NSA is one of 16 known US spy agencies. Perhaps others operate secretly. Black budgets conceal what’s spent. Amounts are enormous. They’re unconscionable.
Used responsibly, they’d relieve hunger, shelter the homeless, heal the sick, and educate young people hungry for knowledge.
Out-of-control, unregulated, unmonitored practices operate lawlessly. Enormous harm results. Rogue states operate that way.
On June 1, 1952, Harry Truman authorized NSA. On October 24, revised National Security Council Intelligence Directive (NSCID) 9 followed. On November 4, 1952, NSA was established.
In 1957, its existence was briefly mentioned in the US Government Organization Manual. It called NSA:
“a separately organized agency within the Department of Defense under the direction, authority, and control of the Secretary of Defense…for the performance of highly specialized technical functions in support of the intelligence activities of the United States.”
It’s headquartered at Fort Meade, MD. It’s operations are highly classified. General Keith Alexander heads them. Spies “R” Us, defines them.
On December 4, 1981, Executive Order 12333, explained NSA/Central Security Service (CSS) responsibilities and purposes. Head of operations is charged with:
- “Collect(ing, including through clandestine means), process, analyze, produce, and disseminate signals intelligence information and data for foreign intelligence and counterintelligence purposes to support national and departmental missions;
- Acting(ing) as the National Manager for National Security Systems as established in law and policy, and in this capacity be responsible to the Secretary of Defense and to the Director, National Intelligence; (and)
- Prescrib(ing) security regulations covering operating practices, including the transmission, handling, and distribution of signals intelligence and communications security material within and among the elements under control of the Director of the National Security Agency, and exercise the necessary supervisory control to ensure compliance with the regulations.”
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