NSA director heckled on stage at Black Hat security conference

Re:NSA director heckled on stage at Black Hat security confe... by moxie on Wednesday July 31, 2013 @03:56PM (#6136443)

I disagree. This was a situation where a four star general was standing on stage in military uniform, flanked by secret service, with local security also making a visible show of force. It was an intimidating situation amidst a crowd that was largely unsympathetic to critique, and I think it took a certain amount of courage to be the first to yell something.

I thought everything but the "read the constitution!" heckle was well timed and on point. I only wish that more had joined in.

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Re:NSA director heckled on stage at Black Hat security confe... by mpyne on Wednesday July 31, 2013 @04:33PM (#6136645)

I think I'd agree with you if it were a public crowd at a more neutral venue, but this is the equivalent of saying that the NSA is bad on HN. Gen. Alexander wasn't there to take off the boogeyman mask for the security professionals, he was there to gain sympathy for the NSA, and it worked beautifully.

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Re:NSA director heckled on stage at Black Hat security confe... by vacri on Wednesday July 31, 2013 @07:30PM (#6137552)

The hackers were in their own seat of power, and the guy came to them. There was no particular courage there. Had they heckled at, say, a military graduation ceremony he was presiding over, then yes, that would take courage.

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Re:NSA director heckled on stage at Black Hat security confe... by arh68 on Wednesday July 31, 2013 @04:26PM (#6136604)

Indeed. I hear 'protesting' near any member of the Secret Service has recently become a very, very big no-no.

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