From NPR News in Washington, I'm Lakshmi Singh.The head of the National Security Agency saysthe national surveillance programs have disrupted dozens of potential terrorist attacks.NPR's Craig Windham reportsgeneral Keith Alexander's testimony before a senate panelis his first since information was leaked about the NRC sweeping surveillance effort.Members of the Appropriation's Committee ask Alexander about Edward Snowden,the former contract worker for the NRC,who leaked word of the agency's internet surveillance,and particularly how was the 29-year-old high shool dropout given access to highly classified information."I have great concerns over that, the, the actual state he had."Alexander says there are clearly problems that must be addressed."We do have to go back and look at these processes.The oversight learns where they went wrong and how we fix those."Alexander says he does not see a tradeoff between security and libertyhe says both must be protected simultaneously.Craig Windham NPR News, Washington.Meanwhile Snowden is vowing to fight extradition from Hongkongthat's where he's been since he came out last week as the source of the leak.The 29-year-old tells South China morning post,he is neither traitor, nor hero, but an American.CIA deputy director Michael Morell has resigned.He will be succeeded by Avril Haines.Haines is a currently deputy assistant to the president and legal advisor to the National Security Council.
