"In the weeks following the terrorist attacks on our nation, I authorized the National Security Agency, consistent with U.S. law and the Constitution, to intercept the international communications of people with known links to al Qaeda and related terrorist organizations. Before we intercept these communications, the government must have information that establishes a clear link to these terrorist networks.
This is a highly classified program that is crucial to our national security. Its purpose is to detect and prevent terrorist attacks against the United States, our friends and allies. Yesterday the existence of this secret program was revealed in media reports, after being improperly provided to news organizations. As a result, our enemies have learned information they should not have, and the unauthorized disclosure of this effort damages our national security and puts our citizens at risk. Revealing classified information is illegal, alerts our enemies, and endangers our country. "
Leaking this kind of information sounds like possible treason to me. Same thing for the recent leaks about the secret prisons in Europe.
Prior to the Valerie Plame case I would have said that it’s better not to investigate; that the importance of a free press outweighs any other considerations. But now that we’ve set a precedent that CIA leaks should be investigated, I’d say let’s go after the lawbreakers on both sides.
I’d like to hear the case for why we should not investigate these leakers, preferably from those who believe the Valerie Plame investigation has been a good thing.
With that much notice, Bush et.al had plenty of time to hush the whole story up legally if it contained double-super-secret classified information. Was the article no threat to national security, or did the administration drop the ball on intelligence matters again?
Even if that’s 100% true, I still don’t feel comfortable with CIA agents passing on info to the NYT and then trusting them to do what’s best for the country. Still sounds like it’s worth an investigation.
Sounds like your question is more of a statement: If you don’t blow the cover of an operative it’s not a crime.
So let’s say we’ve located UBL and we’re planning to pick him up at his buddy’s house tomorrow at 9 PM. A CIA agent calls ahead and warns him about the plan. By your logic that’s no crime. I disagree.
In my book there is a vast sea of difference between the leaking of information for the purposes of informing the citizenry of the United States about some wrongdoing on the part of our government, and the leaking of information for the purposes of a political attack.
How do we as a nation benefit from the leaking of Valerie Plame’s status?
(As a side note let me ask you if there is any criminal behavior that Bush could engage in that the public should know about? How should the public come to know about such information?)
That’s not the point. It’s illegal to leak classified information.
There are legal ways to accomplish this. The leaker can notify the Justice Department or Congress. Whistle Blower laws protect that type of activity. Leaking to the press is illegal, assuming Bush is correct and this program was classified.
FISA court statistics; (numbers in table form). As you can see from the rejection numbers, FISA is the next best thing to a rubber stamp, which raises the question of exactly what was so critical about the 30+ cases where Bush acted extrajudicially.
Are there 30+ dirty bombs, and smallpox spray-units hanging out in some evidence room? If so, I want to see them, or at least have my senator see them. Is Joe Wilson, or John Kerry on the list of tapees? What assurance do we have that they’re not?
Is there proof that Bush is doing this with good intent, rather than just getting off on donning his codpiece flightsuit, developing a steely glitter in his eye, and saying, with maximal gravitas “git er done”?
But it is the point. It serves our interest to have Abu Gharib leaked, or black detention centers leaked, or spying on Americans leaked. It allows us to be informed about what our government is doing in our name and whether we want to support it. Please construct an argument about how our interests were served in knowing that Valerie Plame had an undercover job with the CIA.
Given that our Department of Justice is providing cover to Bush on these matters, I would suggest that this option is out. What is the procedure for sharing information with “Congress” that would not involve leaking classified information? Surely, clearly, obviously, not everyone in Congress has access to all information.
The Fourth Estate is so named because it can operate as a check on our three branches. When it does its job, it is invaluable.
Leaking of any CIA agent’s identity should be investigated. The fact that the most famous one was purely political spitework should have made it crystal clear. If it is terrible to leak information we NEED to know, such as government spying on all or some of us, then it just as terrible for a political figure to leak information for partisan purposes. Investigate all leaks, and let the law sort it out. Equal justice for all, even for the powerful. Let’s start with the White House leaks. Merry Fitzmas to all.
I leave that to the experts, like Bricker, to figure out.
Either the judiciary committee or the Intel committee of either House. Or, your own Congressman or Senator. If you don’t want to “leak” the info to your Congressman, tell him or her roughly the nature of the info you have and ask how you should blow the whistle.
I thought the purpose of the CIA is to enable us to do some things in secret, when it is in our best interests to do so. If we allow any leaks as long as the leaker believes it is in the best interests of the country to know what’s going on we can be weakened by any insider who disagrees with any government policy. And if it involves war, it will cost us in lives and dollars.
Then we should investigate, indict and prosecute several people in the White House immediately. Such a serious breach should incite Fizgerald to widen his investigation right away. How many “political” leaks have we had so far? We can start with the Wilson - Plame leak and go from there.
