Essentially, one government agency (NSA) said "We don't trust the lawyers for another government agency (Justice Department) enough to let them see how much we violated various laws."
In other words, the NSA won't let itself get busted. Not a big shock.
Or a less paranoid explaination: That the probe had too broad a mandate and would have allowed the lawyers to look at items that for which they had no "need to know". Not just things that would incriminate Bush/the agency/whatever. I mean things that could pose a legitimate risk to National Security, or would lessen an advantage that we hold over our enemies (and allies).
The NSA processes most, if not all, SIGINT from every agency besides the various military intelligence agencies. And some of that gets routed to the NSA as well. This makes their data HIGHLY secret, because SIGINT includes everything from sattelite photos to intercepted radio and phone communications, domestic and foreign, intercepted computer data and any other electronic or signal intellegence that comes in. You know all this, Patrick.
There's a REASON they are called No Such Agency. They are beyond secretive because the intelligence they handle is so important. Their employees are monitored 24/7 for signs of treason or disloyalty. They can't monitor the DoJ lawyers the same way. Thus, giving them such a sweeping clearance could be troublesome.
Not EVERYTHING has to be a conspiracy. Not saying it's right, or good, but I am saying that it is possible that it was justified.
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In other words, the NSA won't let itself get busted. Not a big shock.
no subject
The NSA processes most, if not all, SIGINT from every agency besides the various military intelligence agencies. And some of that gets routed to the NSA as well. This makes their data HIGHLY secret, because SIGINT includes everything from sattelite photos to intercepted radio and phone communications, domestic and foreign, intercepted computer data and any other electronic or signal intellegence that comes in. You know all this, Patrick.
There's a REASON they are called No Such Agency. They are beyond secretive because the intelligence they handle is so important. Their employees are monitored 24/7 for signs of treason or disloyalty. They can't monitor the DoJ lawyers the same way. Thus, giving them such a sweeping clearance could be troublesome.
Not EVERYTHING has to be a conspiracy. Not saying it's right, or good, but I am saying that it is possible that it was justified.
-Tug