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NSA Director Keith Alexander Is Reportedly Stepping Down

Posted by samzenpus on from the so-long-farewell dept.

Daniel_Stuckey writes "Keith Alexander will step down by April or May of next year. What's more, the agency's deputy director Chris Inglis also plans to retire by the end of next year, anonymous US officials told Reuters today. Though the news comes in the midst of a global public backlash over the NSA's widespread surveillance programs, it's worth pointing out that Alexander had revealed his plans to retire before Edward Snowden leaked details of PRISM in June. Officials didn't give a reason for his departure."

25 of 92 comments (clear)

  1. A better idea by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Throw them both in prison for ten years for breaking the law.

    1. Re:A better idea by TWiTfan · · Score: 5, Informative

      Silly rabbit, laws are for the poor and weak.

      --
      The cow says "Moo." The dog says "Woof." The Timothy says "Thanks, valued customer. We appreciate your input."
    2. Re:A better idea by P-niiice · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Then throw congress in jail for making it legal. The Patriot act is what you get when you let anger guide your choices.

    3. Re:A better idea by amiga3D · · Score: 5, Informative

      Actually they exceeded even the minor limitations of the Patriot Act. They lied to Congress about what they were doing as well which is a felony. It seems that if you have enough power the law doesn't apply to you nowadays. If Nixon were president today he wouldn't need to resign.

    4. Re:A better idea by jcr · · Score: 2

      They didn't make it legal. An unconstitutional act of congress isn't a law, it's a usurpation.

      -jcr

      --
      The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
    5. Re:A better idea by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3

      No, reenact the Nuremberg trials!

    6. Re:A better idea by operagost · · Score: 3

      Implied recognition that Obama and Nixon are much the same...

      --

      Gamingmuseum.com: Give your 3D accelerator a rest.
    7. Re:A better idea by intermodal · · Score: 3, Interesting

      It's law, it's just unconstitutional law. And you're right, exceeding their authority is a form of usurpation.

      --
      In SOVIET RUSSIA... erm...NSA AMERICA, the Internet logs onto YOU!
    8. Re:A better idea by interkin3tic · · Score: 2

      And scapegoats! Don't forget the scapegoating! The NSA could totally scapegoat him. Which would be better than what I'm guessing is going to happen: not a damn thing, and the clear message being sent to all future directors of spy agencies: you are operating utterly above the law. At least if we make one guy go to jail, that will give future directors pause before they ignore the constitution.

    9. Re:A better idea by intermodal · · Score: 3

      Portions maybe, but the convenient loophole these days is to refuse to hear cases by claiming the parties bringing suit lack standing. Especially when the claimants are actively prevented from gathering information to prove standing, though sometimes they just reject that outright in the first place.

      --
      In SOVIET RUSSIA... erm...NSA AMERICA, the Internet logs onto YOU!
    10. Re:A better idea by TheCarp · · Score: 2

      Then its time to stop seeing the laws of this country as legitimate. New constitution, the old one FAILED.

      --
      "I opened my eyes, and everything went dark again"
    11. Re:A better idea by RenderSeven · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Oh dear gods no!!!! Could you IMAGINE the piece of crap constitution that would be written these days?? By committees and lobbyists and lawyers (oh my)??

      There are 4 pages and 4543 words in the original, unamended Constitution including the signatures. It is the oldest and shortest written Constitution of any major government in the world. Compare that to 960 pages for the ACA, about 1300 for a typical Bible, and a whopping 73954 pages for the tax code. I shudder to think what a New and Improved constitution would look like.

    12. Re:A better idea by jcr · · Score: 2

      The failure of the court to enforce the fourth amendment doesn't change what it says. The PATRIOT act is unconstitutional.

      -jcr

      --
      The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
  2. He wants to spend more time at home by Required+Snark · · Score: 5, Funny

    So he can devote all his energies to spying on his family and friends.

    --
    Why is Snark Required?
  3. Yeah, what a punishment by TWiTfan · · Score: 4, Insightful

    They should give him a t-shirt that says "I raped my country's Constitution and all I got was full my federal pension, lifetime healthcare benefits, full pardon for all my crimes, and this lousy t-shirt."

    --
    The cow says "Moo." The dog says "Woof." The Timothy says "Thanks, valued customer. We appreciate your input."
    1. Re:Yeah, what a punishment by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      I'll pay for the shirt, just tell me where to have it sent.

  4. A new era for The Puzzle Palace by TheloniousToady · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Although the general public has always known about the CIA, they used to be totally unaware of existence of the NSA. So, although it's not remarkable that the NSA's head is retiring, it is remarkable that the public knows - or cares - about it. The Puzzle Palace just ain't what it used to be.

  5. Re:Well by TWiTfan · · Score: 5, Funny

    President Obama: "Well Keith, I'm here to.."

    Keith Alexander: "Ask me to resign, yeah I knew."

    President Obama: Whaat..how you did you know?

    Keith Alexander: "Several of your aides mentioned it within hearing distance of their cellphone mikes yesterday."

    President Obama: "Well okay, what are you planning on doing now?"

    Keith Alexander: "Probably spend a few days whacking it to these pictures I captured from your daughter's cellphone camera. Then I'm going to become the most powerful lobbyist in Washington with all this blackmail material."

    --
    The cow says "Moo." The dog says "Woof." The Timothy says "Thanks, valued customer. We appreciate your input."
  6. Re:Well by morgauxo · · Score: 2

    If he saw it coming then Snowden would have had an unfortunate accident.

  7. Re:Running away by TWiTfan · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Ha, even on the HIGHLY UNLIKELY chance any of these scumbags would ever be charged with anything, they would get a full Presidential pardon before the ink even dried on their arrest warrants.

    --
    The cow says "Moo." The dog says "Woof." The Timothy says "Thanks, valued customer. We appreciate your input."
  8. Re:Presidential candidate? by amiga3D · · Score: 2

    Federal Contractor. Making at lest 10X his federal salary.

  9. Reason for stepping down discovered by Dishwasha · · Score: 5, Funny

    After an extensive audit, it was uncovered that Keith Alexander had system administrator right.

  10. Must be nice... by FuzzNugget · · Score: 2

    ... to get nothing more than a cushy retirement after having committed countless crimes against millions of people.

  11. I don't want to know who's stepping down... by Rozzin · · Score: 2

    the news comes in the midst of a global public backlash over the NSA's widespread surveillance programs

    I can't find a reliable source for this now, but I seem to remember someone saying recently (on another, less significant matter): "I don't want to know who's getting fired, I want to know who's going to jail."

    Of course, we're not even talking about someone getting fired--we're talking about someone retiring....

    --
    -rozzin.
  12. Re:Running away by mdmkolbe · · Score: 2

    Nixon was pardoned for any crimes he "might" have committed, so I don't think it requires admission of guilt. (Though there might be a perception of guilt and political fallout from that.)

    Even if it did, Obama could just pardon him on his (Obama's) last day of office. If they delay the trial with pre-trial motions for a couple of years, the pardon would come through before anyone does any time.

    (Of course, given that there isn't any real suggestion of an actual trial, this is all academic speculation.)