President Bush doesn't blame Sen. Orrin Hatch as the one in Congress with loose lips that might sink ships, administration sources say.
 Trent Lott, R-Miss., left, Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., and Tom Daschle, D-S.D., gather near the West Wing of the White House.  Associated Press |
In fact, an earlier tirade by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld against those who are careless with classified data — which national media said had targeted Hatch, R-Utah — wasn't aimed at him at all, said Rear Adm. Craig R. Quigley, Pentagon spokesman.
That comes as Bush, upset at what he said were weekend leaks of classified data by members of Congress, Tuesday limited classified briefings to only eight members of Congress: leaders of each party in both houses, and leaders of intelligence committees.
That upset many members. Senate Republican leader Trent Lott said after meeting with Bush on Wednesday that a compromise to include more members is likely, but Bush had successfully sent the message "loud and clear" that secret data must remain secret.
Bush said Tuesday he was upset that leaks over the weekend occurred "right before we committed troops." He said that members of Congress must learn that "if you receive a briefing of classified information, you have a responsibility. And some members did not accept that responsibility."
Many national stories about those restrictions brought up again an earlier incident involving Hatch on Sept. 11.
Shortly after terrorist attacks that day, Hatch told TV networks that the government had intercepted phone conversations that made Osama bin Laden a top suspect — including that his associates reported "a couple of targets had been hit."
The next day, on Sept. 12, Secretary of State Colin Powell expressed unease in a CNN interview about Hatch's comments. Dennis Ross, former Middle East envoy during the Clinton administration, did the same and worried aloud that Hatch might have somehow tipped off bin Laden about techniques used to spy on him.
Later the same day, Sept. 12, Rumsfeld groused about carelessness with classified data. U.S. News & World Report, among others, reported that Hatch was the target of those comments.
But that is wrong, Quigley said Wednesday in response to a Deseret News inquiry. He said Rumsfeld merely wanted to warn Defense Department personnel to be careful with information. "It has been an issue that has concerned him for a long time," Quigley said.
Quigley confirmed that Rumsfeld called Hatch to apologize if his comments cause him problems.
Hatch said Wednesday, "He called last week and said, 'Orrin, I hear my name's been used to criticize you. I didn't realize that. I didn't mean you. I know how much you work on these issues.' "
Hatch has said for weeks that he did not release classified information; that he told administration officials who gave him early information that he was calling to see what he could tell the press; and that conversations took place on "non-secure" phone lines on which no secret data is supposed to be discussed.
Meanwhile, Hatch supported Bush limiting classified briefings, but only to a point.
"I don't blame President Bush for keeping top-secret information close to the vest. I will go with the president on that before I will go with Congress," Hatch said.
However, Hatch said leaders in Congress have a legitimate need to top-secret data as they work on legislation affecting the military and spending needs. "I needed it, too, as we worked on anti-terrorism legislation," he said.
Hatch also said he feels sometimes the administration itself leaks information, but blames it on Congress.
"Many times Congress is blamed when it's actually the bureaucracy," he said. "You will go to a briefing and be told not to talk about this, and the next day the Washington Post and New York Times have everything. . . . It didn't come from members of Congress. To blame Congress all the time is wrong, too."