A leak is an unauthorized release of information. If the Pres authorized it, IT AIN'T A LEAK.
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In this case, a "leak" relates to CLASSIFIED information. It has not been clarified as to whether the information was still classified when the leak happened or not. Declassification does have to take place BEFORE information can be released. I listened to a reporter hit McClellan with this exact question, and he was stumbling all over himself trying not to answer the question. I am afraid that Bush and buddies may have been caught on this one -- they sure are avoiding a plausible explanation to date...we continue to await their response.
Classified information is classified on the President's authority. Either the President or Vice can declassify anything at any time.
Therefor, it follows that neither can leak classified information, since by leaking it they automatically declassify it.
Not true. The President can declassify ANYTHING on his word alone. Also, one of our own FReepers, ravingnutter, has shown that this document was declassified in October of 2002, a full eight months before this supposed "leak."
I am afraid that Bush and buddies may have been caught on this one -- they sure are avoiding a plausible explanation to date...we continue to await their response.
I'm afraid that you're dead wrong, and you have your explanation.
Which it did. Guess the DNC Talking Point you are reading failed to point that little fact out to you hmm Howie Dean's mouthpiece?
Proof that this was classified when it was leaked with proof that the President leaked it ... impeach and give Cheney a shot.
The administration has no obligation to give the "reporters" anything, including the time of day.
The Dims and the enabling alphabet media are in quicksand. Let them struggle and go under on their own.
Merry Fitzmas!
The President declassified the information, as it is his right to do so; there was no leak; there was a disclosure of information as authorized by the President.
It is a technicality to argue whether the info was "already" declassified or not, since the Pres has the power to declassify. I suppose you will argue that Bush is a cowboy, unilaterally declassifying information at will?
The President has the right to declassify anything anytime with a verbal order to release the information to one or more persons. Those persons do not have to be in the media, but they can be in the media.
He does not have to release this information to everyone. He can declassify and release information to anyone with his order to release the information. He does not have to fill out a form and have it filed and approved by a subordinate for the information to be declassified. If he says release it, the information is declassified.
It does not matter what the normal policy is. It does not matter if this or other presidents have issued presidential orders on releasing classified documents. The president can tell anyone anything and allow them to publish it. The fact that he did it makes it legal. Cheney can't do it, and certainly Libby couldnot do it. But the President can do it and many have.
In fact Clinton did the same exact thing after he bombed the aspirin factory. There was some criticism of Clinton for bombing what turned out to be a asperin factory. Clinton released to selected media the classified information which he used to order the bombing of the aspirin factory. That act declassified the released information. The Washington Post noted what Clinton had done and applauded it.
You may have listened to a press conference but that does not mean anything. There is one person that can change any presidential executive ruling and violate every presidential order ever made. That man is the current president.