Just to be clear, on the NSA protecting its sources and methods

The most idiotic thing heard on the news is that the NSA needs to protect its 'sources and methods'. What utter nonsense. The sources for the NSA are anyone they chose to listen in on, and that appears to be everyone on earth. As for the methods, they are immaterial. They tap phones, the tap into all electronic information systems, and where they can't do it on-site (as with US phone companies and internet service providers) they use remote means such as ships at sea, satellites, and aircraft. There you have it, sources and methods.

No, the secrecy at the NSA is not about protecting sources and methods, its about keeping from the public those things they do with our tax dollars that would put us in a rage and cause the demise of the NSA itself if were were made aware of them. Secrecy at the NSA is about protecting the existence of the NSA, no more and no less.