Rumsfeld pushed for FBI probe of Sy Hersh in 1975

[Cocoa]

Spooky to see Rummy and Cheney plotting against this guy way back 30 years ago...

http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/chi-hershbar1,1,6068392.story?coll=chi-homepagenews2-utl


<snip>

Then chief of staff to President Gerald Ford, Rumsfeld proposed "immediate initiation of an FBI investigation" into Hersh and his sources, according to a 58-page file from the Gerald R. Ford Library. Rumsfeld and his top deputy, Dick Cheney, now the vice president, considered options including a "search warrant -- to go after Hersh papers in his apt.," the Ford library file shows.

Hersh was then a New York Times reporter whose May 25, 1975, story revealed details of risky and provocative U.S. spy submarine missions in Soviet waters, in violation of the three-mile limit. The top-secret spy sub program was diplomatically sensitive because U.S. and Soviet leaders were publicly engaged in detente. In a memo to Ford, then-Atty. Gen. Edward H. Levi recommended against an FBI probe, and Ford quashed the idea, according to the Ford papers and an interview with then-Deputy Atty. Gen. Harold R. Tyler Jr., who drafted legal memos supporting Levi's hands-off position.

"This is for the birds -- that was my reaction at the time and now," said Tyler, who became a federal judge and is now an attorney in private practice. "God almighty -- forgive me for laughing," Tyler said. The proposal to investigate Hersh "baffled me." Hersh declined to comment on the file. "The record speaks for itself," he said.

Rumsfeld said, through a spokesman, that he did not recall the incident. Pentagon spokesman Larry Di Rita said the records show Rumsfeld considered launching an investigation but remained open-minded and was quickly persuaded to drop the matter. "This is very much the way he operates," Di Rita said. "He will say, `Here's what I think, based on what I understand, and now somebody calibrate me.'ƒ|" And the file shows, Di Rita said, that Rumsfeld "takes the leaking of classified material very seriously."

more...

Di Rita said no one at the Pentagon harbored any animus against Hersh for the 1975 story. "That's not the way people are around here," Di Rita said. "They're much too busy."

[displacedvermoter]

1. He Who Laughs Last...

n/t

[2Design]

2. even more amazing these two scounderels are still here... they

know all the devious ways because they have done them all. ...they are crooks and have been stealing our government from us for over 30 years.......

[HereSince1628]

3. I find morbid curiosity for importance of the 70's to this Admin

Maybe it is always this way, but it seems that the gang in office is developmentally impaired, unable to get past the political beliefs, policy positions and anxieties of their early careers.

[Bozita]

4. Holy shit! ... They DO hate us for our freedoms

[Rose Siding]

5. "Rumsfeld said...that he did not recall the incident"

Golly me, there have been sooooo many attempts to silence the press, who can remember specifics?

[Cocoa]

6. reminds me of him and Saddam

http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0209/21/cst.01.html

MCINTYRE: Well, let me take you back about 20 years ago. The date, I believe, was December 20th, 1983, you were meeting with Saddam Hussein. I think we have some video of that, of that meeting. Tell me what was going on during this meeting.

RUMSFELD: Where did you get this video? From the Iraqi television...

MCINTYRE: This is from Iraqi television.

RUMSFELD: When did they give it to you? Recently or back then?

MCINTYRE: No, we've dug this out of the CNN library.

RUMSFELD: I see. Isn't that interesting? There I am.

[Rose Siding]

7. That footage always reminds me

that the next recognizable American figure I remember seeing with Saddam was Dan Rather doing his interview (early 03, late 02). And then I wonder about the fact that Rather and Rumsfeld are co-owners of a ranch in New Mexico.

Just a curiosity...a puzzling link. How close would I have to be to someone to buy property with them- maybe its different with the wealthy. It's true, though, that Rather appears to have taken a lead in some very damaging stories lately.

[yellowcanine]

8. the file shows, Di Rita said, that Rumsfeld "takes the leaking of

classified material very seriously."

Of course it all depends on who is doing the leaking and why, doesn't it Donnyboy? If it is the WH for the purpose of punishing Joe Wilson, "well, alrighty then!"