CONGRESS' LOOSE LIPS

New York Post ^ | 6/21/02

[kattracks]

No reasonable person believes that the Bush administration should shut Congress out of the War on Terror. But Congress, to evoke an earlier conflict, needs to remember that "Loose Lips Sink Ships."

Yesterday, the Washington Post - quoting anonymous sources - revealed that the National Security Agency intercepted messages on Sept. 10 that included the phrases "Tomorrow is zero hour" and "The match begins tomorrow."

[Las Vegas Dave]

Do the "loose lips" in congress realize that it is borderline treason!

[Glenn]

Do the "loose lips" in congress realize that it is borderline treason!

It's comical. Everyone is aware the NSA has the capability to spy on everything. When it gets confirmed, as in this case, it becomes a political football. The administration is posturing.

[Terp]

Hey people I am in the military. I'm pretty sure this stuff is classified at the minimun SECRET. If I had done the same thing I would be in a world of trouble to say the least. So wake up!!!!!!!!!!

[Terp]

Sorry Glenn my post was meant for the Las Vegas guy.

[Glenn]

So wake up!!!!!!!!!!

First, thanks for your service to the country. Second, I am awake (darnit). Third, the American public has a right to know how well we're being governed and protected.

[Travis McGee]

This is NOT a joke or "posturing". A leak from the court trial of the East African Embassy bombers in NYC (also supposed to be kept secret) revealed to Osama that we were listening to his satphone conversations. Until then, we had a decent source of info on his plans and movements. After the leak, he stopped using the satphone, and "went off radar"......until 9-11.

Still think that revealing sources and methods is a joke?

[Solid Oak]

Baloney! Knowing that NSA listens is one thing.....leaking the specifics is quite another. If it were a rank and file intelligence employee who leaked specific intelligence information they would (1) lose their job and (2) have charges filed against them. What this points out is that the law applies only to the common folk - the political elite (like members of Congress) are exempt.

[Solid Oak]

Sorry Glenn.....below was meant for Las Vegas:

Baloney! Knowing that NSA listens is one thing.....leaking the specifics is quite another. If it were a rank and file intelligence employee who leaked specific intelligence information they would (1) lose their job and (2) have charges filed against them. What this points out is that the law applies only to the common folk - the political elite (like members of Congress) are exempt.

[olliemb]

Posturing?? Do you remember when Senator Leahy leaked out information from an intelligence committee and one of our spies lost his life b/c of the leak? That is why Senator Leahy is known also as Leaky Leahy. At that time he was relieved of his duties on that committee (slap on the hand) yet someone's life was lost b/c of that.

Do you remember when intelligence leaked out that Osama bin Laden's cell phone was tapped in 1998? Same day Osama went on the inernet and gave up his cell phone.

Posturing to want to keep our intelligence a secret from the enemy? The leaker should be fired and maybe considered a traitor--after all both the house and the senate agreed to the utmost secrecy in their private meetings. This information was not for public consumption.

[Ann Archy]

The White House needs to give each Senator and Rep a different secret to see who is the leaker......a made up one of course!!

[1Old Pro]

and pointed the finger of blame right at Congress.

They should stop the dancing here and point the finger of blame at Democrats who simply want to embarrass the President.

As for poster Glenn, I believe you're being ridiculous in expecting that the billions of bytes of intelligence can all be looked at and translated immediately.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Bet Graham leaked it.

[lonestar]

Third, the American public has a right to know how well we're being governed and protected.

You know not, that you know not?

[Republic]

Whoever leaded it, I am going to pray that he or she is fully exposed. This needs to happen. Enough is enough. Leahy, the senate chair of the investigation, should be REMOVED from that position as he has already PROVEN that he is unable to resist betraying his nation in return for publicity and perhaps hurting his political opponents. HE makes me sick.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Where did you get your Random Caps Initiator? Everyone has one but me!! =)

I agree, Republic.

[Glenn]

You know not, that you know not?

Spare me. Telling that which everyone knows shouldn't be seen as treason. For the uninformed on such matters as the capabilities of our spy machine, I believe they remain uninformed.

[lonestar]

If you think about it, you should understand why some information should remain secret. The information sources cease when they're revealed.

Just what would you do with it if you had top secret information? You probably wouldn't sleep as well.

[anymouse]

This may well have been a "canary trap" run by NSA to expose congressional leakers.

The thing that the congressional leaker should realize is that NSA knows a lot about them too.

[Stand Watch Listen]

related Article

Sinking Ships Of Accountability
Source: CNSNews.com; Published: June 21, 2002;
Author: Brad Keena