Former Director of NSA & CIA: "I didn't need to ask 'mother, may I' from Congress or president"

[kpete]

Former Director of NSA & CIA: I interpret the Constitution -- not the courts.

Hayden's entire speech can be viewed here:

In a speech at Washington and Lee University, Michael Hayden, a former head of both the CIA and NSA, opined on signals intelligence under the Constitution, arguing that what the 4th Amendment forbids changed after September 11, 2001. He noted that "unreasonable search and seizure," is prohibited under the Constitution, but cast it as a living document, with "reasonableness" determined by "the totality of circumstances in which we find ourselves in history."

He explained that as the NSA's leader, tactics he found unreasonable on September 10, 2001 struck him as reasonable the next day, after roughly 3,000 were killed. "I actually started to do different things," he said. "And I didn't need to ask 'mother, may I' from the Congress or the president or anyone else. It was within my charter, but in terms of the mature judgment about what's reasonable and what's not reasonable, the death of 3,000 countrymen kind of took me in a direction over here, perfectly within my authority, but a different place than the one in which I was located before the attacks took place. So if we're going to draw this line I think we have to understand that it's kind of a movable feast here."

Does this translate to: "Ve know vhat iss gut for you Untermenschen. Trust us."

http://news.yahoo.com/former-nsa-director-nsa-doesnt-just-listen-bad-110000822.htmlhttp://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/01/31/1361382/-Former-Director-of-NSA-CIA-I-interpret-the-Constitution-not-the-courts

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

1. Kinda makes you want to watch this documentary

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4044364/

[johnnyreb]

23. Or this: A Feature Interview with NSA Whistleblower William Binney

Published on Jan 28, 2015

A 36-year veteran of America’s Intelligence Community, William Binney resigned from his position as Director for Global Communications Intelligence (COMINT) at the National Security Agency (NSA) and blew the whistle, after discovering that his efforts to protect the privacy and security of Americans were being undermined by those above him in the chain of command.

The NSA data-monitoring program which Binney and his team had developed -- codenamed ThinThread -- was being aimed not at foreign targets as intended, but at Americans (codenamed as Stellar Wind); destroying privacy here and around the world. Binney voices his call to action for the billions of individuals whose rights are currently being violated. (more)

[jmowreader]

47. Binney has boxes and boxes of sour grapes in his root cellar

When the Fort started getting into exploitation of digital telephone networks, two competing systems arose: Binney's THINTHREAD and the TRAILBLAZER system they ultimately chose. (One has to wonder, tho:


This is an AN/TSQ-38 TRAILBLAZER tactical direction finding system. These things are fucking awesome, and they're still in use today. How in hell did they ever get approval to use that name on two different systems that are in service?)

What one needs to know: NSA actually LIKES less expensive things - you can buy more of them with the same money. And Binney was seen as a top-notch analyst. If his thing was cheaper and better, they would have been all over it...but they weren't.

[leveymg]

2. I've often wondered why Hayden wasn't fired or indicted after 9/11 and the Iraq WMD frauds

Perhaps, he just knows too much to get rid of.

[rhett o rick]

11. He is a member of the Deep State and can not be fired by the President. nm

[Sanity Claws]

3. In other words, he answers to no one.

Fire the fucker.

[peacebird]

4. Throw the slimy bastard in jail for treason as well as lying under oath to congress repeatedly

[Octafish]

5. Guy is a proud soldier of Capitalism's Invisible Army.

Government Positions

Central Intelligence Agency
Director (May '06?'09)

National Security Agency National Security Agency/Central Security Service (NSA...
Director (Mar '99?Apr '05)

Office of the Director of National Intelligence
Principal Deputy (Apr 21 '05?May 26 '06)


Business Positions

The Chertoff Group consulting firm that advises clients on obtaining government...
Principal (Apr '09?

Motorola Solutions mission-critical communications products and services to...
Director

Next Century Corporation
Board Member

Alion Science and Technology Research and development company offering defense...
Board Member


Other Positions & Memberships

Aspen Institute Homeland Security Group A bipartisan group of homeland...
Member

George Mason University Public university located in Fairfax, VA
Distinguished Visiting Professor

Atlantic Council international affairs think tank
Director

SOURCE plus: http://littlesis.org/person/33391/Michael_Hayden

[dixiegrrrrl]

30. What a cool site....

If I get stuck there, it will be all your fault!

[Octafish]

37. Thanks, dixiegrrrrl!

Didn't know much about Lord Acton until just now:

http://www.acton.org/research/lord-acton

Readers are Leaders!

[dixiegrrrrl]

38. Lord Acton's 100 Best books"...gulp.

thanks for THAT site...

[KingCharlemagne]

6. Given that the U.S. has been ignominiously defeated in

both Iraq and Afghanistan and given that the NSA hasn't stopped one single attack on Americans -- if they had, we'd be hearing all about it -- I'd say an argument exists for firing Hayden on the grounds of non-performance.

[Thinkingabout]

8. Silly argument, like saying we have not stopped car accidents with controlling speed.

[KingCharlemagne]

9. Mortality and injury rates go way down when slower speed limits are

enacted and enforced.

How has the NSA under Hayden's leadership done one thing to improve America's postion? We've managed to lose two wars and we have been attacked on our own soil (Boston Marathon).

Hayden = EPIC FAIL!

[Thinkingabout]

7. Can you imagine if every person who works for government agencies has to ask Congress

and or the president "may I". This is silly, it would have to happen with every agency and every employee, this would be impossible. This is why there are department heads, supervisors, etc . Do you know of any company which works this way? Yes, there was an overstepping of wiretaps, etc after 9/11 but if you have kept up with events you would know the data collection and wiretapping is with warrants. Let's start putting the truth instead of CT's.

Oh, BTW, think about if you are considering posting or any of your daily activity having to ask "may I"?

[jakeXT]

10. Hayden has a different constitution

[Thinkingabout]

17. Did not see a "may I" but did you see or hear anything about a warrant?

[kpete]

12. is this addressed to Hayden,

or me?




peace,
kp

[Thinkingabout]

18. It is a point, can you imagine asking "may I' before doing anything every day and it would have to

be ask of Congress and or the president?

[gratuitous]

15. Can you imagine asking the victims . . .

Can you imagine asking the "collateral damage" victims (or their survivors) of these lawless policies to try the perpetrators for their crimes against humanity? I guess in a way, we're seeing some of that with the decapitations videotaped for the pleasure of Americans everywhere. Or with the explosions at the Boston Marathon. There's a bright line connecting all these depradations for anyone who cares to look.

But we have to get things done, I suppose. Very important. But I suppose I shouldn't post this without permission. Oh wait; I'm not breaking any laws or killing any innocents by making this post. A conundrum for some people, I'm sure. Gonna hit "post" now.

[Thinkingabout]

19. Not everyone has to crow about what they do, do you hear a policeman running out everyday saying

"I stopped x number of people today because of speeding and now I have prevented x number of accidents where there may be deaths? This is a part of the CT which will not be answered because the CT will continue.

[gratuitous]

32. Your argument is specious

At least have the honesty to say that your hypothetical policeman would say, "I tossed four houses without a warrant, shot down six people at random, and jailed another 20 who looked funny to me. But I'm pretty sure each and every one of them was dealing drugs or planning murders or about to go on a thieving spree." The activities Hayden is bragging about - torture, murder, kidnapping, turning people over to torturers, bombing of civilian centers - are all clearly illegal on their face. Arresting someone for speeding isn't the same thing at all. Either you know that and you're being incredibly dishonest for some reason, or you don't know that and you're incredibly stupid and stubborn (traits that nobody except his fellow sociopaths found very endearing in Hayden's boss).

[Thinkingabout]

35. You finish your post with all the answers I need from you, I am honest. The ridiculous interpertion

coming from the anti NSA group who will not accept the simple Fourth Amendment does not add up.

[gratuitous]

39. So it's stupid and stubborn, then

Thanks for playing. As for me and my house, we will follow the law of the land.

[Thinkingabout]

40. That would be a good thing, have you thought about taking your

Argument to court? You could find out you are right and everyone has been wrong all these years on the Fourth Amendment, until this amendment is repealed or ruled unconstitutional I will continue to read the entire amendment and abide by it.

[Autumn]

48. It's a one trick pony cut and paste

You and I must be special.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026160542#post42

[gratuitous]

49. Yeah

Old S&S seems to be grafting an argument I didn't make onto my posts. Odd, that, for someone who seemed so cocksure of his argument when he started, but suddenly decided to switch to meaningless gibberish when some gaping holes got blown in his original stupid position.

[Autumn]

16. You are defending a person who is in charge of an agency that states he answers to no one?

Including the President and Congress? A person nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate? Seriously educate yourself because you are trolling poorly. Who in the heck do you think makes up the National Security Council ?

The CIA stands for the Central Intelligence Agency. Its primary stated mission is to collect, evaluate and disseminate foreign intelligence to assist the president and senior United States government policymakers in making decisions about national security. The CIA may also engage in covert action at the president's request. It doesn't make policy. It isn't allowed to spy on the domestic activities of Americans or to participate in assassinations, either -- though it has been accused of doing both.

Like other aspects of the U.S. government, the CIA has a system of checks and balances. The CIA reports both to the executive and legislative branches. During the CIA's history, the amount of oversight has ebbed and flowed. On the executive side, the CIA must answer to three groups -- the National Security Council, the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board and the Intelligence Oversight Board.

The National Security Council is made up of the President, the Vice President, the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense. "The NSC advises the President on domestic, foreign and military issues that relate to national security and provides guidance, review and direction on how the CIA gathers intelligence," according to the CIA Web site. The President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board comprises people from the private sector who study how well the CIA is doing its job and the effectiveness of its structure. The Intelligence Oversight Board is supposed to ensure that intelligence collection is done properly and that all intelligence gathering is legal.

On the legislative side, the CIA works primarily with the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. These two committees -- along with the Foreign Relations, Foreign Affairs and Armed Services committees -- authorize the CIA's programs and oversee the CIA. The appropriations committees appropriate funds for the CIA and all U.S. government activities.

[Thinkingabout]

20. Did you ask "may I" before you posted? Can you be trusted to ask "may I" before your activity

all the time? You know you answered the question, apparently they do answer to someone other than Congress or the president. Can I expect you to understand the Fourth Amendment does have the word "warrant" in it?

[Autumn]

21. You know what? There is a big fucking difference. A big fucking difference.

You are doing the saddest bit of spinning I have ever seen. off to ignore you go. I'm gonna fresh up the "air" in my DU

[Thinkingabout]

22. Good, since so much spinning goes on sometimes there is a need to see a larger picture.

Sometimes truth does meet in the middle.

[Autumn]

24. Changed my mind. I'm not going to do that, Too many posters work on getting good DUers to ignore

thir actions. Besides, I don't watch Fox or conservative talk so I can get their spin from posters who post their "truth" I do love your question "Did you ask "may I" before you posted?" Because that is just what this OP and my post were about. So silly You have a nice day.

[Thinkingabout]

25. I was pointing out how ridiculous the "may I" really is, who expects anyone to ask "may I"?

[Autumn]

26. You skip over his assertion that he interprets the Constitution. That is no fucking "may I".

You skipped it, you ignored it and you deflected from it. You showed yourself. And now I'm done.

[Thinkingabout]

27. Maybe you interpret the Constitution differently than he does or even the SC, the end decision

will be the SC, the Fourth Amendment has been around many years, why do you think suddenly it is unconstitutional.

[Autumn]

29. You are trying an argument that would suit my 6th grade Granddaughter and her friends.

I have no interest in continuing this.

[Thinkingabout]

31. My point exactly, this argument NSA is not following the Constitution can be understood by even

the young.

[Autumn]

33. You don't have a point, at least a point relevant to what Hayden said in the video. This is NOT

a 4th amendment issue.

[Thinkingabout]

42. Have you ever thought about taking your argument through the court

Systems to see if they rule he isn't following the correct protocol. Have you investigated NSA protocol to see if he is in violation. Maybe you could get him proven a criminal. I think he just may know the protocol and he is not going to be deterred from doing his job.

[Autumn]

43. Bush and Rumsfeld knew the protocol too and nothing stopped them from doing their job either.

[Thinkingabout]

44. Are you talking about the warrantless wiretaps?

[elias49]

41. This is so dumb!! Haha.

Seriously...no need to ask "May I violate the law?"
WTF are you even talking about?

"I'm Michael Hayden. I don't need permission from anyone to do anything"

You really think that's OK? Yikes!

[Thinkingabout]

57. It was dumb to think the president and congress has time to answer every question

Department heads needs to perform their daily duties. BTW, what laws do you think he is breaking?

[elias49]

58. We (used to be) a nation of laws.

It's a bit different than ordering a few extra boxes of pencils. Get serious.

[Thinkingabout]

59. I am serious, we are a nation of laws, again what law has he broken?

[LanternWaste]

55. Who was the half-wit who implied every government employee should be required to do that?

"Can you imagine if every person who works for government agencies has to ask Congress..."

Who was the half-wit who implied every government employee should be required to do that? Or (and I find this more likely), no one actually did, but it's a premise no one used you want to argue from because it's simply better copy (though still completely irrelevant) than justifying why one particular government employee shouldn't...?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

13. The hubris of the powerful and sociopathic is in evidence. Public servant isn't.

[hootinholler]

14. "movable feast" - What an odd phrase

Rather predatory.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

28. The welfare of the people in particular has always been the alibi of tyrants. Albert Camus

[dixiegrrrrl]

34. Stealing that one, I am.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

36. I do believe that you sent it to me and I stole it.

[WillyT]

45. HUGE K & R !!! - Thank You !!!

[Major Nikon]

46. The Bush Administration's favorite useful idiot

Still looks like a penis with ears.

[merrily]

52. What do you have against penises?

[Major Nikon]

53. Nothing

But I'm not sayin that's a bad thing.

[merrily]

54. Hayden is repulsive. Penises are not.

[woo me with science]

50. kick

[Richardo]

51. Congratulations for handing bin Laden his victory, douchebag.

You and your ilk could not have fulfilled his wishes any better if you were acting under his direct orders.

[woo me with science]

56. kick