NSA Officials Admit: 'We're Screwed Now' After Feinstein's Statement

from the maybe-shouldn't-have-pushed-the-limits-so-much dept

Tue, Oct 29th 2013 9:25am — Mike Masnick

While we're a bit cynical about the reasoning behind Senator Dianne Feinstein's sudden "conversion" to realizing that perhaps the NSA is out of control with its spying, and needs greater oversight and control, apparently her statement sent chills through officials at the NSA. After all, Feinstein was the strongest Senate defender of the NSA's activities -- to the point that we'd suggested in the past a somewhat co-dependent relationship. However, it sounds like she just turned on the NSA and has suggested that perhaps it needs to go to rehab. Shane Harris and John Hudson at Foreign Policy's The Cable blog have the details:

"We're really screwed now," one NSA official told The Cable. "You know things are bad when the few friends you've got disappear without a trace in the dead of night and leave no forwarding address."

Of course, that's the sort of crazy hyperbole that the NSA is increasingly known for. Feinstein hasn't "disappeared." She's just finally pointed out what many of the rest of us have been arguing for ages: that the NSA is out of control, going way beyond what it's authorized to do, and has little real oversight, in part because of its regular practice of misleading pretty much everyone over the details and extent of its surveillance programs.

Even more important, the statement from that NSA official shows that they still don't recognize what got them into this mess. If the NSA had actually been upfront about what it was doing with others, perhaps it wouldn't find itself in this mess today. It makes you wonder if the NSA is so focused on being super secret about its operations to the outside world that it couldn't distinguish enough about being transparent to government oversight bodies as well.

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Filed Under: dianne feinstein, nsa, nsa surveillance, oversight

39 Comments

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Reader Comments

The First Word

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It's nice to know she cares more about the privacy of foreign leaders than she does the American people.

—Mark Wing

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Anonymous Coward, 29 Oct 2013 @ 9:32am

I knew she would fold under any sort of public pressure, she's a huge bureaucratic coward just like all the other cowards who stand for nothing and believe in no one.
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Oct 2013 @ 9:34am

Re:
Except, apparently, Jesusposition in God's Government.

/sarc
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Oct 2013 @ 9:38am

I bet they are hurrying their asses off to move operational control over to the CIA or some other unit so they can continue to spy. The equipment is in place they just need a new set of people to use it now.
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Oct 2013 @ 9:41am

Senator Spystein is just trying to save face. She never had any intention of conducting 'real' oversight over NSA spying, and she still doesn't intend to provide 'real' oversight.

She's just trying to save face and minimize any oversight the rest of congress is throwing at her.

This woman blatantly violated the US Constitution, her oath of office, and the American people. It's time for her to face charges as far as I'm concerned.
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Oct 2013 @ 9:42am

Words versus deeds
"We're really screwed now," one NSA official told The Cable.

Compare with Marcy Wheeler's observation today over at Emptywheel, �One Day after Rolling Out �Comprehensive Review,� Feinstein Proceeds with Mark-Up Anyway�:
Yesterday, Dianne Feinstein announced, �a total review of all intelligence programs � so that members of the Senate Intelligence Committee are fully informed as to what is actually being carried out by the intelligence community.�

Today, her committee will nevertheless conduct a mark-up of her bill to not fix the spying targeted at Americans.

Umm, given that she just admitted she doesn�t know everything the NSA has been doing � and that she hasn�t been fully informed � don�t you think the comprehensive review should precede the new legislation?

No, when the new legislation to codify current practice precedes the �comprehensive review�, you know there are just different priorities at work.

Words versus deeds. Which speak louder?
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out_of_the_blue, 29 Oct 2013 @ 9:56am

Oh, no! It's the end of the Surveillance State!
So "we're a bit cynical", eh? I have more cynicism in the tip of my little finger than you ever will in entire body.

You keep running these bits of fluff as if serious.

The NSA is NOT in a "mess". Complete lie, with clear purpose of mollifying the public.

"If the NSA had actually been upfront about what it was doing with others," -- TWO major items wrong. "Upfront" is impossible because goal of the NSA is total surveillance over at least every person in the US. (Yeah, there's "terrorists" for excuse; my point is that's near total lie.) -- 2nd, "with others"??? Clearly, meaning other Senators, which still leaves We The People out (for reasons above).

In fact, Feinstein has NOT reversed at all; she's an ardent supporter of the surveillance state. This is at most yet another PR item to try and persuade the public that NSA is in "a mess". Wish you'd quit publishing such obvious CRAP; doing so can only show you're either not exactly on OUR side, or such a wimp as no help at all.

What your editorial "we" needs say is they're ALL in cahoots and lying, so indict, try, and JAIL.
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RyanNerd (profile), 29 Oct 2013 @ 9:56am

Not to be macabre but...
I hope the rape and snuff video of the NSA will be available in time for Halloween.
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Oct 2013 @ 9:58am

Re: Not to be macabre but...
What, the one where they rape and kill the constitution?

It's already in cinemas (and everywhere else).
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cowardly ananonomous carpenter, 29 Oct 2013 @ 10:01am

Re: Oh, no! It's the end of the Surveillance State!
In fact, Feinstein has NOT reversed at all; she's an ardent supporter of the surveillance state. This is at most yet another PR item to try and persuade the public that NSA is in "a mess". Wish you'd quit publishing such obvious CRAP; doing so can only show you're either not exactly on OUR side, or such a wimp as no help at all.

Hammer -> Nail ---- Whack!!!
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Oct 2013 @ 10:03am

We have only heard about communication on the ground. I would think they have pointed a satellite at nearly every country in the world. Plus no doubt the most serious stuff hasn't even been released yet I guarantee it gets worse that what has been reported. (much worse)

Do we have to start flying autonomous drones with built in imsi catchers over the NSA's building so they get the message. Could be fun.
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crade (profile), 29 Oct 2013 @ 10:04am

Re:
Holy crap.. You mean she is actually acting as a... *gasp* public representative?! how cowardly!
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Oct 2013 @ 10:04am

Re: Oh, no! It's the end of the Surveillance State!
I was about to say more or less this.

The NSA is the world's largest and most powerful espionage agency. Why the fuck would they be afraid? It's just propaganda.

They have near limitless power. The only way to put some fear into them is to dismantle them and put the ones responsible in jail.

Of course, that ain't gonna happen. Politicians will be singing a different tune once a man in a dark suit pulls them to the side and shows them a sample of the dirt they have on him/her and tells them "how awful it would be if this leaked to the media".

Either that, or the NSA will be dismantled in name only. That is, the agency NSA will dissapear, but its mission will continue to be carried on by some other agency.

The NSA isn't going anywhere. Not with the kind of weak politicians the USA has in charge.
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Glen, 29 Oct 2013 @ 10:05am

But how screwed are they? If they "stop" spying on other leaders of countries and still continue to spying on Americans, is that still considered okay?
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Trails (profile), 29 Oct 2013 @ 10:13am

Terminology
You know things are bad when the few friends you've got disappear without a trace in the dead of night and leave no forwarding address.

I thought this was referred to as "extraordinary rendition"?
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Oct 2013 @ 10:15am

Re:
If they "stop" spying on other leaders of countries and still continue to spying on Americans, is that still considered okay?

Ask the American electorate, m'kay?

Odds are, the incumbents will continue be re-elected. �� Overwhelming odds are.
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Oct 2013 @ 10:21am

Re: Terminology
I thought this was referred to as "extraordinary rendition"?

Knock-knock.
�� Who's there?

Secret police.
�� Secret police who?

Comrade, we ask the questions!

�
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Oct 2013 @ 10:21am

Re: Words versus deeds
Yes.

So what if she's going to stop writing op-eds for the NSA. If she's still pushing to legalize what they are doing, then all her talk means nothing.
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Oct 2013 @ 10:22am

Here's my theory: this is just a play, and a was planned from the beginning *together* with Feinstein.

Feinstein has done NOTHING but HELP them so far, which is a big hint that this idea of "fighting against NSA" - so they don't spy on foreign allies' LEADERS, is just a ploy.

They want people to think they won't be spying on "allies" anymore, when in fact they may only give up spying on their allies ministers and prime-ministers - and that's about it. Everyone else in those countries will still be fair game.

"Ordinary citizens" (as NSA likes to call them), CEO's, judges, maybe even other non-executive politicians, will still be targets. But the NSA wants everyone to believe that "we've won", by compromising on not spying on the executive governments.
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Oct 2013 @ 10:31am

Re:
Ah, the old 'but we're only killing peasants now' ploy that worked out so well for Stalin.
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Mark Wing, 29 Oct 2013 @ 10:35am

It's nice to know she cares more about the privacy of foreign leaders than she does the American people.
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Brazenly Anonymous, 29 Oct 2013 @ 10:37am

Misdirection
Feinstein's bill is set up as a false victory over the NSA. This is readily apparent. There isn't much chance for them to accomplish that if she appears to be on their side. This latest theater is an attempt to make her bill look like a sufficient threat to the NSA to we don't go further and actually stop them.

The problem that they face, and why things are so blatant, is that the groups actually trying to curtail the NSA are moving things along at what is, for politics at least, a relatively rapid pace. Usually there is a little more time between a revelation and a UN proposal, and they probably thought they had until the Patriot Act came up for renewal again in Congress.
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Oolong Kaloofid, 29 Oct 2013 @ 10:53am

NSA
Oh by the way world, we're recording your every word... We're spying on you! That would defeat the secrecy of the process, no?

I don't agree with what was done, but telling people that you're going to review and store conversation is a bit dull don't you think?
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Oct 2013 @ 10:55am

She must have took the battery out of her phone in the middle of the night.
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Oct 2013 @ 10:59am

Re: Oh, no! It's the end of the Surveillance State!
Finding something to harp on in every article doesn't make you a cynic. It just makes you petty. Case in point: techdirt is so clearly anti-surveillance state with no equivocations but you keep desperately clinging to anything you can to be devise over instead of just admitting that, for once, you and Mike are on the same side of an issue. No one will think less of you. In fact some would probably think more of you.
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Oct 2013 @ 11:00am

Re: Re: Not to be macabre but...
But you can't see it.
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Chris Brand, 29 Oct 2013 @ 11:03am

"friends"
Interesting that they use that term. Friends are people that you trust and who you expect to trust you back. They're not the same as "managers" or overseers", where there's a "these are the people I work for" relationship. Friends have your back, even if you crew up. They certainly don't check up on you to ensure that you stay within the rules they've established for you...
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jerrymiah, 29 Oct 2013 @ 11:05am

Re: Words versus deeds
Indeed. Words versus deeds. What she said yesterday, she never really meant. She'll keep going the same way as before. She does not really want to loose the power she was given durint the last hald decade. Now that she's got that power, she intends to keep it no matter what. Recall the funcking bitch.
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beltorak (profile), 29 Oct 2013 @ 12:26pm

this is kinda troubling.... if the NSA realizes that they are losing support from the government, they might decide to destroy all their data before they get shut down, and before it can be analyzed. I think the DOJ needs to stage a raid real quick before all the criminal evidence "disappears".
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Oct 2013 @ 12:32pm

She is running cover at this point. The US has gotten so many bitching about the spying events taking place that if it continues there will be few on the US's internet links. US businesses will suddenly find closed doors to their products and services. Already I am sure there are serious rumblings from US corporations putting pressure on these politicians to do something about this.

Given all the past acts of speech, misdirection, lying, and coverup, I suspect this is political theater. Something to point to when grilled by other nations that things are changing while they remain the same.

I do not trust these politicians to suddenly develop spine where they've shown no previous possession of such. I will wait to see what is done as the words in the past have proven hollow.
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Oct 2013 @ 1:20pm

In the long run, the nazi USA is doomed.
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Oct 2013 @ 2:17pm

Mandingo Style
They're fucked alright.
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Oct 2013 @ 2:44pm

Not screwed enough
Until we see many members of the NSA fleeing for asylum to non-extraditing nations they're not screwed enough.
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Oct 2013 @ 3:57pm

Feinstein is either making out she's left the cause, so as to carry on spying from the inside, keeping those who need to be up to date or, if she has left, it's only because of the risk that she may become one of the spied on now rather than one of the spies!
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Oct 2013 @ 5:56pm

one NSA official told The Cable
yes right, sure we are really going to believe that !!!!

what's this official's name, what's his position, what's his duties.

Again, just another excuse to mention NSA in the title, more white noise for us to ignore.
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Oct 2013 @ 7:08pm

Re: one NSA official told The Cable
darryl just hates it when due process is enforced.
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any moose cow word, 30 Oct 2013 @ 12:12pm

I'd imagine that it's surprising when the few friends you've got disappear without a trace in the dead of night, even more so when you're used to doing that to others.
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btrussell (profile), 30 Oct 2013 @ 12:45pm

Re: Re: Oh, no! It's the end of the Surveillance State!
Yes, it isn't like they are going to scrap their new humongous data storage center.
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Milt Farrow, 30 Oct 2013 @ 3:31pm

NSA
Feinstein only capitulated because, the NSA got caught engaging in espionage of 16 nations, the main purpose was for commercial use of our competing industries ( spoken about frequently on cell phones) Now that channel of commercial espionage is finished , and OBAMA and the US is tarnished forever-She wasn't concerned about "walking" all over US Citizens-she and King and several other "pukes" need to be dealt with- The entire operation needs to be shut down with charges and penalties to the culpable parties
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Anonymous Coward, 30 Oct 2013 @ 7:37pm

Re: Words versus deeds
The nuance of what she said is being missed. Let me paraphrase
'Surveillance is for the little fish. If your spying on Merkel your probably spying on me. I'm a big fish not a little fish D***it!!!'
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