09 October 2001
Bush Limits Secret War Information to Eight Members of Congress
(Done to save lives, Fleischer says at October 9 briefing) (650)
By Wendy S. Ross
Washington File White House Correspondent
Washington - President Bush has decided for national security reasons
to dramatically limit the number of people in the U.S. Congress who
can receive administration briefings that include classified
information on the war against terrorism.
White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer told reporters October 9
that from now on only eight members of Congress will receive this
information. They are the four leaders of the House and Senate, and
the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate Intelligence
Committees.
The decision, Fleischer said, reflects "the fact that our nation is
now at war and the rules have changed. It's a reflection of the
reality that the disclosure of information in a time of war is far
different from an inadvertent disclosure at a time of peace. It could
literally mean the loss of lives of people who are embarking on
missions."
Bush made the determination "that in a time of war, the usual rules do
not apply," and he "wants to make certain that every step is taken so
that there cannot be a loss of life as a result of an inadvertent
release of information," Fleischer said.
The President stated the new policy in a memo to members of his
Cabinet who routinely brief Congress about military and intelligence
matters, said Fleischer.
The memo states that 'this administration will continue to work to
inform the leadership of the Congress about the course of and
important developments in our military, intelligence, and law
enforcement operations. At the same time, we have an obligation to
protect military operational security, intelligence sources and
methods, and sensitive law enforcement investigations,'" Fleischer
said, in reading from the memo.
The memo makes very clear, said the Press Secretary, that "it still is
important to share information with the Congress, to discuss matters
with the Congress, and that still will be done.
"The question is discussion of any information that is of such a
classified nature that it would not be germane to members who are not
listed as the Speaker, the Minority Leader, the Majority Leader, or
the chair or the ranking members of the Intelligence Committee."
"It's an effort to make certain that Congress has the information that
it needs, while making certain that nobody is put in a position where
they inadvertently give any information that could harm anybody's life
as a very sensitive military campaign is underway."
Asked what prompted the memo, Fleischer said that "It's an overall
concern to make certain that information is protected to save lives
and to not put anybody in danger."
"The President has done it deliberately because this is a time of war,
and in his judgment, this is the best way to save lives, protect the
lives of the people that he is putting in harm's way in the course of
this war. Yes, this is a determined decision by the President,"
Fleischer said.
In other developments, Fleischer told reporters that President Bush
called President Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal October 9.
"President Wade expressed his solidarity and support for the global
anti-terrorism campaign that was launched by President Bush," said
Fleischer, and expressed his belief "about the importance of bringing
peace to the region." Wade also told Bush "that Islam is a peaceful
religion and that all democracies have a common cause in eradicating
terrorism."
The President was to meet later in the day, October 9, in the Oval
Office with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, Fleischer said, and
will welcome NATO Secretary-General Lord Robertson for a meeting
October 10.
(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International
Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site:
http://usinfo.state.gov)
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