NSA Chief Makes 'Amazing' Revelation

‘Don’t believe everything you read in the media’

WND

Garth Kant

WASHINGTON — “I think you’ll find some amazing things, stay tuned,” said Gen. Keith Alexander, director of the National Security Agency to WND during an early break in the House Intelligence Committee hearing on Tuesday.

When WND asked him what kind of things, he replied, “Don’t believe everything you read in the media.”

Alexander is appearing before the committee with director of national intelligence James Clapper, following revelations in recent days that the NSA has been spying on the leaders of 35 foreign countries, including close allies such as Germany, France, Spain, Brazil and Mexico.

‘There will be changes’

But it may have been the general who was in for a surprise, when Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill, took him to the woodshed for the damage she said the NSA spying revelations have made to U.S. relations with allies.

The congresswoman was adamant in insisting there had been a diminishing of relations with allies, and “this is just a fact.”

Her voice rising, Schakowsky, demanded to know, “Why did we not not know that heads of state were being eavesdropped on, being spied on?”

She admonished the general, “What I heard from you was a defense of the status quo.”

But, she assured him, “There will be changes.”

‘Is it worth the risk?’

Later in the hearing, Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., complained that the spy chiefs should have told the committee that intelligence information was coming from eavesdropping on foreign leaders.

He said it was important that committee members know because it is up to elected representatives to make the policy decisions as to “whether it is worth the risk” to America’s reputation to spy on the leaders of friendly countries.

Clapper replied it is part of his agency’s calculations that they expect what they do to remain secret.

But Schiff wanted to know why the NSA considered that information “too sensitive” to share with the committee but not too sensitive to share with a “low-level analyst” like (Edward) Snowden, the former NSA contractor who revealed widespread NSA spying on Americans, as well as foreign citizens.

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Reposted with permission.