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Sen. John McCain explains call for independent counsel to investigate classified leaks, why he believes they were politically-motivated
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Senator John McCain warning the Obama administration that it cannot police itself he is calling for special.
Outside counsel to investigate the leaks of highly classified information.
Attorney general Eric -- is appointed to the US attorneys one appointed by former President Bush to look -- recent national security leaks but Senator McCain says.
That is not good enough.
Seven I see -- -- thank you.
I'd you have asked that you want is a special prosecutor independent of what the attorney general has done to investigate the -- -- First -- -- a special counsel to be specific.
But.
We need an outside investigation.
Clearly today.
Attorney general of the United States is under considerable criticism and scrutiny -- in the house they are talking about.
Cited for contempt of congress but more importantly than.
We need is something someone who was completely independent.
We did that in various other occasions which were far more serious and that's the Valerie Plame investigation.
And others.
When the Democrats.
Abramoff and others we've got.
And letters from there and Senator Obama and statements by vice president then Senator Obama calling for.
An independent counsel or special investigation so.
It's clear that.
This issue.
Is of transcendent importance the Director of National Intelligence said this most egregious breach of security.
And national security that he's seen.
In his thirty years as in the intelligence community.
What is bipartisan a sense that there is.
Our shot them both sides of the -- senator Dianne Feinstein Democrat very concerned about the seriousness of these leaks out.
Let me ask you though is that.
Two people appointed by attorney general holder one was the United States and was -- US attorney appointed by President Obama.
The other one is US attorney out of the district of Maryland acquitted by.
Then President Bush does sort of the bipartisan nature of that or their back for the anyways relieve -- of that your -- They still have to report to the attorney general of the United States they are not independent.
It requires.
And independent.
Look at this in order to have the kind of credibility that's necessary but this is the most egregious breach of national security.
That I have ever seen we are talking about ongoing.
Highest level.
Covert operations one on cyber warfare in the other on drones and this requires and though most objective and credible investigation someone like Bob then we would all applaud -- you remember him he's done other.
Investigations.
And he's a Democrat as a matter of fact but we need someone who's credible and someone -- truly in the -- I've speed them that we get so nervous.
We get in these huge investigation they go on for years and years and become almost semi Shakespearean play developing here in Washington keep -- we figured we.
One of the things that we have we need to split decision.
Does going outside.
Also -- run the rest -- the be greater time Arnott.
Do you think that if the attorney general holder was ultimately in charge of this investigation.
That we would have any information between now and November.
The fact is that a special counsel.
-- Council which we that laws laps would have much more constrained.
Jurisdiction and I'm confident that we would get.
The best possible conclusion a credible one that the American people could say.
-- that was independent and so therefore we trust.
Nice -- oddly I think we get that is that the small universe of people with some of these meetings ought to make it rather swiftly to find out who is the leaker.
It is not as though -- a huge universe of people were present the road when this national security information discussed.
So it actually it.
Could be done efficiently quickly -- Well I hope so but the author of the book and the other publications -- clearly indicate.
That this goes through to the administration.
And in some cases of the highest levels of the administration I don't think there's any doubt about that.
So.
It's it it really is awful and you know the anecdote that.
The after the information was disclosed about the Osama bin Laden raid.
Including seal team six including other information.
The secretary of defense probably the most.
Respected of all cabinet members as you know he was appointed under President Bush Secretary Gates went to the White House and said.
To the national security advisor mr.
-- he -- I've got a new communications strategy for you.
Diamond said what is decent shot that fifth.
Now that is a very unusual move for a secretary of defense to tell -- national security advisor.
That's how concerned the secretary of defense was at that time about.
Raid that conducted on Osama bin Laden and now we have additional.
Disclosures.
Of the most Covert operations by the way our relations with the Israelis and other nations has been severely damage.
By these revelations.
Two issues one is whether -- -- -- for political reasons it's -- -- but the other is is the actual leaks in and how damaging to our national security.
And -- One of the article -- David say the New York Times talks about this cyber worm that the -- -- which show was supposed to infiltrate the you Ronnie and nuclear computer system for their nuclear power plant and -- disrupted and thereby and he did and did it -- but here's here's what.
Here's what's in -- that he -- And it tense meeting in the White House situation room within days of the worms escape mr.
Obama.
Vice president Joseph.
Considered whether America's most ambitious attempt to slow the progress -- Iran's nuclear efforts had been fatally compromised.
There's a universe of people who were in the room there.
You'd expect some other -- as well.
I would think that there could be others including the national security advisor.
In the room I would assume but that's something we need to find out because those are direct quotes as you know from what actually happened.
And what effect next paragraph has to quote President Obama asking should we.
Should we shut this thing down -- what the president's talking about about national security matter is now in the public domain in the New York Times.
All I can say this that and every indication.
Leads to the conclusion.
-- the important substantive.
Substances.
To the belief that this.
Leaks came from the highest levels that's all I can -- But I am not saying that that is the case that's why we need the investigation.
But also you know whenever there's leaks in this town.
You've seen this before.
The first question answer yourself and should be asked in the case of -- who benefits.
Or somebody stupid.
Mean there's also ended factor is someone going to tell somebody else until somebody else until somebody else and who doesn't get what -- security classified.
-- -- you who benefits but.
In response to what you just said.
In his book mr.
Sanger said several officials said that they wanted to remain anonymous.
Because they would lose their jobs.
So I think it's it's pretty pretty clear here.
But I impact in the same article -- said none would allow.
His -- to be used because the effort remains highly classified and part of it continues this date so the source knew it was wrong with to be talking about the -- -- -- his -- -- A highly.
Classified going on to this -- One of the reasons why this is so egregious.
Use these operations we're going on and it's far -- obviously they're still going on.
And so lives have been compromised national security has been compromised.
And what has been the result.
An -- arrangement between ourselves and our allies compromise.
Our most highly classified operations.
End.
Now we have told the -- what we are doing and over time don't they feel little license to respond.
Let it this.
Computer worm that we develop we developed it with.
The Israelis that's below that's the published information and yes and post information and the Israelis who have been threatened by Iran Ahmadinejad -- wants to wipe Israel off the map.
And I'm thinking that we're Israel made a good adopted alone without us as partners and done it and perhaps you don't feel more secure today.
But by partnering up with us and let's with a late partner of course I've party -- this very important program to this little country.
And in the world has now been that jeopardized.
Increases of vulnerability.
The Israelis because it gives the Iranians another reason to.
Make the declarations they do about -- you know but also.
If you -- an Israeli national security person or the prime minister.
What about the next time the Americans come to you and say look we want to partner in some very important.
And highly classified information.
Obviously -- that they're gonna think twice I know for a fact that they and other allies are enraged.
But it's even more important and vis -- Israel Iran because -- would have.
Read many -- those that if Iran wants to go alone militarily it's been a huge challenge whether or not can get over to Iran.
Do the damage in the return have to refuel the the nuclear sites serve thirty feet below -- thirty feet of -- Concrete above it so it's really a chance of this sort of worm might have been a way to just -- -- or at least inhibits the process for a number of years to come and so hey that's it.
We don't have that one now.
I think we know for a fact that it did inhibit we knew that there was a virus there warm ups there we just didn't know.
Who is doing and although we certainly had suspicions but it did delay the Iranian progress there's no doubt about that that -- -- Out in the media as well now.
What do what do we do now.
It benefits the question whether it's Politico.
I gave it expected me to be stupid or political -- -- seem to be the two options up our carelessness and things.
Out what makes you think if you think it is that this is done deliberately and for political reasons because that's even.
More egregious than if someone is incompetent.
There may have been some people who are stupid.
But as mr.
-- points out in his book he had dozens of sources there -- -- Wall Street.
They just they just -- and by the way again I would like to.
Point out that.
The information.
Is about ongoing operations it's one thing -- you've read Woodward's books and others about.
Things issues that have been concluded.
This is about an ongoing about two of our most highly classified ongoing operations.
What -- -- president promised responsiveness of the kidneys these -- tell the attorney general that it is there any role in president Obama's speaking out on us.
It was curious that the president seemed to be more concerned about accusations of where the leaks came from.
Than any concern about the fact that the leaks occurred.
It's just.
It's almost -- to find that here.
He is surprising United States faced with two massive security breaches and his concerns whether it was leaked from the White House -- his concern should be.
What -- -- was who leaked it and what are we gonna do to stop this kind of thing from happening.
In the future by the way they have gone after some low level operatives for weeks now they ought to go a little bit higher.
If it turns out that this is that I say hypothetically that this is only for political reasons heads should roll.
Well prosecutors and this is this just criminal activity I mean that's that's what I get from.
Whole variety of forces this isn't just today.
Something -- policy -- This is this is the trained highly most highly classified information.
Which is against the law it's against the law to do that so.
I think it's -- it has very serious consequences.
Why do you think the attorney general -- has this has pushed back in terms of it appointing me special counsel to look into the special investigator.
I don't know but the hypocrisy of all of this is that then Senator Biden.
Several occasions called for special counsel in the case of Valerie Plame case of Abramoff.
Then Senator Obama called for the same time.
Then Senator Biden was on talk shows saying we -- the only way we can get an objective investigations.
To have a special counsel so.
If it's it's it's almost.
Well I think it has traces of hypocrisy.
Senator Feinstein has not yet joined -- -- and you -- outside investigation I'm getting personal conversation whether -- As I know that this a very troubling.
Leaked to her.
And I think.
There's no doubt about.
Senator feinstein's.
Concern on this issue she said in eleven years and she's been.
On the intelligence committee she's never seen anything like this I respect for wanting to.
Wait and see what happens but.
I also think that there's it's pretty obvious that the president.
And the attorney general don't want -- outside counsel especially counts.
-- -- Huge indictment of their -- They've -- that they don't want one person is not necessary.
But I'm an ebony under current -- it is that it's that it's been that business of political leak and that they -- that that they consider their political.
Future our livelihood -- appeared to national security which I'm sure they would tonight -- site.
I'm sure they -- and will and I will give them the benefit of the doubt except that then the question has to be asked why wouldn't you want.
The most objective credible investigation to be conducted.
It would have nothing to do with the investigation -- -- allegations that its members of the administration.
Who -- responsible for the leaks.
-- and -- right that this this worm this is for Iran but this is part of a program that that predated President Obama.
There was it started when president Bush Administration.
That's what's in this book I don't have done it and I am I don't have that information but I have no reason to doubt that not to give any more ammunition but it's notable -- never late.
During that point -- and administration we never hear about until June of this year.
No there was the Valerie Plame affair and independent counsel was appointed the issue -- all the way to the White House all the way to Scooter Libby as you know.
And people were satisfied with the -- -- and that's why we need the same kind of deal here.
-- they say thank you.
