Connect with users and join the conversation at wired. Videoin his recent bombshell story for wired magazine, national security agency chronicler james bamford writes that the joke that the agencys acronym stands for never say anything applies now. The idea of writing a book about the nsa had occurred to me several years earlier. Bamford reports the nsa declined to comment on the existence of a program called monstermind. Thomas andrews drake is a former senior executive of the u. The ultrasecret nsa from 911 to the eavesdropping on america is a book on the national security agency by author james bamford. Bamford has taught at the university of california, berkeley, as a distinguished visiting professor and has written for the new york times magazine, the atlantic, harpers. Keith alexander and connects the dots on prism, phone surveillance and the nsas massive spy center in.
In his justpublished cover story for wired, bamford lays out the nsas plans for a vast new facility in bluffdale, utah that aims to become a. James bamford talked about his article on the national security agency nsa, the nsa is building the countrys biggest spy center watch what you say, and he responded to telephone. Bamford is the author of the puzzle palace, the first book published about the nsa. Read james bamfords bio and get latest news stories and articles. Since that 1982 best seller, bamford has written three more books that delve into the nsa. Anatomy of the ultrasecret national security agency, published by anchor books, is an investigative look into the behaviors of. James bamford born september 15, 1946 is an american bestselling author. In addition to describing the role of the nsa and explaining how. James bamford has been the preeminent expert on the national security agency since his reporting revealed the agencys existence in the 1980s.
In his latest reporting for wired magazine, bamford profiles nsa director gen. In disturbing detail, bamford describes exactly how every americans data is. A washington post best book of the year james bamford has been the preeminent expert on the national security agency since his reporting revealed the agencys existence in the 1980s. Nsa chief denies wireds domestic spying story fourteen. The title refers to a nickname for the nsa, which is headquartered in fort meade, maryland. Everything we do at bamford is born out of my belief that we need to live more consciously. Color me not shocked that our mainstream corporate media didnt touch this story this week, but democracy now did. As the nsas surveillance technology expands and many americans grow disenchanted with the agencys activities since. James bamford, bestselling author of the shadow factory. For the september 2014 issue of wired magazine bamford spent three days in. James bamford, the author of wireds cover story on the nsas growing. A key factor in that decision is the american publics attitude toward surveillance. Since then i have written two more books about the nsa, as well as numerous magazine articles including two previous cover stories about the nsa for wired, book. James bamford is the nations foremost expert on the national security agency nsa.
Statement james bamford, nsa lawsuit client american. Body of secrets by james bamford the author of a pioneering work on the nsa delivers a new book of revelations about the mysterious agencys coverups, eavesdropping and secret missions. No outsider has spent more time tracking the labyrinthine ways of the national security agency than james bamford. Heres james bamford of wired, author of the book the shadow factory.
In the followup to his bestselling puzzle palace, james bamford reveals the nsas hidden role in. C let me begin by saying that bamfords book does not with one major. The ultrasecret nsa from 911 to the eavesdropping on america. For 30 years, james bamford obsessively documented the secretive. Over a year before nda was published wireds james bamford had written a stunning piece on the nsas construction of its huge data center in bluffdale, utah, the goal of which was to suck up and store indefinitely the electronic records of all of us. James bamford on nsa secrets, keith alexanders influence.
Bamford wrote the first major book on the nsa in 1982. James bamford is the author of three books on the nsa, and has written for the new york times magazine, wired, rolling stone, and other outlets. Anatomy of the ultrasecret national security agency 2001. A little late with this, but its too significant not to note.
James bamford born september 15, 1946 is an american bestselling author, journalist and. According to investigative reporter james bamford, the nsa has established listening posts throughout. Bamford s 1982 book is a reminder to anyone who thinks that domestic eavesdropping is a necessary part of a post911 world that the n. In doing so we nourish and nurture our own wellbeing too. For the september 2014 issue of wired magazine bamford spent three days in moscow interviewing edward snowden, the most time any journalist has spent with him there. Bamford under the act of a large quantity of nsa materials, including a long string of. Us navy vietnam author of the puzzle palace, the definitive book on the nsa, which was published under dire threat in 1982 from the nsa for bamford. The shadow factory reconstructs how the nsa missed a chance to thwart the 911 hijackers and details how this mistake has led to a heightening of domestic surveillance. The new york times has called him the nations premier journalist on the subject of the national security agency and in a lengthy profile the new yorker named him. Read james bamford s bio and get latest news stories and articles. Since then i have written two more books about the nsa, as well as numerous magazine articles. James bamford is an author and investigative journalist best known for his writing about u.
In his book, the shadow factory, and a 2012 wired piece, bamford details the nsas connections to secretive contractors with questionable histories and little oversight which were used to do the actual bugging of the entire u. Inside the national security agency, americas most secret intelligence organization by james bamford sep 29, 1983 4. Once its operational, the utah data center will become, in. Keith alexander and connects the dots on prism, phone surveillance and the nsa s massive spy center in bluffdale. For the first time, he tells of his turn as an nsa whistleblower. Bamford was an intelligence analyst during the vietnam war, and earned a j. The national security agency is the worlds most powerful, most farreaching espionage organization. Bamfords 1982 book is a reminder to anyone who thinks that domestic eavesdropping is a necessary part of a post911 world that the n. James bamford born september 15, 1946 is an american bestselling author, journalist and documentary producer widely noted for his writing about united states intelligence agencies, especially the national security agency nsa. James bamford has what he calls a lovehate relationship with americas most secret intelligence agency. The ultrasecret nsa from 911 to the eavesdropping on america, bamford has covered the national security agency for the last three decades, after helping expose its existence in the 1980s. Bamford has a lengthy, august, 2014 with the title above.
Bloomberg news at its core and at its best, bamfords book is a schematic diagram tracing the. James bamford born september 15, 1946 is an american bestselling author and journalist noted for his writing about united states intelligence agencies, especially the national security agency nsa. In a pew 2006 survey, for example, after the new york times james risen and eric lichtblau revealed the agencys warrantless eavesdropping activities, 51 percent of the public still viewed the nsas. Keith alexander and connects the dots on prism, phone surveillance and the nsas massive spy center in bluffdale, utah.
Bamford writes, a macbook air loaded only with sophisticated encryption package. Snowdens revelations have clearly made a change in that attitude. Pictures of the nsas utah data center business insider. Bamford has distilled a troubling chapter in american history. Edward snowden may have recently received a threeyear extension of his stay in russia, but the former national security agency contractor says in a new interview with wired magazine that he still. He has written for the new york times, the atlantic, and wired. Top nsa scribe takes us inside the shadow factory wired. I read james bamfords article at the other day and to call it deeply disturbing that this level of data mining and access to all of our personal information is going on with little or no scrutiny is an understatement, to put it mildly. Edward snowden a uniquely postmodern breed of whistleblower in a wideranging interview with author james bamford for wired magazine, the former nsa contractor opens up. Now with a new afterword describing the security lapses that preceded the attacks of september 11, 2001, body of secrets takes us to the inner sanctum of americas spy world. The puzzle palace is a book written by james bamford and published in 1982. The ultrasecret nsa from 911 to the eavesdropping on america, became a.
It is the first major, popular work devoted entirely to the history and workings of the national security agency nsa, a united states intelligence organization. In disturbing detail, bamford describes exactly how every americans data is being mined and what is being done with it. In her new book, sharon weinberger has placed one of the governments most secret laboratories, darpa, under an electron microscope and discovered a world far beyond anyones imagination. George bamford senior advisor, cybersecurity doctrine. The ultrasecret nsa, from 911 to the eavesdropping on america. Now, bamford describes the transformation of the nsa since 911, as the agency increasingly turns its hightech gaze within americas borders. As the nsa s surveillance technology expands and many americans grow disenchanted with the agencys activities since 911, bamford offers a. Anatomy of the ultrasecret national security agency. His first book, the puzzle palace in 1982, was the first book published about the national security agency, nsa. In his new book, the shadow factory, journalist james bamford reveals that the ultrasecret agency has half a million people on its watch lists.
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