BALTIMORE, Md.—The head of the intelligence agency that defends the nation from foreign cyber threats yesterday said that industry support of the National Security Agency is vital, despite the recent leaks of classified information by a contractor who disclosed critical methods the agency uses to help track terrorist threats to the homeland.
“We couldn’t do our jobs without the contractor support we get from industry, it’s been absolutely superb,” Army Gen. Keith Alexander, director of NSA and the commander of United States Cyber Command, said at a cyber security symposium hosted by AFCEA. “One individual has betrayed our trust and confidence and that shouldn’t be a reflection on everybody else.”
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| Army Gen. Keith Alexander, Director, NSA Photo: NSA |
Alexander was referring to media leaks earlier this month by Edward Snowden, who worked for Booz Allen Hamilton [BAH] in support of an NSA unit in Hawaii. Snowden leaked information about programs the NSA uses, which include telephone and Internet records, to help connect the dots in foreign terror plots against the United States. Those plots at times involved individuals living in the United States.
Alexander added that work needs to be done to prevent a repeat of these types of leaks, although he didn’t provide specifics. Nonetheless, NSA and Cyber Command need to partner with industry, which provides talent and assets that the government doesn’t have, he said. These partnerships need to continue, he said.
“So for the contractors…who have done it right every step of the way, thanks,” Alexander said. “Thanks for your great work and thanks for what you do.”
While key oversight committees on Capitol Hill have generally praised the intelligence community for protecting civil liberties and privacy as they have implemented the programs disclosed by Snowden, there have been concerns raised that contractors are too close to key classified programs.
Alexander said that Snowden’s leaks will do long-term damage to national security. He said that publicly airing the tools and tradecraft used by the NSA means “we lose the ability to track targets.” It not only hurts the U.S. but the nation’s allies, which have benefited from intelligence obtained through these programs, he said.
Alexander said he is worried that there will be more leaks and that they will lead to further sensationalizing of the intelligence programs. He said the oversight by the executive branch, Congress and judicial branch of the programs has been “exceptional,” and he cited a June 2012 report by the Senate Intelligence Committee that said the programs are being implemented responsibly with regard to privacy and civil liberties.
So far not a single violation of privacy and civil liberties has been found, Alexander said.
In a hearing last week before the House Intelligence Committee, Alexander and other federal officials disclosed 54 terrorist plots in the United States and overseas that have been disrupted by the intelligence programs that have come under scrutiny due to the leaks. Of these, 42 involved disrupted plots and 12 involved material support to terrorists, he said.
Alexander also said that in 50 of the cases either arrests or detentions were made and that the nation’s allies benefited as 25 events occurred in Europe, 11 in Asia and five in Africa. He added that 13 events “had a homeland nexus.”