[markvdb]

I agree that one shouldn't ascribe to malice what can be ascribed to incompetence. ("The Solicitor General does not understand...")

BUT!

At the White House level, incompetence equals malice. We have every right to expect competence from a level as high as the White House.

[RexRollman]

Well, these are the same people who think you can safely backdoor encryption.

[iwwr]

I think they value power and control above safety.

[harryh]

Justice department officials and congressmen are most definitely not the same people.

[bcg1]

FBI is part of the justice dept.

http://www.fbi.gov/news/speeches/going-dark-are-technology-p...

[underscores]

You can safely backdoor encryption. If you don't know how, well, you are just stupid (which is what I figured anyway).

[dragonwriter]

The SG is a subcabinet Justice Department official, not part of the Executive Office of the President (White House).

[protomyth]

The SG does what the President tells him/her. This is the policy of the Executive Office of the President. The Justice Department is part of the Executive Branch and not some independent agency.