Security clearance question:

[cynatnite]

If someone is the target or subject of an investigation involving the leaking of classified information shouldn't their clearance be revoked at the very least temporarily?

Aren't cops taken off the street if they are involved in a questionable shooting? What about nurses or doctors? If they are being investigated aren't they taken away from patient care until a completed investigation?

This just seems like a no-brainer.

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

1. Dodd just made the same police officer analogy n/t

[anarch]

2. I think the term "no-brainer" is giving too much credit

to some of the people in this administration.

[Walt Starr]

3. Standard agents and employees, yes

Political appointees and nominees, no.

Never the twain shall meet.

In other words, if it had been joe FBI agent or Joe Marine who was under investigation, the loss of security clearance would be automatic.

Rove gets a pass because he's a political appointee.

[leveymg]

4. Joe FBI or Marine would be in a cell right now.

Just another highly corrosive aspect of this that's eating at the gut of many intelligence, military and law enforcement officers right now. It's a serious error for BushCo to stonewall on Rove, as it continues to alienate those people.

They can cause serious trouble for the WH. In fact, they already are.

[newswolf56]

5. If the someone were you or I, our clearance would be revoked...

for far less cause than Rove has provided. But Rove is part of the plutocracy -- der Bushler's chosen, one of Yehveh's Anointed, a member of the Select -- and he is therefore literally above the law.

For you or me, mere suspicion of wrongdoing (or even accidental carelessness) will instantly revoke your security clearance (and hence end all your access to classified material) -- at least until you are officially absolved. That is how it was when I served in the military (a three-year enlistment during the Vietnam era), and while "wrongdoing" is now somewhat more liberally defined -- you probably won't lose your clearance for having gay/lesbian parents or merely living in the same building as known Communists -- the basic rules are still the same.