There is NO reason for Power to make *any* unmasking request. Let alone hundreds.
It is highly atypical for people in Rice's position to make unmasking requests. To the point that people who have operated in that specific environment say that is not ever done.
Couple this with the fact that unmasking requests tripled from 2015 to 2016.
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/44...bi-cia-nsa
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/44...telligence
Quote: Nevertheless, were a pattern of unmasking established, divorced from any proper foreign-intelligence purpose, that would be a profound abuse of power
But hey, forget that. Let's focus solely on shaking a Russian diplomat's hand at the Republican convention. *That* is the real abuse....
The pattern shown by whom requested the unmasking, and the opening of the floodgates with respect who would be allowed access to this type of information is a fundamental change in the flow (and potential use or misuse) of this information.
Considering the Obama administration oversaw and probably directed to the use of the IRS in a blatantly political manner, that is another cog here.
There is plenty of weird as **** items happening in the unmasking story. Enough that has me concerned. But as I said, more sinister is meeting the Russian ambassador on the floor of the Republican convention. But the same people who want to untrun every stone in that matter, and see sinister bugaboos in every name that sounds like it came out of 'War and Peace', to be blunt, seemingly turn a blind eye to this as "partisan".
Look, I say investigate the Russian issue, put it to bed in one way or another. I'm also saying there is the smell of **** coming out of this that deserves the same attention, especially with the implication of this being used for political purposes.