"Blowback is what happens when the consequence of actions you have taken come full circle and slap you in the face. That happened to us in Afghanistan after we supported the mujahideen against the Soviets and then Muslim fighters installed the Taliban. Now we may be seeing blowback against the press. Last month the New York Times and the Washington Post won Pulitzer Prizes for their stories on National Security Agency surveillance and CIA secret prisons in eastern Europe. Soon they may be getting subpoenas.
If so, the papers shouldn't be surprised. In July 2003, when columnist Robert Novak printed the name of a CIA analyst, the Times self-righteously demanded an investigation of White House aides to determine if they violated the law by leaking her name. With glee, Bush haters charged that this disclosure wreaked grave damage on national security. In time a special prosecutor was appointed. He has charged no one with violating the law at issue, the Intelligence Identities Protection Act. But he did jail then Times reporter Judith Miller for refusing to testify until she finally agreed to do so. Blowback.
This may be only the beginning. Two weeks ago, the CIA fired analyst Mary McCarthy for disclosing classified information to a reporter; she was widely reported to be a source for the Post story on secret prisons, but her lawyer denies it. The leak is being investigated by the Justice Department. A prosecution, of leaker or leakee, could follow. And so could a prosecution for the Times's NSA story."
Of course I've been telling you all along it's going to be a Bang of a Summer and it's beginning to line up nicely. Mary Loose Lips has gone underground, no doubt a good position to take. She will most likely be the prosecution witness of sorts as the already developing cases against certain reporters and others.
Now to those who think the press is "Golden" and above such prosecution. Nay, nay says Michael:
"That will seem outrageous to many. There have been precious few prosecutions of leakers of classified information in our history and none of journalists. And don't journalists have a right to protect their sources?
The answer to the last question is yes, in some states, but no in federal law, as the Supreme Court ruled in 1972 and as the trial and appeals courts ruled in the Judith Miller case. And the Espionage Act of 1917, as amended in 1950, very clearly makes it a criminal offense to transmit or receive classified information. "If these statutes mean what they seem to say and are constitutional, public speech in this country since World War II has been rife with criminality," wrote law Profs. Harold Edgar and Benno Schmidt. "The source who leaks defense information to the press commits an offense; the reporter who holds on to defense material commits an offense."
There is no law per-se protecting journalist from prosecution under the EA, if they receive and printclassified information - NONE. Fact is that Dana Priest could very well be prosecuted as could others involved in devulging classified information. True, it wouldn't be an easy road and no doubt their co-horts will report them as martyrs who are being "prosecuted" for revealing wrong doing.
But the fact is that the Administration has taken it on the chin for the last three years and while frustrating to us who support them, the fact is that it was only a matter of time before what "goes around - comes around".
Take it to the bank - It's coming around and quick.
Don't forget you Sunglasses - it's going to get bright!
iraq Politics News bush war on terror spying patriot act nsa CIA mary O. mcCarthy
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