Thread: NSA chief defends surveillance, says helped prevent terror 50+ times since 911

NSA chief defends surveillance, says helped prevent terror more than 50 times since 9/11

Published June 18, 2013
FoxNews.com

The National Security Agency and Justice Department mounted a vigorous defense of the government's controversial surveillance efforts on Tuesday, with NSA chief Gen. Keith Alexander claiming they have helped prevent "potential terrorist events" over 50 times since 9/11.

Officials insisted the programs protect Americans from unwarranted intrusion, as they began to shed light on the scope of the government program in a rare public hearing.

Alexander staunchly defended the government's phone- and Internet-record collection programs, pushing back after a string of reports based on leaks of classified information raised widespread privacy concerns.

Alexander, speaking before the House intelligence committee, said the programs "have protected the U.S. and our allies from terrorist threats across the globe."

Specifically, he said they helped prevent terror "events" more than 50 times since 2001. Alexander said he plans to discuss two specific cases at Tuesday's hearing, and will provide details on all the cases to lawmakers in a classified setting on Wednesday.

The session involving two of Washington's most secretive bodies comes as an NSA leaker, former contractor Edward Snowden, threatens to reveal more government secrets from his hiding spot in Hong Kong.

Alexander has already gone to Capitol Hill several times since Snowden revealed details earlier this month about the government programs to discuss the agency's budget and meet privately with congressional members.

But Tuesday's meeting marked the first time Alexander has spoken publicly about the agency-led surveillance programs.

The meeting also comes one day after Snowden, the former NSA contractor who gave the classified documents to journalists, conducted an online chat for The Guardian in which the self-proclaimed whistleblower wrote: "Truth is coming and it cannot be stopped."

Among the most pressing questions now are which programs and how many of them either compile phone or email records or allow analysts to eavesdrop on conversations or read electronic messages.

Attorney General Eric Holder said Friday the leaks were "extremely damaging" and vowed that the person responsible would be held accountable.

However, he did not mention Snowden by name or say formal charges have been filed, saying only that the case is under investigation. President Obama said in an interview with PBS that the case has been referred to the Justice Department for investigation and "possible extradition."

While some members of Congress have said the program shows the need for lawmakers to rein in the NSA, others have defended the surveillance -- saying it helped thwart numerous terror plots including a 2009 attempt to blow up New York City subways.

Also testifying Tuesday were Deputy Attorney General James Cole, Deputy FBI Director Sean Joyce, and Robert Litt, general counsel for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

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