Article Entry
16 Apr 2009
Comments:3
Justice Department Brings NSA Surveillance Into “Compliance” Within Hours?
Added by USGIF Category: Daily Intelligence Brief
Yesterday, the NY Times broke a story about how the National Security Agency (NSA) has been intercepting private e-mail messages and phone calls of Americans in recent months — on a scale that went beyond legal limits set by Congress. Several intelligence officials and lawyers briefed on the matter said that the NSA had been engaging in “overcollection.” Within a matter of hours after this story broke, the Justice Department issued a statement saying that it has basically taken care of the problem.
Amazing how quickly all this went down yesterday. So what steps have the Justice Department taken? If the story came to light yesterday afternoon, then they really only had a few hours to address this issue, right? Perhaps the press statement should have said “we are actively taking comprehensive steps”? Semantics for sure, but the statement makes it sound like Justice has already fixed the problem. What do you all think?
Tags: domestic spying, Intelligence Community, Justice Department, National Security Agency, NSA, NSA Surveillance
From Linked-In:
I always find it interesting that the government can have two specific branches operating at different levels of integrity, have one call the other out and we automatically believe equilibrium has been reached. On the whole we as U.S. citizens require very little proof to be convinced all is right again with our world.
From Linked-In:
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Bamford’s book (like his others) had more factual errors in the introductory first chapter alone than I could reasonably count. That aside, what everyone has left out of this ENTIRE discussion, even under the last admninistration, is that intelligence oversight rules mean that even if we’re collecting the information, it remains unprocessed or must be discarded unless it gets a waiver/warrant. Also, you have to work a little harder than just “asking and receiving” to get a FISA warrant. Sgt Kinne’s allegations notwithstanding; Does anyone believe that their converstaions about Aunt Cheryl’s infidelities or Cousin Bob’s new Job matter one iota? There is no bank of analysts at Ft Meade sniggering into their sleeves over the discussion of last night’s bunko!
Collection is never the problem (unless there’s not enough of it) it’s the processing (and dissemination) that matter(s). Whatever Justice may have done to “fix” the problem, I agree with Gerald, it adds mystery to a situation that absolutely requires greater transparency.
Not advocating that we advertise the 5W of our collections strategy, just that we do a better job of educating the “average American” as to what this means to them. No matter what anyone does at this point though, no assurances or educational programs will matter, the perception of a trust broken is real and present in peoples’ minds.
From Linked-In:
People/Organizations/Groups only do right when they are forced to. End of story.