New concerns about intel leaks involving US foreign policy

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Well yeah bill we have now learned that the United States is in fact helping those Syrian rebels in ways not previously disclosed.

President Obama reportedly signed a secret order.

Directing the CIA and other agencies to help that.

That order does not allow the US to provide weapons to the level fighters.

Who have been seriously out -- that embattled president Assad forces.

KT McFarland right now joins us she of course is -- National security analyst thank you for being with us so borders first reported on this so called secret order and that report also says that there is -- secret support.

Being coordinated through a secret command center in Turkey's so obviously if all of this is so secret hearted -- -- -- -- here.

I don't it's like at least -- we've seen in the past in the last couple of months but I think we're coming out of the Obama administration.

Why because they have the leaks in the -- have -- -- about things that wild successes that everyone's -- -- really terrific.

And they came after the fact and the administration claiming they were so great that was our guys doing that was president.

Obama being decisive and strong this is a different kind of week this is very risky stuff at a talk about the United States' involvement here in the situation -- could blow up in everybody's face.

I don't think this is certainly coming out of Washington -- guess since it's coming from overseas and is it dangerous as well because we've actually locate this secret command center in southern Turkey right.

Don't think so -- -- everyone knows that there's a rebel force I've seen pictures of the rebel armies but let's remember for a minute who -- the rebels we don't know.

You know we know that Syria and a -- -- bad guys they're murdering their own people women and children but we're not sure -- these rebels are this is not like.

George Washington leaving the American revolutionary army these our group of tribes some of them are al-Qaeda.

Some of them are Muslim Brotherhood some of them are well meaning pro democracy.

Liberals we're just not sure and I think that's why the -- hesitation on any kind of army -- -- -- -- concerns going -- they go ultimately -- al-Qaeda.

Ultimately be used against us or our allies in the region that's why we've got to really know who are we dealing with here and not just say.

Here here and -- the enemy of my enemy is my friend not necessary.

And it did and may in fact be a wide variety of rebels he just pointed out and -- -- you do have some politicians.

McCain Graham calling for us to just openly and directly arming.

These rebels but as you say there is that concern there are reports out there.

That you've got Islamic militants right you that you have al-Qaeda so what's your feeling on whether -- should be that we here's the thing we saw what we armed the rebels in that in Afghanistan -- those are the same weapons in the same groups that ultimately and ended up fighting past ten years later.

When we earned them in the eighties they were fighting -- in the ninety's and then -- after September 11.

It for me.

And for the United States I was of it all these issues -- what's good for my country.

What's that potential threat for the United States it's those chemical weapons we know Asad of Syria have one of the largest stockpiles of chemical weapons.

In the Middle East if not the world we also now our own intelligence sources have said that a rock -- chemical weapons before the Iraq War from Iraq into Syria.

We want to make sure that whatever happens those chemical weapons don't fall into the hands of the bad guys on any side.

And have those chemical weapons be used against -- Or our allies or show up in the international arms bazaar as the Libyan weapons did right so what might be included in this new order we've already openly acknowledged -- humanitarian aid.

Communications equipment.

Other types of support so what type of support is in this new -- well I -- up again I think that what we're probably doing is -- probably have Covert forces there that we shouldn't be talking about.

With General Petraeus interestingly in Afghanistan right referring to the CIA job and we had a discussion about what's the future of warfare.

How will weapons an American military forces be used in the future he says you know the -- they have the big American.

Invasion in land army uses over it's now going to be special forces it's going to be Covert operations.

And I think that's what you're seeing now is Covert assistance using the CIA that's what -- finding is all about it directs the CIA.

To use -- to assist.

You know other forces around the world.

And so its use of these gonna Covert operations.

Unless uncle going to that just a little bit more it is in fact all -- -- finding we we call -- in order.

But -- finding a finding care -- they haven't sit forever from the very beginning of the republic.

But in the 1970s mid 1970s I was in the White House working for President Nixon.

And congress want to -- -- The CIA they didn't want the CIA to go off on hair brained -- so what they did.

-- say if the president of the United States feels strongly enough about this too personally direct the CIA to do a specific military operation.

He can do so he will do and sign a finding that directs -- CIA.

And Covert operations forces but he must inform Capitol Hill on the relevant committees so when the president signed this finding he would presumably -- so.

Have acknowledged this to be relevant committees on Capitol Hill which -- in the Intelligence -- Sebelius to do -- inform them doesn't need their approval doesn't need your approval.

But at the end of today he owns that operation because he personally has signed off on and if it goes bad.

That is his personal.

-- -- reputation on the line and all right KT McFarland thank you as always.

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New concerns about intel leaks involving US foreign policy

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