Did the NSA leaks really put us at risk?

Now, it’s hard to believe it would come as a great surprise to al-Qaida that American spies might be examining their phone records. Nor is it likely that hardened militants were slapping their foreheads to learn that someone in Washington may have been reading their email or listening in on their Skype chats.

But those in power insist that unveiling the information put lives at risk. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, decried these “dangerous national security leaks,” insisting that the “effectiveness of these programs depends on them being kept secret from the foreign terrorists they target.”

Alexander echoed that claim in testifying before the committee last week. Asked whether the revelation was harmful to security, he replied, “I think it was irreversible and significant damage to this nation. … I believe it will hurt us and our allies.”

But how? My curiosity whetted, I contacted Rogers’ office for information on what the terrorists gained. A spokesman emailed to say the chairman could not be bothered to offer support for his allegation: “He does not have space available in his schedule this week to re-address issues that have very clearly been addressed in the open hearing.” No transcript of the hearing was available, but I was assured I would get the answers if I watched the video.