Next NSA Boss Thinks NSA Just Needs Better PR; And Kicks It Off With A Bunch Of Cyberwar FUD
from the new-boss-same-as-the-old-boss dept
Vice Admiral Mike Rogers (not to be confused with Rep. Mike Rogers) is pretty much all set to take over for Keith Alexander as both the new head of the NSA and the new head of US Cyber Command. These are the two organizations that the government likes to pretend are separate, but clearly are not (same boss, same offices, same basic goals). While the Senate has no say in approving the NSA appointment, they do have a say in approving the head of US Cyber Command, so the hearings are really covering both positions. Appearing before the Senate, Rogers has made it clear that he's cut from the same cloth as Alexander, and will basically continue the same kind of misleading FUD. When asked about "takeaways" from the past few months, Rogers claimed that the NSA really just needed better PR:"I believe one of the takeaways form the situation over the last few months is that as an intelligence professional...I have to be capable of communicating in a way that highlights what we are doing and why to the greatest extent possible," Rogers said to the Senate Armed Services Committee.Yeah, like that's going to work. And, by "better communicating" it appears that Admiral Rogers really means spreading more FUD about how we need to ramp up our "offensive" "cyber" attack capabilities. This is the same crap that Alexander has been pushing for years, when the simple truth is that the US (NSA) has been among the most aggressive on that front already, and the "threats" that it discusses are almost always things that the NSA/USCC are actually doing itself, rather than things that are being done to us.
As for any actual reform? Don't expect that under Admiral Rogers, as Marcy Wheeler highlights, Rogers seems to have the obfuscation-about-things-already-public game down pat.
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Filed Under: admiral mike rogers, cybersecurity, fud, nsa, surveillance, us cyber command
Reader Comments
The First Word
“Dear Everyone:
If you ever think you need better P.R., find out why you need better P.R. and fix that.Subscribe: RSS
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Even if it's not Mike 'CISPA' Rogers this is still weak...
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Just Once
Then again, maybe I already used up my one good thing happening on SOPA. Ok, just twice.
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Re:
And make no mistake, these guys are traitors - they believe that they know beteer than everyone else who the bad guys are.
Here's a hint - If you're the only ones being questioned about an ethically grey activity in a room full of such people, then chances are you're the bad guy, and the sooner these cancers are excised, the better.
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Dear Everyone:
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The terrible 2s
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So please tell me Mr. new NSA chief, how does spying on Petrobas, Belgium telcos, all EU and UN officials, and every single person on the planet help with terrorism?
What's that? Oh, you're not only spying to catch terrorists, but mainly for political and economic interests, just like you've been accusing China of? That's what I thought.
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Re:
But what they need to do better is, if they aren't going to stop being abusive, at least stop all the bald-faced lying. It doesn't take a PR expert to recognize that. It takes integrity.
I've changed my mind. They need integrity more than anything else.
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Not for the public
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I would never consider a current or former NSA/CIA/DOJ employee for a position due to the criminal nature of their jobs.
I also consider the extent of a companies involvement with these organizations and their employees before deciding if I will do business with them.
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Re:
I wouldn't either, but for a different reason: how can I trust they aren't a mole?
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Cyberware FUD: Bad idea
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Re: Dear Everyone:
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Definitions
Communicating = Spinning
Spinning = lying and covering up.
Highlights = obfuscates
What we are doing = Not what we are doing.
Now I will parse his statements:
Unlike my predecessor, I will lie and cover up my agency's spying better than anyone before me. I will use malware attacks, terrorism threats, security theater, dis-information, wiretapping, sting rays, license plate readers, facial recognition, the corporate media, copyright laws, judges and secret laws in a way that make the past seem like child play. I will strong arm private business to allow backdoors in published software and firmware. I will make private business accountable to me personally if they don't play nice with the NSA. I will work with other agencies like the IRS to threaten and intimidate citizens to do the right thing. In short, I will be everything my predecessor was not.
Any questions?
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Terrorism is alive and well
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There is a Cyber War going on... its the US Gov VS. everyone else.
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Do you think they are going to change the tune now?
Are they finally going to replace Hail to the Chief with The Imperial March at official functions?
for your reference and listening pleasure... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hail_to_the_Chief
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bzWSJG93P8
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better pr
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Have you tried 'Not constantly lying'?
Well, unless the truth is far worse than people could have expected, in which case lying is probably the less of the two evils, but I'm sure that couldn't possibly be the reason for it... /s
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The Last Word
“Have you tried 'Not constantly lying'?
Just saying, but 'Not lying' is generally a good way to boost public image and perception of an agency/company/group.Well, unless the truth is far worse than people could have expected, in which case lying is probably the less of the two evils, but I'm sure that couldn't possibly be the reason for it... /s