SPECIAL POST
On April 16, 2009, President Obama ordered the release of four Justice Department memos that described in detail the techniques used to interrogate Khalid Sheik Mohamed and other high-value terrorists. Many current and former high-level intelligence officials objected. Mike Hayden, former CIA Director said: "You had CIA directors in a continuous unbroken stream to 1995 calling saying, 'Don't do this.'"
News of the impending release of the documents was met with outrage by Members of Congress and Americans alike. In addition to objections from the men who led the agency for a collective 14 years, the President also heard objections from the agency's covert field operatives. A few weeks earlier, Leon Panetta had arranged for the eight top officials of the Clandestine Service to meet with the President. It was highly unusual for these clandestine officers to visit the Oval Office, and they used the opportunity to warn the President that releasing the memos would put agency operatives at risk. The President reportedly listened respectfully -- and then ignored their advice and released the highly secret memos.
With these actions, Barack Obama arguably did more damage to America's national security in his first 100 days of office than any President in American history.
If you are going to hold anyone's feet to the fire for the leaking of highly sensitive material, you should begin with the President of the United States.
No comments:
Post a Comment