The New York City Subway Terror Alert leaks and Plamegate
Can anyone say Double Standard?
I thought you might be interested in the following comparison in the timing and handling of governmental leaks that have national security implications.
More below the fold:
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October 2005
A Newsday article reports that "two federal anti-terrorism employees" have had their security clearances suspended barely 2 weeks after unauthorized emails of classified information warning recipients to avoid the NYC subway system because of a potential terrorist attack were traced back to them.
Personal Responsibility
"A Coast Guard spokesman, Jeff Carter, said a Coast Guard employee had stepped forward and said he might have been involved after some of the e-mails were published in the New York Daily News."
Motivation
New York City Mayor Bloomberg thinks that they should be fired. "I can appreciate them trying to take care of their friends," the mayor said. "...but...it was unconscionable."
The 2 Coast Guard employees are currently subject to an ongoing investigation by the Department of Homeland Security.
My own fictional parallel news story
October 2005
Two senior White House officials (Karl Rove and I. Libby), advisors to the President and Vice President of the United States, have NOT had their security clearances suspended, even though it has been more than two years since they were allegedly involved in the leaking of classified information.
These leaks resulted in:
- the unprecedented outing by U.S. government officials of one of its own - a CIA NOC (non official cover) operative, Valerie Wilson and
- the destruction of an established cover company that helped facilitate the acquisition of human intelligence on Weapons of Mass Destruction in the Middle East.
Personal Responsibility
Neither White House official appears to have stepped forward on his own to say how he might have been involved in the leak after the news of the blowing of the operative's cover became public knowledge. Repeated appearances before the federal Grand Jury may reveal in the end a lack of full disclosure, truthfulness and full cooperation on the part of the White House.
Motivation
It is believed that the White House officials implicated in the leak were trying to discredit Ambassador Wilson for his op-ed piece in the New York Times that stated no evidence had been found linking Iraq and Niger to "yellowcake", an important resource necessary for the production of nuclear weapons, without it appearing to come from the White House. Intentionally or accidentally they may have revealed classified information, a wrecklessness that resulted in the outing of a long-standing CIA operative (NOC) and which may have long term consequences to our country's national security efforts.
However, White House press secretary, Scott McClellan, said on October 10, 2003, "I spoke with those individuals [Rove, Libby] myself...and those individuals assured me they were not involved in this... the leaking of classified information."
In addition, Dkosopedia states that, "although Democratic critics called for one of the administration officials, [Karl] Rove's dismissal, or at the very least immediate suspension of Rove's security clearances and access to meetings in which classified material was under discussion, Rove remain[s] working" at the White House."
President Bush has flip-flopped on how leakers of classified information should be treated:
In September 2003 President Bush's aides admit that "Bush has no plans to ask his staff members whether they played a role" in the leak. (Allen, WaP, Sept. 29, 2003 at A01).
In June 2004, he pledged to fire any individuals involved in the leaking of classified information.
In February 2005 President Bush honored Karl Rove with the added responsibility of Deputy Chief of Staff on top of his positions as Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor.
The media is full of unsubstantiated rumors hinting at possible upcoming indictments for the 2 officials for possibly obstruction of justice, perjury conspiracy, and/or violating various laws involving confidentiality of classified information and espionage.
The 2 officials' conduct in this matter is part of an ongoing investigation by a federal Grand Jury and Prosecutor Fitzgerald. The Grand Jury's session is due to expire at the end of this month.