by Jim Kouri
Since 2011, when the GOP took control of the House of Representatives, President Barack Obama has all but begged the Democrats and Republicans to work together in both houses of Congress. Unfortunately a bi-partisan investigation of the White House over alleged intelligence leaks was obviously not what Obama had in mind on Friday.
In spite of denials on Friday by members of the Obama administration that recent intelligence leaks emanated from the White House -- leaks that allegedly compromised national security interests -- lawmakers from both Houses of Congress and from both political parties are contemplating new legislation to combat what amounts to espionage, according to a Law Enforcement Examiner source within a federal police agency.
Members of the House and Senate Intelligence Committees told various print and broadcast news outlets that they are planning to propose new legislation in an attempt to stop leaks of classified intelligence and increase the penalties for leaking secrets.
The recent leaks regarding a U.S. cyber-attack against Iran's nuclear-program computers and the so-called "Obama Terrorist Kill List" created even more outrage than two previous leaks that endangered one "intelligence asset" and caused another to be imprisoned in Pakistan.
“The accelerating pace of such disclosures, the sensitivity of the matters in question, and the harm caused to our national security interests is alarming and unacceptable,” the Intelligence Committee Chairwoman said in a statement released on Friday.
“Each disclosure puts American lives at risk, makes it more difficult to recruit assets, strains the trust of our partners, and threatens imminent and irreparable damage to our national security in the face of urgent and rapidly adapting threats worldwide,” she said.
Feinstein noted that she was cooperating with House Intelligence Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) to add an addendum to the 2013 Intelligence Authorization. The additional provision would define the leaking of classified material as a serious felony even if it is to a well-known news organization or reporter.
The House has already passed its intelligence authorization bill, and Feinstein said she was working with Rogers on the Senate version so that any additions could be included during the House-Senate conference committee process.
The intelligence committees, which held press conferences on Thursday and Friday, have indicated their suspicion that the leaks came from President Barack Obama's White House.
“What is grossly irresponsible is the leaking of details about a classified counterterrorism ‘kill list’ by ‘administration officials’ and one ‘official’ who even requested anonymity ‘to speak about what is still a classified program,’" said McCain in his statement.
"With a troubled economic picture and millions of jobless Americans, Obama appears to be falling back on his national security achievements. The problem is that the man who helped the U.S. locate and kill Osama bin Laden is in prison in Pakistan because he helped the U.S. Plus the guy who infiltrated al-Qaeda in Yemen and was able to obtain a new version of an "underwear bomb" had his cover blown by White House leaks," said former police detective and military intelligence officer Michael Snopes.
"These people should be ashamed of themselves, but I fear all they care about is winning in November," he added.
Jim Kouri, CPP, formerly Fifth Vice-President, is currently a Board Member of the National Association of Chiefs of Police, an editor for ConservativeBase.com, and he's a columnist for Examiner.com. In addition, he's a blogger for the Cheyenne, Wyoming Fox News Radio affiliate KGAB (www.kgab.com) and editor of Conservative Base Magazine (www.conservativebase.com). Kouri also serves as political advisor for Emmy and Golden Globe winning actor Michael Moriarty.
He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country.
He holds a bachelor of science in Criminal Justice from Southwest University and SCI Technical School in New York City and completed training at the NYC Police Academy, FBI Continuing Education Program, Yale University Administration and Management Certification, and the Certified Protection Professional (CPP) of the American Society for Industrial Security.
Kouri writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others. Kouri appears regularly as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Fox News Channel, Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, etc.
He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country.
He holds a bachelor of science in Criminal Justice from Southwest University and SCI Technical School in New York City and completed training at the NYC Police Academy, FBI Continuing Education Program, Yale University Administration and Management Certification, and the Certified Protection Professional (CPP) of the American Society for Industrial Security.
Kouri writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others. Kouri appears regularly as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Fox News Channel, Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, etc.
