I only had a "Secret" clearance in the army, although for a while I was the company classified documents clerk. Mainly that involved keeping track of the technical documents used for radar repairs, and burning of extra, unneeded documents in a 55-gallon oil drum out in back.
I think I can now safely say that I learned about the existence of Claymore mines at that time, before they were used in Vietnam, because somebody who couldn't be bothered to dispose of a secret manual properly sent me the instructions on how to set them up, which I burned. Didn't seem much point in keeping the manual in the library when we didn't have any Claymore mines around and had no brief to repair them.
At least the first Vietcong they used them on were probably surprised.
I agree with you completely that the Times reporter and editors responsible for the security leaks should be punished, and that their sources should be even more heavily punished. But what we're talking about here is a political operator, Fitzgerald, who is helping the Democrats play games with national security, pretending you can't trust the assistant to the V.P. to keep secrets.
Disgusting beyond comment. Something has got to change or as a nation we are in for some rough times ahead with the islamofacists waiting to either convert us all, make us servants, or lop our heads off. I am told by someone who has a better understanding of the Koran than I ever will, that these are the 3 options for dealing with infidels like myself.