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NSA Chief Clapper Backpedals on Disclosure

posted by Cactus on Thursday February 20 2014, @03:00AM   Printer-friendly
from the least-untruthful-answer dept.

r00t writes:

"In September of 2013, Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper stated that there were many 'important reasons' for the overly broad scope of the NSA's information collection programs. Among the reasons listed was that 'it could provide the United States and our allies early warning of international financial crises which could negatively impact the global economy.' Also mentioned was the long standing argument that the 'collection of information ... saves lives.'

In the months since the NSA data collections have come to light, many people question [pdf] the efficacy of the programs.

Now, in an exclusive interview, with The Beast, Clapper says that the NSA should have been more transparent about the secret programs. 'I probably shouldn't say this, but I will. Had we been transparent about this from the outset, we wouldn't have had the problem we had'. However, he still defends the practice by comparing it to 'fire insurance.'"

 
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  • (Score: 3, Interesting) by osiguru on Thursday February 20 2014, @05:22AM

    by osiguru (1148) on Thursday February 20 2014, @05:22AM (#3199) Homepage

    I've written to Dianne Feinstein on this Clapper/Purgist issue directly. How could she consider the opinion of this man?

    She is quite mum on the topic. To this issue, she wasn't human enough to forward even a terse form letter response.
    To hell with the lot of them, there is some biblical phrase that works here...

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  • (Score: 3, Insightful) by hemocyanin on Thursday February 20 2014, @06:08AM

    by hemocyanin (186) on Thursday February 20 2014, @06:08AM (#3217) Journal

    Asking Feinstein to do anything contrary to police state practices is like asking Satan to spare a kitten. She's a huge friend of masspionage so there is no way she would do anything but protect Clapper.

  • (Score: 5, Funny) by smurd on Thursday February 20 2014, @11:42AM

    by smurd (1406) on Thursday February 20 2014, @11:42AM (#3362)

    NSA: Hi, Dainne? I want you to forget about the the time my boss lied to you.

    Dianne: Why would I do that?

    NSA: Remember the phone conversation where a developer tried to bribe you? It was on 3/18/2011 at 4:18pm and lasted for 26 minutes 8 seconds? Where you mentioned your rental propertery at 516 S. 8th street?

    Dainne: I told him I didn't want the bribe....

    NSA; I guess that would depend on how it was edited.... do you have a copy? We do.
                      P.S. I need a raise.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 20 2014, @12:54PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 20 2014, @12:54PM (#3394)
      Modded +1 informative, because... you see... what if the joker above actually do have some links inside NSA? Would be good to have a friend like him... me thinks.