Plumbing Repair Required

Dan Abbett

For the record, I have been a strong supporter of George W Bush since the time preceding the elections for president in 2000. That solid support remains unwavering but it also deserves at least a moment from the administration to listen to my two cents with regard to this leak, turning flood, environment.

Mr. President. Your critics are once again leveling counterfeit allegations of wrong doing against your administration. This time, they have crossed the line of even dirty politics to achieve their objective. Gracious words and understanding is not appropriate this time, only aggressive action to plug these leaks that have serious potential for aiding the plans of those who would bring great harm to this nation.

The request is simple. Decency, common sense and an obligation to the duty of the security of this nation, has given way to the lust for ideological power. Before it spirals to a point that threatens the well being of all citizens, it is time to address it with the seriousness required, regardless of the potential for the ruin of political careers. Those who practice this subversion have no regard for anyone’s future but their own and their disingenuous intentions must be exposed and prosecuted.

The continuing leaks of what is certainly classified information, information that has with equal certainty had a deleterious effect on our national security, must be stopped. Furthermore, any agency, agent, official or member of Congress that either leaks or knowingly disseminates classified material should be on notice; you are sitting on the “hot-seat.”

In other words, the next time any official, from any administration, is nabbed tucking classified documents rather than his shirttail into his trousers, providing confidential information to the press or any such violation, the full weight of the penalty for such an offense must be tendered regardless of rank or stature. Washington may be a “good ol’ boy society,” but those of us outside the beltway aren’t impressed. Illegal actions have consequences and we expect those consequences to apply, period.

As with every issue the Democrats have tried to use to undermine the president, reality plays little or no role in their contentions. The latest attempt to accuse the president of illegal activity for the use of executive power, to authorize the National Security Agency to perform wiretaps of suspected terrorist activists without a court order, is their lowest yet.

Recent presidents from Carter to Clinton have cited and invoked “inherent Constitutional powers” with regard to ordering wiretaps without a court order for national security reasons. Federal Appeals Courts have upheld this position and have so ruled. Precedent has little meaning to those obsessed with destroying George Bush however, for them the ends do justify the means. Unfortunately, a large portion of society hears only the propaganda from a mainstream press equally obsessed with “Bush Bashing” and Democrats know it. So why not play fast and loose with the truth?

The end result of what is to this point, one-sided outrage with respect to “leaks” of classified or confidential information, is more leaks. Democrats, the mainstream press and the left were “outraged” over the so-called leak of CIA employee Valerie Plame’s name. They demanded special prosecutors, investigations and for heads to roll.

Good advice! Lets have investigations into who leaked classified information vital to our national security and bring the full extent of the law down on those who are guilty of this travesty.

The Democrats and their underworld accomplices, also known as the mainstream media and anti-war activists, find no problem with using leaks of classified information to assist in their fabrication of abuse by the Bush Administration. Not only does this compromise national security, the information being leaked is misrepresented to support their fabricated claims.

These aren’t just petty political parlor games; this breach of security could well create the circumstances for another 9/11. The action required to fix the leaks in this case, is a quite serious investigation and criminal prosecution of those disclosing secret or classified information. It is time to aggressively address this latest below the belt assault of phony allegations. This is not a time for a temporary patch; it is time to call the plumber.

Email: danabbett1@charter.net