National security vs. whistle-blowing

[Independent_Liberal]

http://www.christiansciencemonitor.com/2006/0124/p02s01-uspo.html

<snip>

National security vs. whistle-blowing

Protections erode for those who allege governmental wrongdoing - especially if going public risks state secrets.

By Alexandra Marks | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor

NEW YORK – Former intelligence officer Russ Tice wants to tell Congress about what he believes were illegal actions undertaken by the National Security Agency in its highly sophisticated eavesdropping programs.

But he can't. He's been warned by the NSA that the information is so highly classified that even members of the House and Senate Intelligence Committees - who are charged with overseeing the work of the intelligence community - don't have clearance to hear about them. If Mr. Tice talks at the hearings early next month, he could face criminal prosecution.

Tice is one of an increasing number of whistle-blowers in the national security realm who have come forth and found themselves in a bind.

According to the Government Accountability Office, the number of government employees coming forward to report allegations of wrongdoing within the government increased 46 percent in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. And surveys of government employees, particularly in the intelligence agencies and the Defense Department, show the terror attacks prompted an increase in concern about the competency of bureaucracy at all levels as well as a decline in morale.

>>>>more at http://www.christiansciencemonitor.com/2006/0124/p02s01-uspo.html

[Boojatta]

1. Are Intelligence committees combining the two meanings of "oversight"?

1. Omission or mistake.
2. Watchful care or management.

He's been warned by the NSA that the information is so highly classified that even members of the House and Senate Intelligence Committees - who are charged with overseeing the work of the intelligence community - don't have clearance to hear about them.

[biscotti]

2. It seems so impossible to believe

that all these wonderful people don't have some recourse. After all this is America right?
It is all so blatantly obvious, that something is terrible wrong. There is no integrity are patriotism in the republican party are one of them would initiate hearings on Whistle-blowers allegations.