Why is everyone calling this a "leak"? It is MUCH more serious than that!

[Brotherjohn]

A "leak" implies simply that someone let out some information (usually political or policy) that wasn't supposed to be let out. No one is harmed. "Leaks" do not typically have the serious implications that this act does. When people are running around today saying "investigations into leaks generally don't pan out", and constantly referring to this simply as a "leak", I worry. This is not your everyday "leak" and referring to it as such diminishes the implications of what has been done.

Those implications are:

A) The possible deaths of U.S. operatives and anyone they may have associated with over the years.

B) The compromising of the effort at stopping the proliferation of WMDs, particularly WMDs getting in the hands of terrorists. Thus, endangering national security and quite possibly, every one of our lives.

A better word for the action might be "treason". Bush and co have implied that word simply for disagreements with their policy, since we are at "war" with terror and all. But here, there was likely a criminal act committed. Given that we are at "war", shouldn't that be considered "treason", and not simply a "leak".

I know we have been calling it "traitor-gate" and "treason-gate" here. But the mainstream press is just harping on the investigation of an alleged "leak".

[BQueen]

1. Yes, it is

and Poppy Bush called it that when he pushed for the passage of the law they violated. (Although he was working to intimidate and vilify Agee for outing CIA deviant acts at the time.)

As an aside, I did see a "gate" reference that was catchy and descriptive on a Common Dreams headline today: "Intimigate"

[realFedUp]

3. "Intimigate" I like it.

meme it.

[GainesT1958]

2. Some dare call it...

Exactly what you did, BROTHER:

TREASON!:mad:

One of the REAL "High crimes" referred to by the Founding Fathers as what constituted an impeachable offense.

B-)

[HereSince1628]

4. I prefer "exposed" to "leaked"

Treason is specially defined in the constitution, this might be treasonous in that sense but that would really be hard to prove. It was certainly disloyal to the people who work in the intelligence agencies.

[maggrwaggr]

6. Yeah "leak" sounds like an accident. Boats leak, faucets leak

This was a fucking betrayal that could have led to the woman's death and will probably lead to the deaths of others.

[nostamj]

5. republican full-court SPIN

from the floor of the Senate to the airwaves...

"leak" "routine" "happens 50+ times a year" "analyst"

[maggrwaggr]

7. it's disgusting they would defend this

imagine if it were the Clinton white house, they'd be clamoring for Clinton's execution. No exaggeration there

[Brotherjohn]

10. I agree. That is not an exaggeration in the slightest.

nt

[bobthedrummer]

8. 30 year agent

that's one hell of a social network for a spook! Yes, it is serious for all concerned.

[HFishbine]

9. Where's Ann Coulter

when you need her?