Larisa Alexandrovna's Interview w/ 'Breach' Inspiration, FBI's Eric O'Neill (Asks Him About Plame)

[Hissyspit]

Note her dig at Novak. :)

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Spying_on_spy_Raw_Story_interviews_0612.html

Spying on the spy: Raw Story interviews former FBI investigator Eric O’Neill
Larisa Alexandrovna
Published: Tuesday June 12, 2007

Agent's riveting account is basis for the film, Breach

- snip -

O'Neill on the film, Breach

O’Neill’s riveting account of what transpired between himself and Hanssen over that final crucial period is the basis for the film Breach, released in theaters to high critical acclaim early this year. O’Neill is portrayed by Ryan Phillipe and Hanssen by Chris Cooper in an astonishing performance that, according to those who knew the spy, is chillingly accurate.

RAW STORY's managing editor for investigative news and frequent reporter on intelligence and national security, Larisa Alexandrovna, caught up with O’Neill to discuss his role in the capture of Hanssen, the PROMIS software, the Valerie Plame leak, and other topics involving espionage and government secrecy.

Even though O'Neill never had experience going face-to-face with a "target," he was trained as a "ghost," able to follow someone closely for weeks, "but you would never know I was there."

- snip -

FULL TRANSCRIPT OF O'NEILL INTERVIEW

Raw Story: Nice to meet you, Eric.

Eric O’Neill: Yes, nice to meet you as well

RS: Let’s begin with the obvious question, for me anyway: Why were you picked to get close to Hanssen? You were not an FBI agent, but an operative for the FBI – working toward becoming an agent. Is that correct?

- snip -

RS: Speaking of a national security breach, have you followed the Valerie Plame case?

EO: Yes

RS: Is there any correlation to the Hanssen case in terms of the type of breach of national security this was?

EO: I don’t think there is a correlation because Hanssen affected so many areas over a long period of time. There are things only he can tell us and will take a long time to fix. In the Plame case, they know what needs to be fixed and what the damages are. We still don’t fully know with Hanssen.

RS: I find it ironic that columnist Robert Novak was used by Hanssen to disseminate information and then again by Karl Rove to disseminate classified information. Do you think there is a risk of journalists being used by foreign agents of influence to create a serious national security breach and, if so, can you think of a case where such a thing occurred?

EO: Can’t think of a particular case, but I think this is a severe risk. I think that as journalism becomes more advanced and access to information becomes more and more available, journalists need to be responsible for what they report. I think that a journalist that knowingly or negligently releases/reveals classified information should face federal prosecution.

MORE

[lala_rawraw]

1. thanks for posting...

apparently no one found it interesting... I ask about Sibel Edmonds, PROMIS software, etc... and took a jab at Novak too. well, at least you enjoyed it, and thanks:)

[Nevilledog]

2. Great article.

I wasn't really interested in seeing the movie until I read your article. Very thought-provoking interview. Thanks.

[lala_rawraw]

5. thank you:)

[Hissyspit]

3. .

[DemReadingDU]

4. Very interesting!

I need to see the movie now!