National Intelligence

9/11 – My Beginning (Repost)
ecthompsonmd September 9, 2026

I first published this approximately 15 years ago. I’m old, and so is my blog. Do you remember any of this? I’ve spent most of today reading and reflecting on my education over the last decade. I don’t remember the first time I heard the word Al Qaeda. I don’t remember the first time I ever heard the name Osama bin Laden. I do remember where I was on September 11, 2001. I had been up most of the night taking care of trauma patients, and I was sleeping in that morning. The phone rang, and it was my mother-in-law. She

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News Roundup – Edward Snowden, Malaysian Airlines, Scott Brown, Best Apps for Android
ecthompsonmd March 21, 2014

Whistleblower Edward Snowden showed up at the TED conference a couple of days ago. Of course, he didn’t show up in person. He showed up via the Internet. I’ve stopped trying to figure out whether Edward Snowden is a good guy or a bad guy. He is simply a guy. Instead, I’ve tried to focus on the Internet, privacy, cyber security and terrorism. When all is said and done, is he making the Internet a better place for you and me? I don’t know. Let’s be honest. Over the last two weeks, we’ve learned almost nothing about this Malaysian airliner. Yes,

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News Roundup – Leaks, Edward Snowden, Jobs (Update – Chad goes to jail)
ecthompsonmd June 10, 2013

Leaks and who gets to leak – Snowden and many others have now said that these leaks are important and justified because the public needs to decide whether this is being done in their name. Basically I disagree with that (the justification for the leak). But it does raise a basic point that it is inherently difficult for the public to make fully informed decisions about intelligence work done in its name. Yet, who gets to do this? Snowden says it’s up to the public. But it’s really more like Snowden and Greenwald have made that decision on the public’s behalf. Edward

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ABOUT AUTHOR
Errington C. Thompson, MD

Dr. Thompson is a surgeon, scholar, full-time sports fan and part-time political activist. He is active in a number of community projects and initiatives. Through medicine, he strives to improve the physical health of all he treats.

Books

A Letter to America

The Thirteeneth Juror

Where is The Outrage Topics
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