Has the New York Times Violated the Espionage Act?
THis semi-lengthy article lays out a well-reasond case based on the law that the NY Slimes Times is, or perhaps SHOULD be is severe legal jeapordy for violations of national security laws in its publication of the details of the NSA terror-war signals intelligence interception case.
Hving worked as a Naval communicator (Radioman) handling a variety of classified and cryptographic materials over a 26 year USNR career, the Chief (as in Chief Radioman – rank on retirement from the Navy)has full and direct knowledge that if HE had engaged in any of the behavior that the Slimes Times, James Risen, or their informants had engaged in, he would be doing HARD time at the Leavenworth military prison, and properly so!
The situation of the Slimes Times, et al, in this case is CLEARLY covered by the law, and leaves little wiggle room to try to weasel out of responsibility. Cited in the article is
This piece examines in some detail, various legal precedents and related cases, some of which are currently in the courts, including citation of the relevant section of USC §798. Disclosure of Classified Information.:
(a) Whoever knowingly and willfully communicates, furnishes, transmits, or otherwise makes available to an unauthorized person, or publishes, or uses in any manner prejudicial to the safety or interest of the United States or for the benefit of any foreign government to the detriment of the United States any classified information….
(3) concerning the communication intelligence activities of the United States or any foreign government;
(b) As used in this subsection (a) of this sectionâ€â€
The term “classified information†means information which, at the time of a violation of this section, is, for reasons of national security, specifically designated by a United States Government Agency for limited or restricted dissemination or distribution;
Seems pretty clear to the Chief! Jail ’em!
“Why then doth treason never prosper? When it does, none dare call it treason.” – Sir James Harrington
Of course the NYT is guilty of, if not treasonous behavior, extreme stupidity bordering on self destructive insanity.
To further demonstrate the effect of this type of activity, the following is from National Review Online:
WHY CAN’T WE CONNECT THE DOTS? [Andy McCarthy]
Answer: Because we don’t even know what the dots are, and we conduct ourselves in a way that tells the world we don’t want to know.
Bill Gertz, in an excellent Washington Times report this morning on what Derb might call “Intelligence Design†– but Gertz calls “Intelligence Intransigence†– gives us the simple reason why the CIA can’t find anything out:
Other officials said the CIA’s espionage branch continues to be hobbled by too few trained and experienced case officers. The total number of deployed intelligence officers, those working in the field as spies and spy handlers, is fewer than 1,000. During the 1980s, the CIA had as many as 8,000 case officers around the world. That number declined sharply during the 1990s because of budget cutbacks and disillusioned agency officers who left, citing restrictions and difficulties in carrying out their missions.
The shortage of overseas case officers has created an overreliance on setting up liaison ties to foreign services, and in many nations, including those in South America, the CIA station is limited to one officer who relies on information from foreign intelligence. Often that information cannot be verified, thereby making its use limited.
No exaggeration gang: less than one thousand case officers to cover the entire globe, which marks a reduction of about NINETY PERCENT during the Clinton years from Reagan administration levels.
And you might ask: Why would those foreign intelligence services on which we are so dependent tell us anything? Giving information to the United States is the surest way to compromise their sources and methods. When we develop secret programs that yield valuable information, they are exposed by the New York Times and the Washington Post. Instead of congressional investigations into, and outrage about, the leaks, we proceed with hearings about the legality of the programs – and find senators interrogating our intelligence chiefs in open sessions (the ones our enemies monitor just like everyone else does) about whether there are any other top secret programs the government hasn’t made public.
And all this less than five years removed from 9/11. Remarkable.