... Little loaves and fishes

[pecunium]

I have no time to make commentary on this, though it speaks for itself, and what it says isn't pretty.

Harry Reid just introduced an amendment to the homeland security appropriations that would prevent anyone who discloses the identity of a covert CIA operative from having a security clearance. There will be 90 minutes of debate, and then a vote.

Here is the text of the so-called 'Frist Amendment': "Any federal officeholder who makes reference to a classified Federal Bureau of Investigation report on the floor of the United States Senate, or any federal officeholder that makes a statement based on a FBI agent's comments which is used as propaganda by terrorist organizations thereby putting our servicemen and women at risk, shall not be permitted access to such information or to hold a security clearance for access to such information."


(from Talking Points Memo).

Comments

[pecunium.livejournal.com]

I'd say part of what makes Frist's amendment noxious, as opposed to merely posturing was the use of the phrase or any federal officeholder that makes a statement based on a FBI agent's comments which is used as propaganda by terrorist organizations".

He is punishing people not for the release of classified information in that sentence, but for doing (as Sen. Durbin did a few weeks ago) raising important questions and causing discussion (even if Durbin rolled over on that, which; in my opinion, he most decidedly ought not have done.

TK

[don-fitch.livejournal.com]

Yes -- that's what I meant by "whistleblowing"... though I think the "FBI documents" bit is merely cosmetic, or camouflage. And I agree that Durbin displayd a regrettable lack of principle by backing-down.