(From the diaries)
Murray Waas reveals that Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) leaked classified intelligence on the eve of the Iraq War that hampered US efforts to apprehend Saddam Hussein.
PREWAR INTELLIGENCE: Is There A Double Standard On Leak Probes?
... three years ago on the eve of the invasion of Iraq, Roberts himself was involved in disclosing sensitive intelligence information that, according to four former senior intelligence officers, impaired efforts to capture Saddam Hussein and potentially threatened the lives of Iraqis who were spying for the United States.
On March 20, 2003, at the onset of military hostilities between U.S. and Iraqi forces, Roberts said in a speech to the National Newspaper Association that he had "been in touch with our intelligence community" and that the CIA had informed President Bush and the National Security Council "of intelligence information from what we call human intelligence that indicated the location of Saddam Hussein and his leadership in a bunker in the suburbs of Baghdad."
Senator Roberts Must Be Held Accountable
After listening to this hypocrite blowhard demand the resignation of every whistle blower who has tried to right Administration wrongs, it would be too much to allow this transgression to go unaccounted for.
Lolligolli alerted me Senator Roberts unfortunate complicity with the Bush Administrations coverups of pre-War Iraq intelligence manipulation.
I encourage readers to check out her diary today entitled. Where Are Polygraph Tests For Bush And Staff? How Cheesed Off Are You At Bush Stonewalling? Lolligolli's original draft included Senator Pat Roberts in the title but it wouldn't fit in less than 100 charactors, but I wish she had left it in. (But once Lolligolli unleashes her dogs or war, we deliver. :-)
The former intelligence officials said in interviews that Roberts was never held accountable for his comments, which bore directly on the issue of intelligence-gathering sources and methods, and revealed that Iraqis close to Hussein were probably talking to the United States.
These former officials contrasted the Roberts case with last week's firing of CIA officer Mary O. McCarthy, as examples of how rank and file intelligence professionals now have much to fear from legitimate and even inadvertent contacts with journalists, while senior executive branch officials and members of Congress are almost never held accountable when they seriously breach national security through leaks of information.
"On a scale of one to ten, if Mary McCarthy did what she is accused of doing, it would be at best a six or seven," said one former senior intelligence official, whose position required involvement in numerous leak investigations. "What Pat Roberts did, from a legal and national security point of view, was an eleven."
How Does Roberts Explain The Difference Between His Leak And Mary McCarthy's?
He doesn't of course. His public comment on leakers is restricted to attacking others and launching witchhunts. And of course, suppressing any attempts for honest and real investigation of any aspect of White House misuse of Pre Iraq war intelligence.
Noting that McCarthy was only ten days short of retirement, Cobb said: "Her hope had been to leave with her dignity and reputation intact, which obviously did not happen."
A former CIA official who worked closely with McCarthy said in an interview that McCarthy was often authorized and directed by higher-ups to talk to the press.
"It is not uncommon for an officer, when they are designated to talk to the press, to let something slip, or not report every contact," the former official said. "Mary might have said something or disclosed something inadvertently, which is exactly Roberts' defense. The only difference between them is that Pat Roberts is the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, and Mary is somebody that they are using to set an example."
Roberts said on Friday that he was "pleased that the Central Intelligence Agency has identified the source of certain unauthorized disclosures, and I hope that the Agency, and the Community as a whole, will continue to vigorously investigate other outstanding leak cases."
Selective Leaks As A Political Weapon: Power Corrupts, Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely
One of the most troubles aspects of selective leaking which misuses the vast power of the US intelligence agencies as a political weapon is the corruption of the political system the intelligence system is supposed to support and protect. For a Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee to be oblivious to this assume responsibility is unacceptable.
On the issue of leak investigations, one former senior intelligence official said that the Bush administration has targeted "leaks and leakers they don't like, while turning a blind eye to those they do like, or [leaks] they do themselves." Should this continue, the former official said, it would set a "dangerous precedent in that any president will be able to control the flow of information regarding any policy dispute.... When historians examine this, they will see that is how we got into war with Iraq."
A senior federal law enforcement official said that by the time the FBI investigation is completed into who provided information to the Times for its articles it may well be the most extensive leak investigation ever undertaken by the bureau -- in terms of agents assigned to the case, resources dedicated to it, and overall expense.
By contrast, the circumstances involving Roberts' statements three years ago to the newspaper group were never subjected to official scrutiny. The senator's comments, while highly significant, received almost no press attention at the time.
I highly recommend folks read the full Murray Waas article as it brings us important issues that will require probably several more administrations to correct. Here we see an example of the Bush Administration and the Capital Hill GOP led in this case by this most corrupt Senator Pat Roberts damaging some of the deepest and most cherished institutions and traditions of our government.
The separation of our military and intelligence function from the political apparatus of power being one of the most important.
Senator Pat Roberts needs to be held accountable now.