TechDirt: Well, this is rather incredible. Remember on Friday how one of President Obama’s efforts to get people to trust the government more concerning the NSA’s surveillance efforts was to create an “outside” and “independent” board to review it all? Specifically, he said:
Fourth, we’re forming a high-level group of outside experts to review our entire intelligence and communications technologies. We need new thinking for a new era. We now have to unravel terrorist plots by finding a needle in the haystack of global telecommunications. And meanwhile, technology has given governments — including our own — unprecedented capability to monitor communications.
So I am tasking this independent group to step back and review our capabilities — particularly our surveillance technologies. And they’ll consider how we can maintain the trust of the people, how we can make sure that there absolutely is no abuse in terms of how these surveillance technologies are used, ask how surveillance impacts our foreign policy — particularly in an age when more and more information is becoming public. And they will provide an interim report in 60 days and a final report by the end of this year, so that we can move forward with a better understanding of how these programs impact our security, our privacy, and our foreign policy.
Okay. Outside, independent. Sure, that might help. Except, that was Friday. Today is Monday. And, on Monday we learn that “outside” and “independent” actually means setup by Director of National Intelligence, James Clapper — the same guy who has already admitted to lying to Congress about the program, and has received no punishment for doing so. This is independent? From this we’re supposed to expect real oversight?!? [Continue reading…]
Clearly, the best way to “maintain the trust of the people” is to appoint someone who can lie — convincingly. Particularly “in an age when more and more information is” — somehow — “becoming public.” No paradox here.
I am sorry but Mr Clapper is the worst liar. When he gave Sen Wyden the “least untruthful” answer, everyone watching it on C-SPAN knew, he was lying through his teeth before he made his confession!
Unfortunately, this administration and many who work for it are TOTALLY unaware that Americans are NOT stupid and see through their lies very clearly. By appointing Mr Clapper, the Prez is insulting Americans’ intelligence.
Naively, a question springs forth: where’s the mention of legality & privacy? Better to ignore, answer your own questions re disclosure & propaganda. Snowden who?
@La verite: “everyone watching it on C-SPAN knew”. I have not exhausted my fingers counting.
@kfarbstudie
I understand. The situation in this country for the past many years has made sceptics out of many, including myself. However, Washington Journal receives calls from people with passionate opinions. Also, this particular clip was all over the internet and even MSM websites called him a liar.