Crippling the Intelligence We Used to Get bin Laden

The Wall Street Journal ^ | 2/10/14 | David B. Rivkin Jr. & Mike Pompeo

[IndePundit]

On Jan. 17, in response to former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden’s theft of U.S. intelligence secrets and concerns over the NSA’s bulk metadata collection, President Obama issued a Presidential Policy Directive (PPD-28) that neither strengthens American security nor enhances Americans’ privacy. To the contrary, it undermines our intelligence capabilities in service of a novel cause: foreign privacy interests.

All nations collect and analyze foreign communications or signals, what is known as “signals intelligence.” American technological prowess has produced the world’s most abundant stream of signals intelligence, thwarting plots against the U.S. and saving lives. PPD-28 threatens American safety by restricting the use of this signals intelligence.

First, under the new directive, U.S. officials are required to ensure that all searches of foreign signals intelligence are limited to six purposes: countering foreign espionage, terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, cybersecurity, threats to U.S. or allied forces, and transnational crime.

Such policy guidance is appropriate in principle, but these limitations are mere window dressing. Intelligence activities are already heavily scrutinized by executive-branch lawyers to protect Americans’ privacy. Yet the intelligence community must now operate under the presumption that they are somehow engaged in wrongdoing and must justify each and every step by reference to a proper “purpose” to rebut that presumption. This will make intelligence analysts overly cautious and reduce their flexibility in handling security threats.

Second, PPD-28 extends the same privacy protections to foreigners that now apply to data regarding “U.S. persons,” defined as U.S. citizens anywhere in the world and anyone in the U.S. The most visible result will be that intelligence concerning foreigners will contain redactions of material that may have value to U.S. security and diplomacy.

[IndePundit]

It is absolutely deplorable that more people aren't paying attention to this! Obama is more worried about our neighbors "hurt feelings" than national security! It's about time we stop letting political whims get in the way of our safety.

[Slyfox]

Ya can't say he ain't fulfilling his promises:

[Gaffer]

Before I’d consider any of this, somebody somewhere is gonna have to show me a movie of the bastard getting popped in the head, his DNA being checked aboard a US Navy vessel, and an uninterrupted video of his sorry ass being committed to the deep.

If you can’t do that, then you didn’t kill him.

[Organic Panic]

The PATRIOT act, DHS, and the NSA were to monitor FOREIGN sources. Obama turned it in to monitoring every single US citizen’s communication. Show me how my phone calls helped nail any Al Qaida leader? Bin Laden was turned in by an informant and had NOTHING to do with the NSA or DHS.

[sean327]

Exactly! The NSA has become a rouge agency. Everyone and I mean everyone who works for them is a damn traitor. The military members attached to the NSA are even worse. They have taken a massive dump on their oath. The Patriot Act was the gateway drug to the NSA abuses. Everyone who voted for this steaming pile of crap is also a damn traitor.

[ifinnegan]

Obama loves Snowden.

[AllAmericanGirl44]

bkmk