Thursday, January 05, 2006
NSA Leaks
Rep. Jane Harman, ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, Dec. 21:
As the Ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, I have been briefed since 2003 on a highly classified NSA foreign collection program that targeted Al Qaeda. I believe the program is essential to US national security and that its disclosure has damaged critical intelligence capabilities.
UPDATE from TigerHawk: In fairness, according to Media Matters the quotation above (which seems to have come from CBS originally) misses a qualifying statement from Rep. Harmon:
Like many Americans, I am deeply concerned by reports that this program in fact goes far beyond the measures to target Al Qaeda about which I was briefed.
Of course, we may never know -- and I hope we never know -- the extent to which the program went "beyond" the Congressional briefings. My guess is that she knew damned well what was going on and did not object because it was the smart thing to do. Now, of course, she can take a free shot by declaring her "deep concern" about "reports" that NSA left some details out. None of this has any bearing on the legality or propriety of the operation.
2 Comments:
By 
Cardinalpark, at
Thu Jan 05, 03:08:00 PM:
Actually TH, and I appreciate your addition of the qualification, that's not my point. Regardless of the qualification, she is saying a sensitive program has been damaged by illegal leaks, period. The leakers should be arrested, charged, and put on trial.
I think it's pretty black and white. There is an established process by which to legally vet and "blow the whistle" wihtout damaging our national security. This does not include talking to fool NYT reporters.
That is illegal, and treasonous. Give the leaker a trial and his or her presumption of innocence. But if found guilty of treasonous leaks which damaged our national security, jail them like any spy who we discovered working for the enemy in our midst.
By TigerHawk, at
Thu Jan 05, 03:58:00 PM:
I definitely agree with the need to prosecute the leakers, whoever they may be. No question.
