General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: We can applaud media's greater NSA scrutiny AND think that Snowden's resume/timing/motives [View all]Ichingcarpenter
(36,988 posts)and the Secret Government that came out of the 80's documented by Bill Moyers.
Americas Secret 4th Branch of Government: The NSA kept even Obama in the Dark
Ever since the Snowden revelations of the massive, world-girdling extent of NSA electronic surveillance surfaced, I have been wondering two things: Did they tell Obama about it when they took office in 2009? And, do they have something on Obama?
Outgoing NSA head Keith Alexander or his circle leaked to German tabloid Bild am Sonntag that Alexander had told Obama about the tap on Merkels personal phone in 2010 and that Obama asked for more information on Merkel at that time.
In attempting to repair Obamas reputation with his colleagues at the G-20, however, the White House counter-leakers have made an epochal and very serious revelation: The President wasnt in the know. (Even in the best case scenario that he was told in 2010, he wasnt in the know for the first 18 months of his presidency!)
Edward Snowdens critics have alleged that he revealed classified US secrets to the enemies of the US. But it seems increasingly likely that he revealed them to . . . Barack Obama.
If so, imagine how furious Obama is behind the scenes. It is not his style to act out in public. But the sudden announcements of the retirement of NSA chief Keith Alexander (who apparently should be in jail) and of Director of National Intelligence James Clapper (who certainly should be in jail for lying to Congress) likely signal that Obama demanded they leave.
http://www.juancole.com/2013/10/americas-branch-government.html
I really think some are very naive about the entrenched hidden power in bureaucracies that out last the terms of at least 9 terms of administrations
Reagan, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Clinton, Bush, Bush, Obama, Obama