How about a question that I'm certain no one can answer

[1-Old-Man]

Here is how much we know about our Government. We have the most expensive military in the world, Our military costs us more than the combined total of the next ten highest spending nations pay for theirs.

Here's the question. How much more than the rest of the world do we spend on intelligence gathering activities?

And this is why the question is unanswerable, nobody on earth knows how much we spend or how much any other country spends on this activity. That said, how in a free society can that be the case?

[graham4anything]

1. Why would someone give the playbook to the other side? Of course it's secret.

I wouldn't want the NY Jets giving the Dallas Cowboys the plays, would you?

[1-Old-Man]

2. I know nothing at all about sports, so I'm not sure what you're trying to say

Are you saying that the activities of our Federal Government are somehow equally as important to us as some silly sporting crap?

[kenny blankenship]

4. It's saying the terrorists win if Americans know how much the govt spends spying on them + ROTW

It makes as much sense as it usually does.

[graham4anything]

5. I am saying why wouldn't it be secret?

Wouldn't our state secrets be far more important than some silly sporting game?

Transparency when looking for terrorists? That is telling the terrorists they are going after them, and they will hide.

I would bet China and Russia spend 10x the amount the US does.

I wouldn't put it past China to be involved in this big time.

WAPO did NOT agree with the harsh terms this leaker asked for, because WAPO said security was at stake.
If they wouldn't release it, obviously, this should not be released, no?

[cherokeeprogressive]

6. The Jets have scripted plays? Who knew?

[Recursion]

8. "This time, fumble to the left"

You've been fumbling to the right for the past two plays...

[cherokeeprogressive]

11. Fumble left. Fumble right. BUTT fumble... Kick.

[reformist2]

3. It's got to be hard finding American computer programmers willing to sell out their fellow citizens

Most computer scientists run libertarian, I would think, and wouldn't be too keen on the types of things the CIA and NSA does. They could probably easily get foreign computer scientists to do it for a song, but then they run the huge security risk. So I would imagine they are desperate to find qualified people to do their dirty work.

[Recursion]

7. Lots of programmers and admins are control freaks who like getting dirt on other people

They're libertarians until you get on their network. I've been to some of the "cleared job fairs" in Northern Virginia and there's no shortage of people looking for work. Intelligence work attracts programmers because it generally involves pretty interesting problems to solve, which is ultimately what (good) programmers tend to really care about.

[graham4anything]

9. Leakers and Rand Paul are on the same side. Libertarians want NO government.

[GeorgeGist]

10. Outsourcing rather obliviates security concerns.

[Recursion]

12. We hide a lot of the intel budget within the military. You think we actually spend $600 on a wrench?

Just sayin