NSA revelations only 'the tip of the iceberg,' says Dem lawmaker

[adric mutelovic]

Source: The Hill

The federal surveillance programs revealed in media reports are just "the tip of the iceberg," a House Democrat said Wednesday.

Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.) said lawmakers learned "significantly more" about the spy programs at the National Security Agency (NSA) during a briefing on Tuesday with counterterrorism officials.

"What we learned in there," Sanchez said, "is significantly more than what is out in the media today."

Lawmakers are barred from revealing the classified information they receive in intelligence briefings, and Sanchez was careful not to specify what members might have learned about the NSA's work.




Read more: http://thehill.com/video/house/305047-dem-rep-lawmakers-learned-significantly-more-about-surveillance-programs-in-nsa-briefing

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Uh, oh.

[Kolesar]

1. Of course there are closed hearings where classified information is revealed

There is nothing profound about that

[think]

2. How about classifying a FISA court ruling that the NSA violated US Law?

Is that profound?

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. But this was information that was new to Congress

She said they learned 'significantly more'.

[timdog44]

13. And of course

they are to be trusted too. Sometimes statements like that are meant to appease a constituency. I hope that did not come out angry. It was not intended to be.

[cantbeserious]

3. And There We Have The First Indication That Reality Is Worse Than Imagined

eom

[dotymed]

5. I would imagine

that "our" representatives could find a way to legally inform us or put a stop to the NSA destroying our civil rights.

[East Coast Pirate]

6. I'm shocked.

Shocked!

[freedom fighter jh]

7. Probably we will find out.

Why are they telling Congress now, when this info was off limits even to Congress a couple of weeks ago?

I'm guessing it's because now they know Congress will find out one way or another. Greenwald told us to expect to hear more. Probably NSA wants to tell Congress before Congress hears via Snowden -> Greenwald.

[GoneFishin]

8. I'll bet the iceberg is even bigger than she was told.

[nineteen50]

9. This is what is happening now

don't tell the American people!

[SkyDaddy7]

10. THIS IS GOOD NEWS!!

This is what proper oversight looks like.

[Michael James Cobb]

11. And the data mound keeps growing

Our medical records will be part of it soon. Everything.

But of course, if you have nothing to hide and it is for the greater good, thats ok.

[sikofit3]

16. They already are

Medical records are already part of it... they statistically knock rows off of their screens of people they will deny care to and if that number doesn't give them their profit, they will find a few more rows. We are already JUST data to them, numbers not people with families etc... data.... this is the problem with data because it can be so easily manipulated to tell them what they want instead of the other way around.

[hrmjustin]

18. Welcome to DU my friend!

[Augiedog]

12. Run for your lives

The reason for all the fear on the part of the NSA is not that foreign terrorists will find out what we can and are doing. The real fear is that the right wing nuts will find out the extent to which they are seen as a direct threat to the nation. The IRS was just doing its job, if somewhat clumsily, but the NSA is tracking domestic threats as a far more viable concern. These threats are from ultra conservative groups who have made it clear they intent to bring their form of governance to the country via whatever means are necessary. To varying degrees they intend to see a theocratic form of government, and the bill of rights be damned. They also know that they have an extremely limited time in which to engage their wishes because demographics are about to marginalize even mainstream republicans. That's a prime reason for all the gerrymandering and voter suppression laws. Part of what you are witnessing is the death dance of the Republican Party. Nothing is more dangerous than a cornered animal fighting for its life.

[EyesWideShut]

14. I agree it is just the iceberg tip...

and I bet if we knew just how old of an iceberg this is, it would make everyone really freak... It is sad to say but the very people the constitution was meant to protect us from have abused every loophole available....

laws have been made that should not of been made, making the illegal legal...

it is now to the point where criminals are way way way more protected than the victims..

I say us even though I am from Canada but the only thing that separates Canada and the US is a border our leaders take their orders from the states for a very long time and I feel I am in the same boat as any US citizen is.... The sinking ship....

It really does not matter who anyone votes for anymore they are just puppets that is why they all promise the world and deliver different goods when voted in.....

If only there was some way of passing a law that if you do not do what you say you're going to do you go to jail and can never run in politics again but sadly that is just a dream and will never come to pass I see no solutions available ....

The system has ate it's self....

[hrmjustin]

19. Welcome to DU my friend!

[SHRED]

15. Scrutiny and more scrutiny

A good place to start would be an examination of the private sector's inroads into our public sector and the long term damage to our security that may result. The more I look at it the more it appears the DHS exists, in large part, for the revolving door cronies and their bloated government (MIC) contracts.

[blkmusclmachine]

17. Do the Feds know what I had for breakfast this morning?

No, really. Do they?!!