The NSA’s Call Records Program Didn’t Stop a Single Terrorist Attack

[Chef Ramsay]

Ignore the Drumbeat of Doom

Do you hear that? It's starting.

The predictable drumbeat of dire warnings about what will happen if portions of the Patriot Act – the post-9/11 law being used to conduct controversial NSA dragnet surveillance – are allowed to expire on June 1 has already begun.

James Clapper, the director of national intelligence, issued what is likely to be the first of many vague warnings from the intelligence community on Monday. Faced with the expiration of the part of the Patriot Act that allows the bulk collection of information about Americans' phone calls, Clapper brought out the favored hypothetical of the surveillance hawk: An unspecified attack will occur, which would have been prevented if Congress had reauthorized the dragnet collection of Americans' phone calls.

"If that tool is taken away from us... and some untoward incident happens that could have been thwarted if we had had it," Clapper said, "I hope that everyone involved in that decision assumes the responsibility."

There's just one problem with this particular bit of emotional blackmail, however. The pesky, rather inconvenient fact is that the government's mass surveillance programs operating under Section 215 of the Patriot Act have never stopped an act of terrorism. That is not the opinion of the NSA's most ardent critics, but rather the findings of the president's own review board and the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board. This program has had over a decade to prove its value, and yet there is no evidence that it has helped identify a terrorism suspect or "made a concrete different in the outcome of a counterterrorism investigation."

...

https://www.aclu.org/blog/national-security/ignore-drumbeat-doom-nsas-call-records-program-didnt-stop-single-terrorist-at

Leave it up to these^ guys to report on the matter, surely Fox or the other corporate media tied at the hip w/ the MIC and the surveillance state wouldn't touch it w/ a ten foot pole.

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[shogdite]

The pesky, rather inconvenient fact is that the government's mass surveillance programs operating under Section 215 of the Patriot Act have never stopped an act of terrorism.

After wasting $billions of taxpayers money you'd think the US gov would start questioning the reasons for funding agencies like the NSA (assuming it's not to spy on every human on this planet) if they haven't stopped any terrorist activity.

Can't see how there can be anything patriotic with laws allowing mass surveillance programs.

[Morenod]

What terrorism acts did they fail to stop? With so many who hate Americans, and so many into the country illegal, you should see terrorist actions daily, but none.

[Lethn]

The only reason they want such programs is to spy on their own people because they don't trust them, real terrorists aren't going to use this kind of communication anyway because the stupid politicians are so public about wanting to tap certain technologies all the time.

[BADecker]

There is only one thing that can make America safe from terrorism.

It isn't more NSA or more DHS or more CIA. In fact, these things can be infiltrated or used by government to be the terrorism itself.

The only thing that will control the terrorism is this. And it will clean up America at the same time.

The thing that will protect America is guns in the hands of the citizens.

I propose that:
1. Government arm all legal age and older Americans to the hilt;
2. Government see to it that we all have a minimum of a ton of ammo for our guns;
3. That everyone be trained in the use and safety of guns and ammo;
4. That all people be required, when not on their own residential property, to wear a a pistol, minimum size .357; except at the beach, but even there, the guns be with them.



EDIT:

Watch this first https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHm4t-rcPa8.

Then watch this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1zFc9XsR4Y.

From https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=976829.0.

[BitMos]

IN GOD WE TRUST.

but at least they have ALL EMAILS EVER EXCHANGED. (even those prior to 9.11 hehehe) and if their is no trail, why such? hahaha. classic.  . problem for a single human (or collective) to have them all read : impossible... but what's impossible for humans isn't for ... .

The pesky, rather inconvenient fact is that the government's mass surveillance programs operating under Section 215 of the Patriot Act have never stopped an act of terrorism.

After wasting $billions of taxpayers money you'd think the US gov would start questioning the reasons for funding agencies like the NSA (assuming it's not to spy on every human on this planet) if they haven't stopped any terrorist activity.

Can't see how there can be anything patriotic with laws allowing mass surveillance programs.

you really don't understand Keynesianism do you? flush it (fiat) at what ever, but if you have problems with your creditors what do you have preferred to spend (their) money on? a nice flock of sheep that he could sell, or a serious miic? If you lend to the mob, are you gonna be violent against the mob if they are late on interest repayment? 

What terrorism acts did they fail to stop? With so many who hate Americans, and so many into the country illegal, you should see terrorist actions daily, but none.

I agree that they are blind to high tech form of terrorism, gmoes, interest warfare etc, however once the damage become structural they will see it, who will be the strongest at this point the host or the parasite. But who knows, and happily. Remember that on this most working there have the same interest as the rest of the people, they have families etc... and understand certainly better the risk inherent at their activities than most.

The only reason they want such programs is to spy on their own people because they don't trust them, real terrorists aren't going to use this kind of communication anyway because the stupid politicians are so public about wanting to tap certain technologies all the time.

just a tool, if I have a hammer can I break the wall of your home to enter in it? those abusing those tools (including the leadership promoting it) were the same bad people, spiritual sons of those committing bad act with a mass in cavemen times... however how to stop a caveman with a mass, invent archery! problem solved, if there is a problem there is a solution, and if there isn't, death will take of the rest).

SNOWDEN PRESIDENT 2016

[jaysabi]

https://www.aclu.org/blog/national-security/ignore-drumbeat-doom-nsas-call-records-program-didnt-stop-single-terrorist-at

Leave it up to these^ guys to report on the matter, surely Fox or the other corporate media tied at the hip w/ the MIC and the surveillance state wouldn't touch it w/ a ten foot pole.

Why would you expect Fox News to report on this? If it's not useful to push a republican agenda, it's not newsworthy. Most republicans are pro-NSA, so it makes perfect sense it's not a story. Ironically, The Guardian covers the NSA better than American media does.

[BitMos]

https://www.aclu.org/blog/national-security/ignore-drumbeat-doom-nsas-call-records-program-didnt-stop-single-terrorist-at

Leave it up to these^ guys to report on the matter, surely Fox or the other corporate media tied at the hip w/ the MIC and the surveillance state wouldn't touch it w/ a ten foot pole.

Why would you expect Fox News to report on this? If it's not useful to push a republican agenda, it's not newsworthy. Most republicans are pro-NSA, so it makes perfect sense it's not a story. Ironically, The Guardian covers the NSA better than American media does.

Murdoch agenda, which ceased to exit the day the phone revelation where exposed, a sailors, like the others. will see what the truth (light) will bring, we expect more, fuck the biz, long live the Light.

[Possum577]

Would the NSA really release every single hit they made?

[manis]

Would the NSA really release every single hit they made?

They needn't.
They can provide a consolidated number. Over the past "X" years, "Y" attacks have been stopped.

[enryk]

Do they have anything to justify the call recording that they do ? Doesn't seem anyone is  happy with it
I really don't see why people don't have a say in this and getting it gone.

[BitMos]

Do they have anything to justify the call recording that they do ? Doesn't seem anyone is  happy with it
I really don't see why people don't have a say in this and getting it gone.

against the domestic enemies all tools of war are at the disposal of those having serve to defend the c and bor and more than that common sense. so yes to stop the ctrl+p, the gmoers, the what ever... nm fhc.

[Agestorzrxx]

What's that? A government agency spying on its citizens didn't catch a single terrorist. It's almost like they were looking in the wrong place?

[Mikestang]

Never mind the NSA, look small picture even: Airport security has never once caught or stopped a terrorist act.  Not one time.  As George Carlin said, all this stuff is in place just to make white people feel more comfortable.

[BitMos]

dissuasive... imagine you are an object of surveillance with the will to commit an act of violence on the American soils, with all those tools you have to have skills to operate lower which reduce your "potential" and once got (the act will be recorder) your full trails will be exposed, including who gave birth to you... if you can understand what it may means.

[dsly]

Would the NSA really release every single hit they made?

Even I think there would obviously be some reason to continue their program. They must have had some success which is probably the reason to still continue it.

[abyrnes81]

Why someone who has created the terrorism should stop it? It is very crazy, do you know they "are kidding us" and don't want really to stop ISIS, and the other terrorist organizations?

[2btc]

This whole prism thing isn't about stopping terrorist attacks though that's the excuse they peddle it out under. It's simply about power and control and chipping away at our rights bit by bit until we have none left. They need to be held accountable for this bullshit.

[BADecker]

This whole prism thing isn't about stopping terrorist attacks though that's the excuse they peddle it out under. It's simply about power and control and chipping away at our rights bit by bit until we have none left. They need to be held accountable for this bullshit.

This ^^.   

[Balthazar]

The only reason they want such programs is to spy on their own people because they don't trust them

It's not about trust, it's only about control.

"If there's a man, then there's an article too."
- Lavrentiy Beria, state security administrator

Yep, an article of the Criminal Code

If you possess enough information about citizens activities then you're a God. If that would be required, there always will be the possibility to find a good reason for imprisoning them. Because any individual has some dark pages in his history.

[manis]

This whole prism thing isn't about stopping terrorist attacks though that's the excuse they peddle it out under. It's simply about power and control and chipping away at our rights bit by bit until we have none left. They need to be held accountable for this bullshit.

That is one aspect. But imagine what happens if and when there is a terrorist attack.
The Government must at least be seen as trying hard to stop the attacks.
PRISM provides the government with an excuse - "We tried our best, but a few managed to slip through our checks".