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2005-12-18 Home Front: WoT

President Acknowledges Approving NSA Intel Operation

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Posted by Steve White 2005-12-18 00:16|| || Front Page|| [1 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 "A cowardly high-ranking intelligence official who refused to be named"
of course he should be tried for treason

Posted by Jan 2005-12-18 09:59|| 2005-12-18 09:59|| Front Page Top

#2 Ed Morrisey has a well-written analysis of the legal issues involved.

Posted by lotp 2005-12-18 10:04|| 2005-12-18 10:04|| Front Page Top

#3 lotp, thanks for the link.
While I feel that these issues need to be discussed and monitored by top security folks, for someone to leak this very important critical info should be charged with treason. The reporter as well.
I'm reminded of the cops paying off informants for tips to catch criminals. It seems to be turned around now, with the media paying off officials to get security news stories.
As much as I treasure my privacy, and I truly do, in these times, I feel we all need to accept the fact that monitoring is so very important. I wouldn't want this abused, and would like to see it continue to be monitored by the top officials, not blurted out all over the papers. I even worry about some of the items discussed here on the 'burg, that terrorists may be reading. I don't mean to get too paranoid here, but you can't be too careful.

Posted by Jan 2005-12-18 10:50|| 2005-12-18 10:50|| Front Page Top

#4 Look for Democrats to interpret the actions as illegal and move for impeachment proceedings if they get control of Congress. This is a very dangerous politicization of national security issues.

Posted by Glenmore">Glenmore 2005-12-18 11:51|| 2005-12-18 11:51|| Front Page Top

#5 If W gets out and aggressively defends this (as he appears to be doing) - he will leave the NYTimes, The Donks and that dickhead Arlen Spector holding the bag. "I did this and will continue to authorize it to save American lives. It is NOT illegal, and I briefed members of the opposition party, many times"

he should then call for investigations and prosecutions of those disclosing these plans - harming our national security and aiding our enemies.

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2005-12-18 12:05|| 2005-12-18 12:05|| Front Page Top

#6 but somehow I don't think he will, and I'm not sure why.

Posted by too true 2005-12-18 12:08|| 2005-12-18 12:08|| Front Page Top

#7 Bush is in front of this one. He should refues any new hearings. Tell these guys to show up at the periodic briefings that have already been held. Then release to the extent possible details of terrorist ops that have been stopped due to this program. Also explain how, had it been in place, this program would have stopped the 9/11 plot.

What the libertarians do not understand is that US citizens are still protected from any abuse of such a data gathering effort as evidence would not be permissible in a prosecution if it was obtained without proper warrants. Nobody's constitutional rights are trampled. Instead, it's essentially foreign intelligence.

We have military people fighting and dying across the world as we try get an edge against our enemies and these jackasses are on their high horses to stand up for the right for terrorists to make overseas calls without surveillance. It absolutely disgusts me. If I were Bush I would welcome the debate. It's time he pushed around the senate (R's and D's) and showed them for the gutless, media whoring opportunists that they are. None of these SOBs lies awake at night worrying whether he/she had done enough that day to thwart al Queda operations. In contrast the President and his team certainly do lose sleep at night. I do not envy them their jobs and will cut them plenty of slack in how they do them.

This posturing and the obviously questionable timing of it all absolutely piss me off.

Posted by JAB 2005-12-18 12:27|| 2005-12-18 12:27|| Front Page Top

#8 And another thing: Anybody who leaked this to the media needs to go to jail. In fact, the laws need to be changed so that the death penalty is more obviously applicable. There are channels for legitimate reporting of abuses. The NY Times is not part of such a process.

If there is one Senator left with a pair (I nominate my guy Kyl), he will be the one to spearhead the necessary hunt for the leaker. Unfortunately, if the exec branch handles it it will appear politically motivated in this political climate. Though I suppose the Plame precedent should apply and we can appoint a "special" prosecutor.

I usually read Rantburg for the news, but today I find myself Ranting quite a bit. This incident shows the worst in our government in both the security community and congress. We need to purge people who do not take the nature of the enemy seriously.

Posted by JAB 2005-12-18 12:35|| 2005-12-18 12:35|| Front Page Top

#9 he has a nationally televised speech tonite...

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2005-12-18 13:43|| 2005-12-18 13:43|| Front Page Top

#10 I could see Kyl leading it...

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2005-12-18 13:45|| 2005-12-18 13:45|| Front Page Top

#11 And the process is different from listening in on international drug trafficing that has been going on for well over a decade [re:Mr. Clinton's watch]?

Posted by Spolunter Photle4471 2005-12-18 13:53|| 2005-12-18 13:53|| Front Page Top

#12 It would be particularly satisfying if Dubya was to insert into his speech some thing like:

"There is no 'news' nor 'crisis' here. If the Dhimmidonks would simply show up, sober, and stay awake through the critical National Security Briefings to which they are invited, then ask their respective staffs to explain it to them afterwards, in simplified terms they can understand, of course, well, I'm sure we could avoid little misunderstandings like this. On the other hand, we could just shoot them for being seditious traitors. I'm good to go either way."

Posted by .com 2005-12-18 14:02|| 2005-12-18 14:02|| Front Page Top

#13 heh. I'd turn on the idiot box just to hear W say that. Hell, I'd pay to hear it!

Posted by too true 2005-12-18 14:07|| 2005-12-18 14:07|| Front Page Top

#14 President Bush NEEDS to clearly communicate the reason for monitoring and the threat to our security by the NYT leak has on our citizens tonight.

He needs to be concise, clear, and to the point. He needs to verbally B****Slap down these dems and Rinos doing this stuff. They are killing him with a thousand cuts, and need to be stopped. If the so-called Great Karl Roveâ¢ or his staff can't make a speech worthy of communicating the situation, then he better get the Rantburg Committee to whip one up, toot sweet!

I think that this Rove advice thing is way over rated. The President needed to go on the offensive YEARS ago, instead of being passive, when being attacked. Look how accommodation with the Dems has advanced the cause. Bush worked with Kennedy years ago on a bipartisan education bill. He reached out, and Kennedy thanked him by calling the President a liar in speeches in the Senate.

There is a time to ignore the pygmies and there is a time to fight. This is the time to fight.
**takes Zolof pill**

Posted by Alaska Paul">Alaska Paul 2005-12-18 15:12|| 2005-12-18 15:12|| Front Page Top

#15 AP

I suspect the 'problem' is not Rove. I think it is who George is and that is a Christian with a capital "C". He turns the check when it comes to slimy assaults like this all the time. However, when he sees a threat to that which he has been given stewardship over, he'll fight tough. Where to problem arises is his ability to grasp where the line is crossed and it is less a personal/political attack and something that directly hinders the safty of the nation with which he has been entrusted.

Posted by Spush Cromotch1340 2005-12-18 15:21|| 2005-12-18 15:21|| Front Page Top

#16 Scorched eath. Crank up the Char-B-Q...the left is no longer a partner in this republic. They are an enemy in of themselves. Too bad that some good Dems will need to go down with that boat but ah well, such as it is. They can always come over and join the good fight. I've had it....enough with treason passing as politics as usual.

Posted by Rex Mundi 2005-12-18 15:55|| 2005-12-18 15:55|| Front Page Top

#17 SC1340---I have thought about that, and I think that it has played a part during the numerous conflicts with the Dems. The President needs to get "outside himself" and try to see the big picture when these conflicts are happening. He needs to understand that the MSM and Dems have teamed up to saturate the airwaves and other media and destroy him. One cannot sit by and wait it out. They have laid down the gauntlet and he needs to be on the offensive, and not just respond to the attacks. That is real leadership. In other words, he needs to be several steps ahead of them all the time. And that means communication to the people. By and large, that communication effort on the part of the Administration has been dismal, and has hurt the war effort. I know the MSM has been active in blocking his efforts, but that's still how I see it.

Posted by Alaska Paul">Alaska Paul 2005-12-18 16:41|| 2005-12-18 16:41|| Front Page Top

23:47 3dc
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23:28 Alaska Paul
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