So they say, anyway. - nm

I agree... - would like to see the

I'm a lib, but - completely

Well then, - if

Then there's McChrystal, Petraeus...... - nm

Wisdom in hindsight has clarified their motives - which in

well, no one really knows what is in the - hearts and minds of some

He lied. Asked about if they have the ability to (sm) - Judge Nap

This account is not quite accurate. - Omissions matter.

Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, asked Alexander if the NSA has "the ability to listen to Americans’ phone calls or read their emails under these two programs,"  He replied, "No, we do not have that authority."  

Rogers second question was, "Does the technology exist at the NSA to flip a switch by some analysis to listen to Americans' phone calls or read their emails?  Alexander replied, "No."

As long as we are mincing words and pronouncing "lie" judgments, let's be sure we're mincing ALL the words.  The second question was posed specifically about technology at the NSA, not some generic "switch."  Also, thesaurus.com comes in handy when contextual meaning comes into question.  You'd be surprised to see how many pages of cross-referenced connotative synonym entries they have under the word "ability." Here are a few I found particularly interesting:

Capability, force, power, scope, stature, charge, command, authority, authorization, control, dominion, government, jurisdiction, leadership, management, sovereignty, supervision, primacy, right, independence, carte blanche, discretion, latitude, liberty, license, priviledge, right, self-rule, self-determination, autonomy.  

On further inspection, not surprisingly, you will find that the word "authority" shares many of its synonyms with the word "ability."  

Therefore, it stands to reason that a four-star general who acquired his education from one military institution after another (West Point, US Army Command and General Staff College, National War College, Naval Postgraduate School, and National Defense University) just MIGHT process the word "ability" within the context of its numerous authoritative connotations, dontcha think?  

Sorry.  I just don't see anything particularly "cagey" about his responses and cannot accept the "he lied" pronouncement.  In fact, I watched the hearing from beginning to end and was impressed at how cool, calm, collected and natural the general's overall demeanor was.  

http://thesaurus.com/browse/ability?page=1&qsrc=121