One thing has been strikingly absent from the public debate about the terrorist surveillance program run by the National Security Agency: Perspective. While we may not know the full scope of the use of personal information by our intelligence services, we know quite a bit about the routine use and compromise of our most personal…

Slate takes a brief look at intel whiste-blowers and the potential significance of Russ’ testimony next week. I’m particularly fond of the wrap-up: Sources in addition to Tice sketched out the wiretapping program for the Times. But since the revelations became public, no one else has come forward. In an echo chamber of unnamed “senior…

This was just too good to pass up, and a nice way to lighten the mood on a Friday. New Zealand filmmaker Lee Tamahori, who directed the James Bond movie “Die Another Day,” has been arrested in a Hollywood prostitution sting while dressed in drag. Tamahori, 55, was arrested on January 8 when he allegedly…

. . . had the toughest most thankless job in the Community: Agency: Office of the Director of National Intelligence Job Announcement Number: TBD-2-13-2006 SALARY RANGE: 107,521.00 – 139,774.00 USD per year OPEN PERIOD: Thursday, February 02, 2006 to Friday, February 10, 2006 SERIES & GRADE: GS-0300,0000-15/15 POSITION INFORMATION: Full-Time Permanent DUTY LOCATIONS: 1 vacancy…

A visitor is concerned: Lately, and for reasons I do not understand, this site is regularly visited by The Department of Defense, at times particularly the CIFA arm of DOD, The United States Department of State, and yesterday, the U.S. General Accounting Office.(There are many, many more governmental entities that visit this site.) […] To…

The Washington Times allows for a moment of reflection: Despite statements by senior al Qaeda leaders, U.S. intelligence agencies do not have information indicating the group is ready to conduct a major attack, U.S. counterterrorism officials said. […] there are no signs of an impending attack like the hijacked airline strikes on the Pentagon and…

The Washington Post discovers the open secret: John D. Negroponte is to give a Capitol Hill briefing this morning on threats at home and abroad, as lawmakers express varying degrees of concern about whether he has moved quickly enough to establish his leadership as the nation’s first director of national intelligence. Several members of Congress…

Steve Hayes and William Kristol bring the noise on media exploitation.

The Hill reports on more Pentagon consolidation proposals: Sources tell The Hill that Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld is considering a proposal to eliminate the office of the assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-intensity conflict (ASD SO/LIC) and spreading its responsibilities across other Pentagon offices. The proposal comes from Ryan Henry, the…

A great series of questions and answers about Able Danger at Rory O’Conner’s blog that summarizes all you need to know (before the knock on the door comes). (more shortly)