NSA office politics

So...according to the Baltimore Sun, the NSA trashed a data-gathering program that would have been more effective, and wouldn't violate privacy laws, in favor of one that works for shit and does violate our privacy?

That sounds about right.

WASHINGTON // The National Security Agency developed a pilot program in the late 1990s that would have enabled it to gather and analyze huge amounts of communications data without running afoul of privacy laws. But after the Sept. 11 attacks, it shelved the project - not because it failed to work but because of bureaucratic infighting and a sudden White House expansion of the agency's surveillance powers, according to several intelligence officials.The agency opted instead to adopt only one component of the program, which produced a far less capable and rigorous program. It remains the backbone of the NSA's warrantless surveillance efforts, tracking domestic and overseas communications from a vast databank of information, and monitoring selected calls.

Apparently, the above program was dropped because it was making General Hayden's pet program look bad.

Think this'll hang up his nomination at all?

Nah.


(via War Room)