Time to support Charles Grassley. He's bucking the FBI on Sibel Edmonds.

[blm]

Maybe some letters of support and some phone calls to his office.
1 (800) 839 - 5276 - TOLL FREE TO CAPITOL HILL

>>>>>>
The Justice Department has taken the unusual step of retroactively classifying information it gave to Congress nearly two years ago regarding a former F.B.I. translator who charged that the bureau had missed critical terrorist warnings, officials said Wednesday.

Law enforcement officials say the secrecy surrounding the translator, Sibel Edmonds, is essential to protecting information that could reveal intelligence-gathering operations. But some members of Congress and Congressional aides said they were troubled by the move, which comes as critics have accused the Bush administration of excessive secrecy.

"What the F.B.I. is up to here is ludicrous," Senator Charles E. Grassley, Republican of Iowa, said in an interview. "To classify something that's already been out in the public domain, what do you accomplish? It does harm to transparency in government, and it looks like an attempt to cover up the F.B.I.'s problems in translating intelligence."
>>>>>>

"I have never heard of a retroactive classification two years back,'' said an aide who spoke on condition of anonymity because the subject is classified.
"It would be silly if it didn't have such serious implications,'' the aide said. "People are puzzled and, frankly, worried, because the effect here is to quash Congressional oversight. We don't even know what we can't talk about.''
Senator Grassley said, "This is about as close to a gag order as you can get."
>>>>>>
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/20/politics/20classify.html

[truthspeaker]

1. seems like it should be leaked retroactively

I mean, if it didn't used to be classified a member of the public could have gotten hold of it while it was still public info. Then it might find its way to an internet blogger.

Just a thought *ahem* [email protected] *ahem*

[Paradise]

2. [email protected]? :) n/t

[blm]

4. Maybe some bloggers can urge action?

Honest government Republicans are few and far between. I think it is up to us Dems to show our appreciation and urge them to push ahead.

[Paradise]

5. oh, thanks, of course i will!

but, forgive me, i don't know who dave teegarden is? :shrug:

[truthspeaker]

7. he's a guy who runs a blog about the Iraq war and Bushco deception

found at www.truthspeaker.org

[Paradise]

10. lol, i'm so dense! hi, guy! :) n/t

[blm]

3. Letters and phonecalls can certainly urge that he do just that.

.

[calimary]

8. 1 (800) 839 - 5276 - TOLL FREE TO CAPITOL HILL.

And don't forget these...

PLEASE NOTE MY SIG LINE – TO CALL YOUR REPS, TOLL FREE!!!

OR, TRY (877) – 762 – 8762. It’ll get you there, too! (Thank you, DUer redqueen!)


Please note, here, The World's Greatest Lists of Media Contacts – updated May 5, 2004– in the following thread:

LINK:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=1533796#

IF THEY THINK WE DON’T CARE, THEY WON’T, EITHER!

[blm]

12. If they think we don't care, they won't, either.

That says it all, doesn't it?

[9119495]

6. Nooooooooooooooo!

Grassley is right on this one but he has been so wrong on so much else. Examples: He tends to vigorously back whistle blowers when it hurts Dems but less so when it hurts bush--Anybody heard of Joe Wilson's wife being helped by Grassley? Richard Clark?

Grassley also had a b.s. "let's do lunch" attitude toward white-supremacist Randy Weaver.

So let's not get too excited about Grassley. Make a call but keep some perspective.

[blm]

9. Of course. But this is specific to THIS issue. The more he talks about it

the better for us and the better for democracy.

[liveoaktx]

11. I agree-done