All posts by Hutchins AAron

Born in Deutschland 1965, hometown was Bütthart, parents were not U.S. government employees. However, when father was tricked into joining the U.S. Air Force Civil Service, in 1969, with the promise that we could remain in Germany, we were promptly shipped off to Iran. Due to one of my Iranian educators being disappeared, along with her husband, by the U.S. ally Shah of Iran's Israeli & U.S. created Savak (for the then official terrorist act of promoting the idea that women can vote), and due to my U.S. citizen mother being placed on Savak's Terrorist Arrest List (for supporting the idea that women should vote, at that time the U.S. ally Shah of Iran did not allow women to vote, now they can) we left Iran for the United States in 1973, literally in the middle of the night. At the U.S. Embassy airbase the CIA operated Gooney Bird (C-47) was so packed with other U.S. citizens fleeing our ally Iran (because the Shah gave the OK to arrest any U.S. citizen for such terrorist acts as promoting the concept of voting) that we were turned away by the Loadmaster and had to take a chance on a civilian flight out of Tehran's airport. My father told me he and my mother had three culture shocks; first when they arrived in Germany as civilians, then after being shipped off to Iran as U.S. government employees, then again returning to the United States as unemployed civilians (because so much had changed in the U.S. while they were gone, their only news source was the U.S. Armed Forces Radio & Television Service which heavily censored information about the home front). Since I graduated high school in 1982 I've worked for U.S. government contractors and state & local government agencies (in California), convenience store manager in California, retail/property management in Georgia, California and Idaho. Spent the 1990s in the TV news business producing number one rated local news programs in California, Arizona and Idaho. 14+ years with California and Idaho Army National Guard and the U.S. Air Force. Obtained a BA degree in International Studies from Idaho State University at the age of 42. Unemployed since 2015, so don't tell me the economy has recovered.
Business/Economics, U.S.

World War 3, U.S. Economic Front: Job losses & store closings 12-13 April 2013. Business owner says the U.S. economy is the “Titanic…iceberg in sight”!

In California, AMS Fulfillment will layoff 200 people!  Company officials blame it on the loss of a major client. The Hanford Adult School officials warned they might have to layoff staff.  They blame the possible transfer of adult education to community colleges. The Technology, Arts, and Design High School closed down due to lack of enrollment.  Riverside County Superior Court to layoff 25 stenographers.  San Bernardino County Superior Court looking to reduce court reporters.  Despite having high profile customers the Empire Tap Room, in Palo Alto, shut down.  The owners blamed across the board increases to operating costs.  In San Marino, Fancy That! holiday supply store closed down.  In San Francisco, Freed, Teller & Freed coffee shop closed down.  The cafe opened in 1899, long before Starbucks was even an idea!  Xyratex moving operations to Mexico, leaving 300 Californians out-o-work!

Orthopedics company, Medtronic, laid off 50 people in Warsaw, Indiana.  Company officials blame the Obama/Romney Care medical device tax.

In New Mexico, 57 UNM Hospital employees lost their jobs.  The hospital contracted out their jobs to try and save money.

In Massachusetts, Quincy Medical laid off 30 nurses.  Tuell Nursing Home shut down after four decades of operations.  The operators blamed skyrocketing health care costs, and reduced Medicare payments under the Obama/Romney Care.  Amherst Woodworking shut down their 38 years old operation. The owner blame the bad economy: “We actually had a pretty good year in 2008, and then the bubble burst. Since then we’ve lost money.”-David Short

In New York, Horseheads Central School District plans to cut 70 positions.   Too Big to Jail Bank of America closing its branch on state Route 28 in the town of Olive.  Oswego Hospital closing its pediatric unit.  Cookie’s laying off 124 people in Fordham!  Store management blamed the bad economy.

Government communications and IT contractor, Harris Corporation, laying off up to 180 people!

In Muskegon, Michigan, Bon-Ton furniture store closed down.  20 employees out-o-work.  Art Van Furniture in Onaway closed down.  Owners blame lack of business.

The 50 years old Independence, Missouri, YMCA shut down.  Protestors pointed out that the YMCA was closing fitness centers in areas with “modest economics”.

In Louisiana, Charlie’s Seafood closed down due to a lease dispute.

Lockheed Martin creation and Department of Energy contractor, Technology Ventures, closed offices in Idaho and California.

Too Big to Jail Raymond James Financial laying off 160 people around the United States.  Company officials say they’re trying to get rid of “employee overlap”.

In Virginia, Petland in Roanoke shut down.  The owner tried to find a buyer for his store, but he said all potential buyers were refused business loans for some unknown reason.

Maker of plastic and metal containers, BWAY, consolidating two Texas factories into one, laying off 69 people.

In North Carolina, Meatballs on Main closed without notice, employees’ paychecks ‘bounced’.  The restaurant was open for less than a year.

In Hawaii, Farmers Insurance laying off 74 people.

The largest pool, patio and gameroom superstore in the United States, Branch Brook, closing stores in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware.  The shut down operation is being conducted by Romney style vulture capitalist company Gordon Brothers Group.

Plass Appliance & Furniture closing in Illinois.  Company officials say they plan to close all their Illinois stores and move to Florida.  In La Grange, the Clipper Ship Gallery shut down.  The owner of the 40 years old art gallery blamed the bad economy: “Businesses like ours that depend on discretionary spending have found it very difficult.”-Bert Jacobs

In Arizona, all Phoenix area Baja Fresh restaurants shut down!  Apparently the franchise owner dropped the franchise without telling Baja Fresh corporate people.

In Centerville, Iowa, one of the last Ben Franklin stores in the U.S. shut down.  The store had been in operation since 1954.  Sources related to the store owners said “…sales have dropped tremendously…”

3Rivers Credit Union will be closing its Van Wert, Ohio, branch.  It’s blamed on declining customers.

In Pennsylvania, Merchant’s Village indoor market closed down.  At one point there were 170 vendors working the market, but sales weren’t good enough and most vendors quit.

In Florida, Breakers Restaurant closed after 42 years in business.  Harpoon Harry’s beach club closed down.   Here’s what the owner said about the economy: “I thought we would have the whole season, and I’d have preferred to go through September. But my helpers need to find jobs. They’re on the Titanic, with the iceberg in sight.”-Jack Bishop

On Mercer Island, Washington, Alpenland Delicatessen closed up.  It first opened for business in the 1970s.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shut down.

Business/Economics, Idaho, International, Technology, U.S.

World War 3, U.S. Economic Front: Idaho Electric rates going up, blame the demise of Pocatello’s Hoku silicone factory!

11 June 2013 (15:02 UTC-07 Tango)/02 Sha’ban 1434/21 Khordad 1392/04 Wu-Wu (5th month) 4711

It’s been revealed that in May, Hoku Materials laid off its last engineer at the failed $700 million USD polysilicone factory in Pocatello, Idaho.  There are now only eight security guards working at the 50 football fields long factory.

Pocatello based news media interviewed the engineer who told them they were trying to work on a way to save the factory from bankruptcy sale.

Hoku Materials ghost town factory, Pocatello, Idaho. Now estimated to have cost $700 million.

Hoku Materials ghost town factory, Pocatello, Idaho. Now estimated to have cost $700 million.

Today, the factory is considered officially shut down, and will likely be parted out in bankruptcy liquidation sales (who wants to buy a 50 football fields long, never been used, polysilicone factory?).

The project was started five years ago, but right away ran into trouble because Hoku Corporation didn’t really have the money to build their Hoku Materials factory.  Pocatello even gave the company a huge tax break equivalent to the value of the land the factory was being built on.

Construction was delayed several times because Hoku couldn’t pay the construction contractor on time.  Eventually Hoku sold out to a Chinese company (Tianwei).  Then commodity market prices for polysilicone crashed.  The coup de gras was given by President Obama when he imposed high tariffs on Chinese solar power companies.

Another issue was that Idaho Power, the main supplier of electricity in Idaho, cut off power several times because Hoku didn’t pay their electric bill.  Now Idaho Power is jacking up electric rates for Idahoans, partially blaming it on the failed solar power polysilicone provider.

Most of Idaho Power’s electricity comes from dams on the Snake River, but water levels are so low they must rely more on wind and gas fired plants to generate electricity this year.  Regarding Hoku, Idaho Power is trying to regain the $23 million they invested.  In other words, Idaho Power company officials made a bad investment and they’re going to make their captive customers pay for it!

Electric rates for Idahoans trapped on the Idaho Power grid will see a 12% increase, the fourth largest increase in Idaho’s history.

I’ve been following this disaster for years, here’s more on the demise of Hoku Materials:

Capitalist Commodity Markets to blame for Pocatello’s Hoku Polysilicon near abandonment!

 

 

U.S.

Martial Law U.S.A.: Tax collector IRS turning into domestic spy agency!

11 June 2013 (13:55 UTC-07 Tango)/02 Sha’ban 1434/21 Khordad 1391/04 Wu-Wu (5th month) 4711

The Government Services Administration (GSA) has published a Purchase Order (PO) for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

The gist is; the IRS is seeking to buy hidden cameras and clock radios: “Plant Concealment Color 700 Lines Color IP Camera…..Covert Coffee tray with Camera…..DVD Burner and 2 Internal HDDs, cameras…..Concealed clock radio…..Color IP Camera Concealment with single channel network”.

What does a tax collection agency need with hidden cameras, and even a hidden clock radio?  Visit the GSA’s www.fbo.gov website to see the PO for yourself!

 

International

Rubella outbreak in Japan now at “critical” levels! Global health officials scared!

11 June 2013 (01:32 UTC-07 Tango)/02 Sha’ban 1434/21 Khordad 1391/04 Wu-Wu (5th month) 4711

Japan’s National Institute of Infectious Diseases says 9408 people were diagnosed with rubella between January and the beginning of June.  That’s four times higher than the same time last year, and the highest in five years.

Last week there were 680 new cases, health officials in Japan are calling the outbreak “critical”.

In United Kingdom, a rubella outbreak is being reported in West Midlands.  38 cases thus far.  Across all the U.K. there are at least 962 cases.

In the United Kingdom, Australia and United States, health officials are asking the news media to get the word out about vaccines.  Some U.S. states are returning to requiring grade school students to get the MMR shot, Florida being the latest state to make that rule.

The vaccine does seem to work for most, but some people have had bad reactions, and a recent study showed that people with specific genes get no benefit from the vaccine.   Women who plan to get pregnant should get the vaccine about 30 days prior to getting pregnant.  Studies show you should not get the vaccine while pregnant.

 

International

World War 3, West Asian Front: Japan to support U.S. backed al Qaeda rebels in Syria!

11 June 2013 (01:14 UTC-07 Tango)/02 Sha’ban 1434/21 Khordad 1391/04 Wu-Wu (5th month) 4711

Japanese news media reporting that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has authorized material support for U.S. backed insurgents in Syria.  He’ll make the official announcement at next week’s G8 summit in Ireland.

 

International

World War 3, Asian Front-Afghanistan: More secret prisons revealed! Disruption Operations!

06 June 2013/27 Rajab 1434/16 Khordad 1391/28 Wu-Wu (4th month) 4711

In Helmand Province, Nawzad District, seven Georgian ISAF  troops killed, nine wounded by suicide bomber.

In Uruzgan Province, an Australian Special Operations Task Group Digger was shot and wounded while on a “disruption operation”.  Digger officials are investigating if the gunshot was intentional or accidental.  They claim Disruption Operations help keep civilians safe!

In Herat Province, the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) reported that 366 civilians were killed in the first two months of 2013.  That’s a 10% increase from the same time in 2012.

In Sar-e Pol Province, Sar-e Pol city, a hotel was bombed.  At least one person killed, 15 wounded.

In Kunar Province, Manogi District, local government officials say U.S./ISAF carried out a night time drone strike.   Three children killed, two women wounded.   ISAF outright denied the provincial government claims: “This claim is not true.  ISAF takes allegations of civilian causalities very seriously.  We do not have any operational reporting that supports these allegation that civilians were killed in Kunar province.”

The U.S. state of New Jersey welcomed home 135 members of the 508th Military Police Company, Army National Guard.

05 June 2013/26 Rajab 1434/15 Khordad 1391/27 Wu-Wu (4th month) 4711

In Paktika Province, Gayan District, Mujahideen claim they killed five NATO/ISAF troops, and wounded four others in an ambush on the NATO/ISAF convoy.  Three armored vehicles destroyed.

In Helmand Province, Sangin District, two explosions killed six people.

In Uruzgan Province, Char Chino District, people living in the Khod area claim Australian ISAF troops launched a heliborne assault on their village.  Five villagers were assassinated by the Diggers.  (is this what the Diggers call “disruption operations”?)

In Maiden Wardak Province, Maidan Shar city, hundreds of Afghans protested U.S. Special Operations Forces kidnapping, torture and murder operations.   This after a mass grave was found near an abandoned U.S. SOF base, and an Afghan National Army (ANA) officer was arrested for his role.  Reports say local cops open fired on the protestors, killing three and wounding two.

NATO secretary general, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, says NATO is getting prepared for a new mission in Afghanistan after 2014.

04 June 2013/25 Rajab 1434/14 Khordad 1391/26 Wu-Wu (4th month) 4711

In Helmand Province, three ANA troops killed when they drove over a landmine.

In Farah Province, Lash Wa Juwayn District, a father and his three kids killed when they drove over a landmine.  The mother survived but is seriously wounded.

In Maiden Wardak Province, an ANA colonel was arrested for his connection to U.S. SOF personnel torturing and murdering Afghans in Nerkh District.   Several days prior a mass grave was found at an abandoned U.S. special operations base.

In Uruzgan Province, it was revealed that the Australian army has been holding Afghans prisoner in a secret prison on their Tarin Kowt military base.  Afghan legal officials say the prisoners have never been charged with any crime and are calling the Digger run prison “illegal”.

The Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs is urging Afghans to stop entering Iran illegally.  More and more Afghans have been flooding into Iran, illegally, in search of jobs and security.  However, Iranian border guards have shot and killed many Afghans, mainly because of illegal drug trafficking.  Iranians say not only is opium being smuggled in, but the U.S. drug meth as well.

Business/Economics, Technology, U.S.

Corporate Martial Law: Operant conditioning alive & well in the U.S. of A.!

10 June 2013 (14:12 UTC-07 Tango)/01 Sha’ban 1434/20 Khordad 1391/03 Wu-Wu (5th month) 4711

“Operant conditioning techniques will and are currently being used to program the behavior of susceptible Internet users….”-The Atlantic

An article on ‘Skinner Marketing’ in The Atlantic reveals how far down the rabbit hole unAmerican corporate America is going.  The scientific term for Skinner Marketing is Operant Conditioning.

The article points out that the latest version of Google Maps is designed to target people with corporate products based on their location.  Other internet applications are totally about collection of your data, mainly for marketing by corporations.

The most common form are free gaming applications.  While you play those games the software somehow is able to guesstimate what kind of person/consumer your are.

The Atlantic article has some warnings: “The beauty of the Internet is that by combining big data, behavioral targeting, wearable and mobile devices, and GPS, application developers can design more effective operant conditioning environments…..[sounds almost like the Matrix movies, don’t it?]……big data, behavioral targeting, Internet cookies, and GPS positioning can all be integrated with operant conditioning techniques to motivate us to lose weight and study harder. But as with any technology, they can be employed to less admirable ends.“

U.S.

Global Martial Law: Reporter overhears NSA talking about disappearing hero whistleblowers and the journalists that publish them!

10 June 2013 (13:55 UTC-07 Tango)/01 Sha’ban 1434/20 Khordad 1391/03 Wu-Wu (5th month) 4711

Reports that The Atlantic editor at large, Steve Clemons, was following attendees of the Intel & National Security Association dinner on 07 June 2013.   While sitting in the United Airlines lounge, in the Washington DC Dulles airport, he says he hears “….4 US intel officials saying loudly leaker & reporter on #NSA stuff should be disappeared…”

Clemons said you couldn’t help but hear what the intel officials were saying because they “were loud. Almost bragging”.

Were these National Security officials intentionally being loud?  Did they recognize Clemons and were playing a joke on him?  Are U.S. security officials so arrogant that they have no fear of the general public overhearing their nefarious plans?

Business/Economics, U.S.

World War 3, U.S. Economic Front: Job losses & store closings 10-11 April 2013. Government makes hundreds of businesses illegal! Schools hit hard, again! At least 2000 more layoffs!

Drug maker, Eli Lilly, to layoff 1000 people in Indiana!  They blame crashing sales.

In New York, Tetra Tech in Schuylerville laid off an undisclosed number of people.  Xerox owned student loan processing plant, ACS, will close in August.  149 people out-o-work!  Pizza Box restaurant closed.  It started in 1957, a Spanish restaurant is willing to pay more for the lease (reported to be $19500 per month).  Frontier School District wants to get rid of 35 employees, and raise taxes by 3.5%, for this coming school year.

In Ohio, Cleveland Heights-University Heights Schools wants to layoff employees.  No numbers given.    Dale’s Bike Shop closed in Oberlin.   The owner says he can make more money renting out the shop, and selling bikes on the internet.

In California, the Orcutt School District wants to layoff ten people.   School officials blame uncertain state funding.

School supplies, equipment and furniture company, School Specialty, closing its operations in Pennsylvania.  148 people unemployed!  Company officials blame crashing sales.  Scarlet Fiorella clothing store closed up.  The owner is moving out-o-state.

In Illinois, O’Fallon School District to layoff 90 people.  School officials blame it on voters who rejected a tax hike. Cahokia School District #187 to layoff at least 87 employees.  The district is facing the loss of nearly $5 million USD in state and federal funding.  Johnsburg School District #12 cutting 39 jobs.  Contact lens maker, CIBA Vision, laying off 262 people starting in June!  It’s blamed on a merger with Alcon.

FairPoint Communications laying off 90 people in three northeastern U.S.  states.  Company officials said it’s necessary to stay competitive.

Government contractor, General Dynamics, laying off 110 people by July, at their Saco, Maine, factory: “It’s primarily a result of a sharp decline in the U.S. Army’s demand for heavy machine guns and automatic grenade launchers.”-Karl Johnson, General Dynamics

100 years old Hamilton Jewelers closed in Lawrence Township, New Jersey.  The owners said it was in response to customer surveys and recent thefts.  The Newark Museum laid off 14 people.  They blame the bad economy: “We are coming to terms with the economic realities. We are grateful for the public and private support we receive, but we must be realistic and not operate beyond our means.”-Mary Sue Sweeney Price

Boeing warned the engineers that fixed the flaming battery problem on their new 787 Dreamliner, that they’re going to be laid off.  Boeing wants to layoff 700 engineers by the end of 2013!  At least 100 are in Washington.  Boeing officials say the mass layoffs are because orders aren’t coming fast enough.  Analysts speculate that Boeing is moving work from union strong states to states that are ‘right to work’.

In Tennessee, electronics maker Cerrowire warned of layoffs.  They gave no numbers.  Company officials blame “…the economic condition.”

In Montana, Vann’s appliance seller closed two stores.  The new owner of the retailer said they could not get the landlords to agree to a cheaper lease.

In Connecticut, Klaff’s lighting and decorative hardware store and Chic Jolie women’s clothing store closed down due to flooding fears after hurricane Sandy.  After 48 years, The Emporium eclectic gift store closed in Mystic.

In Florida, Governor Rick Scott signed a bill into law that bans internet cafes!   It could shut down 200 businesses in the Sunshine state: “We never broke a law, we always obey the rules, all the sudden we became illegal, I think it’s just dirty politics, I think somebody who wrote the bill who is responsible for it should be kept accountable somehow, it’s a travesty really.”-Chris Firleg.

Amcor Tobacco Packaging closing in Virginia.  At least 35 employees laid off.

In South Carolina, the Summerville Plaza Piggly Wiggly grocery store closed.   Company officials say sales aren’t good enough to justify renewing the lease.   Jewelry Warehouse closed in West Columbia.

The Three Streams Family Health Center, which helps people without insurance, closed down in North Carolina.  They blame out-o-control health care costs.

In Greenville, Michigan, Julie’s Coffee House closed up.  The owner is moving to Arizona.

Unconfirmed reports that the Las Vegas Club and Gold Spike hotels shutting down in Nevada.   Hundreds of people will be out-o-work!

In Maryland, Jake’s Steaks out-o-business.  The owner said she tried everything but the economy is too bad: “I have tried everything. I have done healthy items. If someone orders something that isn’t on the menu, I do my best to make that. I even did lunch specials trying to get people in the door. It just didn’t work.”-Barb Gossett

Skyburgers closed in Vermont.  The owners claim business was so good that a corporation offered to buy their restaurant, and the owners agreed.

In Oklahoma, Days Inn motel closed down in Norman.  Employees said little or no notice was given.  The motel had a lot of long term residents, mainly elderly and disabled, who’re now homeless.  The motel was also part of local government plans for emergency housing in case of natural disaster.  The greedy owners sold the property to a car dealer.

LandoZ Hometown Grill, in Massachusetts, closed after only one year.  The owners blame medical reasons.

In Missouri, Dierdorf & Hart’s Steak House closed at the Westport Plaza.  The owners did not want to renew the lease.

In Hawaii a 54 years old shoe store, The Slipper House, closed down.  The owners were forced to close by mall company GGP (General Growth Properties), which is the same company that shut down the biggest Sears store in the Aloha state.

 

International, Technology, U.S.

Global Martial Law: Whistleblower Hero reveals himself!

10 June 2013 (21:53 UTC-07 Tango 09 June 2013)/01 Sha’ban 1434/20 Khordad 1391/03 Wu-Wu (5th month) 4711

The following is from The Guardian interview with NSA contracted employee turned whistleblower, Edward Snowden, who fled the U.S. to live in communist controlled Hong Kong.

Q: Why did you decide to become a whistleblower?

A: “The NSA has built an infrastructure that allows it to intercept almost everything. With this capability, the vast majority of human communications are automatically ingested without targeting. If I wanted to see your emails or your wife’s phone, all I have to do is use intercepts. I can get your emails, passwords, phone records, credit cards.

“I don’t want to live in a society that does these sort of things … I do not want to live in a world where everything I do and say is recorded. That is not something I am willing to support or live under.”

Q: But isn’t there a need for surveillance to try to reduce the chances of terrorist attacks such as Boston?

A: “We have to decide why terrorism is a new threat. There has always been terrorism. Boston was a criminal act. It was not about surveillance but good, old-fashioned police work. The police are very good at what they do.”

Q: Do you see yourself as another Bradley Manning?

A: “Manning was a classic whistleblower. He was inspired by the public good.”

Q: Do you think what you have done is a crime?

A: “We have seen enough criminality on the part of government. It is hypocritical to make this allegation against me. They have narrowed the public sphere of influence.”

Q: What do you think is going to happen to you?

A: “Nothing good.”

Q: Why Hong Kong?

A: “I think it is really tragic that an American has to move to a place that has a reputation for less freedom. Still, Hong Kong has a reputation for freedom in spite of the People’s Republic of China. It has a strong tradition of free speech.”

Q: What do the leaked documents reveal?

A: “That the NSA routinely lies in response to congressional inquiries about the scope of surveillance in America. I believe that when [senator Ron] Wyden and [senator Mark] Udall asked about the scale of this, they [the NSA] said it did not have the tools to provide an answer. We do have the tools and I have maps showing where people have been scrutinised most. We collect more digital communications from America than we do from the Russians.”

Q: What about the Obama administration’s protests about hacking by China?

A: “We hack everyone everywhere. We like to make a distinction between us and the others. But we are in almost every country in the world. We are not at war with these countries.”

Q: Is it possible to put security in place to protect against state surveillance?

A: “You are not even aware of what is possible. The extent of their capabilities is horrifying. We can plant bugs in machines. Once you go on the network, I can identify your machine. You will never be safe whatever protections you put in place.”

Q: Does your family know you are planning this?

A: “No. My family does not know what is happening … My primary fear is that they will come after my family, my friends, my partner. Anyone I have a relationship with …

I will have to live with that for the rest of my life. I am not going to be able to communicate with them. They [the authorities] will act aggressively against anyone who has known me. That keeps me up at night.”

Q: When did you decide to leak the documents?

A: “You see things that may be disturbing. When you see everything you realise that some of these things are abusive. The awareness of wrong-doing builds up. There was not one morning when I woke up [and decided this is it]. It was a natural process.

“A lot of people in 2008 voted for Obama. I did not vote for him. I voted for a third party. But I believed in Obama’s promises. I was going to disclose it [but waited because of his election]. He continued with the policies of his predecessor.”

Q: What is your reaction to Obama denouncing the leaks on Friday while welcoming a debate on the balance between security and openness?

A: “My immediate reaction was he was having difficulty in defending it himself. He was trying to defend the unjustifiable and he knew it.”

Q: What about the response in general to the disclosures?

A: “I have been surprised and pleased to see the public has reacted so strongly in defence of these rights that are being suppressed in the name of security. It is not like Occupy Wall Street but there is a grassroots movement to take to the streets on July 4 in defence of the Fourth Amendment called Restore The Fourth Amendment and it grew out of Reddit. The response over the internet has been huge and supportive.”

Q: Washington-based foreign affairs analyst Steve Clemons said he overheard at the capital’s Dulles airport four men discussing an intelligence conference they had just attended. Speaking about the leaks, one of them said, according to Clemons, that both the reporter and leaker should be “disappeared”. How do you feel about that?

A: “Someone responding to the story said ‘real spies do not speak like that’. Well, I am a spy and that is how they talk. Whenever we had a debate in the office on how to handle crimes, they do not defend due process – they defend decisive action. They say it is better to kick someone out of a plane than let these people have a day in court. It is an authoritarian mindset in general.”

Q: Do you have a plan in place?

A: “The only thing I can do is sit here and hope the Hong Kong government does not deport me … My predisposition is to seek asylum in a country with shared values. The nation that most encompasses this is Iceland. They stood up for people over internet freedom. I have no idea what my future is going to be.

“They could put out an Interpol note. But I don’t think I have committed a crime outside the domain of the US. I think it will be clearly shown to be political in nature.”

Q: Do you think you are probably going to end up in prison?

A: “I could not do this without accepting the risk of prison. You can’t come up against the world’s most powerful intelligence agencies and not accept the risk. If they want to get you, over time they will.”

Q: How to you feel now, almost a week after the first leak?

A: “I think the sense of outrage that has been expressed is justified. It has given me hope that, no matter what happens to me, the outcome will be positive for America. I do not expect to see home again, though that is what I want.”