Treason in Congress?

[shooter1201]

SHOULD a congressman, who has access to TOP SECRET information(as in the security briefings discussed by President Bush), decides(in his/her infinite wisdom(?)) to 'share' this information with the press, be charged with ESPIONAGE/TREASON....tried, and if found guilty, be EXECUTED?

I say YES...especially if the details leaked seriously jeopardized military operations and increased the dangers our troops faced.

[Mike Tx]

I think they should be publicly hung.

[HCP-TX]

The law as it stands right now says someone divulging Top Secret information will be charged with violation of the National Security Act. If convicted in a court of law, said person is subject to time in prison. There is no death penalty, nor should there be one. The law is adequate as it current stands.

[blondie72]

Well said, HCP- TX.

Welcome to Officer.com.

[BrickCop]

It would only be an "adequate" law/penalty if they enforced it. I guess National Security isn't as important as blabbing secret info to the media.

[Niteshift]

Hang his butt

[The Littlest Hobo]

Originally posted by Mike Sullivan:
I think they should be publicly hung.

I believe the Taliban practices this sort of thing...

[Snoopy1]

Reminds me of the WWII slogan - "A slip of the lip may sink a ship". Apparently they forgot it, or never heard it, or it never occurred to them that there could be consequences for their stupidity.

[Mike Tx]

A few high profile public hangings would go a long way toward sealing any leaks and protecting our people. Maybe the Taliban is on to something there.

[The Littlest Hobo]

Originally posted by Mike Sullivan:
A few high profile public hangings would go a long way toward sealing any leaks and protecting our people. Maybe the Taliban is on to something there.

Hey, I hear Hitler made a mean omlette. You want the recipe?

I hope this thread doesn't degrade into a DP discussion (DP as a deterrenct etc).

The Taliban are on to squat. The Taliban are a brutal regime who terrorize the vast majority of it's citizens. Some people have "What Would Jesus Do" stickers. Perhaps I should make "What Would The Taliban Do" stickers, with a sub-caption "Do The Complete Opposite".

As far as this thread goes, I agree with HCP- TX.

[SGT Dave]

I'm against them doing this totally, of course, but the media are half to blame. Granted, giving them a MAJOR LEAD on a MAJOR STORY and hoping they don't print/use/broadcast it is like giving a crack head a rock and thinking they might not smoke it (?) but I for one am tired of reading "Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a senior official said..."

If they can't put a name with it, they shouldn't print it. These leaks are ALWAYS preluded this way.

I am not calling for a state new service. We HAVE the First Amendment. It does not however mean that every joe blow in the country is ENTITLED to know all details of whats going on, in real time.

Both the "leaker" and "leakee" (if it's printed) are jointly to blame.

IRONICALLY, I was struggling with "anonymity" and got todays paper from our clerk, AND THERE IT WAS in today's. It's in every day's paper anymore.

I once recall a term called "responsible journalism." I'm thinking that's an oxymoron now.

[shooter1201]

Please correct me if I am wrong, BUT...during WARtime, espionage/treason IS punishable by the death penalty.

[retired]

Shooter,

treason can only consist of levying war against the US, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort.

War can only be declared by congress, not the President.

Retired

[Mike Tx]

Just because Hitler and the Taliban execute people, does not mean in certain cases people should not be executed.

And if you are going to make an omelette, you DO have to break a few eggs!

[ 10-11-2001: Message edited by: Mike Sullivan ]

[klar]

I think something should be done to the person who leaked the infomation. Having it on the scroll bar on CNN to where the enemy can read it and know what we are planning is a clear case of aiding the enemy. To not think that they do not watch CNN or other world news broadcasts is us being in the dark. I would hate to think what a leak could do to our service men and women when they are heading in there to do the mop up work. Are they gonna leak the info of where they are crossing the border and at what time? The leak needs to be stopped before more of our service members are put into danger for their little exclusive.

Klar