For President, First a Leak; Now, a Jam

NYT Via The Oregonian ^ | 4/8/06 | Scott Shane

[Raycpa]

Where in that order does it say it applies to the president?

[EagleUSA]

What can I say? These people are liars by saying that when the president releases information it is "leaked".
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I agree, since it is only logical. The criminal MSM aside, we should be objective about how this information, important or not, was handled. See my previous post containing the link to Bush's executive order modifying the procedures about how information is classified and declassifed. It does prove there is a process to be followed.

[Carling]

Informed voters WATCH what a President does, and pay little attention to just what he says.

So how do you watch what a President does? I mean, you are clearly wrong on this 'leak', so I wonder how you form your incorrect opinions. I imagine you are "watching" him through a filter; I don't see Bush on CSPAN with a live running feed.

You don't seem very INFORMED to me. Why is this? I'd like to know.

[backhoe]

This story is just another MSM hamster wheel--

http://www.captainsquartersblog.com/mt/archives/006694.php

Still Crying Over The Lost Fitzmas

I understand how disappointing it was to the BDS sufferers that Fitzmas turned into Fizzlemas, but this report is just another non-story in a controversy full of them.

The New York Sun reported today that I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby has testified that he released information from a National Intelligence Estimate in 2003 to a reporter prior to its publication. Predictably, the media and the blogosphere has overreacted, proving once again that most people do not understand classified materials, unclassified materials, and the process used to classify documents...Austin Bay: "So what’s the story here? That someone who worked in the White House selectively passed properly declassified material to the press? That’s not a scandal; that’s Beltway business as usual...Power Line: "This is the same "scandal" the press tried to sell a few months ago. I wrote about it here...David Ensor at CNN:If the president decides to declassify information, he has that legal right. So, it's not about a law being broken here, and it's not about Valerie Plame-Wilson's name.

UPDATE: Once again, the President has the authority to declassify materials at his discretion, a point hammered home by the Washington Post as well:   Comments (43) 

'The media has one mode: "Get Bush."'

"Anyone who has ever worked in intelligence for the US government knows perfectly well that a President, any President, can declassify anything they wish for any reason. Any President can delegate declassification authority down to any level they wish, down to the most newly minted second lieutenant, if they wish, as well."

http://www.smalldeadanimals.com/

"Demagoguery, not journalism"

Why do we need bloggers to fill in the relevant legal details on news stories...The sudden press flap over Scooter Libby’s alleged “revelation” that President Bush declassified intelligence information related to Iraq is silly but all too predictable...Read the original to access the background links mentioned...(Via Instapundit)...Byron York concurs...More for the reading-comprehension-challenged in the peanut gallery - CNN's David Ensor;  Comments (5) |

The Return of the Son of Plamegate

As usual when one of these stories comes out, my esteemed colleagues on the loony left email me gloating about how Bush is going DOWN this time, man! Usually a few obscenities thrown in for emotional impact.

Wish I had a dollar for every pumped-up soon-debunked half-baked pseudo-scandal they’ve gloated over.

Because here we go again: Bush Authorized Leaks About Iraq, Libby Testified.  link: 81 comments

[Raycpa]

(k) "Declassification" means the authorized change in the status of information from classified information to unclassified information.

(l) "Declassification authority" means:

(1) the official who authorized the original classification, if that official is still serving in the same position;

(2) the originators current successor in function;

(3) a supervisory official of either; or

(4) officials delegated declassification authority in writing by the agency head or the senior agency official.

[EagleUSA]

Where in that order does it say it applies to the president?
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You are trying way too hard. Where does it say it does not? The order applies to ALL that handle classified information, and initiate the classification or declassification processes. And it was drafted and executed by Bush and his adminstration. It simply demonstrates there are procudures to be followed.

[CyberAnt]

Here's the truth:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1611378/posts

[roses of sharon]

Ignore them, the conspraiazoid trolls, like their fellow travelers in the MSM/Dem party, are wallowing in Bush-hate pornography.

It is a sickness, and they get off on it.

[Raycpa]

We are being allowed to lose context in this issue. The proper context is that ALL information gathered by government should be available to the public. Only in extraoridinary circumstances should information be classified.

Declassifying documents should occur as quickly as possible.

[Raycpa]

See 65 and let me know if you want ketchup with your crow.

[EagleUSA]

"Declassification" means the authorized change in the status of information from classified information to unclassified information."
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Exactly. And if Bush, Cheney or whomever, applied the proper processes to declassify that information, then it was done appropriately. If not, then the opposite applies. That is the essence of the original question, not some attempt to hang Bush. For some reason, Bush or his assigns will NOT answer that question which is not a good position to take and gives the criminal MSM every opportunity to raise serious doubt.

[Raycpa]

Explain the process the president is required to follow and who signs off for him.

[lowbridge]

bump

[MNJohnnie]

Right, The fact that it is NOT a leak when the President releases information to head off a smear job PR campaign by treasonous CIA bureaucrats set on subverting HIS policy just flys right past this ignorant little DNC directed bubble world doesn't it?

Joe Wilson was running around LYING that the VP office sent him to Niger. We STILL do not know who at CIA sent this butt clown there to subvert the policy of the ELECTED Representatives of the people. The President declassified the information so the press could KNOW the FACT rather then Wilson's lies. The Press continually scream "the people's right to know".

Well Bush, using his POWER as President allowed the people to know, what in his judgment could safely be released. All the squealing by the ignorant and bigoted DNC mouthpieces to the contrary, THOSE are the facts. The President acted as President. Deal with it.

[Reactionary]

Ooo. Another media induced lather.

What will we do?

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

[That President Bush authorized an aide to disclose classified intelligence on Iraqi weapons...]
The first sentence (and premise) of the article is a bold faced lie. The President, who has the authority, declassified the information and Libbey was authorized to disclose (not "leak") same to the MSM.

You are right, this is a preemptive strike in an attempt to immunize themselves (Washington ComPost, NY Slimes) from harm owing to the ongoing investigation into their ACTUAL, TAITOROUS, AND DAMAGING DISCLOSURE OF ACTUALLY LEAKED INFORMATION.

[the final gentleman]

"Explain the process the president is required to follow and who signs off for him."

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Suddenly the room got very quiet. The only sound came from a window that opened to the nearby woodlands...crickets!

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

The "Declassification Process" only applies to Republican presidents. Any information that might be beneficial to the Republicans or a Republican president has to be approved by 2/3rds of the Democrats in Congress and the entire MSM.

[sgtyork]

You didn't really read this did you....


In some exceptional cases, however, the need to protect such information may be outweighed by the public interest in disclosure of the information, and in these cases the information should be declassified. When such questions arise, they shall be referred to the agency head or the senior agency official. That official will determine, as an exercise of discretion, whether the public interest in disclosure outweighs the damage to the national security that might reasonably be expected from disclosure.

Since the Commander-in-Chief is the ultimate classification authority, he exercised his discretion that the public interest was in declassifying this document.

Are we going to have a political environment where only media lies are discussed?

[ez]

(b) It is presumed that information that continues to meet the classification requirements under this order requires continued protection. In some exceptional cases, however, the need to protect such information may be outweighed by the public interest in disclosure of the information, and in these cases the information should be declassified. When such questions arise, they shall be referred to the agency head or the senior agency official. That official will determine,as an exercise of discretion, whether the public interest in disclosure outweighs the damage to the national security that might reasonably be expected from disclosure.

Looks like a "senior official" has the discretion to disclose classified information.