Gee, I don't know, what do you call them. A Demonrat?
Posted on 04/25/2006 6:07:27 AM PDT by 13Sisters76
A traitor in the midst By Cal Thomas
Apr 25, 2006
What do you call someone who, in violation of her oath, reveals government secrets to a reporter, who then prints them and exposes a clandestine operation designed to get information from suspected terrorists that could save American lives?
Here is what one dictionary says about that word: "One who betrays another's trust or is false to an obligation or duty." The word so defined is traitor.
The Central Intelligence Agency fired an intelligence officer after determining she leaked classified information to a Washington Post reporter about secret overseas prisons used for interrogating suspected terrorists. News reports say the fired employee is Mary McCarthy, who was appointed by former National Security Adviser Samuel Berger as special assistant to President Bill Clinton and senior director for Intelligence Programs. Berger has had his own problems with classified documents. In 2005, he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges that he stole five copies of highly classified terrorism documents while doing "research" at the National Archives building.
Virtually all people who handle classified documents, whether members of Congress or their staff, or employees of the Central Intelligence Agency, take an oath not to reveal those documents to anyone without proper authorization. McCarthy is alleged to have violated that oath. Such oaths are nothing new. They extend back to the founding of the nation.
On Nov. 9, 1775, the Continental Congress adopted its own oath of secrecy. The language may seem antiquated, but it appeals to character qualities that appear to be in short supply today: "Resolved: That every member of this Congress considers himself under the ties of virtue, honour and love of his country, not to divulge, directly or indirectly, any matter or thing agitated or debated in Congress . which a majority of the Congress shall order to be kept secret. And that if any member shall violate this agreement, he shall be expelled (from) this Congress, and deemed an enemy to the liberties of America, and liable to be treated as such."
Virtue? Honour? Love of his country? Where does one see such character qualities lauded or even taught in contemporary culture? Certainly not often in the media.
The Washington Post's Dana Priest won the Pulitzer Prize for printing secrets allegedly leaked to her by McCarthy. Priest also won a George Polk Award and a prize from the Overseas Press Club. Leonard Downie Jr., the Post's executive editor, said people who provide citizens the information they need to hold their government accountable should not "come to harm for that."
Would Downie have felt the same if Americans were leaking information to the Nazis or the Japanese during World War II? Imagine this scenario: A terrorist has information that, if revealed, could save tens of thousands of American lives. But interrogators cannot question him because leaks to the media prevent them from engaging in practices that would pry loose the critical information. Would Downie be defending the "right" of government employees to undermine the security of his country in the aftermath of a preventable attack? Former CIA operative Aldrich Ames went to prison for selling American secrets to the Soviet Union. McCarthy allegedly gave hers away. If she is prosecuted and found guilty, her fate should be no less severe.
This isn't a political game in which a Clinton administration official serves as a mole for the Democrats within a Republican administration and then leaks information that may benefit her party; this is potentially harmful to the nation.
Has politics come to this: that the national security of this country can be compromised for political gain?
In previous wars, traitors were shot or served lengthy prison terms. Now they get fired and the reporter who prints the secrets, possibly damaging her nation, wins prestigious journalism awards. Morality and patriotism appear to have been turned upside down.
CIA Director Porter Goss is known to take leaks seriously. He has called the damage they cause "very severe to our capabilities to carry out our mission."
No one can recall a recent example of a CIA employee being unmasked for leaking information to the media, though many have done so. For the safety and security of the country, McCarthy's firing should serve as a warning to anyone who takes an oath to preserve their nation's secrets that they will no longer be able to count on getting away with violating that oath.
Cal Thomas is the co-author of Blinded By Might.
Copyright © 2006 Townhall.com
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Find this story at: http://townhall.com/opinion/columns/calthomas/2006/04/25/194920.html
I don't know. Probably the same reason we don't delcare War anymore.
Because our government no longer cares and we no longer have the power, nor the will, to get them to do what they are supposed to.
Now I'll just tell you something, it is an unfortunate political reality that in the present climate, getting a conviction for treason, let alone sentencing someone to death for committing treason, is damn near impossible.
Which is why I would not shed one tear if such traitors suddenly began having unexpected and tragic accidents, falling in front of buses and subways, losing their balance while on top of buildings, that sort of thing.
Not that I'm advocating that the CIA should engage in anything illegal or improper, I'm just saying that sometimes the statistics that actuaries use to project when a person is likely to die are not very reliable.
And as everyone knows, sh*t happens.
The question we should be asking is when are we going to start.
Both McCarthy and Priest need to be stood up and hung from the same gallows. Nothing less.
The Muslim world is sitting back and laughing at us because we won't deal with the ENEMIES WITHIN.
Never. Even coming close to mentioning it here on FR is enough to get you canned. Ask Travis McGee....
Please don't change titles.
This is an infraction? Why? There is no suggestion that the title is anything but mine and an effort to grab attention for this article. I include the original title in the post.
So how is this a problem?
You make an interesting point. Perhaps this website should be renamed? W/O violence, you cannot have a free republic.
Burglar not only STOLE Classified Docs....He DESTROYED Classified docs!! BIG differnce.....one you can get back, the other you can't!!
I prefer your title, which is to say I prefer truth over political correctness every time!
Take it up with management.
I was merely expressing my opinion friend
"Now I'll just tell you something, it is an unfortunate political reality that in the present climate, getting a conviction for treason, let alone sentencing someone to death for committing treason, is damn near impossible."
I see whaere you are coming from and why. I would offer a thought for your consideration.
The Moussaaoui trial had shown us beyond a doubt why we ought not be trying enemy combatants in civil court. There will be an ongoing firestorm and debate in this country about that for decades. The end result is that although we are unlikely to see him executed, Moussaoui is serving as a useful, concrete example for the whole Country, at least those perceptive enough to see the lesson. In any case, I want to see who comes out to protest Moussaoui's Death Sentence, if he gets one.
Indicting, trying, and convicting Mary McCarthy for Treason would also be a useful legal example for others.
First, the trial would certainly define exactly what the existing legal standard for Treason really is. It would be legally challenging to define the grounds for a treason indictment, but I believe it could be done. And if the indictment is crafted carefully enough, it will provide a solid gameplan for a trial.
Second, the subsequent appeals would be an excellent framework for new legislation redefining Treason, and plugging the loopholes that make it difficult to prove right now.
Third, just conducting one trial will put the fear of Jesus in the hearts of anyone else in CIA, State, Justice, Congress, et al; and make them think twice before they betray thier country to an Enemy, in a time of War.
We have to take a longterm view of this. We are at the very beginning of a new National Debate that could very well prove to be as big as Roe was...
Forewarned is better than getting blind sided.
Would it be OK to call that person a whistleblower, that is acting upon their sense of right and wrong?
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