America outes 74 MI6 Agents (sorry if this has been posted)

[lala_rawraw]

Looks like we are leaking from top to bottom here in the states. I am curious how someone would get that kind of info.

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/homeaffairs/story/0,11026,1553993,00.html


US website names MI6 officers

Richard Norton-Taylor
Monday August 22, 2005
The Guardian

An American website posted what it purported to be the names of 74 members of the Secret Intelligence Service, MI6, yesterday.

It was not clear last night what action British intelligence officials or lawyers will take to try to get the names taken off the website and prevent further dissemination of them. However, they are likely to conduct a damage limitation exercise and warn those individuals who have been identified. Eighteen of those named on the website have held the rank of ambassador...

------------

Like I said, you can't just "get" that kind of info. Even if you know someone who works in intel or a journalist close to Brit intel folks, this kind of stuff and that many names does not just "float" out. That much I know.

[NYC]

1. So, who posted it and why?

Does the U.S. gain from this?

Croation newspapers:

More recently, newspapers in Croatia have published the names of alleged MI6 officers serving in that country.

The names were published against the background of a bitter feud in the Croatian military and security services over the hunt for alleged war criminals.

[lala_rawraw]

17. I can see why the White House would gain from this...

1). They silence the intel people abroad they way they have here
2). They punish Blair for missteps
3). They may want to further discredit the CIA by "framing" them

I am not a fan of the CIA, never have been, but, in the build up to the Iraq war, in the pre-9/11 strikes, and in other such activities, it has been by and large the CIA ONLY who has tried to push the truth out to the public. As such, it is also very clear that the White House has been blaming the CIA almost exclusively from day 1, which is odd, given that if "intel failed" that would include all of the intel agencies, including the DIA, which is larger, better funded, and far more active in the current (last 5 years) data mining projects. So this exclusive failure on the one group who seems to have, by and large, not "cooked" the facts is the obvious smell of a frame job.

[NYC]

18. So, framing the CIA for releasing the names

would serve two purposes.

Thanks for your reply.

[Gold Metal Flake]

2. The artlicle does not mention the website of it's owner.

Is that info public yet?

[Greeby]

3. As someone who has signed the Official Secrets Act 1989

I have no tolerance for people who break it, especially in this fashion, where they could be putting lives at risk

[jsamuel]

4. yeah, I am really confused... why would anyone want to do this?

[Wizard777]

8. Remember Pakistan?

Someone at Bushco may be concerned that Britian is getting too close to Usama Bin Laden. Bush no longer controls the Color alert the terrorists system. Bush's polls are so low we would be at Code Red. Rove nolonger lets him stand outside the window of Good Morning America holding a sign that says, Run Osama they are comming for you!

[Old and In the Way]

9. My 1st thoughts, too......that and the black market for WMD.

If they are penetrating the terrorist networks, this might be pre-emptive action to expose and neutralize them....I'm thinking Valerie Plame x 74.

[me b zola]

12. That is a good possibility

Another possibility is this could be a purging to get rid of anyone who could possibly get in the way of Blaire passing false intel for future endeavors (Iran). This may be a way to prevent future leakers with a conscience like what happened with the DSMs and Iraq.


Quite possibly it is a combination of the two.

[Mnemosyne]

6. Is this a Plame type outing

in Britain? Am I understanding this right Greeby?
It is despicable. Must be they were getting too much truth that could hurt * and co.

[Wizard777]

5. Check the White Hose.

Let me guess. Rove was riding his scooter with Guckert and Novak. So it couldn't have been him.

[flyarm]

7. wow!!!!!!!!!!..so much in one day!!

trent lott basically confirms the dsm..hagel says iraq like vietnam and busting up...cnn blows the lid off alot of the war lies, now this!!
the floor is falling out from under * and blair!!

when i saw the general getting pushed out and all the talk of a coup..i thought..the good general byrnes is not in this alone ..if thats what is really going on...did general byrnes getting relieved of his duty spark all this on..did it put the wheels in motion quicker..i just wonder...

thinking aloud here!!
is there a systematic inside revolution going on against *

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm..too much bad news for * in one day..me thinks something is up!! big time!!

fly

[FreedomAngel82]

10. It is very strange

I hope they find out who did it. And why. Why would they out these folks and now? :shrug:

[wli]

11. boy is the UK going to be pissed

I wonder what they were outed to cover up.

[ngGale]

13. Leaking like a hose pipe ...

but why? Guess they can give up trying to recruit intelligence agents, total lack of 'trust' factor.:grr:

[spuddonna]

14. Holy crap...

I hope these people are ok... When people publish these names, it can be tantamount to ordering someone's assassination, esp. if they are field ops.

Hope they stay safe... :(

[DemReadingDU]

15. 74 is a lot of agents

Why were their names leaked? What is going on?

[Henny Penny]

16. That is a lot... could it close down an entire operation...?

But we don't know enough yet to draw any conclusions. Did the US leak in order to get at the UK (has the special relationship soured to that extent???)

Did the UK carry out a purge (unlikely in my view).

Did a 3rd party leak to shut down an operation or to embarass the UK...