Democratic Leaders Stand Up To Bush On WH Leak Of Intelligence

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Pelosi: 'Bush's Selective Declassification of Highly Sensitive Intelligence for Political Purposes Is Wrong'

4/7/2006 2:12:00 PM

WASHINGTON, April 7 /U.S. Newswire/ -- House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today in response to news reports that President Bush authorized the declassification of intelligence information concerning Iraq:

"President Bush's selective declassification of highly sensitive intelligence for political purposes is wrong.

"Executive Order 12356 requires 'a uniform system for classifying, declassifying, and safeguarding national security information.' Why didn't President Bush follow this protocol before authorizing the selective leak of highly sensitive intelligence?

"From the beginning, the Bush Administration manipulated intelligence about Iraq to strengthen the President's political position. The President owes the American people the truth about his manipulation of sensitive intelligence for political purposes.

"The Republican cover-up Congress must stop blocking the urgently-needed investigation of the Bush Administration's manipulation of intelligence information and release of a CIA clandestine service officer's identity."

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=63768


Reid: Bush Must Explain Leak to the American People

4/7/2006 1:24:00 PM

WASHINGTON, April 7 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Remarks As Prepared for Delivery:

"Mr. President, yesterday the American people received the shocking news that the Vice President's former Chief of Staff, Scooter Libby, may have acted on direct orders from President Bush when he leaked classified intelligence to reporters.

"This is a serious allegation with national security consequences. It directly contradicts previous statements made by President Bush, it continues a pattern of misleading by this Bush White House, and it raises somber and troubling questions about the Bush administration's candor with the Congress and the public.

"For years, President Bush has denied knowing about conversations between his top aides and Washington reporters, conversations where his aides - like Scooter Libby - sought to justify the war in Iraq and discredit the White House's critics by leaking national security secrets.

"In fact, President Bush is on the record in September of 2003 as saying "I don't know of anybody in my administration who leaked classified information. If somebody did leak classified information, I'd like to know it, and we'll take the appropriate action." But yesterday, we found there is much more to the story. According to court records, President Bush may have personally authorized the very leaks he denied knowing anything about.

"In light of this disturbing news, we need to hear from President Bush which of these is true: his comments in 2003 or the statements made by the Vice President's Chief of Staff. Only the President can put this matter to rest. He must tell the American people whether the Bush Oval Office is the place where the buck stops, or the leaks start.

"This is a question he alone must answer. Not a spokesman. Not a statement. Only him".

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=63763

[wtmusic]

1. More crass politics

Asking the preznit to obey the law...HOW DARE THEY??

:silly:

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2. upstarts

rabble

[Trillo]

3. It'll be interesting to watch how well they stand up over time.

Congresspeople getting behind Feingold's Censure motion en masse would sure add to momentum.

[theHandpuppet]

4. Yep...

Until then it's just more talk.

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5. outside of impeachment now, or censure now, there's the midterms

a reversal of the majority in either body would put the engine behind the changes we want our leaders, who are in the minority now, to effect.

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6. kick

:kick:

[BuyingThyme]

7. He didn't declassify anything, Nancy. It's a cover-up aimed at protecting

Cheney.

Put on your little thinking cap and stop following their lead while ignoring this assault on our country.

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8. they are going to hang by their words

the truth will out