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."
They should give lie detector tests to the members of Congress who were briefed on the program and find out which one of them leaked it to the NYT.
Then prosecute them to the full extent of the law. I think I read that revealing top secret info ( which this one was) is a felony. Let's see a perp walk of a member of Congress. THAT would put an end to the leaks. Until now there have been no repercussions. And include the editors of the NYT, who published even after President Bush met with them and explained to them the importance of not making this info public.
"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."
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Let's hope that includes Congressmen and Senators.
I picked on that as well. File this under "irony"..
The leftie bureaucrats in the CIA or anywhere else in government that spill out classified info to the the New York Slimes or the Washington Compost have to pay the price, the sooner the better.
If the rest of the country is as fed up as I am with this "oh well, it isn't important" leftist thinking then the government better get serious about enforcing the law.
from your mouth to Gods ears!
A "Better Late Than Never" Scooter Libby ping!
Witch Hunt = finding the Bill Clinton CIA Appointees who disagree with Bush's International Policies and commit sedition against the government.
Hope it is a "witch hunt" and that heads roll!
Jay Rockefeller first!
bttt
Did ABC EVER EVER EVER use the term witchhunt when reporting on the Plame affair? Their agenda is so obvious now that it's laughable.
No sh@t? The cia apparently has thousands of boobs that just hand out TS SCI information to whatever reporter happens to be buying them drinks......screw 'em. When I had a TS clearance I would be doing time in Leavenworth for providing info much less revealing. These turds need to be rounded up, prosecuted and thrown in the clink.......the number of "leaks" will drop substantially, guaranteed.
"According to people familiar with the Goss e-mail, sent in late January and classified secret..."
Good Lord! Someone find this leak and plug it! Prosecute and punish the traitors!
The name "Jay Rockefeller" comes to mind.
I hope you're right.
i hear what you are saying but they are confident that those phoens they are listening to are terrorists. They aren't listening to me, basically because i'm not calling al-quada on the phone. So if as the press suggests they are randomly eavesdropping. they yes you are correct. But if as everyone close to the story suggest they are only eavesdropping on people calling al-queda, and well thanks to the NY Slimes, the phones are now silent.
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