Posted on 06/26/2006 3:31:39 PM PDT by hipaatwo
Mr. Bill Keller, Managing Editor
The New York Times
229 West 43rd Street
New York, NY 10036
Dear Mr. Keller:
The New York Times' decision to disclose the Terrorist Finance Tracking Program, a robust and classified effort to map terrorist networks through the use of financial data, was irresponsible and harmful to the security of Americans and freedom-loving people worldwide. In choosing to expose this program, despite repeated pleas from high-level officials on both sides of the aisle, including myself, the Times undermined a highly successful counter-terrorism program and alerted terrorists to the methods and sources used to track their money trails.
Your charge that our efforts to convince The New York Times not to publish were "half-hearted" is incorrect and offensive. Nothing could be further from the truth. Over the past two months, Treasury has engaged in a vigorous dialogue with the Times - from the reporters writing the story to the D.C. Bureau Chief and all the way up to you. It should also be noted that the co-chairmen of the bipartisan 9-11 Commission, Governor Tom Kean and Congressman Lee Hamilton, met in person or placed calls to the very highest levels of the Times urging the paper not to publish the story. Members of Congress, senior U.S. Government officials and well-respected legal authorities from both sides of the aisle also asked the paper not to publish or supported the legality and validity of the program.
Indeed, I invited you to my office for the explicit purpose of talking you out of publishing this story. And there was nothing "half-hearted" about that effort. I told you about the true value of the program in defeating terrorism and sought to impress upon you the harm that would occur from its disclosure. I stressed that the program is grounded on solid legal footing, had many built-in safeguards, and has been extremely valuable in the war against terror. Additionally, Treasury Under Secretary Stuart Levey met with the reporters and your senior editors to answer countless questions, laying out the legal framework and diligently outlining the multiple safeguards and protections that are in place.
You have defended your decision to compromise this program by asserting that "terror financiers know" our methods for tracking their funds and have already moved to other methods to send money. The fact that your editors believe themselves to be qualified to assess how terrorists are moving money betrays a breathtaking arrogance and a deep misunderstanding of this program and how it works. While terrorists are relying more heavily than before on cumbersome methods to move money, such as cash couriers, we have continued to see them using the formal financial system, which has made this particular program incredibly valuable.
Lastly, justifying this disclosure by citing the "public interest" in knowing information about this program means the paper has given itself free license to expose any covert activity that it happens to learn of - even those that are legally grounded, responsibly administered, independently overseen, and highly effective. Indeed, you have done so here.
What you've seemed to overlook is that it is also a matter of public interest that we use all means available - lawfully and responsibly - to help protect the American people from the deadly threats of terrorists. I am deeply disappointed in the New York Times.
Sincerely,
[signed]
John W. Snow, Secretary
U.S. Department of the Treasury
Ping!
Holey moley. You think the Supremes are up to 1st amendment review?
Too weak a response. Keller should be in cuffs.
If they threw journalists in jail over Valerie Plame they need to do the same over this... We need to find the traitor/traitors that is leaking the information.
This letter wasn't a slap it was a punch in the mouth!
Enough with the letters, handcuffs are the best way to send the message.
This administration is very soft. Anyone think we will ever have a headbanging conservative in charge?
Nothing would focus the mind of the people faster, and prepare a future generation for war, than arresting that whole cabal for sedition under penalty of hanging.
Why did we stop executing people for treason? It has lead to this and now we can't kill these traitors.
Add to the fact that the NYT has been caught lying again, and we heard also that the 9/11 Commission Chairs said they all but begged the NYT not to publish the story.
Self serving bast****.
tard...Finished it for ya :)
Outstanding letter and the most straightforward statement I've seen yet. I hope the not-so-thinly veiled threat at the end is carried through.
These Slimes journalists, publisher and editors aren't just disgusting, they're highly dangerous to the U.S. and free countries everywhere, and utterly arrogant in their decision-making. It isn't only what they've already done to harm America and her allies, it's what they can and will do in the future if not stopped.
Their sources are treasonous. That person or persons should be found and given the maximum punishment.
This letter is the hight of hypocracy, as its author is the guy who sold America's ports to an Arab entity.
Bast**** is too kind a word for them; I want every advertiser with the NYTimes to cancel immediately. I do not want another penny of my tax dollars to go to the defense of NYCity. Until and unless Schumer, Clinton, and every representative stands up and condemsn the NYTimes for what the have done, our tax dollars should go elsewhere. The New Yorkers have been complaining and groaning about their "cut" in homeland defense funds; they their paper of record openly supports the terrorists. Why should we continue to help defend new york, when new yorkers refuse to condemn the traitors at the NYTimes. Keller needs to be jailed now, or he needs to reveal his source on his front page.
I agree. In fact, since we're being blamed for "spying on Americans" anyway let's use our technology to look into all of the Slimes' financial dealings, campaign contributions, etc.
Screw em... every one of those creeps at the Slimes probably has a closet chock-full of skeletons.
In other words: "Up you treasonous @$$ Keller!"
What an excellent point, Laverne. Just excellent.
What I'd love to know is whether the NYT or other papers publish letters from citizens who are upset at the Times for leaking this information.
NY Times is the SUX.
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