Yesterday, our very own Ishmael Zechariah provided a link to an "Ars Technica" article with the above title. The article focused on the heads of several IC agencies speaking at the Intelligence & National Security Summit, an event described as an industry event largely attended by beltway bandits and government toadies trying to stop “the poisoning of the public debate around their missions, and especially around the issue of encryption, by unreasonable haters.”
Wow. This unreasonable hater had to read on.
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The opening statements from Comey and others were focused on that "venom," as the intelligence chiefs—many of whom had just testified that morning with Director of National Intelligence James Clapper on cybersecurity threats before the House Select Intelligence Committee—sought to make it clear that they were speaking largely to help shift the direction of public discourse about the Intelligence Community. Specifically, they want to find ways to end what they perceive as irrational hostility against their agendas. (TTG note - Can't you just see him scowling as he claims, "And I would have gotten away with it if not for you meddlesome kids.")
"I have something on my mind that affects all the work we do as an intelligence community," Comey said in his opening remarks. "I think that citizens should be skeptical of government power. But I fear it's bled over to cynicism. It is something that is getting in the way of reasoned discussion, and I'm very concerned about how to change that trend of cynicism." He sees that cynicism directed toward everyone from law enforcement officers on the beat to the intelligence community at large.
In particular, Comey said, he feels that his push for some way to gain backdoor access to encryption was "met with venom and deep cynicism."
"How do we get to a healthier place in talking about authority?" he asked.
NSA head Rogers said that "we have got to engender a better dialogue" on security issues. "In the end, we serve the citizens of the nation... all the revelations [a reference to Edward Snowden and WikiLeaks] have made life more difficult for us." (Ars Technica)
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Well bless their hearts. So they wonder how to cut through all the venom and deep cynicism engendered by the ungrateful rabble. For starters, Comey could reach over to that lying, Ming the Merciless looking POS Clapper and slap his mouth dry for lying so blatantly to Congress and the American people. Then he can slam his own head on the table, repeatedly, for insisting on having complete, unencrypted access to all our digital records and communications. Ubiquitous encryption is the answer, not the problem.
On a more serious note, they can embrace their complete and utter failure in defending our digital lives. I have yet to see an acknowledgement of the true seriousness of the most recent series of failures to protect databases at OPM. Comey lamented about someone now reading his SF-86 security questionnaire. That’s small stuff. With the depth and breath of the information collected by China, they can construct an accurate model of how our government works. For years China has been doing a lot of work in AI using geometric algebra and other things I don’t understand. I do know someone who not only understands but creates this stuff for a living. It’s present capabilities and future promise are science fiction scary. With the data China now has on our government (and associated contractors) and the right AI, a predictive model of frightening accuracy of our government’s innermost workings is not just possible, but probable. Think of the Mycroft supercomputer in “The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress” on a far grander scale. I think this is going to bite us in the ass for decades to come. And the people responsible for letting this happen continue to sit on panels like this, revel in their bureaucratic power, collect their fat paychecks and waltz through the revolving doors with impunity. If they had any honor or sense of shame (which they clearly do not) they’d resign and move to the Everglades never to be heard from again. They'll feel right at home among the gators and pythons.
TTG
TTG: Sorry, I don't mean to scold. I understand that reptile swamp predators are just as lovable as the men you are talking about. I just like to give the scaly bastards credit for being honest about their intentions.
Posted by: Medicine Man | 14 September 2015 at 12:48 PM
Thanks for this important comment. And Note Bene there is almost no public availability of how exactly the FBI interprets applicable law and how they have implemented that law with guidance, regulations or other restrictions on destruction of civil liberties and protection of privacy. Thus, these organizations have hard very hard work to do before criticizing those who distrust them.
Nor has Congress held oversight.
IMO no one is really sure of what the law is and therefore all the Executive Branch hoping to not be held accountable.
Posted by: William R. Cumming | 16 September 2015 at 11:24 AM