Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Leaks and the Law [The case for prosecuting the New York Times]
Weekly Standard ^ | 6/23/06 | Gabriel Schoenfeld

Posted on 06/23/2006 11:04:09 PM PDT by bnelson44

CAN JOURNALISTS REALLY BE PROSECUTED for publishing national security secrets? In the wake of a series of New York Times stories revealing highly sensitive counterterrorism programs, that question is increasingly the talk of newsrooms across the country, and especially one newsroom located on West 43rd Street in Manhattan.

Last December, in the face of a presidential warning that they would compromise ongoing investigations of al Qaeda, the Times revealed the existence of an ultrasecret terrorist surveillance program of the National Security Agency and provided details of how it operated. Now, once again in the face of a presidential warning, the Times has published a front-page article disclosing a highly classified U.S. intelligence program that successfully penetrated the international bank transactions of al Qaeda terrorists.

Although the editors of the Times act as if prosecution is not a possibility, not everyone concurs. One person who is still mulling the matter over is Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Asked in late May about the prospect of prosecuting the Times and others who publish classified information, he by no means ruled it out. "There are some statutes on the books," he said, "which, if you read the language carefully, would seem to indicate that that is a possibility."

(Excerpt) Read more at weeklystandard.com ...


TOPICS: Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: cia; espionageact; law; leaks; media; mediawatch; nsa; nyt; war; waronterror; yellowjournalism
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-82 next last
To: bnelson44

Everyone ignores one obvious reason why these newspapers release this information.

It is the 800 pound gorilla in the room. No one wants to talk about it.

1. They release the information because they are on the side of the terrorists and are doing their espionage work for them. Liberals have found that if they condemn classified information as "abuse of power," then they can call themselves "whistleblowers" instead of spies. Then they get lauded for their courage.


41 posted on 06/24/2006 4:39:01 AM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It. Supporting our Troops Means Praying for them to Win!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: xzins

Every Rat pundit on tv yesterday defended this by saying that *it's Americans right to know*......that's their talking point.


42 posted on 06/24/2006 4:43:09 AM PDT by mystery-ak (Army Wife and Army Mother.....toughest job in the military)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: pcottraux
Couldn't we only prosecute them if a war had been officially declared? Not sure how that works.

Classified information is classied all the time, war or not. Disclosing it is, and always will be a crime.

43 posted on 06/24/2006 4:44:06 AM PDT by EricT. (CA conservatives only serve to inflate the number of electoral votes won by the Dems.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: bnelson44
I say go after them. This BS has got to stop. The press won't stop revealing our secrets until they are taken to account. They need to see one of their smarmy own, in chains, squealing on their way to prison. ;0)
44 posted on 06/24/2006 4:46:20 AM PDT by cibco (Xin Loi Saddam)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: garjog
What we need is to reserve a nice cell for them at Gitmo.

No way, Gitmo is too plush. They need to go to Ft. Leavenworth, KS.

45 posted on 06/24/2006 4:47:44 AM PDT by EricT. (CA conservatives only serve to inflate the number of electoral votes won by the Dems.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: patj

Actually- once the Times let the administration know in no uncertain terms it was going to publish the story- the admin gave them people to talk to so they would publish facts rather than supposition.

The NYT's has no bottom level..it simply goes deeper down, always able to find a new and more destructive level. SOB's.


46 posted on 06/24/2006 4:49:30 AM PDT by SE Mom (Proud mom of an Iraq war combat vet)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: garjog
"What we need is to reserve a nice cell for them at Gitmo. They deserve it along with the other enemies of America."

They don't deserve that good of a treatment.

47 posted on 06/24/2006 4:51:10 AM PDT by cibco (Xin Loi Saddam)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: bnelson44
The next NYT Executive staff's board meeting should be something like below:


48 posted on 06/24/2006 4:58:16 AM PDT by MaDeuce (Do it to them, before they do it to you! (MaDuce = M2HB .50 BMG))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SE Mom
Actually- once the Times let the administration know in no uncertain terms it was going to publish the story- the admin gave them people to talk to so they would publish facts rather than supposition.

That's a technique.

I'd have thrown them in prison for endangering the lives of Americans and selling out their country in order to win a Pulitzer prize, but whatever.

49 posted on 06/24/2006 5:00:56 AM PDT by Steel Wolf (- Islam will never survive being laughed at. -)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: 308MBR

The one person we have heard zip from lately is Rockefeller. (I think). He was so verbal about the NSA spying, it makes me wonder if he is under investigation.


50 posted on 06/24/2006 5:02:34 AM PDT by Sacajaweau (God Bless Our Troops!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Wristpin
I'm sure we have room in Leavenworth for them. What I can't understand is why the advertisers and shareholders aren't screaming bloody murder. Do they really want to be party to this?!
51 posted on 06/24/2006 5:03:53 AM PDT by mewzilla (Property must be secured or liberty cannot exist. John Adams)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: Steel Wolf

It's beyond words- the absolute failure of the NYT's to give a damn about their country.


52 posted on 06/24/2006 5:11:08 AM PDT by SE Mom (Proud mom of an Iraq war combat vet)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 49 | View Replies]

To: mystery-ak; P-Marlowe; blue-duncan; Thunder 6

It is obvious to me that they do it because they are on the side of the terrorists.

Perhaps that is because a socialist doesn't care which dictator is in charge just so long as some dictator is in charge.

Perhaps it's because they think that they, like Lenin's Red Army, will be the ones standing when the dust has settled "after the revolution," and these ragtag autocratic, religious fanatics will be easily demonized and disposed of. But, if in the meantime they can use them to foment turmoil and use them to undermine democracy, then they are useful idiots for the time being.

Whatever the reason, the MSM is on the side of the terrorists.

I don't know how it could be more obvious.

Finally, this financial date would probably reveal, when unraveled enough, financial transactions between the MSM & Terrorism. It is critical to the MSM's long-term agenda, not to have that level of treason revealed.

Did not CNN support Saddam Hussein?


53 posted on 06/24/2006 5:11:42 AM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It. Supporting our Troops Means Praying for them to Win!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: bnelson44
The leaks must be found. There was a big deal made out of the alleged outing of Valerie Plame. This is a big deal and there have been many leaks within the government while we have been at war.

These leakers are no better than spies and this is treason. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the New York Times on the Pentagon papers thanks to this person-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Ellsberg
Maybe with a different Court this kind of treason can be stopped.
54 posted on 06/24/2006 5:20:55 AM PDT by Paige ("Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism." --George Washington)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bnelson44

The MSM would have us believe that leaking sensitive classified information on how we conduct surveilance OPS against our enemy is justified and at the same time forgetting that you may have unintentionally mentioned the name of a CIA agent (NON-COVERT) (Not A Crime) in conversation with reporters is punishable by death....

What a strange liberal world we live in....


55 posted on 06/24/2006 5:31:25 AM PDT by tomnbeverly (The calm 2006 hurricane season is a Karl Rove political stunt to refute Global warming claims)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: EBH
Every patriot on this thread has posted an intelligent comment. Please transfer your thoughts to the email link posted on # 37. It does no good to preach to the choir.

Please make the effort to send your personalized email to the DOJ. Put the gist of your thought in the heading, then take it from there. Make it succinct and intelligently forceful.

Consider this a freep. This is what we're here for.

Participate as though your life depends on it......and it MAY!

I sent mine 5 minutes ago. It took two minutes out of my day.

Go and do thou likewise!

Leni

56 posted on 06/24/2006 5:50:34 AM PDT by MinuteGal (Mi casa es su casa. Mi pais es su pais. Mi dinero es su dinero. Mi..............)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: bnelson44

These people want lots of our people KILLED....one, because they DESPISE George Bush....two, because it sells more papers!!!


57 posted on 06/24/2006 6:02:20 AM PDT by Suzy Quzy ("When Cabals Go Kaboom"....upcoming book on Mary McCarthy's Coup-Plotters.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bnelson44

There BETTER be some prosecutions...and SOON!!


58 posted on 06/24/2006 6:03:01 AM PDT by Suzy Quzy ("When Cabals Go Kaboom"....upcoming book on Mary McCarthy's Coup-Plotters.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinuteGal

MinuteGal,

LOL. I posted that information and yes...my letter was sent to the DOJ before I posted.

I agree if we can Freep other offices etc. It is time to Freep the DOJ!


59 posted on 06/24/2006 6:13:59 AM PDT by EBH (We're too PC to understand WAR has been declared upon us and the enemy is within.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 56 | View Replies]

To: pepsionice

Good ideas, all!

However, I must demure from this line of action. I get into enough illegal acts just spraying my roses all by myself, let alone what happens when I drive.


60 posted on 06/24/2006 6:30:48 AM PDT by 308MBR ( Somebody sold the GOP to the socialists, and the GOP wasn't theirs to sell.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-82 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson