General Keith Alexander, the director of the National Security Agency, vigorously defended the NSA surveillance programs that were made public when classified documents were leaked to the Guardian and the Washington Post by Edward Snowden while testifying in front of the House Intelligence Committee, according to USA Today.
"In recent years these programs, together with other intelligence, have protected the U.S. and our allies from terrorist threats across the glove to include helping prevent the potential terrorist events over 50 times since 9-11," Alexander said.
Not many details were given about the foiled plots that Alexander alluded to although Alexander said that he would bring classified papers to Congress to show how all 50 were stopped in the near future, according to CNN.
One foiled plot that was revealed to the House committee involved a potential bombing of the New York Stock Exchange. Federal Bureau of Investigation Deputy Director Sean Joyce told the committee about how surveillance information was used to identify a man in Kansas City who was in contact with extremists in Yemen. Authorities were able to arrest the man as well as lure some foreigners to the country to also be arrested for the plot, according to the Wall Street Journal.
From his opening statements on Alexander was trying to make the argument that the surveillance tactics of the NSA are not only critical to counterterrorism efforts but that they are also subject to safeguards to ensure that the privacy of American citizens are not violated by the programs, according to USA Today.
Deputy Attorney General James Cole explained how the system works in a way that doesn't violate the civil liberties of Americans. Cole addressed one of the main concerns citizens have about the surveillance programs by stating that "we don't listen in on anybody's calls," according to Fox News.
Cole also said that courts have ruled in the past that the Fourth Amendment does not protect phone records that reveal who a person called and at what time they did so. NSA officials are also only allowed to target people who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents and those who live overseas, Cole explained, according to Fox News.
Alexander said that the surveillance program was "100 percent auditable" and since the program started they have "not seen one of our analysts willfully do something wrong," according to CNN.
During his opening remarks House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Mich., explained how it will be difficult for intelligence officials to justify the surveillance program to the public without leaking more classified information.
"One of the more damaging aspects of selectively leaking incomplete information is that it pains an inaccurate picture and fosters distrust in our government," Rogers said. "This is particularly so when those of us who have taken an oath to protect information that can damage the national security if released, cannot publicly provide clarifying information because it remains classified."
Early in the hearing Alexander explained why the surveillance program was so valuable.
"I would much rather be here today debating this than explaining why we were unable to prevent another 9-11," Alexander said.
The House hearing is expected to continue through the afternoon and can be seen through a live stream here.
