Reforming the NSA to Restore U.S. Credibility - 922 Words

Introduction On June 6, 2013, The Guardian published a story about the National Security Agencys (NSA) secret Internet surveillance program, PRISM (Greenwald and MacAskill 2013). The story was based on documents leaked by one of the most successful whistle-blowers in American history, former NSA contractor Edward Snowden. The documents that Snowden has released up to this time have shown the NSA to be heavily engaged in the collection of personal Internet activity, bulk collection of telephone metadata, and other forms of surveillance that have brought U.S. intelligence practices into question. Claiming its actions are related to the War on Terror, the NSA has insisted that these programs are legal, have not been abused, and are vital to preventing terror attacks. The leaked programs have not only created domestic furor, but also put U.S. diplomatic relations with its allies in jeopardy. With the overthrow of the Ukrainian government creating tension between the U.S. and Russia, Snow dens asylum in Russia is a political and diplomatic blow to U.S. prestige and moral authority. And with the threat of further Snowden leaks looming, future U.S. intelligence operations may hinge on the willingness of Washington to alter its policies. Benefits of the Programs The potential benefits of the NSAs surveillance programs have been described by the Obama administration as vital to the War on Terror. The two programs that have received the most attention are the collection