Intelligence Vets Urge Fast Report on Clinton Emails. 5/23/16

[grasswire]

https://consortiumnews.com/2016/05/23/intel-vets-urge-fast-report-on-clintons-emails/

A group of U.S. intelligence veterans is calling on President Obama to expedite the FBI review of former Secretary of State Clinton’s alleged email security violations so the public can assess this issue in a timely fashion.


MEMORANDUM FOR: The President

FROM: Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity

SUBJECT: Those “Damn Emails” – “Really a Concern”

Introduction

Last Wednesday Robert Gates, CIA Director under President Bush-41 and Defense Secretary under President Bush-43, publicly commented that Secretary Hillary Clinton’s “whole email thing … is really a concern in terms of her judgment,” adding, “I don’t know what originally prompted her to think that was a good idea.”

What originally prompted her does not matter. As your Secretary of State and your subordinate, she willfully violated laws designed to protect classified information from unauthorized disclosure. It may be somewhat difficult for those not as immersed in national security matters as we have been to appreciate the seriousness of the offense, including the harm done in compromising some of the most sensitive U.S. programs and activities. This is why we write.

Pundits and others are playing down the harm. A charitable interpretation is that they have no way to gauge what it means to expose so much to so many. We do know, and our overriding concern is to protect the national security of our country from further harm. It would be a huge help toward this end, if you would order Attorney General Loretta Lynch to instruct the FBI to stop slow-walking the email investigation and release its findings promptly.

If you choose, instead, to give precedence to politics over national security, the American people will be deprived of timely appreciation of the gravity of the harm done; national security officials who do follow the rules will be scandalized; FBI investigators will conclude that that their job is more political than professional; and the noxious impression will grow that powerful people cannot be held accountable when they break the law. Worse: if the results of the FBI investigation remain under lock and key, dangerous pressures are likely to be exerted on the most senior U.S. officials by those who have the key – as we explain below.


much more at link above

[grasswire]

1. a bit more from another section

The Truth Will Out

Not all workers at the NSA or the FBI are likely to keep their heads in the sand, as they watch very senior officials and politicians with their own agendas disregard laws to safeguard the nation’s security. We know what it is like to do the difficult, disciplined work of protecting information from being compromised by strictly abiding by what often seem to be cumbersome rules and regulations. We’ve been there; done that.

If you encourage the Department of Justice and the FBI to continue slow-walking the investigation, there is a good chance the truth will come out anyway. As you are aware, the Justice Department, the FBI, and NSA have all yielded recent patriots who, in such circumstances, decided that whistleblowing – rather than silence – was the only way to honor the oath we all swore – to support and defend the Constitution.

To sum up our concern regarding how all this plays out, if you order the Justice Department and FBI to pursue the investigation with “all deliberate speed,” so to speak, and Secretary Clinton becomes president, the juicy email secrets in the hidden hands of the NSA and FBI are likely to give those already powerful institutions a capacity for blackmail that would make J. Edgar Hoover’s mouth water. In addition, information hacked by foreign intelligence services or Guccifer-like hackers can also provide useful grist for leverage or blackmail.

Taking Care the Laws Are Faithfully Executed

We strongly urge you to order Attorney General Loretta Lynch to instruct FBI Director James Comey to wind up a preliminary investigation and tell the country now what they have learned. By now they – and U.S. intelligence agencies – have had enough time to do an early assessment of what classified data, programs and people have been compromised. Realistically speaking, a lengthier, comprehensive post-mortem-type evaluation – however interesting it might be, might never see the light of day under a new president.

[grasswire]

2. very interesting comments section there

Ray McGovern is posting comments.

[Fumesucker]

3. They can't release it until after Bernie drops out

That's why the damn frenzy over him right now.

There is simply no fucking way that the establishment will make Bernie Sanders the de facto nominee and if that report is anywhere near as harsh as I suspect that's what it will do if he is still in the primary race.

[grasswire]

4. interesting, yes

this isn't a fight between DNC and Bernie, merely

this is a fight for TPTB including Wall Street and all that HRC represents -- all those donors to Clinton Foundation expecting favors, etc.--- a fight for all that by keeping Bernie out.

Dayum. This is epic. Truly epic.

[grasswire]

5. and all the promises HRC made to people who expect something...

...when she got the WH. All those people are fighting Bernie, too.

[Waiting For Everyman]

12. The mega-donors & string-pullers want the future deals they paid her for.

Truly epic, is exactly the term for it.

[highprincipleswork]

6. That's exactly why Bernie needs to stay in as long as possible.

[antigop]

33. +1000. nt

[riderinthestorm]

21. Yup. K&R nt

[arcane1]

36. Exactly. They'd rather lose to Trump n/t

[wendylaroux]

53. trump won't touch the richs' money. they are safe with him as well as h.

[lumberjack_jeff]

49. Clinton will pull their wagon. Trump is willing to pose for the cameras and not make real waves.

Bernie is the only one they fear.

[Kentonio]

7. This should go a long way to answering Clinton supporters questions about why this is a big deal.

If you still think this is just some RW smear job, read the list of authors at the end.

[Cooley Hurd]

10. Larry Johnson's in that list - was an HRC supporter in 2008

Wonder what changed?

[frylock]

66. Probably has something to do with her terrible job at State.

[Peace Patriot]

8. It's hard to believe that Obama desires the disaster that a Clinton presidency...

...WILL be, due to her email server and its tentacles, as the followup to his presidency. If Obama does nothing about this, nor the FBI, nor Clinton's pal, AG Loretta Lynch, then our 8%-approval-rating Congress WILL take it up and it wouldn't surprise me to see them present Clinton with Articles of Impeachment the day after she's inaugurated (if she is ever inaugurated). So much for her "getting things done." (Congress will likely go along with her pay-offs to global corporate predators, cuz they're as in hock to them as she is. But $12/hr for the peons? She won't have time for anything like that, if she even intends to have time for it.)

This is a lengthy, detailed outline of what she did, and what laws she violated--based on what is publicly known, and on the experience of the signers It brings up a point I haven't seen made before: That the NSA and other spy agencies already know what's in her thousands of emails, had been surveilling it the whole time, and IF she becomes president, she will be blackmail-able by THEM, as well as by foreign entities who got in.

...the juicy email secrets in the hidden hands of the NSA and FBI are likely to give those already powerful institutions a capacity for blackmail that would make J. Edgar Hoover’s mouth water. In addition, information hacked by foreign intelligence services or Guccifer-like hackers can also provide useful grist for leverage or blackmail.--from the OP

This memo, which is addressed to President Obama, implies that Obama is playing politics and is permitting the "slow walking" of the FBI investigation. I haven't come to that conclusion yet. There are strong reasons to believe it, and strong reasons not to believe it. If anyone is delaying the FBI report, I tend to think it's A.G. Lynch. But I really can't make a good guess about it.

What IS clear, though, is that politics are very much involved--it really can't be otherwise, with the focus of the FBI investigation being the Democratic frontrunner for president. Whether it's FBI Director Comey worrying about the reputation of the FBI, and perhaps viewing this as a "political matter" that the FBI shouldn't meddle in, or at least shouldn't be seen as meddling in, or Obama's relationship with Clinton (lot of bad history there), or the RW morons in Congress drooling over prospective scraps from the FBI table, or Clinton's apparent desperation to shove Bernie Sanders out of the primary campaign (so that she becomes the de facto nominee ASAP, making the whole matter of the FBI investigation even more politically fraught), or Donald Trump late at night dreaming about what phrases he will use to call her a criminal.

Gawd, what a mess!

Clinton scandals. Another Clinton mess. She is like that Peanuts character "Pigpen" with dirt surrounding her like a cloud wherever she goes.

[Karma13612]

9. I really believe that the FBI is taking its time so when they finally come to their decision,

No one can accuse them of any wrong doing. They are showing they are using 'due diligence' and that their conclusions are sound and unbiased.

I really hope they are doing this right, but even I agree:

HURRY UP WOULDJA!!!!!!

[Peace Patriot]

32. That may be true, but the intel professionals who signed this memo are pointing to...

...political delay. Could be the FBI have gone too far, as to dotting i's and crossing t's, in fear of the shitstorm that will hit them if they recommend indictment or even if they report serious malfeasance or incompetence. They have been investigating for a year, and we are now in the middle of a hotly contested presidential nomination, with this extremely serious matter hanging over one of the candidates. It's a strange situation, to say the least.

Hillary Clinton, instead of debating Bernie Sanders in California, is likely being interviewed by the FBI on a matter that, on the face of it, means she wouldn't even quality for a low level security clearance, let alone president and commander-in-chief.

I think she miscalculated how dimly California voters view someone who blows off the west coast in this way, by refusing to debate here, after promising to do so, just as she horribly miscalculated the dangers of using a private, insecure email server for State Department business. The incompetence of the email server miscalculation is stunning. Her reniging on her pledge to debate in California may not be incompetence but it sure looks like fear.

[arcane1]

40. It seems that whenever she faces a "hard choice" she makes the wrong choice n/t

[CrispyQ]

77. But hey, she's tough!

[Karma13612]

72. Very well thought out. And I agree with your analysis.

This really is real life happening right in front of us.

We shall see....

[pdsimdars]

52. I thought that too, but these professionals are saying the FBI should have enough for

some preliminary report to give us the heads up.
I think I agree with that. They have enough right now. Let's get it going.!

[Karma13612]

74. I feel your frustration. Things are getting very interesting and

very serious.

thanks for your response!

Stay tuned as they say!

[Waiting For Everyman]

11. This is the big story today -- a real wake up call.

Last edited Tue May 24, 2016, 09:05 AM - Edit history (1)

For those who still think it's a nothingburger... She used ONLY her own private server in her home, for 4 years of State Department official communications. She didn't use her secured .gov account AT ALL. Read that a few more times. Yes, it's true.

4 years, everything to and from the Secretary of State! Want to argue that nothing in that involved national security? Then what was she doing, shopping on QVC all day? That is so grossly negligent, nothing even needs to be proved.

No one else ever did that. No thinking adult would even dream of doing that. And nobody gave her permission to do that, except herself.

It's time to pay attention.

God knows, I don't like these intel guys! But they are right this time.

Even if Clinton people don't care about this, the public WILL care when they find out about it. And they will be saying WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL US ABOUT THIS? WHY HAVE YOU BEEN HIDING IT? And those questions will go directly to CAMP CLINTON. To HRC herself, her surrogates, her media pundits, and her supporters both officials at all levels and grass roots. The public is not going to be happy about this, and these Intel people just blew the lid on it.

Boom! Mic drop.

Wait and see if that isn't so. Better start getting the press releases ready. Without the lies this time, would be a good idea, if that's possible. Yes, it will take a small amount of time to sink in, but not that much time. Even Obama cannot ignore this, he will have to comment on it.

And... there's also Hillary's own interview with the FBI taking place, right about now.

[arcane1]

39. She'll privatize the entire Executive Branch if she wins.

If only there was a word for the takeover of public functions by private interests....

[pdsimdars]

55. Interesting that the word starts with an "f", like another word that rhymes with yuck.

[yourpaljoey]

13. What sinister back-room deals are in motion: Only the Shadow knows!

Panic has set in as cold-water pours into the black halls of the sinking ship.
O what a great reality show we could have made if only they would have
shown us, upon discovery, this treasure trove of entertainment that is Hill's private server.

[lagomorph777]

22. Wow, that would make great song lyrics.

Nice job!

[pdsimdars]

56. Another reality show with Geraldo Rivera, "opening Hillary Clinton's private server"

[grasswire]

14. notice something this morning here, kids?

The HRC camp isn't touching this post. They won't draw attention to it by attacking it. This means it is super, super important. Even those who love to attack consortiumnews (and it is anything but right wing) are silent.

Please kick. Please keep this where people will see it.

[grasswire]

15. 328 page views and 14 replies.

Pretty stunning stats.

Where are the Hilleryans?

No rebuttal for this? No one wants to call the Intel experts names? Belittle them?

[lagomorph777]

23. They are waiting for instructions from Brock.

[pmorlan1]

16. Public Deserves the Truth

Another argument being surfaced, in a transparent attempt to defend Secretary Clinton, has to do with intent. It is said that she did not intend to have classified information on her computer in New York and had no intention of handling secret material in a way that would be accessible to foreign intelligence or others lacking the proper security clearances and the need-to-know.

But while intent might be relevant in terms of punishment, it does not change the fact that as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, then Senator Clinton had clearances for classified information for years before becoming Secretary of State. She knew the rules and yet as Secretary she handled classified information carelessly after a deliberate decision to circumvent normal procedures for its safeguarding, thus making it vulnerable to foreign intelligence, as well as to criminal hackers.

Anyone who has ever handled classified material knows that there are a number of things that you do not do. You do not take it home with you, you do not copy it and share it with anyone who does not have a clearance and a need-to-know, you do not strip off the classification marks and treat it as unclassified, and you do not transfer it to another email account that is not protected by a government server.

I hope we hear from the FBI and Justice Dept. very soon. It's not just Sec. Clinton's reputation on the line here but their reputation as well.

[firebrand80]

17. I'll take post title doesn't match body for $400 nt

[lagomorph777]

24. ??

The headline exactly describes the content.

[Orsino]

18. Yes. Get it the fuck over with. n/t

[randome]

19. Dear diary: Day 175 of the Big, Most Urgent Email Clinton Scandal.

Nothing new. Same as yesterday. Maybe tomorrow? I think I'll have ice cream after dinner tonight.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Stop looking for heroes. BE one.[/center][/font][hr]

[lagomorph777]

26. Yes, there you go.

And if you're a CA voter, relax, stay home, shop on QVC.

[randome]

31. Or you can whisper 'Benghazi' into the mirror for an hour straight.

It has the same effect as wasting your time praying for an indictment.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Stop looking for heroes. BE one.[/center][/font][hr]

[lagomorph777]

35. I would prefer no indictment; it would damage an already nearly hopeless candidate.

If she (as appears likely) eventually becomes the nominee, and then the likely indictment comes out, the party will have handed the presidency to a man who brags about the size of his dick in a political debate.

[think]

34. As long as you ignore the fact that veteran members from the intelligence community

Have joined together to express their concerns over Hillary's handling of the email fiasco then yes. There is nothing new here.

Considering the article is about the letter they wrote and their concerns there does seem to be something very new and very relevant being discussed.

Hope you enjoy your ice cream....

[JudyM]

43. .

[randome]

47. .

[hr][font color="blue"][center]Stop looking for heroes. BE one.[/center][/font][hr]

[JudyM]

48. .

[pmorlan1]

20. Ensure that the laws are faithfully executed

My thanks to the Steering Group, Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS) who demonstrate that protecting and defending the Constitution is not just words that have no meaning. I too would encourage the President to not allow politics to get in the way of making sure that the laws are faithfully executed. Our country can not continue to have a two-tiered system of justice that protects the powerful and well connected from accountability. We deserve better than that.

[pdsimdars]

58. I have been annoyed with Obama like they seem to be, that he has come out a couple of

times trying to make it seem like a nothing burger too.

[pmorlan1]

60. Me too

Yes, very inappropriately I might add.

[appal_jack]

25. k&r, nt

[J_J_]

27. kick

nt

[karynnj]

28. The President himself has correctly stayed out of this - leaving it to the FBI and then DOJ

That is the right thing for him to do - intervening either way would be wrong. The timing is awful ... and that is something you can blame on HRC, who hid the email for nearly 2 years. It stinks, but this is not something the President should touch.

[pdsimdars]

59. I wish he WOULD have stayed out of it but he HASN'T.

He's weighed on it twice. How many times have we heard government people say they can't comment on an ongoing investigation? Obama has weighed in TWO TIMES and made it obvious where he wants it to go.

[karynnj]

62. I know the two times that you are referring to - and I agree he should not have gone even that far

It is very tricky with HRC as the very likely nominee and his first SoS. This does make it harder for him not to want this to just go away. If there is even a statement that argues that what she did was wrong or that rules need to preclude this from ever happening again, it is a scandal in what has really been a pretty scandal free administration. On top of that, many things he did are more likely preserved or improved if he is succeeded by a Democratic.

[pdsimdars]

69. There is something else, though, that doesn't make sense.

He told her NOT to use Sid Blumenthal, and she did it behind his back. She knew the agreement she signed under oath, but she broke it anyway. WHY would Obama want to protect someone who sabotaged him behind his back?

Wouldn't the cleanest way be to let them prosecute her to the full extent and show that it was HER fault and not his administration? She did it all without his knowing. That makes no sense to me.

[karynnj]

71. The whole Obama/Clintons relationship is weird and complicated

and I really wonder if we know even part of the situation. Clearly Obama is more deferential than one would think he would be. It was not a no brainer to make her SoS.

[Kentonio]

76. There had to have been a deal made. Nothing else makes sense.

[pdsimdars]

78. I think she got SoS was because they made a deal that she would help him win the election

like she now tells of how she was the good soldier for Obama.

What doesnt' make sense is why he is sheltering her now. She made a mess. The obvious move is to let the FBI put the mess on her where it belongs and then he can distance himself with his legacy. So there must be SOME OTHER reason he is protecting her.

[Kentonio]

79. I think it's safe to assume most politicians in both parties have lots of secrets

Just to ensure none of them turn on each other too hard.

[AzDar]

29. K & R

[think]

30. K&R

[DiehardLiberal]

37. K & R

[antigop]

38. if she gets by with this, then anyone can do what she did

Anyone can set up a private server and run their emails through it.

ANYONE in government.

And they won't be prosecuted.

She needs to be held accountable for what she did. If she isn't, then the intel community should be livid.

It's an issue of national security.

[antigop]

41. There is a Coleen Rowley who posted in the comments section. nt

[grasswire]

46. !

And Ray McGovern, too.

[JudyM]

44. Felony language:

"Numerous messages both in New York and in Washington have reportedly been erased or simply cannot be found. In addition, the law cited above explicitly makes it a felony to cut and paste classified information removing its classification designation. Retaining such information on a private email system is also a felony. In one of Secretary Clinton’s emails, she instructed her staff simply to remove a classification and send the information to her on her server.

So the question is not whether Secretary Clinton broke the law. She did. If the laws are to be equally applied, she should face the same kind of consequences as others who have been found, often on the basis of much less convincing evidence, guilty of similar behavior."

[JudyM]

45. They could've added: History will not look favorably on your putting party over your oath- which is

to the Constitution, not to the Democratic Party.

[pdsimdars]

50. Every credible person who I have seen comment on it has said something very similar.

And then you see the Hillary supporters dismiss it like you are stupid for mentioning it.
We're waiting.

[truebluegreen]

51. Kickin'

[yolla331]

54. Truth.

All we seek is the truth, justice and the American Way.

Not bribe, coerce, and force the Corporatist Way.

[LiberalArkie]

57. K&R

[DVRacer]

61. I have a sinking feeling things are going to come to pass

At a very bad time calendar wise.

[TIME TO PANIC]

63. K & R!

[bkkyosemite]

64. K & R

[antigop]

65. kick nt

[nadinbrzezinski]

67. Into time line it goes

[JoePhilly]

68. Dear Penthouse ... last night the indictment fairy knocked on my door ...

[JudyM]

70. .

[Bob41213]

73. Vast right wing conspiracy!

(aka K&R)

[frylock]

75. knr