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Leaks Put Americans in Danger, Rumsfeld Says
Tuesday, July 16, 2002
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

"Information obtained from captured detainees has revealed that al Qaeda operatives are extremely security conscious and have altered their practices in response to what they have learned in the press about our capabilities," the reports states. "Disclosures of classified information also reduce the willingness of potential allies, volunteers and other sources in foreign countries to work with us out of fear of having their cooperation publicized in the press," the report says.

WASHINGTON -- AFIS
Military and civilian personnel who leak classified data are putting national security at risk and the practice must stop, said Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld in a memo to all members of the department.

"I have spoken publicly and privately countless times about the dangers of leaking classified information," the secretary wrote. "It is wrong. It is against the law. It costs the lives of Americans. It diminishes our country's chances for success."

Rumsfeld amplified his remarks during an interview on CNBC July 15. "Every once in a while, there are people in the United States government who decide that they want to break federal criminal law and release classified information, and they ought to be imprisoned," he said. "And if we find out who they are, they will be imprisoned."

He said the leaks are making it more difficult to track down terrorists globally. "Why people do it, I do not know," he said. "They obviously want to make themselves look important, and they have favorite reporters and press people that they think they can curry favor with. And they go to them and hand them things that ought not to be given to the public, and ... they then appear in a public press."
(More: DoD News Source)
2002 © The United States Department of Defense.

Dan