Rockefeller Blasts WH Intelligence
Leaks
John D. Rockefeller IV
February 17, 2006
PAT ROBERTS. KANSAS. CHAIRMAN
JOHN D. Rockefeller IV. WEST VIRGINIA. VICE CHAIRMAN
ORRIN G. HATCH, UTAH
MIKE OEWINE, OHIO
CHRISTOPHER S. BOND. MISSOURI
TRENT lOTT, MISSISSIPPI
OLYMPIA J. SNOWE. MAINE
CHUCK HAGEL. NEBRASKA
SAXBY CHAMBLISS, GEORGIA
CARL LEVIN. MICHIGAN
DIANNE FEINSTEIN, CALIFORNIA
RON WYDEN, OREGON
EVAN BAYH,INDIANA
BARBARA A. MIKULSKI. MARYlAND
RUSSEll D. FEINGOLD. WISCONSIN
Bill FAIST. TENNESSEE, EX OFFICIO
HARRY REID, NEVADA. EX OFACIO
Bill DUHNKE, STAFF DIRECTOR AND CHIEF COUNSEL
ANDREW W. JOHNSON, MINORITY STAFF DIRECTOR
KATHLEEN P. MCGHEE. CHIEF CLERK
February 17, 2006
The Honorable John D. Negroponte
Director of National Intelligence
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Director Negroponte:
Since I joined the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence in 2001 and
became Vice Chairman in 2003, I increasingly have been disturbed by the amount
of classified material that finds its way into the public realm. This problem
has been with us for as long as governments have tried to keep secrets, but I
have observed a marked acceleration of the practice in the last five years.
As you well know, the disclosure of classified information does serious
damage to our intelligence programs and undermines our national security. On
this point, I am in agreement with sentiment expressed by Porter Goss, the
Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), in his February 10, 2006,
op-ed in the New York Times. He accurately describes many of the negative
effects these revelations can have.
I am surprised and puzzled, however, that Director Goss chose to lay the
blame for this damage on what he describes as misguided whistleblowers. Clearly
"leaks" and damaging revelations of intelligence sources and methods are
generated primarily by Executive Branch officials pushing a particular policy,
and not by the rank-and-file employees of the intelligence agencies.
For reconfirmation we need look no further than press reports from the past
few days. On February 9t\ the National Journal reported that I. Lewis "Scooter"
Libby told a grand jury that he was "authorized" by Vice President Cheney and
other White House superiors to disclose classified fulmination from a National
Intelligence Estimate to the press to defend the Administration's use of
pre-war intelligence in making the case to go-to war in Iraq.
This blatant abuse of intelligence information for political purposes is
inexcusable, but all too common. Throughout the period leading up to the Iraq
war the Administration selectively declassified or leaked information related
to Iraq's acquisition of aluminum tubes, the alleged purchase uranium, the
non-existent operational connection between Iraq and al Qaeda, and numerous
other issues.
The leaks associated with the Iraq war were a continuation of a pattern of
using classified material for political gain that began after the September 11
attacks. In his 2002 book, Bush at War, Bob Woodward described almost
unfettered access to classified material of the most sensitive nature.
According to his account he was provided information related to sources and.
methods, extremely sensitive covert actions, and foreign intelligence liaison
relationships. It is no wonder that, as Director Goss wrote, "because of the
number of recent news reports discussing our relationships with other
intelligence services, some of these critical partners have even informed the
C.I.A. that they are reconsidering their participation in some of our most
important antiterrorism ventures."
I wrote both former Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) George Tenet and
Acting DCI John McLaughlin seeking to determine what steps were being taken to
address the appalling disclosures contained in Bush at War. The only response I
received was to indicate that the leaks had been authorized by the
Administration. The CIA has still not responded to a follow-up letter I sent a
year and a half ago on September 1, 2004, trying to pin down which officials
were authorized to meet with Mr. Woodward and by whom, and what intelligence
fascination was conveyed during these authorized exchanges
Unfortunately, this pattern continues. On February 9th, the President
described the disruption of a terrorist plot in 2002. As Director Goss notes
"revelations of intelligence successes or failures, whether accurate or not,
can aid Al Qaeda and its affiliates in many ways." Why then did the President
and the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism,
describe in great detail the information about this plot contained in a highly
classified October 2004 CIA document?/
And, of course, we have the case of the December leak related to an NSA
warrantless surveillance program. Rather than offering no comment on the press
stories, as is normally done when classified information is leaked, the
President chose to selectively declassify aspects of the program that would
allow for a public relations campaign to score political points. The President
has for the past two months used previously classified information about this
program to bolster his political position while simultaneously denying the
Congress access to information needed to fully understand and evaluate the
program.
To my dismay, your Principal Deputy, General Michael Hayden, has been
a key participant in this White House public relations strategy intended to
deflect criticism of the NSA program. In his numerous press and television
appearances over the past two months, General Hayden has become a
highly-visible extension of the White House's aggressive media campaign. These
appearances go well beyond any technical background information that the
intelligence community could reasonably be expected to provide. I am concerned
that General Hayden's participation has undermined the mandatory principle that
intelligence officials be independent and free from political influence.
Given the Administration's continuing abuse of intelligence information for
political purposes, its criticism of leaks is extraordinarily hypocritical.
Preventing damage to intelligence sources and methods from media leaks will not
be possible until the highest levels of the Administration cease to disclose
classified information on a selective basis for political purposes. The
President and other senior members of the Administration must set the example
for others to follow.
As the leader of the brave and dedicated men and women of the intelligence
community, I urge you to carry this message to the White House. Thank you for
your attention to this critical issue.
Sincerely,
John D. Rockefeller IV
Vice Chairman
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