Friday, August 09, 2013

On the Nature of Intelligence Leaks

It is amazing that our crack intelligence service doesn't seem to really have any brains.  A few years back they leaked the knowledge that those opposed to terrorism had a mole in a Yemen terrorist organization, and I don't know if the found the person who leaked that or not, but it did put someone in danger, if the mole did not get out prior to leak.  Just this week, it was revealed that the recent embassy closings occurred because the spy agencies managed to tap a conference call.  I am sorry, but both of these leaks seem to be much more disastrous to our intelligence gathering than Snowden's leak confirming the government scans all internet traffic for this or that keyword, if you are to believe them.  Snowden confirmed something that has been rumored for 15+ years, but was so general as to be ho hum, so what.  The other two leaks dealt with specific threats and most likely will make gathering new information using the earlier techniques more difficult.  I realize the NSA is in need of an attaboy or two, but this is really a stupid way to convince the public you are doing your job.  If you had followed the Constitution, you wouldn't be in need of an attaboy to gain back public support.

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