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Clapper Gives Claptrap Over Straight Answers

by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright June 13, 2013

Showing that the intelligence community has run amuck, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) wasn’t satisfied with 72-year-old National Intelligence Director James Clapper’s answer last March. Now that the lid’s blown off the pot by 29-year-old former CIA employee Edward Snowden, Clapper denies authorizing surveillance on millions of Americans. “The American people have a right to expect straight answers from the intelligence leadership to questions asked by their representatives,” said Wyden, recalling Clapper’s ambiguous answers back in March at a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing. “Does the NSA collect any type of data on millions or hundreds of millions of Americans,” Wyden asked Clapper. “No Sir,” Clapper responded. “It does not,” Wyden pushed. “Not wittingly,” Clapper clarified, after thinking about his answer. “There are cases where they could inadvertently perhaps collect—but not wittingly,” answered Clapper, hedging his bet.

Clapper responded to Wyden like he was interrogated by the enemy, giving only name, rank and serial number. While he answered reluctantly, he was covering up what his agency actually does when it comes to data mining on millions of Americans. Now cowering in Hong Kong awaiting possible extradition, Snowden confirmed the obvious: That the NSA routinely data mines on millions of U.S. citizens, whenever, however and whenever it wishes. Clapper’s answer to Wyden borders on perjury for absolutely no reason. Used to working for the Pentagon in Defense Intelligence, Clapper has difficulty making the transition to civilian employment. “This job cannot be done responsibly if senators are not getting straight answers to direct questions,” said Wyden, realizing the Clapper blew smoke in the Senate Intelligence Committee hearing. Apart from the obvious First Amendment problems, the DIA goes about its business inefficiently.

Spending countless hours pouring over useless data on ordinary citizens having no connection to terrorism couldn’t be a more wasteful use of government time. Unlike the inner workings of the Transportation Security Agency, the NSI too must find more targeted ways to mine data from potential terrorists. Opening up the floodgates from the public at large does nothing to track down potential terrorists. Transportation officials are also working on better ways to target prospective terrorists not harassing the elderly, disabled or youth not fitting any terrorist profile. When NSA contractor Booz Allen Hamiliton canned Snowden today, Senate Intelligence Committee Chairwoman Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.) called on the DOJ to prosecute Snowden for “acts of treason.” Feinstein knows that to prove treason the government would have to show “intent” to subvert the U.S. government. While Snowden’s revelations raise eyebrows, they don’t come close to subversion or treason.

Clapper’s department by its very nature is secretive. Yet when department heads face direct questions from Congress, they can’t blow smoke without repercussions, no matter how inconsequential the answers. Refusing to answer Wyden’s questions showed how it’s difficult for Pentagon officials to transition into civilian life. Secret codes, allegiances, private deals, all go with life in the military. Pentagon officials must suck it up and answer questions factually when under oath. Feinstein also called Clapper a “traitor” for not leveling with her Senate committee. She’s got growing concerns about the federal government’s capacity to come clean with the public about questionable intelligence practices. Snowden gave the public the first peak inside the National Security Agency that contracts out its intel-gathering services with garden variety computer nerds and hackers. It’s doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out Snowden was unfit to serve.

Snowden’s disclosures prompted strong reactions from the Obama administration, essentially confirming that PRISM will go on. Exposing the inner workings of U.S. national security doesn’t reassure most citizens that their government is in charge. “There’s very little trust in the government and that’s for good reason,” said Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Caif.) who sits on the House Intelligence Committee. “We’re our own worst enemy,” said Schiff, believing that Snowden’s disclosures hurt U.S. credibility. House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) called Snowden a “traitor” for releasing documents that revealed U.S. secrets. “The disclosure of this information puts Americans at risk. It shows our adversaries what are capabilities are and it’s a giant violation of the law,” said Boehner, seeking his extradition from Hong Kong for prosecution under U.S. law. Boehner agrees with Feinstein that Snowden should be charged with treason.

Snowden disclosures hit the “Liberal” Obama administration with a big cream pie, exposing the ugly inner workings of intelligence gathering. Relying on computer nerds and hackers carries its own risks, not to mention the colossal waste of paying unsavory characters to violate the U.S. Constitution under the guise of national security. Instead of relying on undependable computer hackers, the government should only contract with properly vetted employees. Judging by Snowden’s public responses, he seems mentally unbalanced, retaliating against the government for real or imagined persecution. Instead of piling on with calls for “treason,” the government should figure out more targeted data mining strategies. Going after millions of cell phone records does little to catch terrorists and prevent the next Boston Marathon bombing. Snowden’s revelations show how much more work is needed to by intelligence agencies to get the job done

About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com.and author of Dodging the Bullet and Operation Charisma.