U.S. spy agencies hit out at latest Snowden revelations

[Eugene]

Last edited Sat Sep 7, 2013, 09:57 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: Reuters

U.S. spy agencies hit out at latest Snowden revelations

WASHINGTON Sept 6 | Fri Sep 6, 2013 11:40am EDT

(Reuters) - U.S. spy agencies said on Friday that the latest media revelations based on leaks from former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden will likely damage U.S. and allied intelligence efforts.

On Thursday, the Guardian, the New York Times and journalistic nonprofit ProPublica published stories saying the security agency has secretly developed the ability to crack or circumvent commonplace Internet encryption used to protect everything from email to financial transactions. The stories were based on documents made public by Snowden, now a fugitive living under asylum in Russia.

The reports also said the NSA had worked with Government Communications Headquarters, its British partner, and had used a variety of means, ranging from the insertion of "back doors" in popular tech products and services, to supercomputers, secret court orders and the manipulation of international processes for setting encryption standards.

In a statement on Friday, the Office of the U.S. Director of National Intelligence, which said it was speaking on behalf of all U.S. spy agencies, did not confirm details of the media reports.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/06/usa-security-snowden-intelligence-idUSL2N0H20XJ20130906

[bemildred]

1. Perhaps the way they have beshit themselves is finally starting to sink in.

That sounded almost resigned. No threats.

[unhappycamper]

2. Naaaah. n/t

[bemildred]

3. Yeah, I know, it's ridiculous. nt

[ehcross]

4. Snowden's revelations do not have to be only fun for NSA.

The charade continues, Edward Snowden is still receiving congratulations from both his admirers in the USA and Russia, while the U.S. licks its wounds.

Edward Snowden will continue to ridicule his motherland, powerful USA, and to admire Putin, openly and noisily.

But I don't think the USA has to keep licking its wounds for ever. Absolutely nothing was done when Edward Snowden grabbed the flight that took him, and his neatly packed box of goodies to Hong Kong and then to Russia, at Putin's joyful encounter with him.
That was the greatest snub of the century at the United States.

Is this the end of the round? Is this the end of the fight? Will there be a second pro-US Snowden full of Russian goodies?

[ehcross]

5. NSA has secretly developed an ability to crack or circumvent commonplace Internet encryption

Snowden's ongoing revelations will continue to badly damage U.S. and allied intelligence efforts.

This is a cat and mouse game, where the U.S. is playing a role of prisoner, with no possibility of ever getting Snowden to return to the U.S. to face justice.

But this does not have to remain a black hole for ever. Russia's Putin might respond to a friendly overture and agree to some kind of deal to resolve the issue. After all, the Russians probably have already become experts in the technology that the NSA has surrendered to them, free of charge and courtesy of Snowden.

Getting Snowden to return and face justice is another matter. Would it be better to let him stay there and restart a new program? altogether.

[ehcross]

6. Latest media revelations based on leaks from Edward Snowden

Edward Snowden is determined to continue to reveal United States secrets from his asylum in Russia. It looks like the United States is soon going to run out of secrets for Edward Snowden to leak. Russia's Putin is having a field day sorting out the most interesting secret documents he has on his files. Away go the most secret information the United States was reserving for a case of threats to its National Security.

You mean to tell the American people that Russia can get away with such a humiliating defeat of her Cold War foe? And all because a malevolent genious was awarded top security clearance and allowed to pack a trainload of top security gear destined for a certain Vladimir Putin in Russia?

Snowden's a Treasure. He carried with him tons of classified information the Russians will no doubt find extremely valuable. And we lost the potential value of this character.

Question: Why is the United States doing absolutely nothing to at least negotiate with the Russians the surrender of the greatest traitor in history? Is it that we already surrendered to the Russians?

[ehcross]

7. Could we ever get Snowden back to the U.S.?

Why is the United States doing absolutely nothing to at least negotiate with the Russians the surrender of Edward Snowden?
Is it that we already surrendered to the Russians?
Will the NSA ever be the same having Edward Snowden in Russia intercepting every message?
Has the United States given up its National Security program?
Has the United States abandoned its National Security ptogram for a brand new program?
I refuse to accept that U.S. National Security will remain an open source of strategic information for more Snowdens to divulge.

What is happening to the United States???