Posted on 06/26/2006 3:31:12 PM PDT by Laverne
Mr. Bill Keller, Managing Editor The New York Times 229 West 43rd Street New York, NY 10036
Dear Mr. Keller:
The New York Times' decision to disclose the Terrorist Finance Tracking Program, a robust and classified effort to map terrorist networks through the use of financial data, was irresponsible and harmful to the security of Americans and freedom-loving people worldwide. In choosing to expose this program, despite repeated pleas from high-level officials on both sides of the aisle, including myself, the Times undermined a highly successful counter-terrorism program and alerted terrorists to the methods and sources used to track their money trails.
Your charge that our efforts to convince The New York Times not to publish were "half-hearted" is incorrect and offensive. Nothing could be further from the truth. Over the past two months, Treasury has engaged in a vigorous dialogue with the Times - from the reporters writing the story to the D.C. Bureau Chief and all the way up to you. It should also be noted that the co-chairmen of the bipartisan 9-11 Commission, Governor Tom Kean and Congressman Lee Hamilton, met in person or placed calls to the very highest levels of the Times urging the paper not to publish the story. Members of Congress, senior U.S. Government officials and well-respected legal authorities from both sides of the aisle also asked the paper not to publish or supported the legality and validity of the program.
Indeed, I invited you to my office for the explicit purpose of talking you out of publishing this story. And there was nothing "half-hearted" about that effort. I told you about the true value of the program in defeating terrorism and sought to impress upon you the harm that would occur from its disclosure. I stressed that the program is grounded on solid legal footing, had many built-in safeguards, and has been extremely valuable in the war against terror. Additionally, Treasury Under Secretary Stuart Levey met with the reporters and your senior editors to answer countless questions, laying out the legal framework and diligently outlining the multiple safeguards and protections that are in place.
You have defended your decision to compromise this program by asserting that "terror financiers know" our methods for tracking their funds and have already moved to other methods to send money. The fact that your editors believe themselves to be qualified to assess how terrorists are moving money betrays a breathtaking arrogance and a deep misunderstanding of this program and how it works. While terrorists are relying more heavily than before on cumbersome methods to move money, such as cash couriers, we have continued to see them using the formal financial system, which has made this particular program incredibly valuable.
Lastly, justifying this disclosure by citing the "public interest" in knowing information about this program means the paper has given itself free license to expose any covert activity that it happens to learn of - even those that are legally grounded, responsibly administered, independently overseen, and highly effective. Indeed, you have done so here.
What you've seemed to overlook is that it is also a matter of public interest that we use all means available - lawfully and responsibly - to help protect the American people from the deadly threats of terrorists. I am deeply disappointed in the New York Times.
Sincerely,
[signed]
John W. Snow, Secretary
U.S. Department of the Treasury
I posted this same time (or near enough) to another poster. Please delete one or the other....doesn't matter which.
Thanks.
Oh no... the TreasSec expressed "deep disappointment"... I'm sure the NYTime is shaking in their boots.
Really! If I were the TreasSec writing the letter to those seditious Slimes, the terms "seizure", "assets", "indictment" and "arrest" would figure prominently...
In other words: "Up your treasonous @$$ Keller!"
This letter perfectly and pointedly exposes the arrogance of the Times, as well as the fact that it will do what it can to undermine the US in this fight against the Islamofascists. NYT, I know which side you are on and it isn't ours.
ny times announces closing of their U.S. division
They've (NYT Editors) have now admitted they know this story might help the terrorists but decided to go with it anyway. Interview done on Hugh hewitts radio show.
Here is the Times real thinking on this issue:
NY Times Justifies its Disclosure of Top Secret Program
Despite a plea from the Bush Administration, the New York Times ran a story revealing that the U.S. government was tracking terrorists through their bank accounts. The classified information disclosed in the Times piece was obtained from unnamed sources alleged to be working for the CIA.
“The Bush Administration’s claim that this disclosure would aid America’s enemies is ludicrous,” said Times editor Isaac Mohlman. “I mean, the Bush Administration is America’s most dangerous enemy. Anything we can do to thwart its evil designs is our patriotic duty.”
The Bush Administration voiced its disappointment at the Times willingness to undermine anti-terrorist efforts. “Training, feeding, housing and arming terrorists requires money,” said Tony Snow, President Bush’s press secretary. “Tracking this money through our banking system is one tool we’ve used to try to prevent attacks on Americans. The effectiveness of this tool has been undermined by the Times article.”
Since the Times story broke banks have reported an outflow of deposits from accounts domiciled in U.S. banks to banks centered in Europe. Muslim banks are disfavored by terrorists because the Koran prohibits paying interest on deposits. An al-Qaeda training manual urges jihadis to “turn the infidels’ sin of usury against them to multiply our resources for carrying out Allah’s will.”
read more at...
http://www.azconservative.org/Semmens1.htm
the grey lady must die.
http://ucca.org/famine/gordondispatch.html
"“The Bush Administration’s claim that this disclosure would aid America’s enemies is ludicrous,” said Times editor Isaac Mohlman. “I mean, the Bush Administration is America’s most dangerous enemy. Anything we can do to thwart its evil designs is our patriotic duty.” "
Sounds like treason to me.
This letter need to go the President of each firm that advertises in the NYT, and to each shareholder of the NYT.
Really! If I were the TreasSec writing the letter to those seditious Slimes, the "seizure", "assets", "indictment" and "arrest" would figure prominently..."
ROFLMAO... Assets.. hehe that's a good one.
Can't argue with a bunch of gay activist leaders.
.
The use of such terminology would be the proper task of the Attorney General, not the Secy of Treasury, although I share your feeling that the situation requires such language.
Somehow, the number and diverse character of the enemies, both foreign and domestic, that President Bush must deal with simultaneously in order to perform the functions of his office and meet his constitutional obligations must be reduced, or at minimum the domestic adversaries must be neutralized, both those in the Congress and in the press, so that he can get on with combatting Islamic terrorists.
the gray lady deserves 2 cement block shoes..
There is none so deaf as he who will not hear.
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.