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rhett o rick

(55,981 posts) Mon Oct 28, 2013, 03:23 PM Oct 2013

NSA review panel to present Obama with dossier on surveillance reforms

Paul Lewis in Washington
theguardian.com, Monday 28 October 2013 14.48 EDT
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/28/obama-nsa-dossier-classified-surveillance

"Barack Obama will receive a classified dossier in the next two weeks that will lay out the consequences for US foreign relations of the National Security Agency's powerful surveillance apparatus and provide the White House with a raft of possible reforms."

"The president clearly feels strongly about making sure we are not just collecting information because we can, but because we should," Carney said. "We recognize there needs to be additional constraints on how we gather and use intelligence." "

I hope we get some real reforms including some real oversight.

rhett

11 replies

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Highlight:

NSA review panel to present Obama with dossier on surveillance reforms (Original Post) rhett o rick Oct 2013 OP

The DOD and NSA, etal, have been at this for generations! NYC_SKP Oct 2013 #1

I agree. Not expecting too much. It would be nice if we could cut their funding. rhett o rick Oct 2013 #3

So the NSA is telling the President how it will reform itself!? BlueStreak Oct 2013 #2

Seems ridiculous doesnt it. nm rhett o rick Oct 2013 #4

Not nearly as ridiculous as the President actually entertaining that BlueStreak Oct 2013 #5

I don't read it that way. They will be required to make changes right now... NYC_SKP Oct 2013 #6

It is always a "wink, wink, nudge, nudge" thing BlueStreak Oct 2013 #7

I am most concerned with spying on Americans. I believe that in the wrong rhett o rick Oct 2013 #8

I agree, and I suspect that the DOD... NYC_SKP Oct 2013 #9

In a way I dont blame the executive. He is a relatively short-timer. rhett o rick Oct 2013 #10

Fingers Crossed... KoKo Oct 2013 #11

NYC_SKP

(68,644 posts)

1. The DOD and NSA, etal, have been at this for generations!

Reply to rhett o rick (Original post)

Mon Oct 28, 2013, 03:31 PM

Oct 2013

It's gonna take a while to undo any of it, more than Obama's second term, for sure!

rhett o rick

(55,981 posts)

3. I agree. Not expecting too much. It would be nice if we could cut their funding.

Reply to NYC_SKP (Reply #1)

Mon Oct 28, 2013, 03:36 PM

Oct 2013

I bet they are wasting billions.

BlueStreak

(8,377 posts)

2. So the NSA is telling the President how it will reform itself!?

Reply to rhett o rick (Original post)

Mon Oct 28, 2013, 03:34 PM

Oct 2013

rhett o rick

(55,981 posts)

4. Seems ridiculous doesnt it. nm

Reply to BlueStreak (Reply #2)

Mon Oct 28, 2013, 03:38 PM

Oct 2013

BlueStreak

(8,377 posts)

5. Not nearly as ridiculous as the President actually entertaining that

Reply to rhett o rick (Reply #4)

Mon Oct 28, 2013, 03:39 PM

Oct 2013

NYC_SKP

(68,644 posts)

6. I don't read it that way. They will be required to make changes right now...

Reply to BlueStreak (Reply #2)

Mon Oct 28, 2013, 03:42 PM

Oct 2013

...and further changes may be required following the review process:

The White House has declined to say whether Merkel's phone was monitored in the past. But according to the Wall Street Journal, the Obama administration ordered the NSA to cease the surveillance of her and other leaders after the program emerged over the summer in a separate, internal review of the agency's activities.

Carney said that internal review, led by the White House with input from agencies across government, will also also be completed before the end of the year. It contains what Carney described as a "separate" component dedicated to dealing with issues relating to "some of the very specific things with regard to intelligence gathered, including matters that deal with heads of states and other governments".

The external review, which will feed into the White House's internal assessment of surveillance, has itself been criticised for being too close to the Obama administration.

But these agencies, more than most, are resistant to change and even pressure from the highest office is seen by many of the entrenched to be meddlesome.

It's always been that way.

Bush wouldn't have given any of this the time of day.

BlueStreak

(8,377 posts)

7. It is always a "wink, wink, nudge, nudge" thing

Reply to NYC_SKP (Reply #6)

Mon Oct 28, 2013, 04:01 PM

Oct 2013

Obama: Tell me you are not monitoring foreign leaders' phone calls.

NSA: Most certainly not, sir.

Obama: Good. That's what I wanted to hear. Now everybody back to work.

rhett o rick

(55,981 posts)

8. I am most concerned with spying on Americans. I believe that in the wrong

Reply to NYC_SKP (Reply #6)

Mon Oct 28, 2013, 05:43 PM

Oct 2013

hands these very powerful tools can be used to influence our government. We must have some decent oversight or it will be a joke.

NYC_SKP

(68,644 posts)

9. I agree, and I suspect that the DOD...

Reply to rhett o rick (Reply #8)

Mon Oct 28, 2013, 05:45 PM

Oct 2013

Plays one branch of government against the other.

We need to hear more outrage from the ranks of Congress and from the executive, not just one branch or the other.

rhett o rick

(55,981 posts)

10. In a way I dont blame the executive. He is a relatively short-timer.

Reply to NYC_SKP (Reply #9)

Mon Oct 28, 2013, 06:04 PM

Oct 2013

When he arrives the NSA, CIA, FBI, and all the rest, all have their programs running full speed. What can a president do? He probably cant even find out what they are doing to any true detail. And it would be easy for the agencies to convince him that if he messed with anything and a terrorist attack occurs, he is toast.

I think most people underestimate the power of the NSA, CIA, FBI, etc.

KoKo

(84,711 posts)

11. Fingers Crossed...

Reply to rhett o rick (Original post)

Mon Oct 28, 2013, 08:05 PM

Oct 2013

Last edited Tue Oct 29, 2013, 12:34 PM - Edit history (2)

I would wonder who the "experts are" that Obama would feel safe with appointing, though. Given the extent of this...would think it would be hard to find anyone who wouldn't be involved in some aspect of this. And, would wonder who suggested the experts. I would hope some of the Whistle Blowers who were on this way back like James Bamford would perhaps be part of that team.

From the article:
"The document is being drafted by a top-level group of experts appointed by the president to conduct an external review of US surveillance capabilities and the damage to public trust resulting from the Edward Snowden disclosures. "

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