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CIA warns ex-agents over talking to media

Demetri Sevastopulo in Washing | April 26

FT - The Central Intelligence Agency has warned former employees not to have unapproved contacts with reporters, as part of a mounting campaign by the administration to crack down on officials who leak information on national security issues.

A former official said the CIA recently warned several retired employees who have consulting contracts with the agency that they could lose their pensions by talking to reporters without permission. He added that while the threats might be legally “hollow,” they were having a chilling effect on former employees.

They're gutting the CIA. It's going to be ruined by the time Bush is out of office. Talk about a breach of national security.

Update: More on the CIA story here, as Steve Clemons writes letters to Goss.

And Shane Harris has a story in the National Journal: Silencing The Squeaky Wheels


Sean Paul Kelley April 27, 2006 - 12:04pm
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( categories: AgonistWire | USA: Intel and Policy )

The CIA was broken to their

The CIA was broken to their will in 2005 after the election. It was (along with State and Justice) their first priority.

The locus of resistance is now centered in the Pentagon and in a few harried members of Justice.

Ian Welsh April 27, 2006 - 2:52am
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It's more complicated than that.

If the organization is broken to the administration's will, why would former members be leaking damning stuff like Drumheller is leaking? These guys make their post-retirement living based on connections into the IC - if this leak is against CIA's will, he loses access. This leak serves the organization's purpose and gives them plausible deniability in the bureaucratic wars inside the beltway.

"We declared war on terror, it's not even a noun, so, good luck. After we defeat it, I'm sure we'll take on that bastard ennui." - Jon Stewart.

JustPlainDave April 27, 2006 - 9:35am
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Is Bush working for America??

I still think that king George the Thurd, the worst american leader.
is probably the most serious threat that this country is facing in it's history.
Every thing that this guy decide's, has detrimental effects on all aspects of this coutry, Science, education, military, economy, environment, security.
Has anything, anything, that this guy implimented to this day, has a positive effect on america and/or the world.
What to think about a population so subjugated by the Bush apparatchniks.
America went in six years from the freatest nation on earth to one of the most pathetic.
A most sorry state.

Jelco Cathlon April 27, 2006 - 9:49am
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if it were me...

...and I knew I was dealing with de-classified material, I'd be sooooo tempted to tell 'em to piss on a rope.

At least in the private sector, unless you want to talk about IP issues, your former boss can't restrict squat on you....
(gotta qualify this because IP falls under most companies' non-disclosure agreements...things like compensation, policies, and so forth)
-5.75,-4.05 "The invisible hand of Adam Smith seems to offer an extended middle finger to an awful lot of people"---George Carlin

justadood April 27, 2006 - 1:30pm
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Gee !

In Texas we say piss up a rope, but it must be the same thing. King Goorge and prince Dick should try not leaking the identities of covert agents before they tell those working for them to follow the rules. They blur the distinction between whistle blowing and their own more serious leaks. Hell, we'll never find out the truth about what dirty deeds they're up to if no one leaks information. Better would be knowing what is in the works before it gets turned into law.

Phil April 27, 2006 - 8:57pm
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