‘Flight from Babylon’

This column was written on June 23 by political prisoner Abu-Jamal in SCI-Mahanoy, Frackville, Pa.  

Not since the late Philip Agee (he of former CIA whistleblower fame) have we seen the likes of the case of Edward Snowden, who formerly worked for the CIA, the National Security Agency and the private contractor, Booz Allen Hamilton.

Agee’s 1975 book, “Inside the Company: CIA Diary” (New York: Stonehill), blew the doors off the CIA and revealed to many the malevolent nature of U.S. intelligence.

But in this new, plugged-in generation, books are of little importance. Snowden, using social media, has been able to interface with millions. His agility with the Internet has sent the Obama administration into fits.

Now, Edward Snowden is running for his freedom and, perhaps, his very life.

As of this writing, there’s much speculation about his final destination, and little certainty except he’s trying to outrun the world’s leader in the imprisonment industry — the U.S.

Recently charged with espionage (a fancy word meaning spying), if caught and caged, he faces a possible death sentence.

There should be no question as to why he took to the skies. For even if he were to escape the gallows, he might face what B. Manning [aka “Bradley” Manning] faced — torture and perhaps a life sentence.

Against these potentialities, life in freedom, away from home, seems attractive.