[rmnunez]

Wiretapping is a form of intelligence-gathering, anyone who works in the intelligence community would appreciate the benefits of easier procedures to tap phones. The NSA is the US intelligence entity responsible for communications intercepts, so it makes sense this entity would be most interested in wiretapping. It is unreasonable to expect someone directing the NSA in particular or any other intelligence agency more generally, to oppose easier means of intelligence gathering. Clearly the appointment of someone who sought greater restrictions, was more concerned and respectful of individual privacy or particularly mindful of potential transgressions when the intelligence was domestic or involved citizens, would be ideal from a political civil rights advocacy perspective -not from a national security perspective focused on a war against fundamentalist terrorism.