Time Cover Story: Gen Michael Hayden

One of the recent issues of the Time mag had Gen Michael Hayden on the cover. And guess what the title was? It reads, “Does this man have your phone number?”

I couldn’t help laughing! In this midst of the NSA wire-tapping scandal it is understandable that opponents of the Govt. accuse it of wrong doing, tapping phone calls of innocent Americans etc. But the press takes the cake for exaggeration, sensationalism and a desperate attempt to inject paranoia into everyday lives of Americans. The press makes it sound like Gen Hayden is walking around with a Palm full of phone numbers!

The wire-tapping issue is one of those “Damned if you do, Damned if you don’t” issues where the Govt. can never win. On the one hand, the Govt. has to protect further attacks. On the other any kind of surveillance is bound to be criticized. Its simply impractical for the the Govt. to have formally announced the wire-tapping plan and taken everyone’s blessing before launching it!

Gen Hayden seems headed for confirmation in any case. It makes no sense to have a long drawn battle over this nomination, especially when the Democrats don’t have the numbers to push back.