Posted on 01/03/2006 5:23:36 AM PST by governsleastgovernsbest
by Mark Finkelstein
January 3, 2006 - 07:58
Katie Couric's just-completed interview with NY Times Reporter James Risen, who broke the NSA surveillance story and is now publishing his book on the matter, 'State of War,' offered a treasure-trove of insights into the matter. And give Katie a gentlelady's 'C' for her questioning. Couric earned the bulk of her credit by posing this seminal line of questioning:
"Did [the leakers] have any sympathy or understanding about this new climate this country finds itself in and the criticism the Bush administration took prior to 9/11 for not putting the pieces together and figuring out that a terrorist attack was imminent? In other words, did they acknowledge that tough times may call for tough measures?"
In other matters:
Whether wittingly or not, Risen seemed clearly to tip his hand to the fact that the leakers were disgruntled career employees. People will recall that State Department careerist Lawrence Wilkerson, Colin Powell's former chief of staff, recently claimed there was "a cabal between the vice president of the United States, Richard Cheney, and the secretary of defense, Donald Rumsfeld, on critical issues that made decisions that the bureaucracy did not know were being made.''
Along similar lines, Risen alleged that "the checks and balances that normally keep American foreign policy and national security policy toward the center kind of broke down. You had more of a radicalization, in which the career professionals were not really given a chance to forge a consensus within the administration. The principals: Rumsfeld, Cheney Tenet and Rice were meeting constantly, setting policy and never allowing the experts, the people who understand the region to have a say."
Cooed Katie: "You suggest there was a lot of power-grabbing going on."
"Yes," responded Risen, only too happy to concur.
"Power-grabbing?" How is the exercise of power by the people the president explicitly put in charge of foreign and national security policy a "grab"? Only in the minds of the liberal establishment, who believe that power rightly resides with the career 'wets' in State and the intelligence agencies.
As with Wilkerson, it sounds as if at the origin of this leak were career employees, disgruntled at being shut out of the center of the action by appointed officials.
Further to her credit, Couric did ask a question along such lines, stating 'many critics alleged your sources had serious axes to grind."
Time and again, Risen defended his sources as having the "purest" and "best" motives, springing entirely for their concern for the rule of law.
As to whether he was concerned that in light of the Justice Department investigation into the leaks he might be forced to reveal his sources, Risen was quick to claim that this was "the complete opposite of the Plame case."
True, but surely not in the way Risen meant it. The Plame case involved the 'revealing' of the identity of someone apparently already well-known in many DC circles to be a CIA employee, and a desk jockey at that who had not worked abroad in many years. The NSA affair involves the compromising of a current intelligence operation aimed at America's deadliest enemies.
The leaker(s) made a call. They(he/she) decided on their own accord that Bush did not have the authority to do what he was doing. If the courts back up the leaker(s) they are whistel blowers. If Bush is right and he did have the authority then the leaker(s) becomes a traitor.
Forge a consensus? Good grief! We have Al Qeada doing everything in its power to obtain the resources to nuke major American cities. They have already amply demonstrated they will not hesitate to attack us, killing as many innocent Americans as possible, and this idiot expects the POTUS to forge a consensus before we do what it takes to prevent this? Forge a consensus with whom, those on the left who have demonstrated time and again that they will opposed the Bush Administration on anything and everything, including national security, simply because they hate the man?
Katie musta seen the polling data that showed Americans support the NSA eavesdropping about 3-1. These are poor odds for the MSM to overcome and Katie is willing to move on to other topics.
"True, but surely not in the way Risen meant it. The Plame case involved the 'revealing' of the identity of someone apparently already well-known in many DC circles to be a CIA employee, and a desk jockey at that who had not worked abroad in many years. The NSA affair involves the compromising of a current intelligence operation aimed at America's deadliest enemies."
Great report. I'm glad I missed the interview, really. I am so angry and I want this investigation wrapped up yesterday.
The final line , of this report (above), is woefully inadequate. We have lost a number of great Americans. Fellow citizens who have died while protecting US. The NSA affair involves much, much more than simply the compromising of a current intelligence operation aimed at America's deadliest enemies. The NSA Affair (or more aptly put-the Times Affair) involves compromising LIVES-those of our Armed Services and those of every and any American in the US.
Why do they remain anonymous then?
Puke time as Risen identified his leakers as "patriots".
And just like tar baby, Risen don't know nuthin bout no NYT decision to hold the story for over a year till his book is ready for publication. "Above your paygrade?", Katie suggested. Risen appreciated Katie's response by nodding in agreement, and he must have liked it even better when Katie equated his dodge to one Norman Schwartz often used.
Today on IMUS, Howard Fineman gave a legitimate reason why TNYT covered Risen's revelations at this particular time. Fineman told Imus it was because the Times was tired of getting scooped by their own reporters, and they published book excerpts before the book was published so that wouldn't happen this time. (buncha bull)
Exactly. If their motives were so pure and noble, let them step forward and take a bow.
Sounds like this is the new talking point
And scooped by what reporters??
Jason Blair??
I would bet that the Democrats leaked this story...this is just Risen tryig to cover the backside of the Chuckie, or Teddie...one of those POS Senators did this.
As Margaret Thatcher said (paraphrasing), "Concensus is what you get when you don't have leadership." Thank God that the administration is trying to save our lives rather than arrive at concensus!
"I would bet that the Democrats leaked this story...this is just Risen tryig to cover the backside of the Chuckie, or Teddie...one of those POS Senators did this."
Snort... The thought of Teddie being described as having "pure" motives that spring from his concern for the rule of law somehow amuses me - thoroughly.
Even if one uses the standards of "good leak/bad leak" apparently favored by the MSM, one could certainly argue that the American peopele had a right to know that Joe Wilson was a blowhard and political hack whose wife helped him get the Niger mission.
And apparently NO CRIME was committed in bringing her up! No surprise that that point does not resonate with the Democrats.
-Time and again, Risen defended his sources as having the "purest" and "best" motives, springing entirely for their concern for the rule of law.-
1. Risen knew what he was publishing, and should be thrown in jail with the rest of them.
2. He didn't bother to fact check the law!
3. He is scum (this could also be #1).
4. Couric is scum (OK, that's a freebie).
Risen says that career employees risked their lives (pretty much literally, they could go to jail for life without parole if discovered). He says they did so for pure motives, I presume that means they thought it was imperative that they STOP this move by Bush as quickly as possible.
Except that, instead of talking to a beat reporter for a newspaper that would publish their story the next week, they talked to a guy writing a book that held the story for over a year.
Further, this guy, who seems to agree with them that their motives are pure and americans were having their rights trampled, decided that the rights of americans wasn't really nearly so important as his making a lot of money on his book sales.
In other words, if we accept at face value everything Risen is saying, we are left with the inescapable conclusion that the leakers are idiots, and he is a self-centered, greedy money-grubber.
You don't suppose these were the same dumba$$e$ that "helped" Jimmy Carter, do you? (note sarcasm tag attached)
Did anybody ask Risen why he committed this treason right around the same time he published his book?
The motive - disgruntled careerists - is entirely plausible. I wonder about the timing...Maybe Porter Goss is starting to smoke these weasels out of the bushes, and that's why the leaks are coming fast and furious?
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