The US National Security Agency is one of the branches of intelligence of the US Government.

The primary function of this association is to gather, analyze, and protect classified information related to US Government communications as well as foreign intelligence.

At times, they also work on domestic surveillance.

There are many activities performed by the NSA which are considered unnecessary and unwarranted, such as excesses is domestic wiretapping.

New York Times reported in December 2005 that the NSA was involved in tapping the phones of individual Americans to prevent terrorism attacks.

The phone calls made by Americans to residents living in other countries were tapped and analyzed.

In order to prevent this from happening, the callers had to obtain prior warrants from the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.

The mere existence of such a court is unknown to most individuals and this would have continued except for the media report and the efforts of some individuals.

NSA WHISTLEBLOWER

UNLIMITED ACCESS

This terror surveillance program was authorized by the Bush Administration to supposedly prevent terrorism.

The US National Security Agency was granted unlimited access to all communications of the nation's major telecommunications companies.

This included emails, phone conversations, web browsing and even corporate communications.

The worse part is that these activities are backed by laws passed in the Congress.

OPPOSITION MOUNTS

There has been a voice of opposition concerning spying activities involving the intelligence organizations during the last few years.

In a way, these oppositions and controversies have brought to light the various clandestine work performed by intelligence services.

Though some of the money and resources spent has been useful, largely they have been underutilized or channeled into the wrong operations.

The budget and the actual accountings of the US National Security Agency has been classified and they are not open to public scrutiny.

As tax payers, are Americans not entitled to know how and where the money is spent?

It is atrocious to spend on such frivolous activities when American infrastructure is crumbling and poverty has reached huge proportions.

There must be a sense of urgency among people to question the authorities on the whereabouts of their money.

US GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

The need for these operations is highly debatable and unwarranted in most cases.

What did the NSA gain by tapping into the phones and hearing the personal conversation of millions of Americans?

The Government along with it's intelligence organizations should be working towards protecting the lives of average Americans not listening into their private conversations.

Under the garb of protection, this is absolute infringement of privacy guaranteed every American citizen under the US Constitution.

The US National Security Agency ought to be involved in more fruitful operations that will better protect us from international and domestic terrorist organizations.

Their duty is to make our country a safer and better place to live and they must take steps to channel their financial and human resources towards this purpose only. The activities they decide to engage in should be sensible and useful to Americans.