"Obama's Intelligence Chief [James Clapper]Will Head Up the Promised NSA Review"

[KoKo]

Obama's Intelligence Chief Will Head Up the Promised NSA Review

Last Friday, President Obama promised a review of current government surveillance practice by an independent group of outside experts. Turns out that the review group will be established by the Director of National Intelligence, James Clapper, who's come under fire from Congress for erroneously telling legislators that the U.S. doesn't "collect any type of data at all on millions or hundreds of million of Americans."

Here's the memo from Clapper:

At the direction of the President, I am establishing the Director of National Intelligence Review Group on Intelligence and Communications Technologies to examine our global signals-intelligence collection and surveillance capability.The Review Group will assess whether, in light of advancements in communications technologies, the United States employs its technical collection capabilities in a manner that optimally protects our national security and advances our foreign policy while appropriately accounting for other policy considerations, such as the risk of unauthorized disclosure and our need to maintain the public trust.

The Review Group will brief its interim findings to the President within 60 days of its establishment, and provide a final report with recommendations no later than Dec. 15, 2013.

In a memo, the White House further notes that Clapper, and not the review group, will brief the President on its findings. The extent to which Clapper will (or won't) participate in developing those expectations, however, isn't clear. Here's how the President described the panel to Clapper, upon instructing its creation (via the Christian Science Monitor):

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2013/08/obamas-intelligence-chief-will-head-promised-nsa-review/68251/

[RC]

1. I'll be waiting for the usual suspects to enlighten the rest of us as to why this is not so bad.

You know the "NSA doesn't spy on Americans. Obama is the bestest, most wonderfulest President ever..." crowd.


This is like appointing Monsanto to be in charge of the safety of our food supply.

[JayhawkSD]

2. He could appoint the head of the Mafia to investigate the Mafia, too.

It would be just about as effective.

[truth2power]

3. Doesn't it seem like Obama is giving "We the People" the finger? n/t

[bemildred]

4. Desperate to retain control at this point.

You have an independent investigation. it's ALL going to come out.

[bobthedrummer]

5. When 2 or more people agree to violate the law, it's a conspiracy. There is no oversight here.

.

[pscot]

6. To reassure us the dishes are, in fact, clean

Move along now. Nothing to see here.

[Jefferson23]

7. sigh. n/t

K&R