Fox News
Expand
Browse All Video
Watch Live

You're watching...

Rumsfeld: U.S. intelligence leaks most 'extensive'

Details

  • Description

    Former Defense Secretary weighs in Obama national security leaks

  • Duration 5:20
  • Date

Clips

Also in this playlist...

Powerful Politics

Auto-advance: ON

Auto-advance
View All

Transcript

This transcript is automatically generated

Military is on Rumsfeld his book known and unknown is out today in paperback and by the way all the proceeds go to military charities -- weren't you mr.

secretary.

Good morning folks it's great dad hey I'm sure you've been watching from your house what's going on with these leaks.

On the front pages of the New York Times seems to have.

All of our biggest secrets.

How bad it is it.

It's it it is very serious if you think of the task of the armed forces and the intelligence community.

It's to go out around the world and to try to develop relationships with others who will provide information to.

Our country so that we can defend the American people.

And to the extent the information that that we seek is compromised and we damage those people who assistance through those countries that assistance.

Individuals countries are gonna be unwilling to cooperate with the United States and turn off the intelligence and we've been getting.

And it'll be attend a damaging thing for our country to say nothing of the lives that are lost.

When information about how we do our business how we conduct our operations.

I think that what Americans are most may be upset about is that it may have been done for political gains.

And that could be criminal in the end do you believe that we need to have special counsel on this or is it okayed it Eric Holder has.

Nominated or designated -- two people from within his own Department of Justice to look into this.

Well in the past when there's something that involves an administration a special counsel is is often used.

It can be used to great effect because not only is it truly independent and not reporting up through a cabinet department.

But in fact it also gives the American people confidence that in fact it's independent.

And and that's important as well the perception as well as the reality.

Mr.

secretary you date back to the Ford administration the Nixon administration of course the Bush Administration you've been there in and out you've seen -- -- before.

Where does this stack up when you talk about the stocks that virus -- about operations in Yemen but double agent one being troops from Saudi Arabia working for us.

Put it and put it in context please.

Well I've not seen it quite.

This this extensive.

And -- also not seen it at what appears to be a rather high level.

The individuals that are doing this -- clearly have access to.

Highly confidential highly classified information.

In the past I've seen it come out it seems that two or three layers down and it's a little garbled it a little wrong and serving some purpose for one department or other.

But in this case it it it seems to all be of a kind of seems to be coming out of the White House and it seems to be all.

In a manner that is designed to favor the administration -- and two support them.

And -- you know and I'm sure there have been times during the administration's that you worked.

-- on and we have.

Where -- you here.

It's as some reporters working on -- story and it would be damaging to national security and either you or somebody from the White House would make a phone call he listened.

We would prefer if you not do that story apparently that did not happen in these cases.

I don't know that that I you're quite right I -- remember any number of instances where the Central Intelligence Agency senior officials -- of the Department of Defense senior officials would get on the phone and talk to a a news outlet an organization or newspaper television station and say look.

If -- if you release this.

It will be damaging to our country let there be no doubt about it we we urge you not to do it.

I've made those calls I know that senior military officials have as well.

I need to move on to the next topic mr.

secretary because I know backing 2011 I believe it was July at O'Hare airport you received a full pat down.

Something.

Sorry.

I and I had nothing to do it that but I'm sure it was a very pleasant experience.

But I -- need to find out from you what your thoughts are about the TSA now.

Approving private screeners at the Orlando airport do you like that idea and should this be something that we should be doing all across the country.

Well if you're quite right it if I was -- O'Hare airport and I that was getting patted down and people would -- by and say there's Don Rumsfeld and I.

-- violent and I understand the task that they've got there's no question but that we suffered an enormous attack on our country.

-- through the use of civilian aircraft filled with -- innocent men women and children so I can certainly understand the the need to have created deterrent effect and also to actually check people.

I've I've accepted it myself -- and I suppose most Americans have as well.

I don't know about these difference between private and public.

It seems to me that we use private corporations.

For a lot of functions in government and they do pretty good job and I just I would have to understand it better than I do to know what I thought about it.

Right and his secretary the book is fascinating crime goes your entire career and it's no doubt about it was is -- best seller hardback will be and soft back.

Known and unknown it's out now and the proceeds go to military charities thanks so much for joining us this morning.

Think -- run right.

Load More