◼ Lawmakers vow to crack down on intelligence leaks - FOX
"There has been just a cascade of leaks coming out of the intelligence community in the last several weeks and months," the vice chairman of the Senate intelligence committee, Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss told reporters. "It's our clear intention to put a stop to this."
◼ New York Times journalist defends national security leaks - Morgan Little/LA Times
Two stories published by the New York Times, which ◼ exposed the extent of U.S. involvement in cyber attacks against Iran and the ◼ White House’s secret 'Kill List,' have sparked scrutiny over the last week amid allegations that administration officials had leaked classified information for political gain.◼ Cyber-gloating - John E Dunn, TechWorld
"They're intentionally leaking information to enhance President Obama's image as a tough guy for the elections. That is unconscionable," McCain later said in interviews.◼ MAG: Leaker-in-chief... - Lee Smith/Weekly Standard, via Drudge
Last week, legislators on both sides of the aisle deplored the administration’s inability, or unwillingness, to keep national security secrets. Leaders of the Senate and House intelligence committees—Senators Saxby Chambliss and Dianne Feinstein and Representatives Mike Rogers and C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger—released a statement noting, “We have become increasingly concerned at the continued leaks regarding sensitive intelligence programs and activities, including specific details of sources and methods.”◼ Holder appoints 2 prosecutors to investigate... - Reuters
Holder said the investigation would be headed by U.S. Attorneys Ronald Machen Jr. of Washington, D.C., and Rod Rosenstein of Maryland, who would be "fully authorized to prosecute criminal violations discovered as a result of their investigation."◼ Machen was nominated BY OBAMA... - Wikipedia
"The unauthorized disclosure of classified information can compromise the security of this country and all Americans and it will not be tolerated," Holder said in a statement.
◼ Obama to nominate Machen to be District's top prosecutor...donated $4,350 to Obama's campaigns - Del Quentin Wilber/Washington Post
◼ Either President or NYT Is Wrong... - Daniel Halper/Weekly Standard
President Obama at a press conference this morning insisted that high-level national security leaks are not coming from the White House. "The notion that my White House would purposefully release classified information is offensive," President Obama said.◼ OH NO YOU DIDN'T: MOSSAD AGENTS CLAIM OBAMA LYING ABOUT STUXNET - Joel Pollak/Breitbart's BIG Peace
But a Republican memo from the Senate Republican Policy Committee maintains that either the president or the New York Times is wrong.
"It would appear the President’s statement and the New York Times statements directly conflict with each other and cannot both be true at the same time," the memo states.
Israeli officials who were placed at risk by the Obama administration's leaks about the Stuxnet virus are disputing American claims that the cyber-weapon was jointly developed by the U.S. and Israel. Rather, they say, Israeli intelligence first started developing cyberspace warfare against Iran, only convincing the U.S.--with some difficulty--to join in. The Israelis allege that President Barack Obama claimed credit for Stuxnet to boost his re-election campaign.◼ Senator Feinstein’s Very Specific Code Word Regarding Barack Obama - The Ulsterman Report
...the exact phrase spoken by Senator Feinstein aimed directly at Barack Obama:◼ Dianne Feinstein vents ire over 'avalanche of leaks' - Politico
What we’re seeing…is an Anschluss, an avalanche of leaks. And it’s very, very disturbing. You know, it’s dismayed our allies. It puts American lives in jeopardy. It puts our nation’s security in jeopardy.
The bipartisan leaders of the intelligence panels from the House and Senate have scheduled an unusual joint news conference Thursday afternoon to address growing anger and concern in Congress about a series of news accounts in recent weeks that have contained details about sensitive U.S. efforts to undermine Iran's nuclear program and to infiltrate terrorist networks.
