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sad sally

(2,627 posts) Thu Jun 7, 2012, 01:38 PM Jun 2012

Cornyn doesn’t trust White House to 'investigate itself' over leaks

Source: The Hill

Republican Sen. John Cornyn (Texas) on Thursday repeated calls for a special counsel to investigate recent leaks of classified national-security operations, saying lawmakers should not trust the White House to “investigate itself.”

“The special counsel was created so that there should be a measure of independence in investigations like this where the natural tendency of the administration, when it’s the subject of the investigation, the natural tendency is to circle the wagons,” said Cornyn on CNN’s "Starting Point." “I don’t believe that Attorney General Holder or his deputy are going to be able to do a truly independent investigation.

“I don’t think we can just let the White House investigate itself or take its word for it that it’s not the source of these leaks,” he added.

Last week, leaks detailing a U.S. cyberattack against Iran’s nuclear program and President Obama’s “kill list” targeting al Qaeda operatives formed the basis for stories in The New York Times.

Read more: http://thehill.com/video/senate/231421-cornyn-doesnt-trust-white-house-to-investigate-itself-over-leaks

Leaks or citizens right to know what their government is doing?

17 replies

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Highlight:

Cornyn doesn’t trust White House to 'investigate itself' over leaks (Original Post) sad sally Jun 2012 OP

Go Fuck Yourself Cornyn sharp_stick Jun 2012 #1

+1 nt Javaman Jun 2012 #10

But for some strange reason nykym Jun 2012 #2

I don't trust anyone to investigate themselves littlewolf Jun 2012 #3

Self-investigation rarely finds any fault. In the case of the story about the "kill-list," sad sally Jun 2012 #7

The White House decides the national security category of the information. JDPriestly Jun 2012 #12

This White House has been harder on leakers than any other in living memory. sudopod Jun 2012 #4

Well, you wouldn't have objected whenever bush/cheney investigated themselves, calimary Jun 2012 #5

And I don't trust a single word that comes out of a right-wing Texan's mouth BlueDemKev Jun 2012 #6

I am more interested in the secret kill list curlyred Jun 2012 #8

+100 n/t sad sally Jun 2012 #15

Why are they investigating the "leak" and not the "Kill List" itself? Xedniw Jun 2012 #9

When Bush was president, we were told that, since the White House ultimately JDPriestly Jun 2012 #11

You're right, as I remember, Valerie Plame's travel itinery as a CIA agent was unclassified and sad sally Jun 2012 #13

Fact is, Cronyn, the Admin. can instantly declassify anything it wants, and can decide who it wants leveymg Jun 2012 #14

What and let you start another tax-payer funded fishing expedition like Ken Starr? truebrit71 Jun 2012 #16

oh, like we can trust criminal issa? Dont call me Shirley Jun 2012 #17

sharp_stick

(14,400 posts)

1. Go Fuck Yourself Cornyn

Reply to sad sally (Original post)

Thu Jun 7, 2012, 01:42 PM

Jun 2012

you polyp on the colon of America!

That is all.

Javaman

(62,530 posts)

10. +1 nt

Reply to sharp_stick (Reply #1)

Thu Jun 7, 2012, 02:35 PM

Jun 2012

nykym

(3,063 posts)

2. But for some strange reason

Reply to sad sally (Original post)

Thu Jun 7, 2012, 01:45 PM

Jun 2012

we are supposed to trust congress to investigate itself right!

littlewolf

(3,813 posts)

3. I don't trust anyone to investigate themselves

Reply to nykym (Reply #2)

Thu Jun 7, 2012, 01:47 PM

Jun 2012

the WH ... congress .. MLB ... NBA ... NFL ....
state houses ... NO ONE .... there needs to be
oversight on ANY investigation ...

sad sally

(2,627 posts)

7. Self-investigation rarely finds any fault. In the case of the story about the "kill-list,"

Reply to littlewolf (Reply #3)

Thu Jun 7, 2012, 02:03 PM

Jun 2012

if it took a leak to get this out, good. Secrecy with the advanced and agressive armed drone program leaves the administration open to criticism. In a democracy, it shouldn't take leaks to let citizens know what its government is up to.

JDPriestly

(57,936 posts)

12. The White House decides the national security category of the information.

Reply to littlewolf (Reply #3)

Thu Jun 7, 2012, 03:26 PM

Jun 2012

That's not Congress's decision.

That's why it is up to the White House to investigate breaches.

Maybe the White House declassified some of the information so that it could be leaked. Sometimes leaking something is a good way to disseminate false information or a way to scare the other side. It can be a strategic decision. It is within the authority of the Commander in Chief to make the call (at least as I understand it).

sudopod

(5,019 posts)

4. This White House has been harder on leakers than any other in living memory.

Reply to sad sally (Original post)

Thu Jun 7, 2012, 01:54 PM

Jun 2012

What does Cornyn want, public crucifixions in the Rose Garden?

calimary

(81,312 posts)

5. Well, you wouldn't have objected whenever bush/cheney investigated themselves,

Reply to sad sally (Original post)

Thu Jun 7, 2012, 01:59 PM

Jun 2012

or when your friends on Wall Street and big industry want to investigate themselves.

BlueDemKev

(3,003 posts)

6. And I don't trust a single word that comes out of a right-wing Texan's mouth

Reply to sad sally (Original post)

Thu Jun 7, 2012, 02:00 PM

Jun 2012

Hey Texas, do the country a favor...SECEDE.

curlyred

(1,879 posts)

8. I am more interested in the secret kill list

Reply to sad sally (Original post)

Thu Jun 7, 2012, 02:32 PM

Jun 2012

whoever leaked this did us a favor.

sad sally

(2,627 posts)

15. +100 n/t

Reply to curlyred (Reply #8)

Thu Jun 7, 2012, 04:58 PM

Jun 2012

Xedniw

(134 posts)

9. Why are they investigating the "leak" and not the "Kill List" itself?

Reply to sad sally (Original post)

Thu Jun 7, 2012, 02:35 PM

Jun 2012

It's the Kill List that violates the spirit and the letter of the 4th Amendment.

JDPriestly

(57,936 posts)

11. When Bush was president, we were told that, since the White House ultimately

Reply to sad sally (Original post)

Thu Jun 7, 2012, 03:24 PM

Jun 2012

determines what and what is not top secret, it can leak what it wants.
It just changes the security clearance level on the information or document.

That is why, as I understand the Bush administration's explanation of secrecy laws, Bush and Cheney could leak things that Congress and low level employees couldn't.

Am I wrong about this? Does anyone else remember this the way I do?

sad sally

(2,627 posts)

13. You're right, as I remember, Valerie Plame's travel itinery as a CIA agent was unclassified and

Reply to JDPriestly (Reply #11)

Thu Jun 7, 2012, 04:49 PM

Jun 2012

"leaked" to Bob Novak, which ended her career as well as put agents she was working with in jeopardy.

A search shows this list:

The Bush administration is generally regarded as much more secretive than many previous administrations. Even so, there have been leaks. The following is a current (?) listing of Bush administration leaks:
Ahmed Chalabi: Fall from Grace
Al Jazeera bombing leak
Bush administration: duped into war with Iraq?
Bush administration lies that led to war
Bush administration: personal data leaks and invasion of privacy
Coalition Provisional Authority: March 2004 Reconstruction of Iraq Memo
Coleen Rowley
George W. Bush's domestic spying
Laurent Murawiec ... a Pentagon leak.
Marwat Farhan
Memogate (also known as Cybergate)
National Planning Scenarios
prewar intelligence
Richard A. Clarke: August 2002 background briefing
Richard A. Clarke: Post-9/11 email
Rumsfeld Memo 16 October 2003
surveillance drone videotape 2000
The U.S. v. I. Lewis Libby
Taguba Report
Valerie Plame / Karl Rove: Outing Valerie Plame

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Bush_administration_leaks

leveymg

(36,418 posts)

14. Fact is, Cronyn, the Admin. can instantly declassify anything it wants, and can decide who it wants

Reply to sad sally (Original post)

Thu Jun 7, 2012, 04:51 PM

Jun 2012

to prosecute for leaks. It's all political, national security has nothing to do with most of it.

The official leak from the top is a Washington institution. John Cronyn, just pathetic.

truebrit71

(20,805 posts)

16. What and let you start another tax-payer funded fishing expedition like Ken Starr?

Reply to sad sally (Original post)

Thu Jun 7, 2012, 05:02 PM

Jun 2012

If you think we'll let that happen again you're even dumber than you look you stupid asscarrot..

Dont call me Shirley

(10,998 posts)

17. oh, like we can trust criminal issa?

Reply to sad sally (Original post)

Thu Jun 7, 2012, 08:17 PM

Jun 2012

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