Obama’s Approach After the NSA Scandal: A Speechless President

What impact can Obama make in the National Security Agency (NSA) scandal? Considering all his previous hesitations, no sensational actions are to be expected. A small reduction in the mass storage of phone data and fewer trapping and tracing devices — done. Don’t try to find courage in any of this.

The political showdown of the American NSA saga is approaching: The president will finally clarify what he thinks about this whole issue, what he tolerates and which activities are way overboard in his opinion.

Obama has chosen to take his time until coming to a conclusion, just like he always does. He has to find a balance between various powerful interests: The intelligence lobby with its massive security apparatus and all the upstream industries involved vs. a mainly political front comprised of delegates, citizens — and, yes, even those allies like Germany, which finally requested to put this monster into chains.

The power of the intelligence services is exemplified by the NSA director, Keith Alexander. Although he clearly lied to Congress last summer, he is still head of the agency. Granted, his term ends in March. How much courage Obama is going to muster up against these services will become especially apparent when dealing with this personnel issue. After all the hesitation during the previous weeks, no sensational actions are to be expected. The president will thoroughly deliberate on his answer. A small reduction in the mass storage of phone data and fewer trapping and tracing devices — done.

No one should expect any miracles, even if Obama calls the German chancellor right before judgment day trying to charm her with an invitation. Allies are the White House’s smaller problem. Critical is the mood amongst the American people. If Americans hear the black helicopters flying again and suspect the Feds are in their phone lines, they will feel increasingly alarmed about their personal freedoms. The overpowering government already intruded in people’s life way too much with the health care reform — and that’s not only the liberal’s point of view.

So what is the president going to address after all in the outrage in this saga? Obviously, not a lot. Those agreements that were flamboyantly requested by Germany, France and the whole of Europe? They probably won’t ever be signed. At least some sort of political alignment when it comes to data protection, data security, protection of personal rights beyond the Atlantic Ocean? Parties have just drifted too far apart for that to happen.

Angela Merkel understood Obama’s gesture and accepted his invitation. The president will attempt to build a new bridge since the old one is going to remain impassible for a long time. Thus, one needs to focus on those topics where consent might still exist. One can protest, one is allowed to be indignant — but eventually there aren’t any means left. In countries’ dealings with each other, this is called agreeing to disagree. Countries must move on.

In his deliberate way, Obama allowed a lot of time to pass, until he finally decided to set the limits for his autonomous agencies. Anyway, his personal understanding of security does not allow him to reject any of the technical options provided by these intelligence services. His silence is the actual message.