Posted on 02/02/2006 10:50:14 AM PST by SkyPilot
WASHINGTON - CIA Director Porter Goss said Thursday that the disclosure of President Bush's eavesdropping-without-warrants program and other once-secret projects had undermined U.S. intelligence-gathering abilities.
"The damage has been very severe to our capabilities to carry out our mission," Goss told the Senate Intelligence Committee. He said a federal grand jury should be empaneled to determine "who is leaking this information."
His testimony came after National Intelligence Director John Negroponte, who directs all intelligence activities, strongly defended the program, calling it crucial for protecting the nation against its most menacing threat.
"This was not about domestic surveillance," Negroponte said.
Leaders of the nation's intelligence agencies appeared before the panel in a rare public session to give a rundown on threats facing the world.
Negroponte called al-Qaida and associated terror groups the "top concern" of the U.S. intelligence community, followed closely by the nuclear activities of Iran and North Korea.
Committee Democrats sought to change the focus to the president's decision to authorize the National Security Agency to eavesdrop — without first obtaining warrants — on communications to and from those in the United States and terror suspects abroad.
"The president has not only confirmed the existence of the program, he has spoken at length about it repeatedly," while keeping Congress in the dark, said Sen. Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia, the panel's senior Democrat.
"The administration wants to have it both ways," said Sen. Carl Levin (news, bio, voting record), D-Mich.
Goss complained that leaks to the news media about the surveillance program and activities such as reported CIA secret prisons abroad had damaged his own agency's work.
CIA Director Porter Goss, and FBI Director Robert Mueller, right, talk as they prepare for the U.S. Select Committee on Intelligence hearing to examine the world threat, on Capitol Hill, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2006 in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) Email Photo Print Photo
"I use the words `very severe' intentionally. And I think the evidence will show that," Goss said.
He said not only have these revelations made it harder for the CIA to gather information, but they have made intelligence agencies in other countries mistrustful of their U.S. counterparts.
"I'm stunned to the quick when I get questions from my professional counterparts saying, `Mr. Goss, can't you Americans keep a secret?'" he said.
Goss cited a "disruption to our plans, things that we have under way." Some CIA sources and "assets" had been rendered "no longer viable or usable, or less effective by a large degree," he said.
"I also believe that there has been an erosion of the culture of secrecy and we're trying to reinstall that," Goss said.
"I've called in the FBI, the Department of Justice. It is my aim and it is my hope that we will witness a grand jury investigation with reporters present, being asked to reveal who is leaking this information," he said.
Rockefeller suggested that the "leaks" Goss talked about most likely "came from the executive branch" of the government.
That brought a terse response from FBI Director Robert Mueller, who said, "It's not fair to point a finger as to the responsibility of the leak."
I think permanent disqualification from holding public office should be first. Then dispose of them as you will.
And the rest of the world is afraid to work with us
"He said not only have these revelations made it harder for the CIA to gather information, but they have made intelligence agencies in other countries mistrustful of their U.S. counterparts."
Can you ping me also?
PARTY TIME!!!
Thanks... there will be more.
This is all garbage.
I can't recall a single person jailed for leaks of classified information since the Espionage Act was actually introduced. John Deutsch emailed tomes of secrets to his personal computer at home, but breathes free air even though he knew better not to do it.
Sandy Burger got a slap on the wrist instead of a room at the Ironbar Hilton.
If jail isn't the penalty for leaking secrets, people will leak them. Zero tolerance will reinstall the 'culture of secrecy'.
Idiots to the last one.
Cut his eyes out, then get nasty!
Pray for W and Our Freedom Fighters
Plame, Kerry, Kennedy, Murtha, NYT, the usual suspects. Nothing will happen......
Let's roll. These treasonous leakers must be found and brought to justice.
There are ways to raise concerns. These do not include providing classified info to the New York Slimes.
Thanks for that link....very interesting!
Frankly, I don't care what branch of government they came from. Let's find the creeps and hang 'em high.
And the "executive branch"--that includes every agency, including the CIA, NSA---well, duh, the leak would have connection there.
I wish they had called him on that lie as well. HE was one of the ones they told about the program. Naturally, they wouldn't tell ALL of Congress...it's a secret stupid!! And look what happened..it STILL got leaked!
Rockefeller ADMITTED earlier that he was told of the program..that's when he later released a CYA "letter" he had put aside supposedly.
The Republicans on the committee should have jumped on this lie...but oh yeah, the "Senate" is the august body that isn't allowed to say mean things about other Senators..unless of course it's Teddy kennedy speaking!
Imagine the damage when it's discovered that a democrat purposfully leaked classified information?
We would have the congress and the whitehouse for a generation.
Re#74 Thanks for the skinny. I sure hope so. The politics of the rats have gotten out of hand and this leak cannot go unpunished. Time will tell...
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