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shawa
CNO
Joined: 03 Sep 2004
Posts: 2004
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 Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 12:59 pm Post subject: Congress Plans To Scrutinize Plame-related Issues |
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BOSTON GLOBE
| Quote: | Congress Plans To Scrutinize Plame-related Issues
By David Morgan
July 25, 2005
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Congress will conduct a series of hearings on national security and espionage issues raised by the CIA-leak controversy surrounding senior Bush adviser Karl Rove, officials said on Monday.
The House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence plans hearings on potential national security threats posed by leaks, including leaks to the media, and will aim to toughen legislation barring the unauthorized disclosure of classified information.
"It's time there's a comprehensive law that will make it easier for the government to prosecute wrongdoers and increase the penalties that hopefully will act as a deterrent," said Rep. Pete Hoekstra of Michigan, the panel's Republican chairman.
Media leaks and the covert status of espionage officials have become politically charged issues with the controversy over Valerie Plame, whose identity as a CIA agent was leaked in 2003 after her diplomat husband Joseph Wilson accused the White House of exaggerating intelligence to justify the Iraq war.
A Time magazine reporter said he learned about Plame's identity from Rove, deputy White House chief of staff and chief architect of President Bush's re-election. Time reporter Matthew Cooper also said he discussed Plame and Wilson with Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff.
It can be illegal for a government official to knowingly disclose the identity of a covert CIA operative.
Democrats, who have urged Bush to fire Rove or revoke his classified clearance, stepped up political pressure on Republicans on Monday by calling for a formal congressional investigation of the Plame leak.
'CONSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITY'
"The United States Congress has a constitutional responsibility to provide oversight of the executive branch, whether a law has been broken or not," the 26 senators said in a letter.
Speaking earlier at a forum hosted by the conservative Heritage Foundation, Hoekstra said his committee would begin hearings as early as September that would include testimony from CIA, Pentagon and Justice Department witnesses.
He said he would also hope to invite witnesses representing the news media.
Intelligence officials have long complained that leaks to the media have damaged U.S. spy operations, including efforts to track al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
Hoekstra described current laws governing unauthorized disclosure as a limited "patchwork" of statutes. Past attempts to craft more comprehensive measures have ended in failure. But Hoekstra said concerns fostered by bombings in Madrid, London and Egypt have created a more favorable political climate.
"I don't have any legislation yet," Hoekstra said. "That's what we have the hearing process for, to design and determine exactly what legislation might look like."
Meanwhile, Hoekstra's counterpart in the Senate, Republican Sen. Pat Roberts of Kansas, intends to preside over hearings on the intelligence community's use of covert protections for CIA agents and others involved in secret activities.
The chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence could hold hearings on the use of espionage cover soon after the U.S. Congress returns from its August recess, said Roberts spokeswoman Sarah Little.
Little said the Senate committee would also review the probe of special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald, who has been investigating the Plame case for nearly two years. |
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“I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. ‘Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death.” (Thomas Paine, 1776) |
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LewWaters
Admin
Joined: 18 May 2004
Posts: 4042
Location: Washington State
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| Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 2:12 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | "The United States Congress has a constitutional responsibility to provide oversight of the executive branch, whether a law has been broken or not," the 26 senators said in a letter. |
Who oversees out of control lefties in Congress?
I wonder if they will include investigations into congressional leaks of sensitive material as well 
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shawa
CNO
Joined: 03 Sep 2004
Posts: 2004
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| Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 2:49 pm Post subject: |
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In addition to the House Committee, the Senate Intelligence Committee will also hold hearings.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/25/politics/25leak.html
Personally, I am very happy to see these hearings held.
The media has been having a field day SPINNING snippets of information from the Grand Jury investigation to damage the Administration.
It's about time the Republican Chairmen of these Intelligence Committees bring out the WHOLE story. Get Valerie and Joe Wilson on the stand to answer all the questions that WE want answered!! Maybe this is why Wilson made his 'panicked' news conference with Schumer.
I still hold to the belief that there has been a rogue group in the CIA (Valerie's group??) who have been leaking information to damage the President. The New York Times has run SO MANY stories over the past three years citing anonymous sources for the 'secret' information.
And Judith Miller still sits in jail refusing to give up her source.
_________________
“I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. ‘Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death.” (Thomas Paine, 1776) |
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GM Strong
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
Joined: 18 Sep 2004
Posts: 1579
Location: Penna
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| Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 3:55 pm Post subject: |
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Doesn't the Congress have some business to attend to instead of more Liberal sour grapes and venom???
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8th Army Korea 68-69 |
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Uisguex Jack
Rear Admiral
Joined: 26 Jul 2004
Posts: 613
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| Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 4:55 pm Post subject: |
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From the middle of that Boston Globe article: | Quote: | | A Time magazine reporter said he learned about Plame's identity from Rove, deputy White House chief of staff and chief architect of President Bush's re-election. Time reporter Matthew Cooper also said he discussed Plame and Wilson with Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff. |
In playing games with semantics that looks to me like exactly what we allready know. Matthew Cooper brought the subject up, not the other way round.
I'm curious who Judith Millers source was..... I still think it's Vallerie Plame.
Was there another Time mag reporter other than Cooper? |
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davman
Lieutenant
Joined: 29 Sep 2004
Posts: 205
Location: Massachusetts
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| Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 6:11 pm Post subject: |
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Does anyone think they will also be investigating John Kerry naming a covert CIA agent, by name, while he was undercover, on the floor of the Senate? Or Turbin Durbin, Rockerfeller or Schumer for talking about an ongoing CIA operation on the floor of the Senate?
Probably not! |
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coldwarvet
Admiral
Joined: 03 Jun 2004
Posts: 1125
Location: Minnetonka, MN
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| Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 7:53 pm Post subject: |
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| davman wrote: | Does anyone think they will also be investigating John Kerry naming a covert CIA agent, by name, while he was undercover, on the floor of the Senate? Or Turbin Durbin, Rockerfeller or Schumer for talking about an ongoing CIA operation on the floor of the Senate?
Probably not! |
Kerry - Elected Democrat
Durbin - Elected Democrat
Rockerfeller - Elected Democrat
Schumer - Elected Democrat
Rove - hired republican staffer
I guess MSM holds a higher standard for hired staff then they do for elected Senators. Or is it more to do with the D or R suffix?
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