Expect Journalistic Tongues to Loosen (Durbin, Rockefeller tied to NSA Leak?)

Real Clear Politics ^ | 03/07/06 | Jack Kelly

[KCRW]

Journalists will be paying rapt attention when Steven Rosen and Keith Weissman go on trial next month for violation of the Espionage Act of 1917.

Mr. Rosen and Mr. Weissman were officials of the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee. They received classified information from Lawrence Franklin, an analyst at the Department of Defense, which they passed on to an Israeli diplomat, and to journalists. They are the first private citizens ever to be prosecuted under the Espionage Act. .....

But it's more likely prosecutors will use the Plame precedent to get journalists to disclose their sources. The NSA leak investigation issaid to be moving rapidly, and to focus on two Democratic senators, Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia and Dick Durbin of Illinois.

If Mr. Rosen and Mr. Weissman are convicted, expect journalistic tongues to loosen.

[KCRW]

It was the second to last paragragh in this article that got to me.

The focus of the NSA leak investigation focuses on Rockefeller and Durbin?????

Very interesting- even though all of us believe some Senators were involved, this is the first article that I have seen confirming that some Senators may be the source if the NSA leaks.

[angkor]

this is the first article that I have seen confirming that some Senators may be the source if the NSA leaks.

The original Dec. 16th NYT story expressly stated that the source was several current and current NSA employees. Which doesn't exclude the possibilty that Durbin or Rockefeller sent the NYT in the direction of those NSA sources, or some other variation on that same theme.

[angkor]

current former and current NSA employees

[freema]

Espionage trials.

I know ya'll have ping lists.

I need to put one together...

[geezerwheezer]

It would be wonderful to see two of my least favorite demorats get indicted for leaking NSA operations to the New York Slimes and WaPo. Rocky and Turbin Durbin should have a lot of fun defending themselves on this security breach, and it will be a real eye-opener to the American public as to how these scumbags really operate. Go get 'em!!

[MarxSux]

Nothing will come of this with respect to the senators. If Rockefeller and Durbin were charged with security breaches, you would see the liberal media go into full-throated howl about a partisan witch-hunt. The Justice Department knows this.

[Old Sarge]

Nothing will come of this with respect to the senators.

Let me make one correction, for accuracy's sake:

Nothing will come of this with respect to the senators.

There. Much closer to current American justice.

[Coop]

The NSA leak investigation is said to be moving rapidly, and to focus on two Democratic senators, Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia and Dick Durbin of Illinois.

Rapidly? As in coming to fruition before the election season is in full swing, perhaps? :-) Tell me that wouldn't counter some of the GOP's Abramoff blues.

I had heard Rockefeller's name mentioned several times before, but this is the first time I've seen Dick "U.S. Troops are Nazis" Durbin tied to this investigation. Ahhhh, sweet irony.

[Coop]

Ping to above post

[Mo1]

These Senators are not above the law

If they are guilty .. then throw the book at them

[smoothsailing]

Complete Article, no excerpting! ;)

Expect Journalistic Tongues To Loosen (Jack Kelly)

[Coop]

I'm amazed at how little interest either of these articles has attracted.

[smoothsailing]

Tonk has a way of explaining it.

He calls it "The MoveOn Freepers".

[ncpatriot]

I understand, however, that they will (1) take polygraph test or (2) lose their classified clearance which would mean they are off the Senate Intell Committee.

This relates to the investigation of leaks pertaining to NSA.

[smoothsailing]

Intel Wars

[ncpatriot]

Thanks for link.

John Gibson had the former deputy-undersecretary of Defense Jed Babbin (mentioned in your link) on his show yesterday.

[onyx]

OMG! The Jaybird and the Turbin.

Gotta love this!

Thanks for the ping.

[Ditto]

If Rockefeller and Durbin were charged with security breaches, you would see the liberal media go into full-throated howl about a partisan witch-hunt.

I thought they were already in full throated howl mode. I can't see how it gets any worse.

[MarxSux]

Do you honestly believe it couldn't get any worse?

[Ditto]

They might scream louder, half the people have already tuned them out as not credible. As they get even more hysterical, even more will tune out.

The MSM is a dead institution wlaking.

[Kimberly GG]

"I'm amazed at how little interest either of these articles has attracted."

This is a subject of great interest to me. However, there are times when I read through the FR replies and find myself greatly discouraged. Even at 48 I am very naive when it comes to politics (and many things) and expect that when laws have been so blatantly broken, justice will prevail. The more experienced folks here just laugh it off, seeming to know that's never going to happen. Reality can be very disheartening.

[AIC]

There are three Senators that are being looked at by the CIA. They are Laye (sp), Rockefeller, and Durbin. These guys are on the same committee together where secret reports come to and reported. The leaks have been traced to this committee and the CIA and the FBI want all of the committee members to take lie detector test to see if any fail the test.

[Coop]

You must mean Patrick Leahy. Also known, not coincidentally, as Leaky Leahy.

[MarxSux]

I don't feel quite so sanguine as you. A portion of the people have tuned out with respect to the MSM, but I doubt if it's half. Some of the MSM outlets have recently taken a hit (NYTimes, CBS). But CNN, Time, Newsweek? Are they biased? Yes indeed. Are they trusted? Yes, dammit. And my original point, that if Justice goes after Rockefeller and Durbin, the media would have a hissy-fit, still stands.

[Ditto]

... that if Justice goes after Rockefeller and Durbin, the media would have a hissy-fit, still stands.

Let them. I want to watch their heads explode. ;~))

[Coop]

Do you have a source for this CIA investigation?

[Chi-Town Lady]

Dickie Durban is my senator. I hope they nail his ass to the wall!

[conservative blonde]

I don't believe that "nothing will come of this". It already has. If it gets on Freeps then the story will spread. It is the spreading of the story that gets the public attention. All good little Freepers should go to their other blogs and put this story there for many more to read.

[Chickenhawk Warmonger]

Here's an excerpt from an article on American Spectator dated 2/27/06...

"Focus of the investigation remains on the staffs of two Senators, Sen. Jay Rockefeller and Sen. Dick Durbin, as well as committee staff for the Senate Intelligence Committee and career intelligence staff detailed to U.S. Senate offices and committees."

http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=9457

[Red Rock Rocks]

"Even at 48 I am very naive when it comes to politics (and many things) and expect that when laws have been so blatantly broken, justice will prevail"

Not a chance, our Justice Dept exists only in name sake, it was long ago traded in for a legal system monopoly! Created by lawyers, run by lawers, argued by lawyers, the very laws created by lawyers, and finally judged by their piers, ; more lawyers!

[unixfox]

These Senators are not above the law

Sure they are, but vigalante justice may prevail.

Hang their asses I say!

[Red Rock Rocks]

" Durbin actually took to the Senate floor to deny accusations that he disclosed classified information on Iraq after CIA Director George Tenet briefed the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence in 2003, which led many observers to say, "He doth protest too much.""

Does anything more really need be said? We ned a few public hangings of treasonous persons in this country. Such might bring them back to at least understanding they are NOT above any law!

[KC Burke]

The democrat wagon masters will circle the wagons and hunker down claiming attack by bloodthirsty savages...

[okie01]

After Rockefeller and Durbin, the third senatorial suspect is Ron Wyden (D-Or).

[StopGlobalWhining]

this is the first article that I have seen confirming that some Senators may be the source if the NSA leaks.

If you listened to Rush you would have heard this a couple of months ago.

[Red Rock Rocks]

" If you listened to Rush you would have heard this a couple of months ago."

Isin't that almost as bad as listening to Hillarious hillary? :)

[Lancey Howard]

Keller is soiling himself.

[7mmMag@LeftCoast]

Wow! Jack Kelly and RealClearPolitics are unabashed centrist democrats. (meaning only a little less liberal than Hillary). To see this coming from Jack Kelley means that the $h!t is about the to hit the fan and lots of democrats are standing in front of the exhaust.

[TBP]

Well, Democrats breaking the law and endangering national security and our troops. Who'da thunk it?

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

I absolutely, positively guarantee you that Jay Rockefeller has been at least one source (if not THE primary source) of NSA-related links.

I'll lay coin on it.

[purpleland]

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Rockefeller’s Treachery
The Fifth Column/Joan Swirsky
November 29, 2005 - "I took a trip by myself in January of 2002 to Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Syria, and I told each of the heads of state that it was my view that George Bush had already made up his mind to go to war against Iraq — that that was a predetermined set course which had taken shape shortly after 9/11."

So spoke Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) on “Fox Sunday” on November 14, 2005, who at the time of his trip was chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and is now its vice chairman.

Please read the first paragraph once again, digest it (if your stomach can handle it), and consider its immense – if not treasonous – implications.

By himself and fully armed with America’s most sensitive intelligence, Sen. Rockefeller decided to go to three Arab countries – including Syria which is on the State Department’s list of terrorist regimes and a close ally of Saddam Hussein – and literally alert them to what (“in my view”) might befall a neighboring Arab state.

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