Excellent…
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Justice Department has opened an investigation into the leak of classified information about President Bush's secret domestic spying program, Justice officials said Friday.
The officials, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the probe, said the inquiry will focus on disclosures to The New York Times about warrantless surveillance conducted by the National Security Agency since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
The Times revealed the existence of the program two weeks ago in a front-page story that acknowledged the news had been withheld from publication for a year, partly at the request of the administration and partly because the newspaper wanted more time to confirm various aspects of the program.
The reporters in question should be subpoenaed as to their sources. If they refuse to comply they should be thrown in jail for contempt until they're willing to talk.
They can share Judith Miller's cell for all I care.
This NSA leak is several magnitudes more serious than the Plame leak and deserves at least as much attention and scrutiny as that leak did.
For the record, though, I can't get over how these leak investigations are typically reported in the media through heavy reliance on…leakers.
You can read more from Rob Port at SayAnythingBlog.com
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Comments: 5
The White House asked The New York Times not to publish this article (back in 2003, btw), arguing that it could jeopardize continuing investigations and alert would-be terrorists that they might be under scrutiny. After meeting with senior administration officials to hear their concerns, the newspaper delayed publication for a year to conduct additional reporting. Some information that administration officials argued could be useful to terrorists has been omitted."
http://www.nytimes.com
Why?
Because it focuses attention on Bush's lawbreaking and violation of the Constitution.
It's also excellent in that it will force this administration to answer some questions:
1.) the NYTimes had this leak for over a year. The Bush WH was aware of the NYTimes had this leak for a year. If national security was involved, why didn't the Bush admin demand an investigation into the leak a year ago?
What Rob Port fails to understand is that the NYTimes won't be punished--it's the leaker who is at fault.
The questions I would like to hear them answer are the following:
1)If the government "knows" an individual is linked to Al Queda, they should have no trouble getting a warrant. So why not get one?
2)If instant action is required for the thwarting of a terrorist plot is required, FISA gives them 72 hours to get the warrant. Why not get one?
3)If we accept your premise that FISA absolutely HAD to be bypassed, how is your violation not going to spoil a potential prosecution of the target in question?
4)How is monitoring of groups like Greenpeace and the American Friends Service Committee part of the war on terror?
Any supporter of the president may feel free to reply.