Slashdot Mirror
Employee Morale Is Suffering At the NSA
Hugh Pickens DOT Com writes "Ellen Nakashima reports at the Washington Post that morale has taken a hit at the National Security Agency in the wake of controversy over the agency's surveillance activities and officials are dismayed that President Obama has not visited the agency to show his support. 'It is not clear whether or when Obama might travel the 23 miles up the Baltimore-Washington Parkway to visit Fort Meade, the NSA's headquarters in Maryland,' writes Nakashima, 'but agency employees are privately voicing frustration at what they perceive as White House ambivalence amid the pounding the agency has taken from critics.' Though Obama has asserted that the NSA's collection of virtually all Americans' phone records is lawful and has saved lives, the administration has not endorsed legislation that would codify it. And his recent statements suggest Obama thinks some of the NSA's activities should be constrained. 'The agency, from top to bottom, leadership to rank and file, feels that it is had no support from the White House even though it's been carrying out publicly approved intelligence missions,' says Joel Brenner, NSA inspector general from 2002 to 2006. 'They feel they've been hung out to dry, and they're right.' Former officials note how President George W. Bush paid a visit to the NSA in January 2006, in the wake of revelations by the New York Times that the agency engaged in a counterterrorism program of warrantless surveillance on U.S. soil beginning after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. 'Bush came out and spoke to the workforce, and the effect on morale was tremendous,' Brenner said. 'There's been nothing like that from this White House.' Morale is 'bad overall' says another former NSA official. 'It's become very public and very personal. Literally, neighbors are asking people, 'Why are you spying on Grandma?'"
That's OK too. Shrink 'em down to the constitutional essentials.
telling them to commit suicide isn't cool.
Your approval is neither sought nor required. The people I'm addressing belong to a criminal organization, and we'd be better off with them.
-jcr
The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
Yes, this is Slashdot - the place where, when Obama first ran for President, you would be unanimously downvoted if you didn't get on your knees and start sucking. Yeah, keep talking about how "we don't all think the same thing". Now you're reaping the rewards.
It'll get worse for the IRS, now that it is enmeshed in partisan politics. President* Obama should be noted with an asterisk from here on out.
*Obama was re-elected in 2012 while the IRS was actively suppressing opposing groups, while rubber stamping liberal political action committees.
Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be the name of a store, not a government agency.
He only met with the head of the healthcare exchange ONCE over all these years. The man really is not hands on with anyone.
I suspect its a calculated attempt to preserve deniability. Note that every time a scandal breaks his first statement is that he knew nothing about it. Which is easy to claim if you have no direct contact with anyone.
NSA should get used to be ignored. They're an embarrassment. Obumbles only associates with people that make him look good.
Remember Solyndra? He said they were the best company in America... then they went broke and he's basically forgotten they exist.
Go through his record. He's an empty suit. Do not look to him for leadership.
I've decided to stop wasting my time responding to AC trolls/sockpuppets... so if you want a response from me... login.
You realize the NSA could be controlling US politics right now like J Edgar Hoover and we'd have no clue?
There is about a 0% chance that would be kept quiet if it was attempted.
And you're confused about the "power" of the NSA, it certainly isn't "absolute."
much of left-wing thought is a kind of playing with fire by people who don't even know that fire is hot - George Orwell
Can someone with mod points please bomb coldfjord into the troll-land he deserves? I know I try to remember to do that when I get mod points but I've neglected it the last few times.
What changed under Obama? Nothing Good