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| quote: | Originally posted by Fir3start3r
So the fact that they're actually investigating doesn't mean anything then?
Doesn't that, in fact, advocate responsibility in some way despite what the political press is taking everyone? |
Depends on how you look at it, really. On the surface I might agree. But when you examine WHO is going to be leading the investigation, well, let's just say it doesn't give me the warm and fuzzies inside.
Follow me here for a second. According to the denial article above posted by Krypton, the matter is being passed off to DNI Mike McConnell:
| quote: | White House officials said the matter would be referred to the Director of National Intelligence, and that the White House was not planning any internal investigation.
"When the White House receives information from an individual or a company, we refer that appropriately to the intelligence community. That's what happened here," Perino said.
"And I'll have to refer you to the Director on National Intelligence for any process problem they had in that regard." |
So okay, I will concede that this may be the natural course of action pertaining to such a scenario of a leak like this. Maybe getting the Feds involved wouldn't be a bad idea either, or even the Dept. of Justice for possible criminal matters later, but for now going to the intelligence agencies is fine with me.
What's rather convenient, however, is it's Mike McConnell who's the DNI and will be taking the reins. Yes, that McConnell who in an interview with the El Paso Times seemingly had diarrhea of the mouth and disclosed a shitload of CLASSIFIED information pertaining to the FISA courts and proceedings:
http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_6685679
Specifically, some of the things he disclosed:
| quote: | Court ruling declared Bush’s program illegal on May 31: “After the 31st of May we were in extremis because now we have significantly less capability” when a federal court ruled part of the wiretapping program illegal, McConnell said.
Private sector actively involved in wiretapping program: “Under the president’s program, the terrorist surveillance program, the private sector had assisted us,” said McConnell. “Now if you play out the suits at the value they’re claimed, it would bankrupt these companies,” McConnell said, arguing for legal immunity for the companies when Congress returns from recess.
McConnell denies White House involvement: “The president’s guidance to me early in the process, was, ‘You’ve got the experience. I trust your judgement. You make the right call. There’s no pressure from anybody here,” McConnell claimed.
Thousands overseas are being monitored via warrants. “Offering never-disclosed figures, McConnell also revealed that fewer than 100 people inside the United States are monitored under FISA warrants. However, he said, thousands of people overseas are monitored,” states the AP.
Takes 200 hours to assemble a wiretapping warrant: McConnell alleged that “the issue is volume and time” as to why he was so adamant about pursuing warrantless wiretapping. “My argument was that the intelligence community should not be restricted. … It takes about 200 man hours to do one telephone number.”
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/08/22...l-unclassified/ |
And in the same breath, McConnell had the fucking gall to claim we're all gonna die if we keep having a debate on warrantless wiretaps by this Administration.
In fact, McConnell selectively submitted classified pieces of information for his little interview to the media, and according to his testimony in this Sept. 18, 2007 hearing, he gave a "judgement call" on releasing this info. with no record of the info. being declassified:
| quote: | SCOTT: Does it come declassified just because you said or is there some process to declassify?
McCONNELL: There is a process but it is ultimately a judgment call. [...]
SCOTT: So we know when something was declassified. The moment of time it was declassified. Is there some record of that?
McCONNELL: Not specifically. I’m sure it can be recovered some way if there is some if there’s a specific concern or question.
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/09/18...ell-declassify/ |
Conyers later turned around and busted McConnell's ass for divulging state secrets too.
So this is whom we're going to have helping us expose this traitorous leaker of state secrets in Bush's Administration. This little slimeball of a man who not only leaked out classified information himself to the media based on a "judgement call", a turd of a man who points his little hypocritical fingers at those who want to debate the despicable actions of this Administration circumventing FISA laws and warns YOU'RE GONNA KILL US ALL IF WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT IT!!! again and again, yes, he's now going to be in charge of finding the leaker of intelligence passed on from a private firm to our Administration.
Gosh, I feel better.
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Whence September dusk grows crisper still,
with leaves all crimson conquered,
I yearn to shout,
and dance about,
and stick pickles in my honker...
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. I gave my two weeks notice last Friday so I can actually goof off and post until I go on vacation. Glad to see everyone is still here holding up the fort!
