I’ve been kind of hoping to see something like Roger Barkan’s article in defense of the NSA. It doesn’t really change my opinion about the NSA in general, but it’s useful to remember that the majority of NSA employees are not mustache-twirlingly evil and really do believe that what they’re doing is right.
Hell, it’s a huge organization, and one that keeps secrets by definition. Maybe John Gilmore Roger Barkan’s particular corner of the NSA actually is run in a conscientious, respectful fashion. The people doing the shady stuff aren’t going to let the rank and file know what they’re up to if they can avoid it, and the system is set up to make it easy for them to avoid it.
