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Intelligence Chief, Citing Grave Damage, Calls for Return of Classified Documents Top Intelligence Official Assails Snowden and Seeks Return of N.S.A. Documents
(about 1 hour later)
WASHINGTON — The nation’s top intelligence official on Wednesday delivered a scorching attack on Edward J. Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor, and called on him and his “accomplices” to return the trove of classified documents he took from the N.S.A.WASHINGTON — The nation’s top intelligence official on Wednesday delivered a scorching attack on Edward J. Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor, and called on him and his “accomplices” to return the trove of classified documents he took from the N.S.A.
James R. Clapper Jr., the director of national intelligence, told lawmakers that Mr. Snowden’s disclosures had done grave damage to the country’s security and had led terrorist groups to change their behavior to elude American surveillance. Mr. Clapper did not give specific examples to bolster his assessment about the damage Mr. Snowden had done. He also did not say whom he believed Mr. Snowden’s accomplices to be.James R. Clapper Jr., the director of national intelligence, told lawmakers that Mr. Snowden’s disclosures had done grave damage to the country’s security and had led terrorist groups to change their behavior to elude American surveillance. Mr. Clapper did not give specific examples to bolster his assessment about the damage Mr. Snowden had done. He also did not say whom he believed Mr. Snowden’s accomplices to be.
In his annual testimony to Congress about the threats facing the United States, Mr. Clapper, who in the past has said he resented having to testify in public about classified issues, ticked off a daunting list: Cyberattacks from China, Iran, North Korea and Russia, the spread of Qaeda affiliates, and an array of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons technologies. But in part because he and his colleagues are so wary of discussing classified issues in public, the hearing became as much a moment for speechmaking as for substance. In his annual testimony to Congress about the threats facing the United States, Mr. Clapper, who in the past has said he resented having to testify in public about classified issues, ticked off a daunting list: cyberattacks from China, Iran, North Korea and Russia; the spread of affiliates of Al Qaeda; and an array of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons technologies. But in part because he and his colleagues are so wary of discussing classified issues in public, the hearing became as much a moment for speechmaking as for substance.
Senator Ron Wyden, the Oregon Democrat who has been outspoken in his critique of the growth of the N.S.A.’s surveillance activities, said that the dealings between spy agencies and their congressional overseers were crippled by a “culture of misinformation.”Senator Ron Wyden, the Oregon Democrat who has been outspoken in his critique of the growth of the N.S.A.’s surveillance activities, said that the dealings between spy agencies and their congressional overseers were crippled by a “culture of misinformation.”
Mr. Wyden has had a particularly contentious relationship with Mr. Clapper. During a hearing last year, he questioned Mr. Clapper about whether intelligence agencies were collecting any bulk information about Americans. Mr. Clapper said they were not, but months later had to apologize for this answer after Mr. Snowden revealed an N.S.A. program to collect and store domestic phone records. Mr. Wyden has had a particularly contentious relationship with Mr. Clapper. During a hearing last year, he questioned Mr. Clapper about whether intelligence agencies were collecting any bulk information about Americans. Mr. Clapper said they were not, but months later he had to apologize for that answer after Mr. Snowden revealed an N.S.A. program to collect and store domestic phone records.
On Wednesday, Mr. Clapper — who appeared at the hearing with the heads of several intelligence agencies — railed against the flood of reports in the news media based on Mr. Snowden’s documents. He also accused Mr. Snowden of hypocrisy for choosing to live in Russia while making public pronouncements about “what an Orwellian state he thinks this country is.”On Wednesday, Mr. Clapper — who appeared at the hearing with the heads of several intelligence agencies — railed against the flood of reports in the news media based on Mr. Snowden’s documents. He also accused Mr. Snowden of hypocrisy for choosing to live in Russia while making public pronouncements about “what an Orwellian state he thinks this country is.”
In his written statement, Mr. Clapper listed threats from “trusted insiders” like Mr. Snowden, in addition to “threats posed by foreign intelligence entities,” as a greater concern even than international terrorism.In his written statement, Mr. Clapper listed threats from “trusted insiders” like Mr. Snowden, in addition to “threats posed by foreign intelligence entities,” as a greater concern even than international terrorism.
A spokesman for Mr. Clapper, asked about the reference to Mr. Snowden’s accomplices, said, “Director Clapper was referring to anyone who is assisting Edward Snowden to further threaten our national security through the unauthorized disclosure of stolen documents related to lawful foreign intelligence collection programs.”A spokesman for Mr. Clapper, asked about the reference to Mr. Snowden’s accomplices, said, “Director Clapper was referring to anyone who is assisting Edward Snowden to further threaten our national security through the unauthorized disclosure of stolen documents related to lawful foreign intelligence collection programs.”
Other lawmakers engaged in testy exchanges with John O. Brennan, the Central Intelligence Agency director, over a voluminous committee report about the agency’s detention and interrogation program, which is now defunct. The report was completed over a year ago but has yet to be declassified. Other lawmakers engaged in testy exchanges with John O. Brennan, the C.I.A. director, over a voluminous committee report about the agency’s detention and interrogation program, which is now defunct. The report was completed over a year ago but has yet to be declassified.
On two occasions, Democratic senators tried to press Mr. Brennan for details about an internal C.I.A. review that they said contradicted the agency’s official response to the Intelligence Committee’s report. Both times, Senator Dianne Feinstein, the California Democrat who leads the committee, cut off the questioning and said the matter would be discussed behind closed doors.On two occasions, Democratic senators tried to press Mr. Brennan for details about an internal C.I.A. review that they said contradicted the agency’s official response to the Intelligence Committee’s report. Both times, Senator Dianne Feinstein, the California Democrat who leads the committee, cut off the questioning and said the matter would be discussed behind closed doors.
Mr. Clapper ticked off a list of global flash points during his opening statement, saying that in his years as an intelligence official he had “not experienced a time when we have been more beset by crises around the globe.” Mr. Clapper ticked off a list of global focal points during his opening statement, saying that in his years as an intelligence official he had “not experienced a time when we have been more beset by crises around the globe.”
He said that the turmoil across the Middle East in the aftermath of the collapse of authoritarian governments had created an opportunity for various franchises of Al Qaeda to flourish. He described Syria as the most powerful magnet for foreign fighters hoping to wage jihad, with about 7,000 foreigners having traveled to Syria from some 50 countries. He said that the turmoil across the Middle East in the aftermath of the collapse of authoritarian governments had created an opportunity for various franchises of Al Qaeda to flourish. He described Syria as the most powerful magnet for foreign fighters hoping to wage jihad, with about 7,000 foreigners having traveled to Syria from about 50 countries.
For the second year in a row, Mr. Clapper listed cyberattacks as the most significant threat facing the United States. He said financial institutions, defense contractors and, potentially, electric grids, water utilities and even medical devices are under threat from cyberattackers. Mr. Clapper’s written testimony cited the threats from China, Iran, North Korea and Russia as the most pernicious. It also raised the alarm that they are copying the steps the United States took several years ago when it unified under one command the civilian task of code breaking and surveillance with military cyberoffensive operations.For the second year in a row, Mr. Clapper listed cyberattacks as the most significant threat facing the United States. He said financial institutions, defense contractors and, potentially, electric grids, water utilities and even medical devices are under threat from cyberattackers. Mr. Clapper’s written testimony cited the threats from China, Iran, North Korea and Russia as the most pernicious. It also raised the alarm that they are copying the steps the United States took several years ago when it unified under one command the civilian task of code breaking and surveillance with military cyberoffensive operations.
While the report noted a major attack on South Korea last year that destroyed data at a bank and media organizations, it stopped short of blaming North Korea for the attack.While the report noted a major attack on South Korea last year that destroyed data at a bank and media organizations, it stopped short of blaming North Korea for the attack.
But Mr. Clapper was more specific about another aspect of North Korea’s capabilities. In his written testimony, he said that the country had made good on threats to enlarge its supply of fuel for nuclear weapons, expanding the size of a uranium enrichment operation at its Yongbyon nuclear facility and restarting a mothballed reactor that can produce plutonium. But Mr. Clapper was more specific about another aspect of North Korea’s abilities. In his written testimony, he said that the country had made good on threats to enlarge its supply of fuel for nuclear weapons, expanding the size of a uranium enrichment operation at its Yongbyon nuclear facility and restarting a mothballed reactor that can produce plutonium.
South Korean officials and nonproliferation groups using satellite technology had reported these developments, but Mr. Clapper’s testimony represented further corroboration by American intelligence agencies.South Korean officials and nonproliferation groups using satellite technology had reported these developments, but Mr. Clapper’s testimony represented further corroboration by American intelligence agencies.