Attorney General Eric Holder recently told intelligence community lawyers that he wants them to continue the Administration’s crackdown on leakers and media sources despite calls for his termination and the controversy on the attack on the free press. The message is clear: there will be no quarter given those who disclose classified information. Well not everyone. This week it was revealed that former CIA Director Leon Panetta disclosed classified information to “Zero Dark Thirty” filmmaker Mark Boal. According to an inspector general report, the disclosure of the name of the Navy SEAL unit that carried out the Osama bin Laden raid and the unit’s ground commander at a 2011 ceremony. Some of the information was marked as “top secret.”
The wonderful thing for Holder is that this leaker is known and there are witnesses. He made the disclosure in front of 1,300 people in a tent at the CIA complex on June 24, 2011. So Panetta is now being housed next to Bradley Manning, right? Not quite. The Administration leaks classified information on a regular basis. On Obama Farm, all leakers are equal but some leakers are more equal than others.
Notably, this disclosure helped a filmmaker who was developing a controversial film that seemed to herald the value of torture by CIA employees. Like many, I was surprised by the degree to which the movie made it look like it was torture that led to the killing of Obama in direct contradiction to what we know about the various sources used in the operation. Giving top secret information to a filmmaker for such a film does not appear to be a matter for prosecution. Now, the Associated Press or Fox News? That is an entirely different question. In that case, the reporters are viewed by the Administration as an possible criminal co-conspirator. In the case, of Boal, he was not a co-conspirator . . . just part of the creative enterprise.
Source: Politico
Elaine, Mike S has not manned up about his snarky comment. I was in no way trying to play “top this.” I saw all the horseshit my wife went through getting her book published. I merely wanted to help you w/ an illustrator that I know is real good if I could. It was just a gesture of kindness, nothing more or less. Some people don’t seem to be able to see through their own issues. C’est la vie.
Nick,
The statement I made was obvious in content to anyone who is self aware. I even included a backup as yo where it derives. E lainemade a statement about her knowing a famous children’s writer. You responded by saying you knew an even more famous illustrator and justified your “topping” her comment by offering to intervene to get him to help. You were topping her with a game called “anything you can do, I can do brtter” and adding to it with a game of I win,: you lose. This social take on game theory was popularized by Dr. Eric Berne. People who play games like this in tandem generally are passive agressive.which is mypoint.my point.You cry victim again today and pretty mich 33
The best movie out now is ‘Before Midnight’ with Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpee. It opened here this weekend. Francis Ha is a little art movie directed by Noah Baumbach. I liked it.
You’re lying about not deleting questions unless they contained a personal attack. You deleted several comments where I merely pointed out you were monitoring and deleting my comments. No personal attacks, no sarcasm even. You aren’t righteous, and should not have authority to monitor or delete. You simply don’t have the morals or temperament for that position. I’ll be back tomorrow, and every day I am breathing. And, I am not chastened, I am emboldened. So, deal w/ it! I’m going to bed. Sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite.
SWM, I’ve not seen it, or even heard of it. What’s your take? I was going to see the Redford flick where he plays an undercover radical but it was panned so badly I didn’t. I haven’t seen a movie since 42. I’ve read many books about Jackie and Branch Rickey. It was pretty accurate, and I cried like a little girl. My daughter was tearful but sooo angry. That generation needs to know, and need to be angry, about what Jack and other pioneers endured.
And I do so much agree…. Nick, in the same breath…. Is a paranoid person ever alone….
I don’t care if you stay or not, nick, but you will follow the rules regarding personal attacks. No one has “called me out” either. I told you it was for today and so it was. I approved all of your comments that didn’t contain some kind of personal attack. However, start up again and see how that works out for you.
Gene, SWM and I have a regular exchange on movies we have seen. So, you don’t have a clue what you’re talking about.
OS, I have been censored all day by Gene H. I merely ask you how you would feel if someone arbitrarily and capriciously monitored and censored your ALL comments, no matter how innocent. Not one comment was profane or worthy of deletion. The “moderation” has stopped and so I will stop. Your friend thinks he can intimidate, bully, or drive me off. He is sadly mistaken Talk to him..not me. He used his authority unrighteously and I surmise he may have been called out on it. He can answer that. I have no beef w/ you, OS.
Smom,
Offensive isn’t the issue (although I agree with your general statement).
Not abiding by the rules is the issue.
nick, Did you see the movie Francis Ha? it is a comedy that is playing at the art movie houses.
nick,
I see your spamming the thread. That is my fact base. Knock it off. You are driving valid comments down off the front page. On most other blogs that kind of thing can get you banned.
In my opinion there have been and still are posters that are far more offensive than Nick.
lotakatz, We will probably end up in a more liberal city in Montgomery County, Md.
OS, Do you have all the facts prior to making your accusation?
Swarthmore mom: “The Patriot Act and the host of laws and regulations it spawned has monitized the security state.” LK The proof of that is the price of real estate in Northern Virginia.
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Lots of luck on the house hunting, I recall reading that moving house is one of the handful of most stressful things a person can do: marriage, divorce, birth of a child, death of a close family member, job change and moving house. Be careful out there.
I read about a year ago that the new status symbol among the security agency crowd was having, and the size of the agency director’s security detail, black SUV’s and security details. I just know they start the fires at the annual agency BBQ’s with bricks of hundred dollar bills, I just know it. 🙂
nick,
You have now entered DBAD territory. This is not the sixth grade.
Gene, Can blind people see their dreams?
Mike, If “Jimmy crack corn” and no one cares, why is there a song about it?
Mike, Why do you think so many people pick their noses in the car. Don’t they realize they’re surrounded by windows?
Gene, What do you think of the cuts in the NASA program?