Watch A Good American

A Good American is a documentary film about the complexities and controversies in the United States intelligence community that led to the unfortunate 9/11 attacks. The story is narrated by William Binney, a former intelligence officer who played an essential role in developing the National Security Agency's (NSA) surveillance programs. William Binney was a highly decorated agent who worked for the NSA for more than thirty years. Using his experience, he becomes the main whistleblower in the story.

The movie shows the audience how Binney had developed a highly advanced surveillance program that used a unique algorithm to protect the United States from any imminent threats. His program was highly efficient, adept at detecting potential threats at a very early stage, and cost-effective. However, when he presented his program to the NSA top hierarchy for implementation, he met with opposition from various quarters.

At the time, the United States had invested heavily in developing a program known as 'Trailblazer,' which Binney's program was designed to replace. The 'Trailblazer' program, despite millions of dollars spent in its development, was inefficient and failed to detect the more imminent threats, as evidenced by the 9/11 attacks.

The movie reveals how the vested interests of various players in the intelligence community stifled Binney's program by preventing its implementation, leading to the catastrophic events of 9/11. The cost of inaction in implementing Binney's program was the loss of lives of over 3,000 people on the fateful day in 2001.

The filmmakers use Binney's compelling story to highlight the dangers of government overreach, and its impact on the safety and welfare of its citizens. The documentary also sheds light on the controversial practices of the United States intelligence community, including mass surveillance and data collection.

The movie features interviews with other whistleblowers, including Jesselyn Radack, an attorney who represented Edward Snowden, and Kirk Wiebe, another former intelligence officer who worked alongside William Binney. Their stories attest to the resistance within the intelligence community to implement better and more effective surveillance programs that can prevent future attacks on the nation's security.

Additionally, A Good American offers an insightful background on how government agencies, in collaboration with private contractors, have engaged in mass surveillance of US citizens, infringing on their rights to privacy. The documentary explains how government agencies have exploited loopholes in the nation's legal framework to infringe on people's privacy under the guise of ensuring national security.

Overall, A Good American is a compelling and thought-provoking documentary that offers fresh insight into the complexities of the intelligence community and its practices. William Binney's story of resistance reveals the harsh realities and political machinations that occur within intelligence agencies. It is a tragic reminder of the consequences of government overreach and the need for transparency and accountability in government operations.

A Good American is a 2017 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 40 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.3 and a MetaScore of 63.