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by fnordfnordfnord 4722 days ago
>The FISA court is a civilian body

Mostly conservative republicans, appointed by a conservative supreme Justice. But civilians, sure.

>the DNI is a civilian position,

Every DNI there has ever been has either been a spook or a former high-ranking military officer; except Negroponte, who was, weak sauce.

>There is no truth to the idea that NSA lacks civilian oversight.

There is no truth to the fact that the NSA lacks civilian oversight.

As to the idea that the NSA/FISC lacks civilian oversight? There's no reason to believe that any meaningful oversight exists at all. For one example, consider these recent comments by U.S. District Judge Nancy Gertner

"As a former Article III judge, I can tell you that your faith in the FISA Court is dramatically misplaced."

1 comments

I have no faith in the FISA court, but I have a different diagnosis than you do about why the process isn't trustworthy, and my prescription for solving the problem doesn't have anything to do with strengthening the FISC.
>my prescription for solving the problem doesn't have anything to do with strengthening the FISC.

I'm glad we have some common ground there.