NSA Veterans: The White House Is Hanging Us Out to Dry
Last edited Fri Oct 11, 2013, 08:54 PM - Edit history (1)
Source: Foreign Policy
Gen. Keith Alexander and his senior leadership team at the National Security Agency are angry and dispirited by what they see as the White House's failure to defend the spy agency against criticism of its surveillance programs, according to four people familiar with the NSA chiefs' thinking. The top brass of the country's biggest spy agency feels they've been left twisting in the wind, abandoned by the White House and left largely to defend themselves in public and in Congress against allegations of unconstitutional spying on Americans.
Former intelligence officials closely aligned with the NSA criticized President Obama for saying little publicly to defend the agency, and for not emphasizing that some leaked or officially disclosed documents arguably show the NSA operating within its legal authorities.
"There has been no support for the agency from the President or his staff or senior administration officials, and this has not gone unnoticed by both senior officials and the rank and file at the Fort," said Joel Brenner, the NSA's one-time inspector general, referring to the agency's headquarters at Ft. Meade, Maryland.
The weak backing from top administration officials has aggravated the relationship between Alexander and the White House, where he has never been warmly embraced. The NSA now finds itself without the strong, visible support of the President at a time of extraordinary political vulnerability, with the agency's secrets laid bare and its future in doubt....
Read more: http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2013/10/10/nsa_veterans_the_white_house_is_hanging_us_out_to_dry

Downtown Hound
(12,618 posts)christx30
(6,241 posts)They don't need to be defended. They need to be defunded.
Warpy
(113,131 posts)Honestly, the way these guys are whining, it reminds me of bankers who've been caught with their hands in the till--"You can't mean US! Why the whole system would fall apart without us! You can't do this to us!"
Maybe some systems need to fall apart so they can be rebuilt without the deluded and dishonest running them.
AnotherMcIntosh
(11,064 posts)Turbineguy
(38,732 posts)doesn't want a "Heck of a job Brownie" moment.
niyad
(122,093 posts)just MAYBE, you might understand what the fuss is about. what in the HELL is wrong with you people that you can defend your massive, intrusive spying on US???
OneCrazyDiamond
(2,055 posts)The President did state numerous times that no one is reading your email, and the people who do this work are dedicated to protecting America.
Also, this is security related. Doesn't The President have obligations on what can be said about security related matters.

muriel_volestrangler
(103,004 posts)Indi Guy
(3,992 posts)...I thought for sure that I posted the link in the OP. ...will revise.
AnotherMcIntosh
(11,064 posts)Blue_Tires
(57,596 posts)that is incredibly unpopular right now?
rwsanders
(2,821 posts)1000words
(7,051 posts)Nope, not happening.
bemildred
(90,061 posts)I mean look Buddy, if anybody deserves an ass-whuppin in this country, it's you, so get used to it, it's coming. I realize you-all are not in the reality based community, but believe me, we ARE still out here.