Obama needs to take charge on NSA spying scandal

[damnedifIknow]

"There is a way out for President Barack Obama as he attempts to cope with Edward Snowden's disclosures about the National Security Agency's overreaching eavesdropping, the turbulent world reaction, and the lack of truthfulness shown by National Intelligence Director James Clapper and NSA Director Keith Alexander. The President should seize the initiative by suggesting to both that they "spend more time with their families."

Not since President George W. Bush attacked Iraq has there been so much discontent among our closest allies with U.S. behavior. This has been somewhat obscured, as U.S. media have chosen to focus mostly on the sins, whereabouts and future of Mr. Snowden, the new Julian Assange-type bête noir."

"Referring to Mr. Obama's claim on June 19 in Berlin that the eavesdropping is aimed at terrorists, the French commentator made a point of using the subjunctive, saying, "If Obama thought he was telling the truth," raising the notion that the president himself may not have been fully apprised of the nature and extent of NSA operations.

Is it possible, though, that the president was unaware? The simple answer is yes. Would it be embarrassing for him to admit that? Again, yes; but perhaps not as embarrassing as to show that he knew chapter and verse. Should he fire those who have lied to Congress? Yes again."

http://www.latimes.com/topic/bs-ed-nsa-20130708,0,4957261.story

[PoliticAverse]

1. Maybe Clapper gave "clearly erroneous" information to Obama too. n/t

[JaneyVee]

2. Wait what? He has admitted to metadata collection and warranted wiretaps.

[darkangel218]

3. Mr Obama should say no to unwarranted data collection.

We are not reversing back to the old East Europe, are we?

But then again, I have no say.

[grasswire]

4. wow

I'm really impressed with LAT here. Perhaps some old paleo-conservatives from Orange County are rattling their editorial board.

[allin99]

5. All obama has to do is go on some dateline show...

and say "don't worry guys, it's cool", and people will eventually accept it. And if an R president comes in, they get to enhance spying even further and no one will know what hit them. MSNBC will blame republicans, another dem will run pretending they are gonna make sure privacy of americans is a concern, they'll do nothing, repeat. (see siggy)

derp.

[Laelth]

6. General Alexander has announced his intention to retire next year.

That said, Obama appears to be entrenched on this issue. He shows no interest in "taking charge" of this. Perhaps he fears taking on the security state. If he were afraid of taking them on, I would not blame him.

-Laelth