John Kiriakou

Monday, April 11, 2016

Topic: Keeping the government honest: torture, the war on terror, and the role of whistleblowers

KiriakouJohn Kiriakou in his own words:

I am John Kiriakou. I was born into a Greek American household with first-generation parents who were teachers and who influenced me to excel in school and extracurricular activities that resulted in me expanding my education. My immigrant family taught me love of country and to this day, that upbringing has influenced all of my actions.

I joined the CIA as an analyst in the Directorate of Intelligence, figuring I could use my education, use my fascination with international affairs, especially related to the Middle East, and be able to make a real contribution to the nation’s understanding of forces and influences beyond our shores.

ReluctantI told my story about my time with the CIA in my book, The Reluctant Spy, so those details can be found if you read the book. What transpired with my relationship to the CIA and the way the CIA dealt with the torture policy related to the events after September 11, 2011, is what has transformed my approach to Love of Country.

We need change so that this great country survives and so the world is truly a safer and kinder place for our children to grow and thrive. As a result of my publicly confirming that the CIA was using torture tactics in their interrogation of prisoners captured that were seen as terrorists, I was sentenced to 30 months in prison. I was released on February 3, 2015. My time in prison gave me a perspective on the horrific conditions in prison, the unbalanced way FreeatLast-3people are treated by the so-called justice system, and the lack of transparency in our government. It was both the greatest and the worst experience of my life. I have been asked if I would do it all again.  My answer to that question is an absolute Yes.

From this point forward, I know my mission: I will be a Force for Change.

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