Posted on 05/13/2006 9:43:45 AM PDT by delacoert
Sen. Pat Roberts is unhappy.
Thursday’s USA Today report that the National Security Agency was collecting phone call records on “tens of millions of Americans” is just the latest in a series of breaches undermining classified programs.
So while critics are concerned the programs undermine civil liberties, Roberts — chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee — is frustrated that they have become public, saying it warns terrorists about the methods being used to combat them.
The Washington Post reports: “Though he did not acknowledge particulars, the president complained that any leak about ‘sensitive intelligence’ methods’ hurts our ability to defeat this enemy.’ Senate Select Intelligence Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), who said he has been briefed on ‘all aspects of the NSA's activities,’ likewise said he is ‘increasingly frustrated with the release of sensitive data regarding our nation's best defenses’ against terrorist attack.”
AP adds: “Senate Intelligence Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., lamented leaks and said a select panel overseeing Bush's warrantless surveillance program, which was disclosed in December, has been fully informed of NSA activities. ‘Calls for further oversight are unnecessary,’ he said.”
Fox News adds: ”Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., also issued a statement saying the appropriate members in the Senate are getting the information they need.
"’The bipartisan members of the Subcommittee on Oversight of the Terrorist Surveillance Program have been fully informed of all aspects of the NSA's activities. We have received several briefings and conducted three hearings with more to follow. It is critical to allow the subcommittee to continue its oversight,’ Roberts said.”
Aldrich Ames must be green with envy. Pollard, too.
They are serving life sentences for doing what others are doing every day.
The trick to a long career of double-agent espionage is to use the New York Times as your cut-out. If you get caught handing material directly to your handler, you might do life in prison. But if you let the Times print it on page one, your handler can read the very same material with his morning coffee, you get to stay in place, you will never do time, and if you get caught you will be a First Ammendment Hero.
This is the modern way espionage is done. The counter-intel guys had better get with it, or find that the game has left them on the sidelines.
This leaking will only get worse until people start going to jail for it. The DoJ needs to start cracking down. But they won't....bad publicity, dontcha know.
Certain congressional committes should not have staffers.
Cases and cases of JB Weld.
If you want to know who at least ONE of the leakers is- looky here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1631304/posts
Then watch the media and 'Rats morph them into "Whistleblowers"....they like that word - patriotic heroes...
Catch and prosecute and jail the leakers.
The Liberal MSM is a firm believer in our enemies' "right to know." They call it "leveling the playing field" for the Islamic murderers.
ping
I think that next week the Senate Intelligence Committee (chaired by Senator Pat Roberts, R-KS) will begin hearings on CIA director-nominee Gen. Michael Hayden. We can expect that the topic of this and other leaks will come up.
I would rather have the special prosecutor... subpoena power... indictment... arrest... scenario that you mention however.
Short version: the Repubs are too cowardly to arrest and jail people who leak classified defense information.
I like Roberts seems like a knowledgeable guy and a straight shooter.. However is IS the Chairman of the Intel Committee, he needs to do less lamenting and more demanding that arrests and investigations begin.... If it was the Dems in power you can bet your bippy there would already be at least three special prosecutors on duty
Let the Justice Department do the investigating. Special prosecutors like Fitzgerald go off track.
Not if they appointed Victoria Toensing.
DUH
Terrorists aren't as stupid as our mindless and endlessly funded civil serpents believe them to be.
Personally, I am glad there is a google.com to suck the real talent away from the likes of the NSA.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.