Posted on 06/27/2006 7:33:08 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday blasted U.S. media for exposing details of highly secretive intelligence programs and asked the Bush administration for a formal damage assessment.
Sen. Pat Roberts (news, bio, voting record), a Kansas Republican, asked U.S. intelligence chief John Negroponte to report particularly on any damage to President George W. Bush's domestic spying program and another secret program by the Treasury Department that tracks private bank records.
"Numerous, recent unauthorized disclosures of sensitive intelligence programs have directly threatened important efforts in the war against terrorism," Roberts, a staunch White House ally, said in a letter to Negroponte.
"Whether the president's Terrorist Surveillance Program or the Department of Treasury's effort to track terrorist financing, we have been unable to persuade the media to act responsibly."
Negroponte's office had no immediate comment. The national intelligence director told Roberts' committee this year that media leaks compromise the effectiveness of intelligence operations and undermine the morale of intelligence officers.
Roberts' letter came a day after Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney denounced media leaks of the eavesdropping and financial data programs.
The administration rejects charges that the spying activities are illegal and says both programs are important tools in its war on terrorism.
Like Cheney, Roberts aimed much of his criticism at The New York Times for its role in exposing the existence of both programs.
"There was no public interest served by disclosing an effective and highly classified intelligence program that is legal and properly overseen by Congress and the executive branch. The New York Times knew that and printed the story anyway," Roberts said in a statement released with his letter to Negroponte.
"I understand newspapers want to sell papers and authors want to sell books, but some things shouldn't be for sale."
In a weekend letter to readers, New York Times editor Bill Keller said the newspaper listened carefully to the arguments of administration officials before deciding to publish details of the Treasury program.
Better yet, blast the congress critter(s) who couldn't wait to leak all these secrets. Plaster their names and mugshots across CNN and the NYT and their hometown newspapers.
Yes, it's very important to define him this way. Only a staunch White House ally would hold think that there's anything wrong with what the NYT did. I'm just sick over this!
New York Times editor Bill Keller ...
Just REFUSE to get it right even when the quote is correct a few lines down.
The administration rejects charges that the spying activities are illegal
DUH...because they are legal you morons!
listened carefully to the arguments of administration officials before deciding to publish details of the Treasury program.
Yes they know best. I LOATHE the ENEMEDIA!
'I LOATHE the ENEMEDIA!'
ahhhhhhh, nice descriptive word...
has elements of both enemy, AND enema, ....
If he is so outraged, maybe he should start investigating his fellow committee members and their staffs, starting with Rockefeller.
LOL! You got it!
What gets me is that BUSH is taking heat from the RIGHT...because he and the rest of the White House, including Tony Snow...haven't come out and said that Keller HAS to be frog-marched to jait RIGHT NOW!!
sheesh...
There are ways to do things...and then there are childish temper tantrums...Bush doesn't do temper tantrums.
I dont trust Negroponte. Wouldn't suprise me if he's involved
We know he can't do that Sleuth! He would be crucified. Besides, he is not a dictator in some 2bit commie country.
Maybe a clip from last December when the NYCrimes printed the NSA Terrorist Surveillance program will help.
Q Mr. President, thank you, sir. Are you going to order a leaks investigation into the disclosure of the NSA surveillance program?
THE PRESIDENT: Let me start with the first question. There is a process that goes on inside the Justice Department about leaks, and I presume that process is moving forward.
And so the Justice Department, I presume, will proceed forward with a full investigation. I haven't ordered one, because I understand there's kind of a natural progression that will take place when this kind of leak emerges.
Stay tuned my FRiend.....it ain't over yet! ;*)
I have that same feeling...that Justice is doing it's job...but, I wish the conservatives like Rich Lowry would quit going on TV..and questioning Bush's WILL to stop the leaks...blech
Didn't know about Rich Lowry.....I never watch TV unless FR informs me the President, or a few others worth my time, are on. LOL!
I wouldn't expect a foreigner or an anti-American to understand but it's not "President George W. Bush's domestic spying program" it's America's domestic spying program. ("domestic"?) It's there to protect my country, my state, my town, my family and my life not just the President's. It's for all of us. All of us who aren't working to bring this country to its knees that is. I guess that doesn't include writers for hemaReuters.
Except that is isn't domestic and it isn't spying. Otherwise they are absolutely right!!!
I think I know what you mean. If they weren't completely wrong they'd be right.
Fuggin-Aye!
When are serious people gonna start throwing their weight around? What's it gonna take, dare I ask?
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