Feb 04 2006
Rocky’s Road To Perdition
Seems all the liberal scandals are unravelling on them. Senator Rockefeller is well know for two things: a memo in 2003 outlining a partisan smear attack on the Bush administration using claims of illegality, and mention in the NY Times story on the NSA program exposed to the terrorists. Seems our highly trained intelligence community have their man in the NSA leak case – according to Mac Ranger who links to this Free Republic post
The topic was the hearings that start on Monday. Babbin said that he had spent much of today talking on backkground with his sources in the intelligence community. He said flat out that they know that Rockefeller is the source of the leak to the NY Times.
The administration is not sure how to proceed. Babbin doesn’t think they have the guts to indict a US senator. He said it would cause a battle royal on the Hill, if not a constitutional crisis.
He did say however, that any senator or Congressional staffer that holds a security clearance can be asked at any time to take a polygraph. The individual can of course refuse to take the test, but failure to do so is reason to remove that person’s security clearance.
Babbin said further that Rockefeller, Durbin, and Wyden, and some on their staffs will soon be requested to take polygraphs.
If indeed this is true, it has obviously staggering implications. You would have the co-chair of the Senate Intelligence committee unable to in effect, do anything..
Mac Ranger was one of the first to hear through his sources the name Rockefeller as the source of the leak. But Mac is also hearing some indication as to where this information is coming from
The FBI has pretty much come to conclusion over who leaked the NSA story to the times. The problem is that when it’s a US Senator, he has – well a lot of people (staff/clerks, etc), who well, talk. Especially when they’ve been “pressured” to do so.
Hugh Hewitt also weighs in on this story
Given that the CIA’s Porter J. Goss stated emphatically that the leak had done very serious damage to the Uniterd States, if Rockefeller is a suspect, he should be hauled before a Grand Jury asap. When the crime was bribery (Abscam)no one protested that a sitting U.S. Senator ought not to be atarget.
If the crime is much more serious –and this is– purported good intentions should not shield the suspect.
What this means is it will be one interesting Monday in the Senate.
I said I wondered if they had the guts to indict a US Senator, too.
I would like to think they do, but maybe the lie detector test is the way to go.
Rockefeller In A World Of Hurt
What is quite amusing is that during the recent hearings you will recall that good ole’ Rocky said that he believes the Executive brance was the source of the leak. Obviously an attempt to divert attention away from himself, unsuccessfully.
…
Sen. Jay Rockefeller points the finger at the Executive branch for the leak!!
CIA Chief Says Wiretap Disclosure Damaging
“The president has not only confirmed the existence of the program, he has spoken at length about it repeatedly,†while keeping Congress in the dark, said Sen. Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia, the panel’s senior Democrat.
“The administration wants to have it both ways,†said Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich.
(AP) National Intelligence Director John Negroponte, left, with CIA Director Porter Goss, center, and…
Full Image
Goss complained that leaks to the news media about the surveillance program and activities such as reported CIA secret prisons abroad had damaged his own agency’s work.
“I use the words ‘very severe’ intentionally. And I think the evidence will show that,†Goss said.
He said not only have these revelations made it harder for the CIA to gather information, but they have made intelligence agencies in other countries mistrustful of their U.S. counterparts.
“I’m stunned to the quick when I get questions from my professional counterparts saying, ‘Mr. Goss, can’t you Americans keep a secret?’†he said.
Goss cited a “disruption to our plans, things that we have under way.†Some CIA sources and “assets†had been rendered “no longer viable or usable, or less effective by a large degree,†he said.
“I also believe that there has been an erosion of the culture of secrecy and we’re trying to reinstall that,†Goss said.
“I’ve called in the FBI, the Department of Justice. It is my aim and it is my hope that we will witness a grand jury investigation with reporters present, being asked to reveal who is leaking this information,†he said.
Rockefeller suggested that the “leaks†Goss talked about most likely “came from the executive branch†of the government.
That brought a terse response from FBI Director Robert Mueller, who said, “It’s not fair to point a finger as to the responsibility of the leak.â€
SBD
Also, let’s not forget the rumor about another Senator involved in the leaking. According to Jack Wheeler, Senator John McCain leaked the prison story. Maybe with a Republican, evan a fake one, and a Democrat, it will be easier to get rid of both.
SBD
Well now,
I would point out to Sens. Levin and Rockefeller that the Prez wasn’t talking about the NSA program before the traitors at the NYT made it public knowledge.
This should REALLY play well in the fall campaign season. Rove is likely salivating every time he thinks of it (which may be quite often).
TG,
If I recall correctlly, Rove was the first to note in a political situation that dems were 9/10 and Reps were 9/11. It appears Nov 06 election will play out on the Nat’l security play field. Has Rove/Bush layed the cards on the table only to have the Dems prior actions haunt them? Can you imagine if the Dems try to defend Rocky’s actions during the run up to Nov 06? WOW, could be fun!!!!!!
Well there goes my theory about the FISA judge; I was certain he was the source of the leak. Whomever it proves to be should be prosecuted to the fullest, a senator does not have immunity. “Good
Intentions” won’t wash, either. We’ve all been put in harms way by
this published information in a media our enemy reads daily!
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