The Obama administration was seemingly so thirsty for credit when a recent al Qaeda plot in Yemen was thwarted that it quickly coughed up operational secrets to the media — compromising several investigations in the process.
Details leaked and leaked and leaked — how British intelligence recruited a deep-cover agent, how the Saudis helped, how an ingenious new airline bomb was diverted into the hands of US officials.
So just like that, Team Obama — spike the football! — turned a triumph for intel capability and cooperation into a dangerous breach: “The operation was pulled up short in the past week when leaks developed and put the infiltrator in jeopardy,” reported ABC News at week’s end.
The operation was blown, the agent had to be withdrawn — and the CIA’s window into al Qaeda in Yemen was slammed shut.
“This was gold dust,” a senior intelligence official said. “Such assets are few and far between.”
Director of National Intelligence James Clapper has reportedly ordered an internal review of the 16 agencies he controls, looking for those rascally leakers.
Trouble is, Clapper’s “review” won’t look at White House or National Security Council officials — so there’s a good chance the leakers won’t face a bit of heat.
Or ever be discovered.
Get the feeling the White House might want it that way?
An FBI investigation has also been under way for days, reported The Wall Street Journal, but damage has already been done.
Just as with the celebratory chatter after the raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound a year ago, methods and sources were compromised. Terrorists will have their guard up even more, and allies will trust US officials even less.
Yes, al Qaeda members will doubt their own agents and be on their toes — but it shouldn’t be US policy to drive terrorists to become even more cagey and creative.
Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.), chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said the leaks “didn’t allow the operation to go to its full conclusion” — so he’s starting a preliminary review of his own.
A little scrutiny from Congress is necessary here. The leaks must stop.