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Is CIA Leak Probe a 'Witch Hunt'?
ABC ^ | 2-7-06 | Brian Ross and Richard Esposito

Posted on 02/07/2006 6:34:17 AM PST by digger48

Director Launches Investigation Into Who Gave Sensitive Information To The Media.

Feb 7, 2006 — The director of the CIA has launched a major internal probe into media leaks about covert operations. In an agencywide e-mail, Porter Goss blamed "a very small number of people" for leaks about secret CIA operations that, in his words, "do damage to the credibility of the agency."

According to people familiar with the Goss e-mail, sent in late January and classified secret, the CIA director warned that any CIA officer deemed suspect by the agency's Office of Security and its Counter Intelligence Center (which handles internal affairs) could be subjected to an unscheduled lie detector test. CIA personnel are subjected to polygraphs at regular intervals in their careers, but one former intelligence officer called the new warning a "witch hunt." Others said Goss' e-mail was narrowly focused and did not suggest agencywide, random lie detector tests.

"It would make no sense at all to give everyone here a lie detector test," said one person who knew about the e-mail.

Goss told CIA employees there were ways other than talking to the news media to resolve any issues they had with classified CIA operations.

The memo informs its recipients that the CIA has asked the Justice Department to prosecute any leakers within its ranks. This comes in connection with recent news reports that detailed the CIA's operation of secret prisons in Europe and its far-flung flights of suspected terrorists to foreign prisons.

Crime reports from the CIA are sent to the FBI and the Department of Justice, and constitute a statement that the CIA believes a crime has been committed.

Current and former employees say there have been only a handful of such agencywide memos in recent years. One dealt with sexual harassment in the workplace and another with the embezzlement of agency money.

Goss confirmed the general outline of the leak probe in his appearance before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Feb. 2.

"We also have an investigation of finding out what leakage, if any, is coming out of that building," he said, referring to CIA headquarters. "And I'm afraid there is some coming out. I also believe that there has been an erosion of the culture of secrecy. And we're trying to reinstill that."

CIA officers are given lie detector tests when they formally become candidates, upon completion of their probation, and then at five-year intervals throughout their careers.

CIA officers also agree to undergo "aperiodic" lie detector tests if requested.

Goss told the Intelligence Committee that "on the external side, 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."


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 200601; 20060202; abcspin; bushsfault; cia; cialeak; goss; langley; leak; leakprobe; liedetectortest; oscic; polygraph; portergoss; probe; renditions; secretprisons; spying; witchhunt
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To: digger48
I guess it's only a "Witch Hunt" if the focus is on the Dims. It's an investigation if it involves Pubbies.
21 posted on 02/07/2006 6:48:08 AM PST by alice_in_bubbaland (New Jersey gets the corrupt government it deserves!)
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To: genxer
ABC has just received details of a classified memo.

It is no wonder they are siding with criminals.
22 posted on 02/07/2006 6:48:26 AM PST by new yorker 77 (FAKE POLLS DO NOT TRANSLATE INTO REAL VOTERS!)
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To: YaYa123

... or Larry Johnson.


23 posted on 02/07/2006 6:49:04 AM PST by maggief (and the dessert cart rolls on ...)
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To: Clintonfatigued; AliVeritas
FYI:

ABC NEWS STORY IS A LEAK ITSELF:

According to people familiar with the Goss e-mail, sent in late January and classified secret

24 posted on 02/07/2006 6:49:48 AM PST by new yorker 77 (FAKE POLLS DO NOT TRANSLATE INTO REAL VOTERS!)
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To: digger48

Hmmmm, sounds like somebody is still 'witching' to the media.


25 posted on 02/07/2006 6:51:14 AM PST by Just mythoughts
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To: Joe 6-pack

By allowing Porter Goss to do his job. Without leaks, lies, and useless supposition by *former* anyones who speak on condition of *anonymity*. But that's just me.


26 posted on 02/07/2006 6:52:47 AM PST by small voice in the wilderness (Hillary/Obama Nation '08. Let The Desolation Begin.)
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To: digger48
I think the DOJ is investigating this...

Report: Justice Department Probing Durbin, Rockefeller CIA Leak

27 posted on 02/07/2006 6:52:49 AM PST by shield (The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instructions.Pr 1:7)
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To: digger48
but one former intelligence officer called the new warning a "witch hunt."

That's one of the witches.

28 posted on 02/07/2006 6:52:57 AM PST by oldbrowser (We must act today in order to preserve tomorrow......R.R)
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To: digger48
"Hope the Justice Department extends this to include certain Senators and their staffers."

Why, whatever do you mean???


29 posted on 02/07/2006 6:53:36 AM PST by Jaxter ("Vivit Post Funera Virtus")
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To: Jaxter

Jay looks like he could be an uncle to the Baldwin Bros.

His Leftist attitude sure relected on Alec.


30 posted on 02/07/2006 6:55:14 AM PST by digger48
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To: digger48

It is a witch hunt if the perp is a RAT, Socialist, Commie, etc.


31 posted on 02/07/2006 6:56:45 AM PST by Redleg Duke (Kennedy and Kerry, the two Commissars of the Peoples' Republic of Massachusetts!)
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To: digger48
"the Goss e-mail, sent in late January and classified secret"

That Secret classification did a lot of good didn't it? I swear the CIA is more leaky than a sieve, more like a bucket with no bottom in it, whatever you pour in immediately comes right back out.
32 posted on 02/07/2006 6:59:23 AM PST by pepperdog
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To: digger48
Which witch?

Hitlery

Or?


33 posted on 02/07/2006 6:59:38 AM PST by USS Alaska (Nuke the terrorist savages - In Honor of Standing Wolf)
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To: maggief

Thanks for the reminder of Larry Johnson. I didn't think of him....all round champion spinner/defender of his dear friend Val Plame. But I think Johnson does his schtick for NBC ?


34 posted on 02/07/2006 7:00:48 AM PST by YaYa123
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To: digger48

So, somebody leaked a confidential memo about leaking? Boy, do they ever have a problem over there at Langly and I hope to God they can trace down these leakers. These people need to be put in prison for a very long time.


35 posted on 02/07/2006 7:01:45 AM PST by McGavin999 (If Intelligence Agencies can't find leakers, how can we expect them to find terrorists?)
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To: USS Alaska
Image hosting by Photobucket
36 posted on 02/07/2006 7:02:13 AM PST by digger48
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To: frankjr

"All of these negative stories about finding the leakers use anonymous "former" officers as sources."

Try this for a theory: the present CIA employees leak to their "former" colleagues, who then tell the press.


37 posted on 02/07/2006 7:08:52 AM PST by popdonnelly
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To: maggief

...or Ray McGovern.


38 posted on 02/07/2006 7:10:21 AM PST by popdonnelly
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To: digger48
Amen to that but it will never happen. "Leaky" Leahy and the Democrats will do anything to bring America down if they are not chosen to lead. You have people in prison for doing a lot less than some of those on this committee has done and buy the way the CIA and FBI have become nothing but political arms of the Democrats and there is nothing Porter Goss can do about it now. The CIA and FBI have become inept and very dangerous in my opinion.
39 posted on 02/07/2006 7:13:00 AM PST by gunnedah
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To: YaYa123

Looks like he's been in with quite a few ...

Mr. Johnson has analyzed terrorist incidents for a variety of media including the Jim Lehrer News Hour, National Public Radio, ABC's Nightline, NBC's Today Show, the New York Times, CNN and the BBC. He was even employed as a Fox News Contributor during 2002. Mr. Johnson has authored several articles for publications, including Security Management Magazine, the New York Times, and The Los Angeles Times.

http://www.berg-associates.com/larryc.htm


40 posted on 02/07/2006 7:17:31 AM PST by maggief (and the dessert cart rolls on ...)
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