Justice Department Opens NSA Leak Probe

More specifically, leaks about illegal spying on American citizens put Bush's fanny in danger.

I bet he'd like to know who blew the whistle.

If violating the Constitution and spying on American citizens is the playbook, then it's high time we took a look at the rest of it.

And get a new coach.

 

This is the main reason why we're not secure. The Dept. of Homeland Security is as inept as FEMA was after the hurricane. Just another one of GW's failures.


Report Poor coordination threatens security
Investigators say agencies fall short on sharing information
Updated: 7:40 p.m. ET Jan. 25, 2005
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6867491/from/RL.1/

WASHINGTON - An “ineffective and fragmented” information-sharing process among all levels of government and the private sector is threatening homeland security, congressional investigators said Tuesday.

Additionally, U.S. Comptroller General David Walker said federal agencies — including the Homeland Security and Defense departments — may need to declassify some security intelligence to break down information roadblocks to state and local authorities.

“Many aspects of homeland security information sharing remain ineffective and fragmented,” said a report released by the Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress.
Although officials have begun paying more attention to information obstructions, investigators designated the issue as a “government-wide high-risk area” because it “still faces significant challenges,” the report said.
The dearth of security information sharing was one of four new problem areas added to a list of 25 “high risk” government programs identified by the GAO in its biennial report.

Lawmakers said aggressive oversight and reforms needed to be made, respectively, in Congress and by the Bush administration.

‘Slow pace’ criticized
Specifically, the report noted, information from fingerprint databases was shared between the Homeland Security and Justice departments at a “slow pace” in 2004. It also found that an initial information-sharing plan by the Homeland Security Department has yet to be accessed by all 34 networks that the GAO says need to be included.
“We haven’t achieved the homeland security that the law requires us to achieve,” said Sen. Joe Lieberman, the top Democrat on the Senate committee that oversees the Homeland Security Department. “And therefore, in this sense, the name ‘high risk list’ takes on special, urgent meaning, more than the normal risk of financial failure or waste or fraud or abuse. The risk here is to the personal security of the American people at home.”

Homeland Security spokesman Brian Roehrkasse disputed the findings, pointing to daily DHS bulletins that alert federal, state, local and private-sector officials of possible security threats. He also noted a fingerprint information database, shared with the FBI and U.S. Border Patrol that had led to the arrest of more than 8,000 illegal immigrants with criminal records as of late last year.

“We disagree with the assessment that we have made no significant progress in information sharing,” Roehrkasse said, “especially since we have created an information-sharing capacity at the federal level that never existed” before the agency was formed in 2003.

Speaking to reporters after presenting the report to House and Senate lawmakers, Walker said agencies may need to reconsider classifying some intelligence to ensure that vital security information reaches all levels of responders.
“There’s a trade-off between your privacy and security, and we need, I think, to rethink a lot of the classification rules in light of the changed environment,” Walker said.

8 defense programs called high-risk
The GAO also identified eight Defense Department programs as high-risk, including two new to the list. It found widespread departmental delays in completing security clearance checks and failures in management responsibility and control over business activities.

In another aspect of the report, which is released at the start of the new congressional session, investigators removed the Education Department’s student aid programs from the unfavorable list, saying the agency has “demonstrated a strong commitment to addressing risks.” The Federal Student Aid office is better at managing its loans, its data and its people, the GAO said.
The timing created something of a mixed message. Just one day earlier, the GAO criticized the same student aid office for poor oversight of a program in which colleges serve as lenders.

 

The utopian bureaucracy strikes again.

 

And the other hundred or so secret laws that govern us?

 

Again, bill, you seem to have unusually good access to "secret" laws. Mind sharing them with us? They don't sound very secret to me.

 

SAN,

I think your characterization of DHS as a Bush failure is unfair. He responded quickly to a threat that some here seem to wish we instead had local Barney Fifes fighting, with a badge and a warrant. On one hand, some of you folks are jumping up and down about government having all this information; on the other, you're here jumping on the bandwagon that they're not sharing it more effectively. How about some of you stating for the record: do you wish the Federal government was more effectively gathering and sharing information or not?

This is a relatively new (or newly perceived, perhaps) threat. Those expecting perfection in initial responses to it are foolish. Those who both expect it and attack its successes are dishonest.

As to the classification of security information, classification of any sensitive information is an issue that constantly requires updating.

As to "widespread departmental delays in completing security clearance checks", that has been an issue for a while related directly to staffing shortcomings in the agency(ies?) tasked with that mission. They have been short-staffed for a while and are continually hiring, as I understand from someone who used to work for them.

 

So, the person who uncovered that President Bush had possibly broken the law with his wiretapping scheme should be prosecuted?

 

The leaker should be tried by a jury of his peers based on any charge that can be made that he broke any law(s).

 

My prediction of the identity of the leaker is Sen. Jay Rockefeller.

If not him, it will still be a member of the House or Senate.

 

If the leak came from within the administration then the leaker is most likely a Republican.

 

As it is for Republican politicians as a class as well.

 

Yes, although they are not as corrupted by power since they don't have much in our government.

 

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2005_12/007745.php

for comments on secret laws. dig thru google for other material.

 

Are you saying our government is corrupt Ken??? That borders on treason doncha ya know?