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         US Senator Urges Independent Probe of National Security Leaks

   by Michael Bowman

   An influential U.S. senator has added his voice to a growing chorus
   urging an independent probe of national security leaks to the news
   media.The chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, Joseph
   Lieberman, appeared on U.S. television Sunday.
   Last week saw Democratic senators block a Republican motion calling for
   a special prosecutor to investigate recent disclosures of classified
   information pertaining to alleged U.S. activities regarding Iran, use
   of drone aircraft and the war on terror.
   Senator Joseph Lieberman, an Independent who nevertheless is part of
   the chamber's Democratic majority, is now siding with Republicans on
   the matter.
   "The recent series of leaks are the worst in a long time. I think we
   are on a slippery slope where people think there is no accountability
   if you leak. And we have got to change that.  We do need a special
   counsel," he said.
   Lieberman appeared on Fox News Sunday. He said the leaks have harmed
   U.S. national security.
   "An enormous amount of damage has been done to our national security,"
   he said. "In the case of the cyber attack on Iran, if the articles are
   true, this is the first confirmation of that. Some methods of how it
   was carried out were telegraphed to the Iranians. I think there is a
   danger that it may legitimize an Iranian or terrorist counter-cyber
   attack on us."
   Attorney General Eric Holder has appointed federal prosecutors to probe
   the matter. Echoing many Republican lawmakers, Senator Lieberman said,
   in order to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest, the
   investigation should be removed from the control of the Obama
   administration's Justice Department.
   A top White House adviser, David Plouffe, disagreed.
   "What you have here is a situation where an investigation has been
   announced by two United States attorneys, including an appointee of
   [former] President Bush," he said. "We ought to let that investigation
   proceed rather than turning this into some game of distraction. Let us
   let that investigation happen. Let the facts come out."
   Some White House critics have suggested sensitive material was leaked
   to bolster public awareness and approval of President Barack Obama's
   national security record as he runs for re-election. Plouffe dismissed
   the allegation, saying the president's record on foreign affairs, from
   the death of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden to ending the Iraq war,
   needs no embellishment.
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   _national_security_leaks/1212166.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/us_senator_urges_independent_probe_of_national_security_leaks/1212166.html