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NSA spooks win fight to keep secret possible ties to Google

Suits & Sentences

Posted by Mike Doyle

The National Security Agency will get to keep secret documents that may, or may not, show a working relationship with Google.

In a decision made public Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Richard J. Leon denied a Freedom of Information Act request filed by the curious souls at the Electronic Privacy Information Center. EPIC sought documents relating to NSA's possible relationship with Google following news of an alleged cyber attack by hackers in China and of a subsequent cooperation agreement between Google and NSA.

In best "Mission Impossible" mode, the National Security Agency acknowledged working "with a broad range of commercial partners and research associates," but refused to "confirm (or) deny" a relationship with Google. Such information, the agency argued, "could alert our adversaries to NSA priorities, threat assessments or countermeasures that may or may not be employed against future attacks."

Leon agreed and accepted the agency's conclusion that the requested documents – if they exist! – were protected under a special FOIA exemption. This is Exemption 3, which says material need not be disclosed if it is covered by a separate statute that prohibits disclosure; and the NSA, wouldn't you know, just happens to be covered by such a statute that broadly shields information about "the organization or any function of the National Security Agency, [or] any information with respect to the activities thereof."

Bachmann surges into second among GOP voters

Planet Washington

Posted by David Lightman

Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann is surging in the latest Quinnipiac poll, with 14 percent support from Republicans in her quest for the GOP presidential nomination.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney still leads among Republican and Republican-leaning voters, with 25 percent, the same support he had in last month's survey. Bachmann then had 6 percent. But that was before her June 13 New Hampshire debate performance, and her announcement of her candidacy.

"The question about Rep. Bachmann is whether she is the flavor of the month … or does she have staying power?" asked Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

Third in the poll was former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, at 12 percent. She has not said whether she will run. Next was another potential candidate, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, at 10 percent. Trailing were businessman Herman Cain at 6 percent, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Texas Rep. Ron Paul, each with 5 percent, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, 3 percent, and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, each with 1 percent.

The poll surveyed 2,311 registered voters from July 5-11. Margin of error was plus or minus two percentage points.

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