FAS: Unauthorized Disclosures and the Rove Matter

Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) noted astutely that under the terms of the standard classified information nondisclosure agreement, officials are not supposed to confirm the accuracy of classified information even when it is obtained from a public source such as a journalist. Rep. Waxman reiterated this point yesterday in a letter to President Bush:

http://www.democrats.reform.house.gov/Documents/20050718141158-33939.pdf

Meanwhile, the subjective character of classification policy was highlighted as Democrats turned ostentatiously hawkish on leaks while Republicans all but dismissed the public identification of a covered CIA officer as insignificant.
See "Political Parties Reverse Roles in Debate Over CIA Leak" by Josh Gerstein, New York Sun, July 18:

http://www.nysun.com/article/17134

A Knight-Ridder news story noted that under the prevailing executive order, "appropriate and prompt corrective" administrative action is supposed to be taken against any U.S. government official who "knowingly, willfully or negligently" discloses classified information. But "a White House spokesman declined to respond to questions about the executive order."
See "Bush says he'll fire any aide who committed a crime in leak case" by Jonathan S. Landay, Knight-Ridder Newspapers, July 18:

http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/12163624.htm