Obama administration’s inquiry into AP was justified - OPINION

[OKNancy]

Obama administration’s inquiry into AP was justified

http://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2013/05/15/obama-administration-inquiry-into-was-justified/acD1EC2k13r43ourkcMPPM/story.html

As the controversy over the Department of Justice’s leak probe into the phone lines of Associated Press reporters grows, it’s important to separate legitimate concerns about the scope of the probe with the clear need for the investigation in the first place. Excessive freak-outs by those who liken the Obama administration’s behavior to Watergate fancifully ignore that the investigation was authorized by law as part of an inquiry into a serious crime. Congress could change the rules to prohibit any such infiltration of a media outlet, but that would require the Justice Department’s critics to actually delineate a line so sacrosanct that investigators can never cross it, no matter how damaging the leak. Attorney General Eric Holder’s foes are criticizing the AP search, but where would they draw the line?

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The main reason why it’s important to distinguish criticisms of the scope of investigations from the existence of the investigation is because, unless we do, we risk forgetting why the Justice Department started the investigation in the first place. When the 2012 AP story first broke about an intelligence asset within a terrorist cell that was providing information about a pending plot, I wrote that the leak was jaw dropping. I do not think there is a single historical example of a news organization having and publishing specific and detailed information about a covert operation involving human intelligence. There still seems to be some question about whether the AP’s story led to the pulling of the asset, or whether his removal was already planned, but Britain, which helped coordinate the spy, seems to think the former.

When the story broke, I urged an independent investigation. Ironically, so did Republicans who thought Obama was just trying to strut his stuff by disclosing how cool his counterterrorism efforts were. It is clear, however, that the leak was unauthorized and damaging. I believed then, as I still do now, that the leak must have been some consequence of a fight between the CIA and DOD over who gets control over covert operations; at the time of the disclosure, and to a certain extent now, the bureaucratic fighting continues over this next phase of counterterrorism operations.

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more at the above link

[The Magistrate]

1. I Tend To Agree, Ma'am

This is a legitimate 'sources and methods' matter that the government ought to nail down tight.

[graham4anything]

2. I agree. +1

[blm]

3. RW Boston Herald DEMANDED broad powers for investigation into leaks last summer.

http://bostonherald.com/news_opinion/opinion/editorials/2012/06/time_plug_leaks
Time to plug the leaks

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Boston Herald editorial staff

The director of national intelligence has decided basically to lock the barn after a host of national security leaks, but it’s just not enough for some Republican senators — and they are oh so right.

Yesterday Sen. John McCain was joined by a number of his colleagues in calling for the appointment of a special counsel to investigate recent leaks of highly sensitive information such as the use of a computer virus to sabotage Iran’s nuclear program and the president’s role in ordering drone strikes on certain terrorist targets.
>>

“The numerous national security leaks reportedly originating out of the executive branch in recent months have been stunning,” said a letter to Holder, signed by more than 30 GOP senators. “If there were ever a case requiring an outside special counsel with bipartisan acceptance and widespread public trust, this is it.”

Director of National Intelligence James Clapper announced Monday that investigators from any intelligence agency will have the authority to administer lie detector tests to suspected leakers who would be subject to firing or reprimand even if the disclosure did not rise to the level of criminal conduct. A new inspector general will be given broader powers to conduct such investigations. All of which is perfectly fine and long overdue.
>>>>

Predictably - they are now pretending they are outraged over the investigation.

[pacalo]

4. The AP is in the role of Judy Miller in the Plame case.

The AP's story led to the pulling of an agent who had successfully infiltrated a terrorist cell & provided information that exposed a pending terrorist plot.

The leak may have represented a very dangerous attempt by someone inside the intelligence community to get credit for his agency. He or she may also have leaked it to counter the Obama administration’s claims that there was no heightened security threat at the time of the anniversary of Osama bin Laden’s death.

Nonetheless, the leak wasn’t just an inside-the-Beltway jab at political enemies, and the story that resulted wasn’t about infighting in the national security staff. The information cut to the heart of how America fights its enemies and the resources it uses to do so. An agent of ours had infiltrated a terrorist cell. He is no longer in the inner circle. The leaker may be to blame. And the investigation that has everyone up in arms was completely justified.

[Cha]

5. thanks for this, Nancy. From your link..

The leak may have represented a very dangerous attempt by someone inside the intelligence community to get credit for his agency. He or she may also have leaked it to counter the Obama administration’s claims that there was no heightened security threat at the time of the anniversary of Osama bin Laden’s death.

Nonetheless, the leak wasn’t just an inside-the-Beltway jab at political enemies, and the story that resulted wasn’t about infighting in the national security staff. The information cut to the heart of how America fights its enemies and the resources it uses to do so. An agent of ours had infiltrated a terrorist cell. He is no longer in the inner circle. The leaker may be to blame. And the investigation that has everyone up in arms was completely justified.

UnFreakingReal!