There is an agenda here. We may not be able to see all of it at once, but it exists, and projecting incompetence is part of it.

I wouldn't go so far as malice (history's greatest monsters thought they were doing right by their country), but to portray the NSA's behavior as incompetent does a great disservice to you, me, and everyone else who should be outraged by this. We should feel as if these intrusive searches and such are a direct attack on us and our culture and our country.

Because that's what they are.