Especially after the NYT's disclosures in December 2005, which included mention of email. And an earlier disclosure by a U.S. politician (this is from memory) a

Especially after the NYT's disclosures in December 2005, which included mention of email. And an earlier disclosure by a U.S. politician (this is from memory) about intercepting Al Qaeda satellite phone calls, which was probably a disclosure that was actually damaging. Sometimes claiming, without proof, that revelations will "hurt America" is simply a way to justify secrecy.