Does the NSA monitor ham radio calls?
http://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/LicArchive/license.jsp?archive=Y&licKey=12382876
I'm a HAM. Anyone who thinks the government doesn't monitor shortwave bands is living in a dream world.
It is illegal to encrypt ham radio calls. However, standard ham "Q code" calls are allowed, since the meanings are published in ham manuals.