Obama, Gates at Odds Over New Whistleblower Protections

[OhioChick]

Source: Washington Post

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

During an election featuring Democratic allegations that U.S. intelligence was distorted to justify a misbegotten war, Barack Obama endorsed new protections for national security officers who blow the whistle on abusive, corrupt or illegal behavior, by offering them the right to sue for damages and challenge denials of their security clearances.

But by keeping a Republican-appointed secretary of defense strongly opposed to those changes, President Obama is finding the path to a new policy on federal whistleblowing much more complicated.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and other top Bush appointees wrote an unusually tough letter to Congress last year asserting that the bill protecting whistleblowers would threaten national security, violate the Constitution and undermine the government's ability to safeguard legitimate secrets.

The legislation, passed this year by the House, is still being reviewed by the White House, according to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. "We understand this is an important issue, and we're committed to addressing it in a manner that is consistent with national security," said spokeswoman Wendy Morigi, declining to comment further.



Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/17/AR2009021703006.html?hpid=moreheadlines

[Occulus]

1. "the bill protecting whistleblowers would threaten national security"

Gates now serves at Obama's pleasure, yes?

[PM Martin]

7. And he better remember who the boss is!

[jimshoes]

2. Somebody should remind somebody

who's boss, no?

[Politicalboi]

3. There's those words again

National Security. It's ALWAYS worked in the past. Bush felt so brave to say to the "terrorist" "Bring it on" well we say "Bring it on". Let the truth be told. Fuck General Betrayus.

[saigon68]

4. "BRING EM ON" shouted the AWOL CHIMPANZEE

[OhioChick]

5. I haven't seen you around in a while, Saigon...

Hope you're doing well. :hi:

[ChromeFoundry]

6. that will NEVER get old!!!!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Honeycombe8]

8. This sounds like something that can be worked out.

Maybe some protections can be put in, or the rights of the worker can be limited, or time constrained, or something like that.

[pasto76]

9. Violate the Constitution?!?!?!

I dont recall an amendment from civics class saying corrupt or illegal behavior in the guise of government is protected. Is there something I missed?

[stillcool]

10. Some interesting reading here...

kind of puts things in perspective.

U.S.Foreign Policy and Pentagon
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Foreign_Policy/US_ForeignPolicy.html

[shadowknows69]

11. Come on President Obama

In less than a month Gates has already opposed you on two major National Security matters, Iraq withdrawal time and now this. Why keep this fuckhead as SOD any longer?

[Solly Mack]

12. Snort

go figure...

[izquierdista]

13. Toss him

Tell him his year went by quickly and nominate Bunnatine Greenhouse for Secretary of Defense. Remember her? I think she would have the right perspective on whistle-blowers.