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January 12, 2009
Exclusive: America's Security Secrets - Available in the New York Times
In the single most appalling news item I have read since 9/11, a January 10th New York Times report exposes numerous glaring weaknesses in American national security. It will come as no surprise to any patriotic citizen that in doing so they admit to receiving classified material or to exposing details of an ongoing intelligence operation in Iran. Naturally, they will claim to have made these revelations “in the public interest” although how, yet again, publishing details of clandestine operations makes America safer is not something they will be able to explain in any meaningful way. Only history will be able to judge if this article marks the absolute bottom in both journalism and the failure of the government to conduct national security operations, but it must be a contender.
This shameful breach of national security exposes more than just incredible stupidity (if it is not willful intent to harm the national interest) on the part of the New York Times (hereinafter referred to as The NY Disgrace), it also highlights the incredible lack of security in regard to classified information around our Capitol; the astonishing disregard of those with political connections and/or agendas for our safety, and that of our intelligence operatives, when it comes to keeping secrets secret; the appalling disagreements within our senior national security leadership; and, perhaps most importantly to his legacy, the astonishing lapse of judgment by President Bush which may lead directly to Iran successfully developing nuclear weapons.
The NY Disgrace states in their article that they withheld “several details of the covert effort…….to avoid harming continuing operations.” It would seem that the staff of the NY Disgrace either don’t know or don’t care that a “covert effort” is no longer covert when any details have been published in a newspaper! They also admit, several times and with apparent pride, that they have been shown, or possibly even given, classified material, seemingly unaware that this makes them complicit in breaking both law and the trust of the American People. Unless, of course, they have reported these major breaches to the FBI and are cooperating fully in bringing to justice those who have betrayed their country by leaking such documents. Don’t hold your breath on results of that possibility.
Of course the NY Disgrace will claim that much of this information was already “out there.” Again they miss the point that publication of such information in a major newspaper provides both credibility and detail to information which enemy spies might have developed through other means. At the risk of exposing intelligence methods myself, I will say that I believe all spy agencies worldwide read newspapers avidly – in the trade it is known as “open source” information and is regarded as of high reliability, especially when it originates in democratic countries.
So where did the classified information which the NY Disgrace obtained come from? The article refers to interviews with “current and former American officials, outside experts, international nuclear inspectors and European and Israeli officials.” Later on, it explicitly refers to descriptions “in classified portions of American intelligence reports” which can only mean that someone in a position of trust in this country leaked more than one classified document. But the term leak does not fully describe this perfidy, even though it is often used by the Washington establishment to describe wha it really is: treason. The reasons for this misdescription have grown from historic political convenience, thanks to a history and culture of expediency originating in Congress and the White House. Never mind national security, “publish and be damned” fits too well with current American political morality!
As a result, while America has some of the finest, best trained and most capable covert operators in the world, for example in Delta Force, they can never be deployed on a truly covert operation. Since most covert operations require permission from the highest levels and gaining that permission now requires, by Act of Congress, that numerous politicians, staffers and Agencies be informed, there is currently no chance that such permission can be given without the likelihood of “leakage.” Sadly, this betrayal of secrets will almost certainly occur after the event as someone demonstrates their insider knowledge and/or “concerns,” or even, as in this case, during a covert operation. Such betrayals can accurately be described as “aiding and abetting the enemy.”
As for the description of the shenanigans surrounding that infamous 2007 National Intelligence Estimate (NIE), what an appalling indictment of our intelligence leadership that it should be published at all, never mind that it should be given such credence as to actually allow it to “impact on U.S. diplomacy.” That supposed experts in international affairs, diplomacy and intelligence could rely on a single report based on, according again to this NY Disgrace article, a single source of computer intercepts and then give it such substance as to cause dissension amongst senior leadership (have these people never heard of disinformation?) and changes in policy is yet another utter indictment of those experts, our bureaucrats and our politicians.
President Bush has shown considerable concern, particularly as his term comes to an end, for his legacy. In placing too much weight, even against his better judgment, on that 2007 NIE and then listening to those advisors who led him to ignore the request of Israel, a fellow democracy and the true front line against Jihad and Islamist supremacists, for some ordnance, refueling equipment and a blind eye to flights over Iraq, President Bush’s legacy may turn out to be allowing Iran to develop nuclear weapons. Should those weapons be used on Israel, other allies or even the U.S. itself, he will bear a major responsibility. The historic lessons surrounding possible Iranian nuclear proliferation show that direct action was and is necessary whatever the consequences as diplomatic, economic and political methods do not work. Israel, having as large an interest as the U.S., was (and probably still is) willing to take the immediate physical risks on all our behalves. To deny such assistance is to demonstrate weakness. It is a weakness which we must all hope does not come with too high a price!
So what can be done to correct these numerous problems? Well, it certainly appears that President Bush has left President-elect Obama with a huge problem, exacerbated by the lack of leadership demonstrated by Congress. President Bush has only days to save his legacy, an unlikely scenario, while President-elect Obama has options and for all our sakes I hope he makes the right choices. My personal recommendations would include: the immediate delivery, covertly if possible (hah), of all the assistance requested to Israel; an immediate, urgent inquiry, headed by a Federal Special Prosecutor, into the source of the leaks of classified material; and finally a Justice Department investigation into all activities of the NY Disgrace with particular focus on whether they are acting as unregistered agents of a foreign power but also every other aspect of their operations, finances and sources.
Should the nightmare scenario come true, I may then return to the NY Times to read with interest any editorials which the survivors might produce on the reasons for it. Until then I can no longer pay for such dangerous garbage, even under the facade of “knowing my enemy.”
Family Security Matters Contributing Editor Tim Wilson is a retired British Army officer who now works as an independent consultant. Feedback: editorialdirector@familysecuritymatters.org.
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