TPMuckraker: NSA Chief: Snowden Got Access To Top Secret Court Order During Training

[markpkessinger]

You know, I have worked in IT, including the area of data security, for some large firms, including an international law firm. My reaction to this is how the HELL are we supposed to trust the NSA to know how to appropriately handle sensitive information, when whoever is in charge of their data security lacks the basic competence required to prevent a trainee from accessing such a (purportedly) sensitive document? Maybe, instead of worrying about prosecuting Snowden, they should be rolling some heads among those in charge of data security! I mean, it really isn't rocket science!

[font size=4]NSA Chief: Snowden Got Access To Top Secret Court Order During Training[/font]

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After a House Intelligence Committee hearing on Tuesday, National Security Agency Director Keith Alexander told reporters that Snowden had access to the document during an orientation he attended at NSA headquarters in Maryland.

“The FISA warrant was on a web server that he had access to as an analyst coming into the Threat Operations Center,” Alexander said, according to Politico. “It was in a special classified section that as he was getting his training he went to.”

Alexander apparently did not say precisely when that orientation took place. Snowden had been a employee of Booz Allen Hamilton for less than three months before he flew to Hong Kong last month.

During the hearing on Tuesday, Alexander told members of Congress that he did not believe Snowden ever had access to the records Verizon turned over as a result of the order.

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[still_one]

1. Definitely someone should be nailed for this

[KoKo]

2. Ahh...I see...Josh is taking the "Devils Advocate Stance." Good for Him! n/t

He's back to his MuckRaker Roots. If Snowden is an Idiot tool for China ...then HOW DID THIS GUY GET HIGH SECURITY CLEARANCE...and Who ELSE has it that might not be so Altruistic as Snowden? HUH?

Good on Josh...

[KittyWampus]

3. no argument possible to that point.

[ProSense]

4. Maybe this is why

“That’s in an exceptionally controlled area,” Snowden said. “You would have to have specific certificates to get into that. I’m not aware that he, Snowden, had any access to that.”

...Snowden's response gave the impression he hacked the system: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3033126

Report: Snowden Stored Documents On Thumb Drive
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023010060

[Cali_Democrat]

5. During oreintation? That means he was extremely new.

It seems like Snowden may not be as knowledgeable about NSA activities as he claims. He scooped this up during orientation?

The plot thickens.

[MADem]

6. I am now wondering if he wasn't "scooping" in all of his assignments?

Collecting stuff, against a day in the future where he might need it?

A hoarder of information, as it were...?

[Fumesucker]

7. By the time we got to Woodstock

We were half a million strong.

Imagine a Woodstock of NSA "analysts", which ones are "scooping" information against when they might need it?

Three can keep a secret, eh?

[Cali_Democrat]

10. His basic argument is that he saw what was going on at the NSA and he was appalled...so he leaked

Wouldn't he need to work there for some time, analyze all the information and then come to the conclusion that it's "criminal" as he called it?

His earlier statements do not square with the fact that he was scooping up classified docs during orientation. Odds are his goal the whole time was to scoop up classified information.

[JI7]

8. i do think that is the real issue

[ohheckyeah]

9. How can this be when

I was told by a DUer that he didn't get the FISA warrant?