[July 4th]

As an initial matter, I emphasize a few points. The President stated that these activities are " crucial to our national security." The President further explained that "the unauthorized disclosure of this effort damages our national security and puts our citizens at risk. Revealing classified information is illegal, alerts our enemies, and endangers our country." These critical national security activities remain classified. All United States laws and policies governing the protection and nondisclosure of national security information. including the information relating to the activities described by the President, remain in full force and effect. The unauthorized disclosure of classified infomiation violates federal criminal law. The Government may provide further classified briefings to the Congress on these activities in an appropriate manner. Any such briefings will be conducted in a manner that will not endanger national security.

That's about as strong of a "beatdown" as you'll ever see come from an executive agency to the Senate.

[advance_copy]

It would have been perfect had he added the following:

"Mr. Rockefeller, you have the right to remain silent..."

[Wristpin]

"Any such briefings will be conducted in a manner that will not endanger national security."

Meaning "your access to classified information has been terminated!"

[knews_hound]

Any such briefings will be conducted in a manner that will not endanger national security.

It also sounds very much like the NSA will decline to tell the Committee sources and methods in the future, doesn’t it?

The Dems may have cooked their goose this time, I think the NSA is tired of being beaten down by the likes of Rockefeller and will simply refuse to disclose specifics.

Could it be there is an attempt by the Intelligence community to finally strike back at the snipers in their midst that have been hounding Bush with selective leaks throughout his Presidency?

One can only hope.

Cheers,

knews hound

Latest article"The Rope a Dope Gambit"

[Sonora]

Did you use a conversion program to convert to exact text or what? Thanks.