Posted on 07/02/2013 12:00:27 AM PDT by TexGrill
WASHINGTON – Amid the cascading disclosures about National Security Agency surveillance programs, the top lawyer in the U.S. intelligence community opened his remarks at a rare public appearance last week with a lament about how much of the information being spilled was wrong.
“A lie can get halfway around the world before the truth gets its boots on,” said Robert Litt, citing a line often attributed to Mark Twain. “Unfortunately, there’s been a lot of misinformation that’s come out about these programs.”
The remark by Litt, general counsel for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, was aimed at news organizations. But details that have emerged from the exposure of hundreds of pages of previously classified NSA documents indicate that public assertions about these programs by senior U.S. officials also have often been misleading, erroneous or simply false.
The same day that Litt spoke, the NSA quietly removed from its website a fact sheet about its collection activities because it contained inaccuracies discovered by lawmakers.
A week earlier, President Barack Obama asserted that oversight of the surveillance programs was “transparent” because of the involvement of a special court, even though that court’s sessions and decisions are sealed from the public. “It is transparent,” Obama said of the oversight process. “That’s why we set up the FISA court.”
(Excerpt) Read more at japantimes.co.jp ...
"...Wait! Don't answer that!"
Perhaps we can respond to this rhetorical question without using cuss words. Who’ll take the first stab at it?
The NSA is a highly effective instrument that ultimately answers to Congress.
Maybe the public will one day turn its attention to Congress that is responsible for the policies and funding that permit the agencies to function.
The citizens determine the composition of Congress every 2 years with the exceptional 6 year Senate term.
I’m outraged at our collective inability to elect decent representation.
Yep, we GOPers hired Bonehead Boenher to represent us as our attorney in the Congressional Court of Law. First rule of thumb, never hire as your lawyer somebody who cries more than he talks.
Don’t blame Americans who try to do right. The electoral process has been undermined and compromised by government.
Good one.... crying Boehner.... I thought it was because he had heart (okay I’m a girl)... turned out because he had no cojones.
God damn lying lairs and the lies they tell .
I don’t believe any of these cretins farther than I
can take a leak . Not even that far .
Yup, what a worthless ahole he is! :-(
If we had a good speaker he could be counted upon to faithfully follow the Hastert rule. We would have zero worries that a bad amnesty bill could pass the congress.
I have no faith at all that Boner will follow the Hastert rule...!@#$%^&!
Obama was a teenager (like Trayvon!) when “We” set up the FISA Court. Does he even know what he is talking about?
Are you calling Barry a liar? sarc.
LLS
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