Keith Alexander Offered To Resign, But White House Said No Because It Didn't Want Snowden To Win

from the petty-petty-petty dept

Mon, Nov 25th 2013 11:51am — Mike Masnick

One of the really big questions many of us have had throughout the revelations of the NSA's scandals is how the hell have Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and NSA boss Keith Alexander kept their jobs through all of this. Clapper has been caught directly lying to Congress. Alexander has been shown to have been extraordinarily misleading, if he hasn't outright lied. Furthermore, it's been revealed that both have overseen massive levels of dysfunction and abuse within the NSA (even as they try to spin them as no big deal). And, even among NSA supporters, there's an argument to be made that Alexander should be fired for having system security so weak it allowed Snowden to do what he did undetected, even months after the basics were revealed. So now it's come out, via a report by Siobhan Gorman in the Wall Street Journal, that Alexander did, in fact, offer to resign but that the White House rejected the request, because they didn't want to hand Snowden a victory.

Shortly after former government contractor Edward Snowden revealed himself in June as the source of leaked National Security Agency documents, the agency's director, Gen. Keith Alexander, offered to resign, according to a senior U.S. official. The offer, which hasn't previously been reported, was declined by the Obama administration....

[....] When the leaks began, some top administration officials found their confidence in Gen. Alexander shaken because he presided over a grave security lapse, a former senior defense official said. But the officials also didn't think his resignation would solve the security problem and were concerned that letting him leave would wrongly hand Mr. Snowden a win, the former defense official said.

That's a ridiculous reason, if true. And, unfortunately, it shows the ridiculous anti-whistleblower mindset of the White House. It's not about correcting actual problems, it's all about making sure that we punish the whistleblower, and don't let him get any "victory." That's a huge mistake that makes the White House look out of touch, out of control and unable to recognize where the real problems are.

President Obama has stated repeatedly that these revelations have resulted in a necessary discussion and that he needs to earn the trust of the American public on the NSA spying. Getting rid of Alexander and Clapper, and starting fresh, would have been a good start to doing that. Playing defense and trying to avoid Snowden "winning" just looks... childish.

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Filed Under: barack obama, ed snowden, james clapper, keith alexander, nsa, resignations, surveillance

50 Comments

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Guardian, 25 Nov 2013 @ 12:01pm

obama and hollywood need to spy too
think of the "actors"
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anonymouse, 25 Nov 2013 @ 12:02pm

Congress
Hopefully congress will do something but i doubt it. The leaders of both parties have been using the power of secrecy to get away with crimes and one side is not going to rat the other out if they feel they could be ratted out.

This is one time where the republican right wing could have really casued trouble for the governemetn but alas they are now quiet and not really doing much but sitting back and licking their wounds from the gov shutdown.

Maybe that what why they were allowed to do what they did, to make it harder for them to reveal real problems.
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ChurchHatesTucker (profile), 25 Nov 2013 @ 12:04pm

Whew!
Good thing they prevented Snowden's revelations from having any kind of impact on the NSA, AMIRITE?
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Nastybutler77 (profile), 25 Nov 2013 @ 12:11pm

I'd say this mindset isn't just childish, it's very foolish. Who is a bigger fool: the fool who keeps Alexander in power or the fools who (re)elected him?
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Anonymous Coward, 25 Nov 2013 @ 12:14pm

The famous 'we dont negotiate with terrorists' bullshit which always has a bad ending. 'Less democratic' nations have had their presidents replaced because of smaller missteps. Surprising how obamo is still in power.
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Anonymous Coward, 25 Nov 2013 @ 12:20pm

Re:
The strength of our republic is that we don't topple our leaders left and right.
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Anonymous Coward, 25 Nov 2013 @ 12:26pm

So Alexander screws up, but gets to keep his job cause they don't want the person who showed them he screwed up to feel good?

God bless America...
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Anonymous Coward, 25 Nov 2013 @ 12:26pm

seriously they are like little babies. I question their definition of winning.

Snowden winning = everyone wins except the NSA, most of them probably should be in prison for this and anyone who authorized them should be in prison too. That would be winning.
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Anonymous Coward, 25 Nov 2013 @ 12:27pm

Instead of offering to resign
He should have just done it!
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Anonymous Coward, 25 Nov 2013 @ 12:30pm

It's a bittersweet symphony that's life...
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Rikuo (profile), 25 Nov 2013 @ 12:30pm

What exactly would be the legal ramifications for Alexander if he'd said "Fuck this" and simply not shown up for work the next day?
I do know the question is pointless given how little the US government cares for the law at the moment, but still...
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Anonymous Coward, 25 Nov 2013 @ 12:35pm

Response to: Rikuo on Nov 25th, 2013 @ 12:30pm
I don't know but William Colby might.
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MM_Dandy (profile), 25 Nov 2013 @ 12:36pm

Re:
I wouldn't have been surprised if he would have been charged with treason in that case. Not sure if it applies, but it would fit with the tactic of 'throw the book at them, and let them plead down to a lesser charge.'
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Bob, 25 Nov 2013 @ 12:37pm

He didn't just win, he continues winning...
Snowden won. Period.

They should accept this, and move into the world with the rest of us where this is an undeniable fact of life.

They were doing something that the majority of people would not support, without justification or oversight.

Snowden exposed them to the world. The world got pissed. That all happened.

Continuing to live in the delusional alternate reality where Snowden is a traitor, and they are going to get to go back to business as usual is only going to drive more people away from the American tech industry.

They need to sack-up, pardon him and bring him home, initiate a national debate on the use and abuse of the programs, and start restoring our credibility as a nation committed to essential, universal, civil liberties.
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Anonymous Coward, 25 Nov 2013 @ 12:38pm

that shows how right Snowden is, how wrong the NSA is and how absolutely arrogant the White House is! when it is more important to not allow a whistleblower to win, and remember the assurances Obama gave to whistleblowers, it shows the sorry state the nation is in, and how equally sorry a state the leader is in too!
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Anonymous Coward, 25 Nov 2013 @ 12:40pm

That kind of a mindset is a problem with ALL politicians
That kind of a mindset is a problem with ALL politicians. Look at Republicans, who are trying to undermine Obamacare in any way they possibly can, even though it's their OWN idea from the 1990's.
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Me, 25 Nov 2013 @ 12:44pm

The fact they don't want to hand Snowden a "win" is so indicative of the very problem. FIX the problems. Quit trying to attach the messenger(s).
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GeneralEmergency (profile), 25 Nov 2013 @ 12:53pm

Re: Re:
.

...even when they -clearly- deserve it.

.
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Anonymous Coward, 25 Nov 2013 @ 1:02pm

Let's look past the whistle-blowing for a minute, and instead look at the mentality of the security at play here:

"We can't cover the possibility damning security holes in our system! That would mean our political opponents would 'win'!"

How this administration is able to keep any secrets at all is a marvel.
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Anonymous Coward, 25 Nov 2013 @ 1:08pm

Re:
Fixing the problem means relinquishing some power, and admitting error. No politicians will do either voluntarily.
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Anonymous Coward, 25 Nov 2013 @ 1:09pm

Re: Whew!
Yeah. I'm glad the US avoided THAT embarrassment.

Can you imagine the impact that would have in the people's confidence in the government?

/sarcasm
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Anonymous Coward, 25 Nov 2013 @ 1:09pm

Saying what people want to hear
"President Obama has stated repeatedly that these revelations have resulted in a necessary discussion and that he needs to earn the trust of the American public on the NSA spying."

Yes, he has said that. I don't think he really means it.
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Prajo Etach, 25 Nov 2013 @ 1:35pm

To quote Obi-Wan Kenobi:

"Who's the more foolish? The fool or the fool who follows him?"
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Ruben, 25 Nov 2013 @ 1:36pm

Re: He didn't just win, he continues winning...
It'll never happen.

The hubris too strong.

The leadership too arrogant.

Until there's some semblance of human behavior in Washington, this is just a dream.
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Anonymous Coward, 25 Nov 2013 @ 2:16pm

I say NO to resignation too. It's not enough. Arrest, trial, prosecution, and prison are the only things that will satisfy my outrage at this point.
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Rekrul, 25 Nov 2013 @ 3:03pm

President Obama has stated repeatedly that these revelations have resulted in a necessary discussion and that he needs to earn the trust of the American public on the NSA spying.

Here, let me fix that for you;

President Obama has stated repeatedly that these revelations have resulted in a necessary discussion about how to better hide the NSA'a activities and that he needs to fool the American public about the NSA spying.
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Votre (profile), 25 Nov 2013 @ 3:07pm

Well there's a certain wisdom in keeping your friends close, your enemies closer, and an employee who could cause you major embarrassment closest of all.

At least if he remains a government employee they can enforce his silence.
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Anonymous Coward, 25 Nov 2013 @ 3:41pm

Re: Saying what people want to hear
President Obama stated that yes. Notice there has been no debate from his end on the rights and wrongs, merely support it should continue.

Before Gen. Alexander was put into the position of head of the NSA it was stated that one of the concerns was Alexander tended to ignore laws to get it done and then work on the justification afterwards and this is the mentality now shown to the public from the NSA, who has pretty much broken every law it felt it needed to.

The administration is hell bent on charging the whistle blowers to keep it's skeletons locked in the closet, not to fix obviously glaring problems. Hide not reveal so as to avoid embarrassment.

It's a bit late to worry about Snowden's win, for win he has. He has focused the worlds' attention on the total ignoring of what the US says it stands for and then what it does. Regaining the public's trust in government is going to take more than a few words saying so; it's actually going to have to take action in concrete form addressing these totally outrageous acts by the NSA. Failing to do so shows the public they are correct in the belief their government does not act in their best interests and is corrupt to the core.

There is an election coming and people are saying they don't want the GOP to win nor the Democrats. Take that for what it is worth.
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Anonymous Coward, 25 Nov 2013 @ 3:53pm

Re: He didn't just win, he continues winning...
Continuing to live in the delusional alternate reality where Snowden is a traitor...

Snowden is a traitor, he's a traitor to those in power - who is making these claims.. To everyone else he's a hero.
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Anonymous Coward, 25 Nov 2013 @ 4:04pm

Unlikely
Or General Alexander just put out that story to seem less power grabbing than his power grabbing might suggest.
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Anonymous, 25 Nov 2013 @ 4:18pm

Re:
I hate that song.
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That One Guy (profile), 25 Nov 2013 @ 5:03pm

Looking at it wrong
If Alexander did resign... what punishment, other than losing that particular job, would that result in? Losing a job(and one that would likely immediately be replaced with a very cushy private sector one), in exchange for ducking all responsibility for the NSA's current actions, and passing the buck on to someone else? Sounds like one heck of a deal to me, so it's no surprise that he tried it.

At the same time, if Alexander was out of the picture, then the people would be focusing more on who gave the NSA their marching orders, who authorized their actions, so the FISA court, congress, and the WH... is it any wonder then the WH wanted him to stay where he was, and act as a magnet for criticism?
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Anonymous Coward, 25 Nov 2013 @ 6:06pm

Re: Re:
Then go fuck yourself
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ShellMG (profile), 25 Nov 2013 @ 8:45pm

Making it his business
Snowden's leaks aren't hurting national security but dishing a load of butthurt on The Obama White House. In light of the Grand Canyon-sized security holes in the online ACA (among other lesser concerns, like affordable health care), why on Earth should we trust anything they claim? Do we really trust the WH when Obama says, "If you like your privacy, you can keep it. PERIOD" ?
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Anonymous Coward, 26 Nov 2013 @ 12:27am

Restoring Trust: Ultimate Freudian Slip
If they state their goal is in restoring trust it is always, always, always a sign that they are deeply corrupt and want to avoid real reform like the plague. I have seen it many times before - most often with institutions covering up child molestation for the sake of their reputation.

It is quite revealing about their psychology: they don't even think about fixing the problem. In fact they care so little about it that they can't understand why it is important enough to lie about. They just want this embarrassing truth to go away so they can go back to business as usual.
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Anonymous Howard (profile), 26 Nov 2013 @ 12:45am

Re: Instead of offering to resign
Resign? Jailed for life.
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Anonymous Coward, 26 Nov 2013 @ 2:16am

So you don't want to let him quit due to allowing breaches of security to happen-

because you're afraid people will think you are all-but-firing him for allowing breaches of law and policy to happen.

He did both, either let him quit or fire him.
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Anonymous Coward, 26 Nov 2013 @ 2:17am

Re: Restoring Trust: Ultimate Freudian Slip
Cool jab at religion there. That'll get you credibility and respect.
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David, 26 Nov 2013 @ 2:20am

Re:
We don't negotiate with terrorists, we outclass them. They look like rank amateurs in the fight against freedom, justice and democracy compared to us.
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David, 26 Nov 2013 @ 2:23am

Re: He didn't just win, he continues winning...
Snowden won? Hardly. He may have won his lap, but as long as nobody really wants to pick up the baton, that's not going to buy him or anybody else a lot in the race.
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Anonymous Coward, 26 Nov 2013 @ 4:27am

Re: Re: Restoring Trust: Ultimate Freudian Slip
That was not a religious reference - the problem is independent. Both secular and religious organizations have been caught in this despicable behavior and made the same slip up while in damage control mode.
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Rikuo (profile), 26 Nov 2013 @ 4:53am

Re: Re: Restoring Trust: Ultimate Freudian Slip
Given that the AC didn't mention religion, only "institutions"...is that a Freudian slip there? Are the religious institutions actually at fault? (I'm Irish, and just about a year or two ago, the Catholic Church suffered a huge child sexual abuse scandal, so I know all about it).
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Anonymous Coward, 26 Nov 2013 @ 5:12am

Re: Re:
"Put one of ours in the hospital, we put one of theirs in the morgue"

The classic escalation scare-game. Shame this escalation is extremely costly on freedoms.
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Pragmatic, 26 Nov 2013 @ 5:46am

Re: Congress
Say what?

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/06/11/traitor-john-boehner-sides-with-obama-and-makes-it-c lear-what-he-thinks-about-nsa-whistleblower/

Hell, I even got this from a right wing source for you!
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Pragmatic, 26 Nov 2013 @ 5:48am

Re: He didn't just win, he continues winning...
What Bob says. All of it.
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That One Guy (profile), 26 Nov 2013 @ 6:31am

Re:
As I mentioned above, keeping him there allows him to act as a lightning rod for criticism, allowing others to dodge full responsibility, so he's right where they want him currently.

At the same time, letting him 'retire', likely into a cushy, lucrative private sector job, would hardly count as punishment for his actions, so if they really want him out, and he really wants out, lets see a freakin' public trial, let him 'retire' into a jail cell for selling out america in exchange for personal power.
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murgatroyd (profile), 26 Nov 2013 @ 6:57am

Re: That kind of a mindset is a problem with ALL politicians
Ah, but those were fake Republicans. The ones we have now are the real Republicans.

And I've got a bridge in NYC that I can sell you real cheap....
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John Fenderson (profile), 26 Nov 2013 @ 9:26am

Re: Re:
That's only a strength when we have good, effective, decent "leaders". Unfortunately, I don't think that we've had one of those in my lifetime.
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John Fenderson (profile), 26 Nov 2013 @ 9:28am

Re: Re: He didn't just win, he continues winning...
If you go by what Snowden himself claimed he was trying to do, he decisively won.
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Anonymous Coward, 26 Nov 2013 @ 9:40am

Must be tough
I was listening to Behind Blue Eyes by The Who, and it made me think of Clapper and Alexander. Perhaps he could have used this in his resignation letter:

No one knows what it's like
to be hated, to be fated
to telling only lies

and my dreams, they aren't as empty
as my conscience seems to be
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