Reply #3: Both are problems - and the Obama administration has already moved to deal with your concern

[karynnj]

Just this month, the Obama administration has started working on internet privacy - and the person who will head it is someone who gives me great confidence - Cameron Kerry, who is a very good person in his own right. http://www.neontommy.com/news/2010/11/obama-administration-finally-acting-web-privacy As you can see, privacy advocates have welcome this.

But, your concern - valid as it is - hijacks the thread. The problem here is that many diplomatic efforts may have been undermined. One concern is that the NYT is reporting that both Bush and Obama have used our diplomats as spies. This being out there - especially as there likely are specifics, can completely compromise our career diplomats - both in terms of undermining any trust they have built up and in terms of their safety. It also can harm any opponents to oppressive governments who have been our sources. (Consider that in countries like Iran, our information may be coming from Pro - democracy people.

I understand that some of the people involved tn leaking are of the opinion that we are being lied to and this is creating transparency. However, there are times when sources do need to be kept secret. The impact of this will likely be that our efforts at diplomacy will be harmed and people will be reluctant to speak to any American.

Here, I think that it was wrong for both the Bush and Obama administrations are using diplomats as spies, but what we don't know is what led to deciding to do that. Were our many intelligent organizations so compromised either by failures or things like exposing Plame that we had no real choice? I hope both the intelligence and foreign relations committee investigate this.