Should the focus of NSA spying on Americans be on the spying, or on the guy who told us about the spying?

Question

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/06/10/report-nsa-contract-worker-is-surveillance-source/

Shouldn't it be on the spying itself?

Answer 1

Obama is peeved at his abuses being exposed and is focusing on getting the whistle blower. But I think Congress should be focused on reigning in the out of control executive branch.

Answer 2

Good question. The NSA-affiliated civilian contractor Edward Snowden committed TREASON when he released NSA documents that exposed intelligence operations. We are a nation at war still, in Afghanistan, and also a nation under siege by would-be lone-wolf attackers on U.S. soil and also on foreign soil who are angered by the Bush/Cheney ILLEGAL invasion of a sleeping Iraq (a nation that never once attacked the U.S.). Snowden knows what he did was wrong---he fled.



That the National Security Agency or any other agency tasked with keeping America safe from attack (CIA, FBI, Homeland Security, etc.) has set up a databank for phone calls in or out is nothing new---every single electronic device leaves a trackable trail (as any sexting teenager may have learned the hard way...no pun intended). Cell phones have a Global Positioning System (GPS) built in that enables the user to be tracked in detail, including times at any given location. Satellites in space (ours or other nations') can be used to eavesdrop on anyone anytime anywhere, and they have been in space for years. Even our television sets tell on us, and the cable companies can tell if there is a set on in your house and which channel is on even if the cable company office is located in Dubai or some other foreign country. The fictional "Neilson family" used in the early 1950s to set up ratings was never real---it was always an electronic trail which showed what Americans were watching.



Having a database of phone numbers makes an enormous amount of sense, but it is nothing new...just more efficient in modern days. In the past, if someone using public airways mentioned words like "bomb" or "government overthrow" or "assassination," there was a triggering mechanism in place (from the database of all phone numbers) that sent that phone number to the attention of whatever authorities were in place. This is as things should be---and this is what is in place to keep us all safe from "all enemies, both domestic and foreign."

Answer 3

The NSA are charged with investigating and observing possible terror suspects, inside and outside of the US.

They cannot do so without spying, even if that is on US citizens.

GW Bush's "Patriot Act" still applies, but only in this instance. This allows the NSA to obtain internet and telecommunications data, with or without our knowledge.

But they don't listen in to all your telephone calls or watch what you write on "facebook", or check on what you are downloading !

They have a program which is only activated if certain implicit words are spoken of written, in almost any language. Words such as "bomb" or "target" for example, will activate this program.

For sure they could now be checking up on my answer, but as I am not a terrorist I have nothing to fear by this. And nor should you because this is only done for your own safety, they have no intention of checking up on all your activities, they are NOT "Big Brother !"



This has only been called a "scandal", because it is yet another in the long line of allegations made by the extreme right wing against President Barack Obama.

They have orchestrated a campaign of non-stop character assassination against him for the whole of his presidency in order to discredit him !

Answer 4

i think of so, yet i don't stay there. we are having sufficient hassle right here putting up precisely what GCHQ downloaded. @Serenaz, you thoroughly and fully omit the element. it is not proper whether you have something to conceal, might you like human beings wandering with the aid of your place or analyzing all your mail. do not you hit upon that objectionable? I unquestionably do. and that i won't be able to work out a single reason the government ought to get to do what wouuld be referred to as an unwarrantable intrusion in others. @Jacara. I guess infrequently anybody became into shocked to earnings that your information superhighway pastime has been monitored. it is been occurring a lengthy time, and browsers like Firefox and Safari have approaches of restricting this pastime outfitted in. There are innovations for minimising such issues previous that. only examine on the information superhighway. even though it is not constrained to - or especially even - MSoft and Apple. Many do it, and Google is a great occasion. As for Apple monitoring iPods/Pads/telephones? nicely does not anybody understand they do? The "locate my iPhone" facility has been around for years. how in the international do you think of they'd try this without being waiting to song it? not something secret approximately it. What might computer virus me (actually) may well be that information being exceeded to government.

Answer 5

On the spying, of course.



That said, it's possible to learn about the guy who told us about it, and hear why he did so, without completely ignoring the real issue.

Answer 6

According to the liberals on Y!A, "Patriot Act under Bush bad. Patriot Act under Obama good."

Answer 7

We should get spyies to spy on the spies who are spying on those other spies who are spying.

Answer 8

this guy may have done the u.s. public a service. that doesn,t mean he didn,t violate the law.