N.S.A. Devises Radio Pathway Into Computers

Given how in bed with the USA my country the UK is, yes, I would suggest that. I might be wrong, but I would very much make that suggestion.

My problem ultimately, as a Brit, is that it seems that we are more and more becoming a satellite of the US, bound by US law and ideals we never ever voted for. We had a referendum on the EU, but never a referendum for all this. But of course that is a British matter and not something the US should be concerned with. If we Brits want to suck up to the US, why would the US turn it down?

I think that what has happened is a nasty mission creep with regard to intelligence. Its used to be all about threats to a given country. The basic point was to understand the intentions of one's enemies. This was and is vital in preventing mistaken action based on not knowing that an enemy has no plan to, say, invade, or what ever. It was based on the idea that knowledge helps prevent paranoia and fear. All of which is not just OK, but vital. It is why in the cold war, both sides accepted this in a gentlemanly way. Both knew it was vital to both to stop both nuking each other. If the USSR said it would not start a war, the West could verify that by spying and have confidence. And vice versa. Now it seems that a lot of it is about gaining advantage in commerce, and local law enforcement. Its fine to say that the NSA has nothing to do with this, but we know that they give access to the FBI and police. We can reasonably believe that its quite possible that the NSA also gives intelligence to large businesses like Lockheed. What has happened is that economic and local criminal issues are now redefined as matters of national security. The lines have not just blurred, but completely crossed over, perhaps gone completely.

As a result, I think we need to re-examine the role and scope of intelligence gathering. Spying needs credibility. And yes, there is a severe danger of throwing out babies in the bathwater. But ultimately, if the people lose confidence in intelligence gathering, we are in a whole lot of trouble. It is vital to get the balance right.

every day the movie 'Enemy of the State' looks more believable.

The only reply to the comment you replied to is yours. Hardly an endless debate. You could have scrolled down just one comment to skip it - now there is an entire screenful of meta debating which has absolutely nothing to do with the topic at hand, which personally I find far more tiresome.

I think it's a little bit silly to expect discussions about these revelations to occur without discussion of politics. The issue is intrinsically political, and many people are calling for political solutions to the problems. By saying "can we please take the politics elsewhere" you are actually shutting down a very important avenue of debate.

I think that your idolatry of the NSA is unwarranted. They have powers and technologies that they can use to actively thwart anyone who will cross an American interest. They're not a military organization; the military is simply one of their biggest customers.

What they are, is a totalitarian control mechanism for American political and business interests to apply around the world.

So if you are on the 'American' side of this fuzzy, electronic wall that they have erected, and if you are an American who will do what is necessary to further American interests in the world - okay. The NSA is on your side.

But for those of us who do not live under the crux of American hegemony - and there are quite a few of us, after all - knowing about these heinous violations of human rights, and the tactics and technology that these totalitarians are using, is very important. We are not all Americans, here, nor do we all derive profit from American military-industrial efforts.

To some, the NSA is a heinous, despicable construction. I, for one, am glad to see leaks around this organization; as I am with any leaks that will reveal the truth about the tyranny we all live under.

The entire West is complicit. Pretending it is just America ensures the status quo remains in place. Also look up the word tyranny, it doesn't mean whatever you want it to.