Former NSA Official: Edward Snowden Leak Has 'Clearly' Helped ISIL

[DonViejo]

ADAM CHANDLER



According to a former top NSA official, Islamic State fighters have managed to avoid detection by American intelligence apparatuses because of protocols released in the Edward Snowden leak.

Chris Inglis, the former Deputy Director of the NSA, who retired earlier this year and has since taken up work with a K Street private equity firm, says that ISIL has managed to study up on American surveillance tactics and has evaded detection by the American intelligence community because of the disclosures infamously released by Edward Snowden. The remarks were first reported by Rowan Scarborough:

Mr. Snowden “went way beyond disclosing things that bore on privacy concerns,” said Mr. Inglis, who retired in January. “‘Sources and methods’ is what we say inside the intelligence community — the means and methods we use to hold our adversaries at risk, and ISIL is clearly one of those.

This isn't the first invoking of Snowden's name since ISIL began its rampage across northern Iraq and Syria. In the aftermath of last month's failed U.S. raid to spring the since murdered American hostages James Foley and Steven Sotloff, Snowden's disclosures were interjected into the debate about whether the mission failed because ISIL now understood how the United States gathers its intelligence.

more
http://www.thewire.com/global/2014/09/former-nsa-official-edward-snowden-leak-has-clearly-helped-isil/379674/

[loyalsister]

1. His betrayal is giving out that talking point at a time when it is believable

The NSA and foreign leaders will be able to use it opportunistically for a very long time. I tend to question this assessment. But, how can someone publicly challenge it beyond the reference to Snowden? Not only that, how can anyone be a whistle blower via proper channels now that authorities have "well you know what happened after Snowden" as a ready dismissive comment.

[frylock]

2. cough*bullshit*cough

couldn't help but notice a lack of what it was, specifically, that snowden released that has helped ISIS. i also have to wonder if this guy is using his knowledge as former DD of the NSA to his advantage in his new position as a private equity manager.

[hootinholler]

8. LOL yep

The lack of cell towers in remote Iraq wouldn't have anything to do with it either.

I am curious what skill base working for the NSA gives someone that makes them eligible for a nice job as an equity manager.

[MannyGoldstein]

3. It's all Snowden's fault.

All of it.

[NCTraveler]

4. Glad he is a former NSA official.

This is some serious passing the buck. The problems are with the NSA. Not Snowden. Don't think I have ever said a good word about Snowden except that I am glad the release was done, but this is crap.

[GeorgeGist]

5. Don't look over here ...

[Comrade Grumpy]

6. Oh, give it a rest, Mr. Spook.

[Savannahmann]

7. So I guess the "He didn't tell us anything we didn't already know" meme is finally dead?

Wanna bet it makes a miraculous recovery in the not too distant future?

[Taitertots]

9. The "private equity" firm he works for profits from NSA spying

[frylock]

10. no doubt about that

[conservaphobe]

11. The types of people who praise Snowden are the types who deny ISIL exists.

So it's not likely to change their opinion of him whatsoever.

What a fucked up world we live in when everyone is free to choose their own facts, no matter how divorced from reality their facts may be.

[dsc]

12. I think Snowden did the right thing by releasing what he did

and I think ISIL exists. The fact is the NSA was completely out of control and needed reined in but that doesn't mean ISIL isn't a threat.

[riderinthestorm]

15. Please provide proof that anyone thinks ISIS doesn't exist

While simultaneously believing Snowden has provided important information.

Thanks in advance.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

13. A nice deflection to try and avoid responsibility for the failed ME policies and "War on Terror".

At least, Inglis is "transparent" in his clumsy attempts to shift the blame.

[KoKo]

16. I wouldn't even call it "nice" ....I'd call it a dumbed down Deflection and Pure

Propaganda by the failed NSA/CIA/FBI/Contractors and the Neocons who provoked this who are now seeing their house of cards starting to burn around them.

Failed Foreign Policy and and Out of Control Surveillance/Contractor/Military Industrial/Wall Street/Corporate Political System having to face it's failures and still thinking they can shove it off onto someone else.

[sub.theory]

14. He might have

It's entirely possible his reckless release of classified info has harmed US intelligence against ISIS. These groups are apparently very difficult to directly infiltrate and intercepting communications has been critical to gathering intelligence on them.

I don't like the wholesale gathering of US citizens' electronic communications, but Snowden's release of classified info of such detail and scope is something I am very hesitant to support for just the reasons above.