Securing America: NSA Director Defends Data Collection

(AP Photo)

The Director of the NSA defended his agency’s data collection practices on Capitol Hill Wednesday.

FOX News Chief Intelligence Correspondent Catherine Herridge reports as part of our ongoing series on national security:

Securing America.

Before the Senate Judiciary Committee, the NSA Director Keith Alexander gave a spirited defense of his agency, and the bulk collection of Americans’ phone records. Saying it’s like holding a hornet’s nest:

Alexander: “You know, we’re getting stung. You’ve asked us to do this for the good of the nation– to defend the nation to get the intelligence we need. Nobody’s come up with a better way. If we let this down, I think we’ll have let the nation down.”

Citing new leaks, the Democratic Chairman of the Judiciary Committee said his legislation to scale back data collection is needed now, not later.

In Washington, Catherine Herridge, FOX News Radio.