US President Barack Obama on Thursday nominated the US Navy’s top cyberwarrior to head the National Security Agency (NSA), a move seen as a vote of confidence in a unit that is under fire for spying on Americans and their allies.
Navy Vice Admiral Michael Rogers, a cryptologist and head of US Fleet Cyber Command, is not expected to immediately make major changes to the NSA, shaken by revelations by former contractor Edward Snowden.
“This is a critical time for the NSA, and Vice Admiral Rogers would bring extraordinary and unique qualifications to this position as the agency continues its vital mission and implements President Obama’s reforms,” US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel said in a statement.
Photo: EPA /US Navy / Gary Nichols
“I am also confident that Admiral Rogers has the wisdom to help balance the demands of security, privacy and liberty in our digital age,” Hagel said.
The NSA is under fire for monitoring the communications of Americans and allies abroad as well as those of potential US enemies through a sweeping eavesdropping program, the scope of which was disclosed to the media by Snowden.
The documents that Snowden stole and leaked to the news media exposed the reach of US surveillance activities, including the bulk collection of telephone records of millions of Americans, as part of counterterrorism efforts.
If confirmed by the Senate, Rogers would take over as head of both the NSA and the military’s Cyber Command from US Army General Keith Alexander, who is likely to retire next month or in April.
Rogers is a 30-year navy veteran well versed in electronic surveillance.
“Obama is reaffirming his fundamental support for NSA and its surveillance projects despite the Snowden affair,” said Bruce Riedel, a former CIA analyst who has sometimes advised the Obama administration.
In response to criticism over the NSA’s surveillance practices, Obama vowed earlier this month as part of a series of reforms to ban eavesdropping on the leaders of allied countries and to begin reining in the collection of vast amounts of Americans’ phone data.
Hagel also said Rick Ledgett had been appointed as deputy director and senior civilian leader of the NSA. He replaces Chris Inglis, who retired this month.
Rogers will also lead Cyber Command, the military force responsible for defending the US against cyberattacks.
Obama had initially considered splitting the leadership of the two organizations, but decided against it.
The Taiwanese passport ranked 33rd in a global listing of passports by convenience this month, rising three places from last month’s ranking, but matching its position in January last year. The Henley Passport Index, an international ranking of passports by the number of designations its holder can travel to without a visa, showed that the Taiwan passport enables holders to travel to 139 countries and territories without a visa. Singapore’s passport was ranked the most powerful with visa-free access to 192 destinations out of 227, according to the index published on Tuesday by UK-based migration investment consultancy firm Henley and Partners. Japan’s and
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Japan and the Philippines yesterday signed a defense pact that would allow the tax-free provision of ammunition, fuel, food and other necessities when their forces stage joint training to boost deterrence against China’s growing aggression in the region and to bolster their preparation for natural disasters. Japan has faced increasing political, trade and security tensions with China, which was angered by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remark that a Chinese attack on Taiwan would be a survival-threatening situation for Japan, triggering a military response. Japan and the Philippines have also had separate territorial conflicts with Beijing in the East and South China
A strong cold air mass is expected to arrive tonight, bringing a change in weather and a drop in temperature, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The coldest time would be early on Thursday morning, with temperatures in some areas dipping as low as 8°C, it said. Daytime highs yesterday were 22°C to 24°C in northern and eastern Taiwan, and about 25°C to 28°C in the central and southern regions, it said. However, nighttime lows would dip to about 15°C to 16°C in central and northern Taiwan as well as the northeast, and 17°C to 19°C elsewhere, it said. Tropical Storm Nokaen, currently
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