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June 13, 2013

Alexander: Phone Collection Has Prevented "Dozens" of Attacks 
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Snowden's comments come as National Security Agency Director Keith
Alexander testified before Congress for the first time since Snowden's
leaks were published last week. Alexander said the NSA's mass-collection
of phone records has helped thwart dozens of attacks.

Gen. Keith Alexander: "I gave an approximate number to them in a
classified — in a classified [briefing], but it's dozens of
terrorist events that these have helped prevent."

Sen. Patrick Leahy: "Dozens?"

Gen. Keith Alexander: "For both here and abroad, in disrupting or
contributing to the disruption of terrorist attacks."

Sen. Patrick Leahy: "Out of those millions, dozens have been critical?"

Gen. Keith Alexander: "That's correct."

Claims that NSA spying has thwarted attacks have been the subject of
debate. In a statement on the collection of phone records under the
PATRIOT Act, Democratic Senators Mark Udall of Colorado and Ron Wyden of
Oregon, both members of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said: "After
years of review, we believe statements that this very broad Patriot Act
collection has been a critical tool in protecting the nation do not
appear to hold up under close scrutiny."

 

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