Posted on 12/30/2005 5:23:41 AM PST by GWB00
Thanks to a newspaper "scoop" last week, America is a safer place today for terrorists.
Last Thursday the New York Times in a 3,600-word article exposed a top-secret program President Bush ordered shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks. The National Security Agency captures and turns over to counter-terrorist analysts phone calls and e-mails of countless U.S. and foreign citizens. The terrorist agents, who read the newspapers, will now change their ways and blind our intelligence agents. The damage to American safety ranks with the worst intelligence breaches of all time.
"It is a shameful act for someone to disclose this very important program in time of war," the President told a White House news conference. "The fact we're discussing this program is helping the enemy." As an example he told how the government tracked Osama bin Laden as he used his satellite telephone until the press revealed the eavesdropping. "And guess what happened? Osama bin Laden changed how he communicated."
Similarly, columnist Jack Anderson, who died Dec. 17, committed the worst intelligence disaster of the Cold War. On Sept., 1971, he published the news that NSA was listening to the Kremlin bigwigs as they traveled around Moscow in their Zil limousines talking carelessly on their car telephones.
That secret eavesdropping could have tipped American analysts to Soviet moves, such as the invasions of Hungary or Czechoslovakia, or similar plans to suppress the Poland solidarity movement; or plots to assassinate Western leaders, such as the attempt to kill Pope John Paul II.
The worst hot war security breach occurred June 7, 1942. The Chicago Tribune, owned by the rabid anti-New Dealer Col. Robert R. McCormick, and six associated newspapers, revealed that the U.S. Navy's victory at Midway, the turning point of the Pacific war, had been made possible because American code-breakers had broken the Japanese naval code. Admiral Chester Nimitz went into the battle knowing more about his enemy's strength, movements and position than any naval commander in history. American pilots sank four Japanese carriers, stopped the Midway invasion and shattered Japanese offensive power in Asia.
The Japanese promptly changed their codes. President Roosevelt ordered the prosecution of Col. McCormick's newspaper and journalists for violating the 1917 Espionage Act. But a Naval Intelligence emissary went to the White House. "Mr. President, you've got to stop this prosecution," he said.
"We don't think the Japanese realize how thoroughly we have compromised their codes," the spy responded. "A trial and the publicity surrounding it will surely tip them off and they will change their main cipher code." Roosevelt harrumphed in disgust and ordered the prosecution dropped.
In his nationwide address last Saturday, President Bush acknowledged ordering the NSA-CIA eavesdropping program as a "vital tool in our war against the terrorists." New York Times Executive Editor Bill Keller admitted the Times published its story despite Bush administration warnings the story could "jeopardize continuing investigations and alert would-be terrorists that they might be under scrutiny." Keller admitted the Times had delayed publication for a year. Publication at this time stirred Senate Democrats and a handful of Republicans to filibuster and stop renewal of the Patriot Act, which expires Dec. 31.
"The terrorist threat to our country will not expire in two weeks," President Bush declared. "The terrorists want to attack America again and inflict even greater damage than they did on September 11." The filibuster "is irresponsible, and it endangers the lives of our citizens," he said.
How many will have to die for last week's New York Times "scoop?"
The Washington Post added on to the leaking of intelligence information this morning.
More backlash against the NYTimes and the democrats supporting the rights of terrorists....good article. Thanks for posting.
The Times & Wash. Post Articles are treasonous, the leakers should be found & arrested, along with the publishers & editors. To buy or support these papers is to aid & abet their behavior. DISGUSTING!!!
Wow! This out of the Urinal and Constipation? Do I sense a newspaper war beginning and Atlanta wants to be on the good guys' side for a change?
"...throughout modern history the Press has believed they're above it all."Good point.The hatred for GW(and republicans)amongst msm journalists is so intense they'll do anything to attempt to dicredit and/or hamper the administration.If Americans happen to die as a result of leaks,oh well.
Last night ABCt ran a story on a convicted terrorist and his lawyer using the New York times story on illegal spying to get him off. WAKE UP AMERICA!
CORRECTION: ABCt=ABC=A Big Crapshoot
What this paper and most sane Americans are calling a terrible leak : The Democrats and liberals are shouting for joy over. Screaming impeachment at the top of their lungs because the president is trying to protect America.
They are loathsome creatures.
Its hard to justify allowing an anti-American Cabal such as the Democrat party to exist.
bump against the Benedict Arnolds!
bump
bump
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