Bush in push for greater secrecy

WASHINGTON – The Bush administration has launched several investigations to discourage government employees from leaking classified information to news reporters, The Washington Post reported yesterday.

FBI agents have interviewed dozens of employees at the CIA, the National Security Agency and other intelligence agencies in recent weeks as they investigate possible leaks that led to reports about the NSA’s domestic spying programme and secret CIA prisons in Eastern Europe, the Post said. Employees at the FBI, the CIA, the Justice Department and other agencies have also received Justice Department letters prohibiting them from discussing the NSA programme, the Post said, citing anonymous sources.Republican lawmakers like Kansas Senator Pat Roberts are considering legislation to stiffen penalties for leaking.Several reporters have already been forced to reveal anonymous sources to a US prosecutor investigating the leak of CIA operative Valerie Plame’s identity after her husband accused the Bush administration of twisting intelligence to justify its invasion of Iraq.Editors and lawyers told the Post the incidents amount to the most extensive anti-leak campaign since the Nixon administration.- Nampa-ReutersEmployees at the FBI, the CIA, the Justice Department and other agencies have also received Justice Department letters prohibiting them from discussing the NSA programme, the Post said, citing anonymous sources.Republican lawmakers like Kansas Senator Pat Roberts are considering legislation to stiffen penalties for leaking.Several reporters have already been forced to reveal anonymous sources to a US prosecutor investigating the leak of CIA operative Valerie Plame’s identity after her husband accused the Bush administration of twisting intelligence to justify its invasion of Iraq.Editors and lawyers told the Post the incidents amount to the most extensive anti-leak campaign since the Nixon administration.- Nampa-Reuters