Posted on 07/23/2005 10:34:08 AM PDT by wagglebee
The Justice Department has launched a criminal investigation into whether Democratic Senators Dick Durbin, Jay Rockefeller and Ron Wyden leaked details about a secret "black ops" CIA satellite program last December in a move that may have seriously compromised national security, former Deputy Undersecretary of Defense Jed Babbin said on Saturday.
"The CIA made a request to the Justice Department to investigate and possibly bring criminal charges against these three [senators]," Babbin told WABC Radio host Monica Crowley. "My information is that investigation is ongoing."
Mr. Rockefeller is the Vice Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and Mr. Durbin is the number two ranking Democrat in the Senate.
Media reports on the satellite leak last December indicated that the Bush administration was concerned about public comments by Durbin, Rockefeller and Wyden and that the CIA had requested a Justice Department probe.
"The formal request for a leaks investigation would target people who described sensitive details about a new generation of spy satellites to The Washington Post, which published a page-one story about the espionage program Saturday [Dec. 11, 2004]," a Justice Department official told the Associated Press at the time.
But the same official told the AP that Justice "has not decided whether to investigate."
Former Deputy Undersecretary Babbin's comments on Saturday were the first indication that such a probe was actually launched and is ongoing.
"The fact of the matter is that [Durbin, Rockefeller and Wyden] divulged something that was above and beyond top secret and frankly, they probably blew the strategy and the hundreds of millions of dollars that were being spent to pursue it," he told Crowley.
"The acknowledgement of [the "black ops" program's] existence is not even proper and the acknowledgement of them and the details of them can very well damage national security," Babbin added.
Asked if he thought the three Senate Democrats should have their security clearances revoked for the duration of the leak probe, the former Defense Department official said, "Absolutely and forthwith. I mean, they should have been revoked at the time of the leak."
"There's really not much doubt about the leak having occurred," Babbin told Crowley. "It's in the press records, it's in the Congressional record. We know what they did."
"The only question," he explained, "is how much damage was done by the leak. And that's part of the criminal investigation right now - to do a damage assessment, to figure out how much this is going to cost us strategically and militarily."
I don't know Peach. The Republicans never seem to get their act together.
I know, Army. It's discouraging.
bump
Hmmm.
According to the full article, the first satellite from this program was launched in 1990; If the program was designed to address a no-longer-relevant threat and its costs have mushroomed, then I would expect senators from both sides to have an interest in curbing it. That being said, it does not excuse them from leaking, unless this knowledge was already in the public domain...IMHO
Skewer these rats and roast them slowly over hot charcoal.
Personally, I think branding, keelhauling and dismissal is the proper course of action.
Would one of you be so kind as to use the Dose ping list and ping our Dosers.
I've been waiting for this to break.
I'd also like to see charges against Sen. Kerry for releasing the name of a currently-undercover CIA agent on the floor of Congress, earlier this year.
I'm also holding my breath, waiting for severe charges to be levied against Sandy Burglar for the mishandling of highly classified information - including the destruction and mishandling of multiple pages of "highly sensitive information", to the point where it is completely missing from the National Archives, a felony which is supposed to be punishable by $10,000 fine or 10 years in prison for EACH offense" as in EVERY page!!!
Thanks to whomever does the ping. I think most of us would like to follow up on this, since there has been such a whoo-hah over the Plame/Rove thing. Hmmm, why do I think this will disappear and the press won't bother to cover it?
"Personally, I think branding, keelhauling and dismissal is the proper course of action."
Sounds good to me. Put a huge T on their forehead and each side of their butt.
The Rats knew this was coming since Dec 2004. The current Rove stuff is their way of insulating themselves against a very serious leak charge, by making a big deal about a very minor leak charge
Good thinking, Dave. Makes the process less confusing and more efficient working from one side!
Just to remind you that Sandy Berger has yet to be sentenced. The hearing is in September.
With a big T branded on their forehead, if they survive the fun and games like keelhauling and walking the plank, we will be able to recognize them on the street and on Sunday TV Screaming Head shows.
"The Rats knew this was coming since Dec 2004. The current Rove stuff is their way of insulating themselves against a very serious leak charge, by making a big deal about a very minor leak charge,"
You are probably right on target with your comments above.
Despite your mistrust of the source, these Senators did reveal highly classified information (in order to scuttle the program) and they ARE under investigation.
I suggest "Clube Gitmoe."
TruthNtegrity asked for dosers to be pinged to this thread as she felt they would be interested in this
Don't send them to GITMO, though...........prisoners get treated WAY too well there........
IMO It may be the reason the are yelling "ROVE! ROVE!" Then they can say "Everyone is doint it!"
Hmmmmmm, very interesting.
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.