 4 роки тому +3

      More than you know. Look into targeted individuals.

    • @boldlysettingcaptivesfree7539
      @boldlysettingcaptivesfree7539 4 роки тому

      Joseph, I know torture is legal in the U.S.A. - Abortion is legal!

    • @Rob0917
      @Rob0917 4 роки тому +2

      Not only torture, but also "suicides"...

  • @werwars1190
    @werwars1190 4 роки тому +2

    If the future offers us a new chances to prove our humanity we should seriously overthink our own ability to accept when we have to admid that there are times to loose. so there shall be times to win again. The treatment you had to accept innocently must have been the challange of your live. I want to give you all my best wishes to have a future which offers opportunities which suits your ideals you were standing for.

  • @KAZIISLAM1
    @KAZIISLAM1 4 роки тому

    You our national Hero. Who was the director of FBI that time name the criminal agent.

  • @ptee9507
    @ptee9507 5 років тому +20

    Counter terrorism is where the CIA fights against itself basically and the groups they have previously armed trained and used till they were done with them.

  • @bonnieitzaina8197
    @bonnieitzaina8197 3 роки тому

    Not only targeted, but tortured 24/7 now and sick with myeloma kappa light chain plasma cancer. HELP

  • @rebeccamunoz1645
    @rebeccamunoz1645 2 роки тому +1

    John you are a hero...in morals and everything else

  • @timeflys3248
    @timeflys3248 3 роки тому

    It would of be nice if you explained the torture methods. You only mentioned water boarding.

  • @lokisingularity3394
    @lokisingularity3394 4 роки тому +13

    Covert torture is being perpetrated today. Look into targeted individuals and electronic torture and harrassment.

  • @joeschmidt4858
    @joeschmidt4858 4 роки тому +2

    The first thing a company man learns is how to lie convincingly if you think for a moment torture has gone away because of a legality issue your sadly mistaken, while it does not always garner actionable intelligence it does wonders for destroying morale of the enemy regardless of who is doing the torturing

  • @gold9994
    @gold9994 2 роки тому

    What can we do?
    Nothing.

  • @marshalllapenta7656
    @marshalllapenta7656 5 місяців тому

    He probably is the nicest 1 to come out of the CIA!
    I've been using the same line against these people
    You have to cooperate with me!

  • @1joman
    @1joman 5 років тому

    serious and well composed man, interesting story full of holes though, so many blind spots it is difficult to say where truth stops and politics begin

  • @craigbillington4540
    @craigbillington4540 5 місяців тому

    Wat a guy!

  • @Odin33356
    @Odin33356 4 роки тому +2

    The good guys get out . It's been that for every industry or trade .

  • @nisansalabandara7569
    @nisansalabandara7569 3 роки тому

    👏🏼👏🏿👏🏾👏🏽

  • @tmass1
    @tmass1 4 роки тому +1

    I'm here from JRE. is this the guy???

  • @ECWnWWF
    @ECWnWWF 2 роки тому

    here is the backstory, he now is the co-host of a radio show with Lee Stranahan on radio Sputnik

    • @ThunderRoad8888
      @ThunderRoad8888 2 роки тому

      I watched his Ted Talk and was impressed, but a quick google search shows him to be working for Russian propaganda now. Not good...

  • @user-wr3sw5mj1k
    @user-wr3sw5mj1k 3 роки тому

    Dear Mr. Kiriakos, in order to solve the "mystery" of 17 November Organisation please search in your former company.

  • @anitaclark672
    @anitaclark672 3 роки тому +1

    Torture continues

  • @chinahongkong160
    @chinahongkong160 4 роки тому +1

    Loud n clear show, radio, Russian sputnik
    Great

  • @TehNarrator
    @TehNarrator 2 роки тому +2

    Lately Kiriakou has been doing damage control for Assad and Putin on Sputnik

  • @alisammak9081
    @alisammak9081 Рік тому

    Is he from Sydney, Australia jhon if you are I've been to school with some your relative

  • @Mrclean431
    @Mrclean431 2 роки тому

    1 outta 14 said no. Maybe you were the wrong one then ?

  • @elizabethcsicsery-ronay1633
    @elizabethcsicsery-ronay1633 3 роки тому

    US has gone down a dark road.

  • @haSHAH1
    @haSHAH1 4 роки тому

    love and respect from Pakistan

  • @KonradStachnio
    @KonradStachnio 2 роки тому

    👌

  • @thesumeriangod5421
    @thesumeriangod5421 4 роки тому +2

    “I will not speak to you in god language’ respect.

  • @gianmariamalmesi4133
    @gianmariamalmesi4133 Рік тому

    I'd still like to know why you guys brought down Salvador Allende and helped Pinochet

  • @thr0ne1997
    @thr0ne1997 4 роки тому +5

    For a channel with 25M subscribers... how does this have only 50k views? Interesting...

  • @davidbasset7557
    @davidbasset7557 4 роки тому +8

    join the CIA? 😂😂😂
    they locked you up and tried to kill you wtf

  • @melaniecruz4750
    @melaniecruz4750 3 роки тому

    Alberta's!!! Xxxxxxxxxxx guessed ahhhhhh look a like exactly .

  • @davidjohnston144
    @davidjohnston144 3 роки тому

    Sony like flying or overseas I just not trust

  • @curtisleeyork1978
    @curtisleeyork1978 4 роки тому +9

    its shameful that a video with some kid smashing a toy figure will get 7million views but this HARD CORE thruth about what is happening here only gets `15k views. Raise your kids better. Your raising a bunch of zombies that totally ignore the worlds problems and watch cat vidoes all day.

  • @alisammak9081
    @alisammak9081 Рік тому

    I went to school with a guy with the same name in marrickville frontcourt. He looks like him he was card of his own shadow I hope it's not him but his Greek cushion was a good soccer player so maybe he moved to Newcastle never know

  • @madrizza
    @madrizza 5 років тому

    9:35 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • @madrizza
    @madrizza 5 років тому

    9:35 is the solution!!!!

  • @lucidicrain
    @lucidicrain 4 роки тому +4

    When did Comedy Central start hosting ted talks?

  • @arulaful
    @arulaful 4 роки тому

    did you say 'vote'..?

  • @corlfranco9371
    @corlfranco9371 5 років тому +8

    i will not speak to you in god's language: you are the enemy

  • @thomasjones7115
    @thomasjones7115 4 роки тому

    The rationale for allowing Waterboarding according to the CIA in 2002 was : 9/11 was a terrorist aggression on U.S. soil that called for extreme measures ( i.e. waterboarding ) in order to gather the necessary intelligence to fight the war on terrorism more effectively thus preventing future terrorist attacks and loss of life .

  • @anthonysteen56
    @anthonysteen56 3 місяці тому

    It’s a matter of values…ends or means…the CIA likes ends first people

  • @SterninSeth
    @SterninSeth 5 років тому +11

    Join the cia. That’s the answer? Close down the cia is the answer.

    • @stolasgoetia93
      @stolasgoetia93 4 роки тому +1

      Exactly! The real rulers who run the CIA will never allow it to be changed for the better.

  • @melaniecruz4750
    @melaniecruz4750 3 роки тому

    Asian girl! ??? Together ! Imposter syndrome sound familiar. 2019 2021

  • @billybull7419
    @billybull7419 24 дні тому

    5:24 People actually laughed at this sad

  • @Doodlefisher
    @Doodlefisher 4 місяці тому

    I like the way he thinks! Join the CIA and change it from the inside! If I could do that I know I would for sure!

  • @teabag3620
    @teabag3620 3 роки тому

    His funny

  • @pascaltran4398
    @pascaltran4398 3 роки тому +1

    Le vote, l'entrisme : sûrement un excellent officier traitant, mais un "croyant démocratique" risible. Son parcours contredit ses propos

  • @davidjohnston3954
    @davidjohnston3954 4 роки тому

    Some how get weapon off there shoe, arm but that's there work practices it's not my idea of weapon I only own one gun that's it thank u

  • @justuslehto4137
    @justuslehto4137 3 роки тому +1

    this guy deserves respect! should george bush be put in jail for lying? 😀 yes it gets hot when you watch these videos!

  • @JESEE818
    @JESEE818 3 роки тому

    ✌🏼👁

  • @Jordan-uz9me
    @Jordan-uz9me 4 роки тому +3

    Always end with a gag, John. "Join the CIA and change it" Also, why don't you walk up to Mike Tyson and tell him he talks funny?

  • @davidjohnston144
    @davidjohnston144 3 роки тому

    Why they do it to us.
    Why we can't do the same thing, think it's only right to torture them it's not right, it's mainly war anything everything is allowed in sorry it's not right are men died like that overseas

  • @allpal3077
    @allpal3077 4 роки тому +1

    Wait you are cia and can not tell 3 teams are on your tail? Were you not through the training at the farm?

  • @melaniecruz4750
    @melaniecruz4750 3 роки тому +1

    SomeOne in Calgary ! With--- asian girl ! Look a like little bit younger * John kuriousku

  • @doomsick8171
    @doomsick8171 3 роки тому

    Trader

  • @Cognitiveleaper
    @Cognitiveleaper 5 років тому +3

    Newsflash------------- A Psychopath doesn't develop a conscience.

  • @dianedavidson7977
    @dianedavidson7977 4 роки тому +1

    All you had to do was ask Israel and the US government what happened 9/11.

  • @treefrog123a
    @treefrog123a 3 місяці тому

    Ha ha ha this is the third bonified different story ive heard from authoeities😅

  • @elizabethcsicsery-ronay1633
    @elizabethcsicsery-ronay1633 3 роки тому

    Dreadful that out of 14 people only one, he, refused to torture.