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-Lurid Crime Tales-

NSA said 'no can do' to Clinton request for secure Blackberry

2016-03-17

[Judicial Watch] Washington, DC -- Judicial Watch announced today that it obtained State Department documents revealing that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton repeatedly sought to obtain "Blackberry-like communications," but was rebuffed by the National Security Agency due to security and cost concerns. The National Security Agency’s Information Assurance Directorate response was "shut up and color." The emails show that Clinton demanded Blackberry devices that could be used by her and her staff in her office’s Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF).

The documents were obtained in response to a court order in an April 28, 2015, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit, Judicial Watch, Inc. v. U.S. Department of State (No. 1:15-cv-00646), filed after the Department of State failed to comply with a March 10, 2015, FOIA request seeking following:

Any and all records of requests by former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton or her staff to the State Department Office Security Technology seeking approval for the use of an iPad or iPhone for official government business; and

Any and all communications within or between the Office of the Secretary of State, the Executive Secretariat, and the Office of the Secretary and the Office of Security Technology concerning, regarding, or related to the use of unauthorized electronic devices for official government business.

In an email dated February 13, 2009, Senior Coordinator for Security Infrastructure, Bureau of Diplomatic Security Donald R. Reid reveals that the request to obtain secure Blackberry technology for Clinton was denied. When Clinton aides sought to compel the NSA’s cooperation by asking about the security arrangements for President Obama’s Blackberry, the exchange apparently became heated.

Posted by:Besoeker

#4 I think this is a more accurate account.

Posted by: Deacon Blues 2016-03-17 20:14

#3 'Knead to know'

Posted by: Skidmark 2016-03-17 10:16

#2 [W]e began examining options for S [Secretary Clinton] with respect to secure “Blackberry-like” communications … the current state of the art is not too user friendly, has no infrastructure at State and is very expensive…each time we asked the question “What was the solution for POTUS?” we were politely told to shut up and color … NSA opened the door for us to establish requirements and they would try to help…

A 'thumbs down' from NSA likely indicates a 'thumbs down' from POTUS as well. Why limit the listening and monitoring to SCIF traffic? Forcing her into an open system made collection on her considerably more inclusive and less painstaking.

Just a thought. Yes sinister, but still a thought.

Posted by: Besoeker 2016-03-17 08:58

So State Department Dip Security knew she was in violation. State Info Management (IMO) and Security folks knew she was in violation. NSA probably suspected or soon learned she was in violation, and everyone on her staff or associated with her (to include the White House Communications Detachment) knew as well.

Nobody said anything about her 'work around' until the Benghazi committee uncovered the violation. Oh well, if we can't 'report' the violations, we might as well exploit them.

Among others, I think it might be time to ask the Director NSA some rather pointed questions. Director of Diplomatic Security, please wait outside in the hall with your legal council.

Yes, you are correct. Special Intelligence collection on high-profile foreign targets, diplomats, and others will be the topic of conversation. US Persons caught up in the mix, a potential added bonus.

Posted by: Besoeker 2016-03-17 08:39

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