CIA Director Porter Goss suggested in a New York Times commentary last week that someone who “breaks the law by willfully compromising classified information” is no whistleblower. He wrote: “Those who choose to bypass the law and go straight to the press are not noble, honorable or patriotic. Nor are they whistleblowers. Instead they are committing a criminal act that potentially places American lives at risk. It is unconscionable to compromise national security information and then seek protection as a whistleblower to forestall punishment.”
Obviously, leaks about spying can aid terrorists and risk lives. That is why so many were concerned about the willful leaking of former CIA agent Valerie Plame’s name. But it defies logic to suggest that a government employee’s leaking of classified information is never appropriate in a time of war — especially when the war is open-ended and the White House is prone to classify too much.
Meanwhile, an all-out criminal investigation is under way into who leaked information to The New York Times about the domestic eavesdropping program. Goss told a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Feb. 2: “It is my aim and it is my hope that we will witness a grand jury investigation with reporters present being asked to reveal who is leaking this information. I believe the safety of this nation and the people of this country deserve nothing less.”
Posted by Rhonda Holman
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16 Comments
Rhonda,
I see. As long as the media disapproves of a war or they are not getting their grubby little paws on enough information then it is ok to leak classified information.
I wonder if this includes the leaker of Valerie Plames identity?
Nathan,
So, it’s OK to leak classified information for political purposes (smearing an Administration critic), but not OK to leak information when the Administration is deliberately violating an existing Federal statute (FISA)?
I see; ‘my President, right or wrong’. Stalin would be proud.
Dear CF,
Finally, you’ve got it right!
Hank
Even Forrest Gump had to leak, when he got to near a president.
In this instance, at least, Hank is refreshingly honest. His argument clearly maps on to the idea that ‘if the President does it, it’s legal.’
Nice to know where the GOP stands with respect to the rule of law when their guy is in the WH.
CF,
Do you enjoy the dishonesty in your strawman arguments?
I bet you do, since it seems to be what you do in almost every blog…
You want to see real leaking? Put Bush in one of those unarmored Humvees he expects our troops to use in the middle of Bagdad for a couple hours!
JedHe would leak oil
I always love liberals…
Now you are big time spenders on the military. Any other time and it is all about cuts.
If the democrats had their way over the past 40 years with the miltary we would be throwing rocks with slings.
NathanBut they would be effective rocks and NOT produced by a group of profprofiteering buddies that produce eneffective weapons that cost billions and do nothing.
Any examples there guy from up north?
M1 Abrams Battletanks, the new Apache choppers, SR71 BlackBirds,(pity they don’t fly em anymore) Tomahawk cruise missiles, Mobile infantry armed with M4A1 Carbines, nightvision, Stinger missile launchers, satellite GPS capability… If I were an enemy combatant, i’d be in a million different pieces if i had to encounter such things. Ineffective weapons? I think not.
How is the NYT story different than Novak, Judy Miller or Matt Cooper?
They all withheld information from the public of who ‘outed’ Valerie Plame. Her status working on of all places Iran was classified and all the intelligence we could use today are gone. Just what’s left of our intelligence in Iran now that anyone who can be linked to her is outed as well?
What the NYT’s story did was inform the public on an illegal program that we needed to be aware of.
I might add according to Libby’s testimony to a grand jury was that Cheney and Bush authorised him to ‘leak’ the information.
It’s not a leak, if it’s leaked by the Administration. At least to P.Gosh. logic.