Olivia Troye - Tim Haugh's Firing Is a Red Alert for the Nation--and Your Privacy
While Trump's tariffs hammer the economy and dominate the headlines, rightfully capturing attention as Americans watch their 401ks drop, something perilous quietly unfolded in the shadows. A significant shift in the national security apparatus occurred that barely made a blip.
It hardly registered in the mainstream news cycle late last week when General Timothy Haugh was ignominiously removed as dual-hatted Director of the National Security Agency (NSA) and Commander of U.S. Cyber Command. Perhaps in the chaos of Trump 2.0, another outstanding leader being ousted is just business as usual. For the ones that did mention it, they pointed out that the action could seriously hurt Americas cyber defenses and make it a lot easier for foreign adversaries to strike our networks. Theyre correct. But let me be even clearer about whats not being talked about: this is not just another reshuffling of powerit's a five-alarm fire for anyone who values their privacy and civil liberties.
And it wasn't just Haugh who was shown the door. Wendy Noble, the highly respected civilian Deputy Director of the NSA, was also reassigned back to the Department of Defense. This wasn't just a firing but a purge of institutional memory, experience, and moral backbone.
Tim Haugh wasn't just any flag officer. He was beloved by his workforce, respected by national security professionals across the political spectrum, and known as much for his integrity and superb leadership skills as for his mission expertise. Haugh's departure leaves a void in one of the most sensitive and consequential roles in government. Whoever fills that vacuum could alter the trajectory of one of our most fundamental American freedoms: the right to privacy.
https://www.livingitwitholiviatroye.com/p/tim-haughs-firing-is-a-red-alert

ProfessorPlum
(11,456 posts)grew up with him in high school. One of the finest people I've ever met and it gave me a feeling of safety to know that he was in these positions of keeping us safe and secure.
And he was definitely too good a person to survive this corrupt, horrible regime.
Kid Berwyn
(20,046 posts)Trump backtracks on cyber unit with Russia after harsh criticism
By Phil Stewart and Valerie Volcovici
Reuters, July 10, 2017
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday backtracked on his push for a cyber security unit with Russia, tweeting that he did not think it could happen, hours after his proposal was harshly criticized by Republicans who said Moscow could not be trusted.
Trump said on Twitter early on Sunday that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed on Friday forming "an impenetrable Cyber Security unit" to address issues like the risk of cyber meddling in elections.
The idea appeared to be a political non-starter. It was immediately scorned by several of Trump's fellow Republicans, who questioned why the United States would work with Russia after Moscow's alleged meddling in the 2016 U.S. election.
"It's not the dumbest idea I have ever heard but it's pretty close," Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina told NBC's "Meet the Press" program.
Ash Carter, who was U.S. defense secretary until the end of former Democratic President Barack Obama's administration in January, told CNN flatly: "This is like the guy who robbed your house proposing a working group on burglary."
Continues
https://www.reuters.com/article/world/trump-backtracks-on-cyber-unit-with-russia-after-harsh-criticism-idUSKBN19U0OW/