Top U.S. Intelligence Chief: NSA Leaker Edward Snowden Killed 'Important' Intelligence Gathering Program In Afghanistan

Nominee for Director of National Intelligence retired Gen. James Clapper speaks alongside President Barack Obama in the White House Rose Garden Saturday June 5. Newscom

The Hill: Spy chief: Snowden killed 'important' spy program in Afghanistan

Edward Snowden’s disclosures about American spy powers directly led to the end of a critical program in Afghanistan, the nation’s top spy said on Wednesday.

By forcing the end of the program that recorded practically every cellphone call in the country — as well as scuttling other efforts — Snowden “has done untold damage” to U.S. intelligence, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said.

“Terrorists, particularly, have gone to school on the revelations caused by Snowden,” Clapper said at the Intelligence and National Security Summit.

Update #1: Top spy bemoans loss of key information-gathering program -- Washington Post
Update #2: Top intel official: Edward Snowden forced 'needed transparency' -- CNN

WNU Editor: The article that exposed this U.S. intelligence program is here. It lists the five countries that were part of this cell phone gathering program .... country X is Afghanistan.