Comments on: Bush Authorized Disclosure of NIE to NY Times’ Miller http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/2006/04/bush_authorized_disclosure_of_.html Secrecy News from the FAS Project on Government Secrecy Sat, 28 Nov 2009 00:31:30 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: jerome martin http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/2006/04/bush_authorized_disclosure_of_.html/comment-page-1#comment-524 jerome martin Sat, 08 Apr 2006 19:59:34 +0000 http://fasweb.beacontec.com/blog/secrecy/2006/04/bush_authorized_disclosure_of_nie_to_ny_times_miller.html#comment-524 First, it would be necessary to have the precise date on which Bush presumably authorized Cheney to declassify the information that Libby leaked. If Libby leaked BEFORE such authorization was given, it would still be a security breach. But even more important,if Bush really had authorized the declassification, what was the basis for his insistence that he wanted to find out who leaked, and that the leaker would be held responsible. Enough of Bush's charades! Talk about tangled webs. . . . First, it would be necessary to have the precise date on which Bush presumably authorized Cheney to declassify the information that Libby leaked. If Libby leaked BEFORE such authorization was given, it would still be a security breach.

But even more important,if Bush really had authorized the declassification, what was the basis for his insistence that he wanted to find out who leaked, and that the leaker would be held responsible. Enough of Bush’s charades!

Talk about tangled webs. . . .

]]> By: Jeff http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/2006/04/bush_authorized_disclosure_of_.html/comment-page-1#comment-523 Jeff Sat, 08 Apr 2006 05:42:45 +0000 http://fasweb.beacontec.com/blog/secrecy/2006/04/bush_authorized_disclosure_of_nie_to_ny_times_miller.html#comment-523 Also, while this new information does clarify who authorized Libby to leak parts of the NIE, it doesn't settle the question of whether anyone authorized and/or directed him to leak Valerie Plame Wilson's affiliation with the CIA which, according to Fitzgerald, was also classified information. Also, while this new information does clarify who authorized Libby to leak parts of the NIE, it doesn’t settle the question of whether anyone authorized and/or directed him to leak Valerie Plame Wilson’s affiliation with the CIA which, according to Fitzgerald, was also classified information.

]]> By: corbett http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/2006/04/bush_authorized_disclosure_of_.html/comment-page-1#comment-522 corbett Thu, 06 Apr 2006 17:30:45 +0000 http://fasweb.beacontec.com/blog/secrecy/2006/04/bush_authorized_disclosure_of_nie_to_ny_times_miller.html#comment-522 While the President may have "authorized" the disclosure of classified information to the press, many would argue that this in fact does NOT automatically amount to declassifying of that information. The president's authority to classify and declassify national security information does not exempt him from the provisions of his own executive order covering the proper reasons for such moves. To be sure, political motivations do not come close to any rationale for the classification or declassification of national security information. (See EO 13292) While the President may have “authorized” the disclosure of classified information to the press, many would argue that this in fact does NOT automatically amount to declassifying of that information. The president’s authority to classify and declassify national security information does not exempt him from the provisions of his own executive order covering the proper reasons for such moves.

To be sure, political motivations do not come close to any rationale for the classification or declassification of national security information. (See EO 13292)

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