[einehexe]

This is a classic strawman that the EFF sets up to easily knock down. No one in their right mind thinks that the sole purpose of the NSA is terrorism. All American interests are to be looked after. The NSA unilaterily disarming would be a dream come true to many, mostly those who would like to see the West decline.

[sinak]

From my conversations with friends and family, I think many people think that the NSA's sole purpose is to fight terrorism. That thinking has been reinforced by the NSA and the administration repeatedly claiming that NSA surveillance is justified because it prevents terrorist attacks. If not the "sole" purpose, in the least they think it's the NSA's "main" purpose.

But the main point of the article is that the Obama administration justifies surveillance by saying it's critical to preventing terrorism, but that surveillance is being used for many many purposes beyond just counterterrorism, making it a poor case.

[mpyne]

> But the main point of the article is that the Obama administration justifies surveillance by saying it's critical to preventing terrorism, but that surveillance is being used for many many purposes beyond just counterterrorism, making it a poor case.

Being useful for one major thing doesn't mean that a tool is not also useful for other things. You can in fact point out as many other minor things as you wish, but that doesn't invalidate (by itself) the usefulness for the major task. So I don't see EFF's point here.

In fact that was the point I was about to make before screening the comments: "Of course NSA's powers extend beyond simple counterterrorism, who is claiming otherwise? Did they not read even a synopsis of the relevant law?"

[betterunix]

"No one in their right mind thinks that the sole purpose of the NSA is terrorism."

Funny how the government keeps bringing up terrorism when people ask why the NSA is violating our privacy rights. Why is the government not pointing to all those other important American interests the NSA is protecting?

[bane]

Because fighting commies isn't as sexy as it used to be.

[saraid216]

> No one in their right mind thinks that the sole purpose of the NSA is terrorism.

There are a lot of people on HN who think that the sole purpose of the NSA is terrorism. Most of these people can't be bothered to visit the front page of nsa.gov.

[jlgreco]

Should we not commend the EFF for correcting this misconception?

[fit2rule]

Well then you know .. with that position .. you are invoking the Imperial clause, and the age of Sovereignty of the individual is over. We are such fodder, given your terms, for master plans. Indeed: chattel.

[dreamdu5t]

Bingo. The real crux of the NSA issue isn't about privacy, or "checks and balances", it's about individual sovereignty and the fundamental question of the legitimacy of government.

[unclebucknasty]

Actually, the strawman here is your assertion that the NSA has set up a strawman.

Let's not forget that this article was prompted by the NSA's universal, "because, terrorism" answer to virtually every "uncomfortable" question about its secret activities aimed at Americans.

[selimthegrim]

So who's in your rogue's gallery of enemies of freedom(TM) and justice(TM)? Inquiring minds....