Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Senate Democrats & Republicans irate over national security leaks that just so happen to benefit Obama

Senators from both sides of the aisle Tuesday expressed concern that recent leaks to the media concerning the U.S. drone program and U.S. cyber attacks on Iran is harming U.S. national security interests.

Republican lawmakers have accused the Obama administration of selectively releasing this information to boost the President's re-election campaign.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, told reporters Tuesday that the leaking of information about U.S. cyber attacks targeting Iran's nuclear program, "is like an avalanche", is "very detrimental" and "very concerning," adding that “there’s no question that this kind of thing hurts our country.”

John Kerry (D-Mass.), chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, said that "a number of... leaks, and others in the last months about drone activities and other activities are frankly all against national security interests."

Added Kerry: “I think they’re dangerous, damaging, and whoever is doing that is not acting in the interest of the United States of America.”

Speaking on the Senate floor, and with reporters on Tuesday, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) accused the Obama administration of orchestrating the recent media leaks.

“They’re intentionally leaking information to enhance President Obama’s image as a tough guy for the elections,” McCain told reporters. “That is unconscionable.”

"Such disclosures can only undermine similar ongoing or future operations and, in this sense, compromise national security,” McCain said on the Senate floor. “For this reason, regardless of how politically useful these leaks may be to the president, they have to stop.”

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