NSA is answering questions this morning about their mega data collection of phone call destinations, before the House Intelligence Committee.
Having worked with NSA for years, I decided to watch the hearings and hear what General Keith Alexander had to say. Of course, I have a family history with congressional hearings.
For myself, I’m in total agreement with NSA that they should be LISTENING, COLLECTING and ANALYZING intelligence so we can know what is happening all over our complex world and be in a position to prevent catastrophic attacks by those terrorists using their religion like a free pass to kill, maim and attack.
My father died over ten years ago, but one of my favorite memories of him is that is, while he was suffering from cancer, he never missed a Congressional hearing. He sat with a TV Tray in front of him, with a stack of monogrammed notepaper, envelopes and stamps.
As the hearings progressed (I especially remember him watching Iran-Contra), he would write to each of the congressmen and senators, telling them how he judged their questions, writing to them about mistakes he thought they made. This was true democracy in action. From his pen right to the powers-that-be. And he took his responsibility in this very seriously.
I hope everyone starts watching, learning and taking their role in our democracy as seriously! An attention-seeking junior technician is having his 5 minutes of fame, and I hope that the great work of the US intelligence community is not going to be slowed down or damaged by his thoughtless disclosures. He should start writing letters to HIS elected representatives.