The leak is far worse than the resignation, obama's people really screwed up, jail may await them...

[dannyboys]

President Trump ALREADY knows the names of the US traitors.
He and his AG etc are now planning on how to throw the ******* traitors into a S. Nevada 'tent prison' for ten years.
Take this to the bank: President Trump WILL put a STOP to this.
I suggest the four KUNTS at MSNBC who are on every day fomenting sedition and violence better 'pack light'.
There is going to be a ******* tsumami of criminal charges brought against ANYONE in the LIB MSM who commits any treasonous act.

 

[EverCurious]

Flynn lied and he'll have to go for that. I don't particularly see anything "wrong" with if they happened to mention sanctions, our peeps said he didn't do anything untoward like promising they'd be lifted or anything like that, so it's just basically people yacking on the phone about current reality. As I understand it Flynn wasn't even in an official position at the time so whatever on the "discussion" had. But as I said, he lied to Pence so he's gonna have to go.

I do find it... concerning that our government, presumably democrats and possibly even RINO's, are leaking shit to the public. Not even this bit in particular, but everything in general. There are serious intelligence holes that really need to be plugged no matter who's side you're on. That place needs to be combed over and the ratty trash needs to be ousted, possibly even jailed.

 

[Dragonlady]

America's spies anonymously took down Michael Flynn. That is deeply worrying.

In such a situation — our situation — shouldn't we hope the deep state will rise up to act responsibly to take down a member of the administration who may have broken the law?

The answer is an unequivocal no.

In a liberal democracy, how things happen is often as important as what happens. Procedures matter. So do rules and public accountability. The chaotic, dysfunctional Trump White House is placing the entire system under enormous strain. That's bad. But the answer isn't to counter it with equally irregular acts of sabotage — or with a disinformation campaign waged by nameless civil servants toiling away in the surveillance state.

As Eli Lake of Bloomberg News put it in an important article following Flynn's resignation,

Normally intercepts of U.S. officials and citizens are some of the most tightly held government secrets. This is for good reason. Selectively disclosing details of private conversations monitored by the FBI or NSA gives the permanent state the power to destroy reputations from the cloak of anonymity. This is what police states do. [Bloomberg]

Those cheering the deep state torpedoing of Flynn are saying, in effect, that a police state is perfectly fine so long as it helps to bring down Trump.

It is the role of Congress to investigate the president and those who work for him. If Congress resists doing its duty, out of a mixture of self-interest and cowardice, the American people have no choice but to try and hold the government's feet to the fire, demanding action with phone calls, protests, and, ultimately, votes. That is a democratic response to the failure of democracy.

Sitting back and letting shadowy, unaccountable agents of espionage do the job for us simply isn't an acceptable alternative.

Down that path lies the end of democracy in America.​

The "swamp" that needs to be drained is the links between the Trump Administration and the Russian government. You're all aflutter because someone leaked that there are links between White House officials and the Russian government, and you're upset about the leaks. Talk about picking up the peanuts while being trampled by the elephants.

Your President and his staff are seriously compromised.

They were compromised due to Obama Loyalists.

They were compromised by THEIR OWN ACTIONS. Your orange faced ass-clown knew that Mattis broke the law and DID NOTHING, and his Administration was lying to cover it up. So people in the CIA leaked the information, which they obtained from a LEGAL wiretap on the Russian Ambassador.

You were all gleeful when illegal hacking of the DNC leaked information favourable to tRump, but now you're butt hurt when your guys do something illegal and get caught.

 

[bodecea]

This so-called administration is like Charlie Sheen's meltdown.

 

[Steve_McGarrett]

America's spies anonymously took down Michael Flynn. That is deeply worrying.

In such a situation — our situation — shouldn't we hope the deep state will rise up to act responsibly to take down a member of the administration who may have broken the law?

The answer is an unequivocal no.

In a liberal democracy, how things happen is often as important as what happens. Procedures matter. So do rules and public accountability. The chaotic, dysfunctional Trump White House is placing the entire system under enormous strain. That's bad. But the answer isn't to counter it with equally irregular acts of sabotage — or with a disinformation campaign waged by nameless civil servants toiling away in the surveillance state.

As Eli Lake of Bloomberg News put it in an important article following Flynn's resignation,

Normally intercepts of U.S. officials and citizens are some of the most tightly held government secrets. This is for good reason. Selectively disclosing details of private conversations monitored by the FBI or NSA gives the permanent state the power to destroy reputations from the cloak of anonymity. This is what police states do. [Bloomberg]

Those cheering the deep state torpedoing of Flynn are saying, in effect, that a police state is perfectly fine so long as it helps to bring down Trump.

It is the role of Congress to investigate the president and those who work for him. If Congress resists doing its duty, out of a mixture of self-interest and cowardice, the American people have no choice but to try and hold the government's feet to the fire, demanding action with phone calls, protests, and, ultimately, votes. That is a democratic response to the failure of democracy.

Sitting back and letting shadowy, unaccountable agents of espionage do the job for us simply isn't an acceptable alternative.

Down that path lies the end of democracy in America.​

The "swamp" that needs to be drained is the links between the Trump Administration and the Russian government. You're all aflutter because someone leaked that there are links between White House officials and the Russian government, and you're upset about the leaks. Talk about picking up the peanuts while being trampled by the elephants.

Your President and his staff are seriously compromised.

They were compromised due to Obama Loyalists.

They were compromised by THEIR OWN ACTIONS. Your orange faced ass-clown knew that Mattis broke the law and DID NOTHING, and his Administration was lying to cover it up. So people in the CIA leaked the information, which they obtained from a LEGAL wiretap on the Russian Ambassador.

You were all gleeful when illegal hacking of the DNC leaked information favourable to tRump, but now you're butt hurt when your guys do something illegal and get caught.

What law did Mattis break?

 

[2aguy]

The idiots in obama's intelligence agencies leaked the Flynn information....and since they have to protect the identity of Americans when they are surveilling foreign assets........there are very few people who would have had access to the Flynn recordings......and they all belong to obama.....and now, they can go and get them ......

Catherine Herridge has high level sources......

We are talking jail time for the leakers when they are caught.......

Top House Republican wants FBI 'assessment' on Trump-related leaks

But the release of information from the Flynn phone calls also appears especially problematic, because when the intelligence community captures phone calls of an American inside the U.S., even if the discussion involves a foreign national (in this case an ambassador), steps must be taken to shield the American caller's identity.

"If [the conversation] was picked up inadvertently, then that would have had to been approved by someone in the last administration to actually unmask his name so that the FBI or intelligence officials knew who it was on the other end of the phone talking to the Russian ambassador," Nunes explained.

"If in fact the press reports are right, someone made the decision to deliberately listen to General Flynn's phone calls and that is, I think, unprecedented, unwarranted, and flat-out wrong."

Former NSA analyst and whistleblower Bill Binney confirmed to Fox News that surveillance programs that touch on leadership are highly restricted.

"I think it is compartmentalized, meaning a small circle, less than 100 [people would have access to the intelligence]," Binney said. "They are supposed to minimize the American side. ... All presumed U.S. citizens have rights under the Fourth Amendment."

Nunes said the timing may be significant because the authorization to unmask Flynn was likely taken under the Obama administration, as the phone calls occurred in December.

The committee chairman said the issue goes beyond politics because it is also undermining the relationship between a president and world leaders.

"I think all foreign leaders now are going to be worried that this is going to somehow leak out. I think it has done tremendous damage to [America's] reputation around the world, and no one's talking about it -- and this is because someone in the national security apparatus decided to leak this out. It's very, very serious," he said.

Simply revealing the contents of the calls can have the effect of what the intelligence community calls "burning the source," because the parties involved know beyond a doubt the U.S. government has the ability to track the conversations.

The leaking of information about the investigation into Russian interference in the U.S. race points to the possible compromise of even more sensitive collection sources.

Funny chit coming from the party that outed a CIA agent for political revenge.

That's a debunked lie you stupid ****.

No, it is the truth. dick Cheney outed Valerie Plame because her husband was sent to investigate a yellow cake story where Bush had lied.

Plame had been a covert agent. By outing her, Cheney put every current covert agent that ever worked with Plame at rtsk.
No lie.

Oh brother. Plame was the best unkept secret in DC.

She hadn't been a covert agent in years. She was a ******* desk jockey. Her last mission to Russia was a bust because they knew who she was. She was sent home.

No lie.

So, why would the VP out her as revenge?

No moron.....Dick Cheney did not out her it was Richard Armitage, a guy who worked for Colin Powell....and the prosecutor knew that on day one, then decided to see who he could catch with a perjury trap.....

 

[2aguy]

The idiots in obama's intelligence agencies leaked the Flynn information....and since they have to protect the identity of Americans when they are surveilling foreign assets........there are very few people who would have had access to the Flynn recordings......and they all belong to obama.....and now, they can go and get them ......

Catherine Herridge has high level sources......

We are talking jail time for the leakers when they are caught.......

Top House Republican wants FBI 'assessment' on Trump-related leaks

But the release of information from the Flynn phone calls also appears especially problematic, because when the intelligence community captures phone calls of an American inside the U.S., even if the discussion involves a foreign national (in this case an ambassador), steps must be taken to shield the American caller's identity.

"If [the conversation] was picked up inadvertently, then that would have had to been approved by someone in the last administration to actually unmask his name so that the FBI or intelligence officials knew who it was on the other end of the phone talking to the Russian ambassador," Nunes explained.

"If in fact the press reports are right, someone made the decision to deliberately listen to General Flynn's phone calls and that is, I think, unprecedented, unwarranted, and flat-out wrong."

Former NSA analyst and whistleblower Bill Binney confirmed to Fox News that surveillance programs that touch on leadership are highly restricted.

"I think it is compartmentalized, meaning a small circle, less than 100 [people would have access to the intelligence]," Binney said. "They are supposed to minimize the American side. ... All presumed U.S. citizens have rights under the Fourth Amendment."

Nunes said the timing may be significant because the authorization to unmask Flynn was likely taken under the Obama administration, as the phone calls occurred in December.

The committee chairman said the issue goes beyond politics because it is also undermining the relationship between a president and world leaders.

"I think all foreign leaders now are going to be worried that this is going to somehow leak out. I think it has done tremendous damage to [America's] reputation around the world, and no one's talking about it -- and this is because someone in the national security apparatus decided to leak this out. It's very, very serious," he said.

Simply revealing the contents of the calls can have the effect of what the intelligence community calls "burning the source," because the parties involved know beyond a doubt the U.S. government has the ability to track the conversations.

The leaking of information about the investigation into Russian interference in the U.S. race points to the possible compromise of even more sensitive collection sources.

Funny chit coming from the party that outed a CIA agent for political revenge.

That's a debunked lie you stupid ****.

No, it is the truth. dick Cheney outed Valerie Plame because her husband was sent to investigate a yellow cake story where Bush had lied.

Plame had been a covert agent. By outing her, Cheney put every current covert agent that ever worked with Plame at rtsk.
No lie.

No...please try to keep up.....Richard Armitage, a guy who worked for Colin Powell told his source that she was CIA...not Cheney....this isn't hidden information...it is common knowledge....

She was not covered by the act that covers actual covert agents...she did not meet the criteria....since she parked in the CIA parking lot every day...

 

[2aguy]

The only thing Flynn is guilty of was lying to Pence...nothing more.

And he may not have even done that.....he doesn't even remember what it was he said to the Russian........

 

[Call Sign Chaos]

The idiots in obama's intelligence agencies leaked the Flynn information....and since they have to protect the identity of Americans when they are surveilling foreign assets........there are very few people who would have had access to the Flynn recordings......and they all belong to obama.....and now, they can go and get them ......

Catherine Herridge has high level sources......

We are talking jail time for the leakers when they are caught.......

Top House Republican wants FBI 'assessment' on Trump-related leaks

But the release of information from the Flynn phone calls also appears especially problematic, because when the intelligence community captures phone calls of an American inside the U.S., even if the discussion involves a foreign national (in this case an ambassador), steps must be taken to shield the American caller's identity.

"If [the conversation] was picked up inadvertently, then that would have had to been approved by someone in the last administration to actually unmask his name so that the FBI or intelligence officials knew who it was on the other end of the phone talking to the Russian ambassador," Nunes explained.

"If in fact the press reports are right, someone made the decision to deliberately listen to General Flynn's phone calls and that is, I think, unprecedented, unwarranted, and flat-out wrong."

Former NSA analyst and whistleblower Bill Binney confirmed to Fox News that surveillance programs that touch on leadership are highly restricted.

"I think it is compartmentalized, meaning a small circle, less than 100 [people would have access to the intelligence]," Binney said. "They are supposed to minimize the American side. ... All presumed U.S. citizens have rights under the Fourth Amendment."

Nunes said the timing may be significant because the authorization to unmask Flynn was likely taken under the Obama administration, as the phone calls occurred in December.

The committee chairman said the issue goes beyond politics because it is also undermining the relationship between a president and world leaders.

"I think all foreign leaders now are going to be worried that this is going to somehow leak out. I think it has done tremendous damage to [America's] reputation around the world, and no one's talking about it -- and this is because someone in the national security apparatus decided to leak this out. It's very, very serious," he said.

Simply revealing the contents of the calls can have the effect of what the intelligence community calls "burning the source," because the parties involved know beyond a doubt the U.S. government has the ability to track the conversations.

The leaking of information about the investigation into Russian interference in the U.S. race points to the possible compromise of even more sensitive collection sources.

Funny chit coming from the party that outed a CIA agent for political revenge.

That's a debunked lie you stupid ****.

No, it is the truth. dick Cheney outed Valerie Plame because her husband was sent to investigate a yellow cake story where Bush had lied.

Plame had been a covert agent. By outing her, Cheney put every current covert agent that ever worked with Plame at rtsk.
No lie.

You are a stupid **** it was Richard Armitage not acting on anyones orders, Plame outted herself, her CIA status was an open secret on the beltway so educate yourself before you flap your fucktarded gums.

 

[RealDave]

The idiots in obama's intelligence agencies leaked the Flynn information....and since they have to protect the identity of Americans when they are surveilling foreign assets........there are very few people who would have had access to the Flynn recordings......and they all belong to obama.....and now, they can go and get them ......

Catherine Herridge has high level sources......

We are talking jail time for the leakers when they are caught.......

Top House Republican wants FBI 'assessment' on Trump-related leaks

But the release of information from the Flynn phone calls also appears especially problematic, because when the intelligence community captures phone calls of an American inside the U.S., even if the discussion involves a foreign national (in this case an ambassador), steps must be taken to shield the American caller's identity.

"If [the conversation] was picked up inadvertently, then that would have had to been approved by someone in the last administration to actually unmask his name so that the FBI or intelligence officials knew who it was on the other end of the phone talking to the Russian ambassador," Nunes explained.

"If in fact the press reports are right, someone made the decision to deliberately listen to General Flynn's phone calls and that is, I think, unprecedented, unwarranted, and flat-out wrong."

Former NSA analyst and whistleblower Bill Binney confirmed to Fox News that surveillance programs that touch on leadership are highly restricted.

"I think it is compartmentalized, meaning a small circle, less than 100 [people would have access to the intelligence]," Binney said. "They are supposed to minimize the American side. ... All presumed U.S. citizens have rights under the Fourth Amendment."

Nunes said the timing may be significant because the authorization to unmask Flynn was likely taken under the Obama administration, as the phone calls occurred in December.

The committee chairman said the issue goes beyond politics because it is also undermining the relationship between a president and world leaders.

"I think all foreign leaders now are going to be worried that this is going to somehow leak out. I think it has done tremendous damage to [America's] reputation around the world, and no one's talking about it -- and this is because someone in the national security apparatus decided to leak this out. It's very, very serious," he said.

Simply revealing the contents of the calls can have the effect of what the intelligence community calls "burning the source," because the parties involved know beyond a doubt the U.S. government has the ability to track the conversations.

The leaking of information about the investigation into Russian interference in the U.S. race points to the possible compromise of even more sensitive collection sources.

Funny chit coming from the party that outed a CIA agent for political revenge.

That's a debunked lie you stupid ****.

No, it is the truth. dick Cheney outed Valerie Plame because her husband was sent to investigate a yellow cake story where Bush had lied.

Plame had been a covert agent. By outing her, Cheney put every current covert agent that ever worked with Plame at rtsk.
No lie.

You are a stupid **** it was Richard Armitage not acting on anyones orders, Plame outted herself, her CIA status was an open secret on the beltway so educate yourself before you flap your fucktarded gums.

Cheney did it too.

Your buddy Cheney put CIA agents at risk. What a low life POS you are to defend that action.

 

[Call Sign Chaos]

The idiots in obama's intelligence agencies leaked the Flynn information....and since they have to protect the identity of Americans when they are surveilling foreign assets........there are very few people who would have had access to the Flynn recordings......and they all belong to obama.....and now, they can go and get them ......

Catherine Herridge has high level sources......

We are talking jail time for the leakers when they are caught.......

Top House Republican wants FBI 'assessment' on Trump-related leaks

But the release of information from the Flynn phone calls also appears especially problematic, because when the intelligence community captures phone calls of an American inside the U.S., even if the discussion involves a foreign national (in this case an ambassador), steps must be taken to shield the American caller's identity.

"If [the conversation] was picked up inadvertently, then that would have had to been approved by someone in the last administration to actually unmask his name so that the FBI or intelligence officials knew who it was on the other end of the phone talking to the Russian ambassador," Nunes explained.

"If in fact the press reports are right, someone made the decision to deliberately listen to General Flynn's phone calls and that is, I think, unprecedented, unwarranted, and flat-out wrong."

Former NSA analyst and whistleblower Bill Binney confirmed to Fox News that surveillance programs that touch on leadership are highly restricted.

"I think it is compartmentalized, meaning a small circle, less than 100 [people would have access to the intelligence]," Binney said. "They are supposed to minimize the American side. ... All presumed U.S. citizens have rights under the Fourth Amendment."

Nunes said the timing may be significant because the authorization to unmask Flynn was likely taken under the Obama administration, as the phone calls occurred in December.

The committee chairman said the issue goes beyond politics because it is also undermining the relationship between a president and world leaders.

"I think all foreign leaders now are going to be worried that this is going to somehow leak out. I think it has done tremendous damage to [America's] reputation around the world, and no one's talking about it -- and this is because someone in the national security apparatus decided to leak this out. It's very, very serious," he said.

Simply revealing the contents of the calls can have the effect of what the intelligence community calls "burning the source," because the parties involved know beyond a doubt the U.S. government has the ability to track the conversations.

The leaking of information about the investigation into Russian interference in the U.S. race points to the possible compromise of even more sensitive collection sources.

Standard fascist behavior. "Waaa! The treasonous conduct of our party was revealed! Jail whatever patriot did that! All must put party before country!"

So, JimBowie, 2aguy, AnCap'n and Death Angel aren't even pretending to be loyal Americans any more. That's probably for the best, as they never could pull off the charade. The party gives orders, they obey, and they don't care how that harms the USA. Their boy sold us out to the Russians, and since anything their side does is good by definition, they now think selling the USA out to the Russians is a good thing.

There was no treasonous behavior on the part of the administration, however, coup plotters in the intelligence community loyal to the DNC illegally spied on an American citizen then leaked their findings to the media, execution should await that person, all of the coup plotters need to be found and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. And you should just kill yourself you little ******.

They were spying on the Russians and caught Flynn when he called them.

Caught Flynn doing what dipshit? Provide the tape of the conversation, I'll wait.

 

[RealDave]

President Trump ALREADY knows the names of the US traitors.
He and his AG etc are now planning on how to throw the ******* traitors into a S. Nevada 'tent prison' for ten years.
Take this to the bank: President Trump WILL put a STOP to this.
I suggest the four KUNTS at MSNBC who are on every day fomenting sedition and violence better 'pack light'.
There is going to be a ******* tsumami of criminal charges brought against ANYONE in the LIB MSM who commits any treasonous act.

Agent Orange might try it. This will make Watergate look small. Good Bye Trump, Pence, Ryan, Bannon, Miller, Flynn.

They will wish Obama did close GITMO.

Trump said waterboarding was good. So lets see how he does.

 

[Call Sign Chaos]

The idiots in obama's intelligence agencies leaked the Flynn information....and since they have to protect the identity of Americans when they are surveilling foreign assets........there are very few people who would have had access to the Flynn recordings......and they all belong to obama.....and now, they can go and get them ......

Catherine Herridge has high level sources......

We are talking jail time for the leakers when they are caught.......

Top House Republican wants FBI 'assessment' on Trump-related leaks

But the release of information from the Flynn phone calls also appears especially problematic, because when the intelligence community captures phone calls of an American inside the U.S., even if the discussion involves a foreign national (in this case an ambassador), steps must be taken to shield the American caller's identity.

"If [the conversation] was picked up inadvertently, then that would have had to been approved by someone in the last administration to actually unmask his name so that the FBI or intelligence officials knew who it was on the other end of the phone talking to the Russian ambassador," Nunes explained.

"If in fact the press reports are right, someone made the decision to deliberately listen to General Flynn's phone calls and that is, I think, unprecedented, unwarranted, and flat-out wrong."

Former NSA analyst and whistleblower Bill Binney confirmed to Fox News that surveillance programs that touch on leadership are highly restricted.

"I think it is compartmentalized, meaning a small circle, less than 100 [people would have access to the intelligence]," Binney said. "They are supposed to minimize the American side. ... All presumed U.S. citizens have rights under the Fourth Amendment."

Nunes said the timing may be significant because the authorization to unmask Flynn was likely taken under the Obama administration, as the phone calls occurred in December.

The committee chairman said the issue goes beyond politics because it is also undermining the relationship between a president and world leaders.

"I think all foreign leaders now are going to be worried that this is going to somehow leak out. I think it has done tremendous damage to [America's] reputation around the world, and no one's talking about it -- and this is because someone in the national security apparatus decided to leak this out. It's very, very serious," he said.

Simply revealing the contents of the calls can have the effect of what the intelligence community calls "burning the source," because the parties involved know beyond a doubt the U.S. government has the ability to track the conversations.

The leaking of information about the investigation into Russian interference in the U.S. race points to the possible compromise of even more sensitive collection sources.

Funny chit coming from the party that outed a CIA agent for political revenge.

That's a debunked lie you stupid ****.

No, it is the truth. dick Cheney outed Valerie Plame because her husband was sent to investigate a yellow cake story where Bush had lied.

Plame had been a covert agent. By outing her, Cheney put every current covert agent that ever worked with Plame at rtsk.
No lie.

You are a stupid **** it was Richard Armitage not acting on anyones orders, Plame outted herself, her CIA status was an open secret on the beltway so educate yourself before you flap your fucktarded gums.

Cheney did it too.

Your buddy Cheney put CIA agents at risk. What a low life POS you are to defend that action.

Eat a dick ******, you have no evidence whatsoever for your claim, this bullshit was debunked over a decade ago, kill yourself.

 

[Call Sign Chaos]

President Trump ALREADY knows the names of the US traitors.
He and his AG etc are now planning on how to throw the ******* traitors into a S. Nevada 'tent prison' for ten years.
Take this to the bank: President Trump WILL put a STOP to this.
I suggest the four KUNTS at MSNBC who are on every day fomenting sedition and violence better 'pack light'.
There is going to be a ******* tsumami of criminal charges brought against ANYONE in the LIB MSM who commits any treasonous act.

Agent Orange might try it. This will make Watergate look small. Good Bye Trump, Pence, Ryan, Bannon, Miller, Flynn.

They will wish Obama did close GITMO.

Trump said waterboarding was good. So lets see how he does.

I wonder when you are delusional do you know that you are delusional?

 

[RealDave]

Funny chit coming from the party that outed a CIA agent for political revenge.

That's a debunked lie you stupid ****.

No, it is the truth. dick Cheney outed Valerie Plame because her husband was sent to investigate a yellow cake story where Bush had lied.

Plame had been a covert agent. By outing her, Cheney put every current covert agent that ever worked with Plame at rtsk.
No lie.

You are a stupid **** it was Richard Armitage not acting on anyones orders, Plame outted herself, her CIA status was an open secret on the beltway so educate yourself before you flap your fucktarded gums.

Cheney did it too.

Your buddy Cheney put CIA agents at risk. What a low life POS you are to defend that action.

Eat a dick ******, you have no evidence whatsoever for your claim, this bullshit was debunked over a decade ago, kill yourself.

Lets ask Scooter.

 

[Roudy]

The idiots in obama's intelligence agencies leaked the Flynn information....and since they have to protect the identity of Americans when they are surveilling foreign assets........there are very few people who would have had access to the Flynn recordings......and they all belong to obama.....and now, they can go and get them ......

Catherine Herridge has high level sources......

We are talking jail time for the leakers when they are caught.......

Top House Republican wants FBI 'assessment' on Trump-related leaks

But the release of information from the Flynn phone calls also appears especially problematic, because when the intelligence community captures phone calls of an American inside the U.S., even if the discussion involves a foreign national (in this case an ambassador), steps must be taken to shield the American caller's identity.

"If [the conversation] was picked up inadvertently, then that would have had to been approved by someone in the last administration to actually unmask his name so that the FBI or intelligence officials knew who it was on the other end of the phone talking to the Russian ambassador," Nunes explained.

"If in fact the press reports are right, someone made the decision to deliberately listen to General Flynn's phone calls and that is, I think, unprecedented, unwarranted, and flat-out wrong."

Former NSA analyst and whistleblower Bill Binney confirmed to Fox News that surveillance programs that touch on leadership are highly restricted.

"I think it is compartmentalized, meaning a small circle, less than 100 [people would have access to the intelligence]," Binney said. "They are supposed to minimize the American side. ... All presumed U.S. citizens have rights under the Fourth Amendment."

Nunes said the timing may be significant because the authorization to unmask Flynn was likely taken under the Obama administration, as the phone calls occurred in December.

The committee chairman said the issue goes beyond politics because it is also undermining the relationship between a president and world leaders.

"I think all foreign leaders now are going to be worried that this is going to somehow leak out. I think it has done tremendous damage to [America's] reputation around the world, and no one's talking about it -- and this is because someone in the national security apparatus decided to leak this out. It's very, very serious," he said.

Simply revealing the contents of the calls can have the effect of what the intelligence community calls "burning the source," because the parties involved know beyond a doubt the U.S. government has the ability to track the conversations.

The leaking of information about the investigation into Russian interference in the U.S. race points to the possible compromise of even more sensitive collection sources.

I said it from the beginning. This was a trap coordinated between Obama and the previous CIA leader and his underlings, as payback for losing the election, and Flynn, a career officer with decades of experience, stepped right into it. There should definitely be some heads rolling in the CIA now.

 

[Dragonlady]

America's spies anonymously took down Michael Flynn. That is deeply worrying.

In such a situation — our situation — shouldn't we hope the deep state will rise up to act responsibly to take down a member of the administration who may have broken the law?

The answer is an unequivocal no.

In a liberal democracy, how things happen is often as important as what happens. Procedures matter. So do rules and public accountability. The chaotic, dysfunctional Trump White House is placing the entire system under enormous strain. That's bad. But the answer isn't to counter it with equally irregular acts of sabotage — or with a disinformation campaign waged by nameless civil servants toiling away in the surveillance state.

As Eli Lake of Bloomberg News put it in an important article following Flynn's resignation,

Normally intercepts of U.S. officials and citizens are some of the most tightly held government secrets. This is for good reason. Selectively disclosing details of private conversations monitored by the FBI or NSA gives the permanent state the power to destroy reputations from the cloak of anonymity. This is what police states do. [Bloomberg]

Those cheering the deep state torpedoing of Flynn are saying, in effect, that a police state is perfectly fine so long as it helps to bring down Trump.

It is the role of Congress to investigate the president and those who work for him. If Congress resists doing its duty, out of a mixture of self-interest and cowardice, the American people have no choice but to try and hold the government's feet to the fire, demanding action with phone calls, protests, and, ultimately, votes. That is a democratic response to the failure of democracy.

Sitting back and letting shadowy, unaccountable agents of espionage do the job for us simply isn't an acceptable alternative.

Down that path lies the end of democracy in America.​

The "swamp" that needs to be drained is the links between the Trump Administration and the Russian government. You're all aflutter because someone leaked that there are links between White House officials and the Russian government, and you're upset about the leaks. Talk about picking up the peanuts while being trampled by the elephants.

Your President and his staff are seriously compromised.

They were compromised due to Obama Loyalists.

They were compromised by THEIR OWN ACTIONS. Your orange faced ass-clown knew that Mattis broke the law and DID NOTHING, and his Administration was lying to cover it up. So people in the CIA leaked the information, which they obtained from a LEGAL wiretap on the Russian Ambassador.

You were all gleeful when illegal hacking of the DNC leaked information favourable to tRump, but now you're butt hurt when your guys do something illegal and get caught.

What law did Mattis break?

Sorry, I meant to say Flynn. Flynn discussed Obama's sanctions and expulsions with the Ambassador, telling him the Trump Administration would lift them, and that was illegal.

You seem to think that Russia is your close ally, instead of a country which hacked your elections, and wanted Trump to win. Your President is colluding with the enemy. That constitutes treason in my books.

 

[Dragonlady]

The only thing Flynn is guilty of was lying to Pence...nothing more.

And he may not have even done that.....he doesn't even remember what it was he said to the Russian........

The CIA has tapes which tells them EXACTLY what they talked about, no matter how faulty Flynn's memory is. Are you completely stupid and just in denial?

Complete karma - they guy who started the chant "Lock her up", over Hillary's emails, is potentially about to be locked up for treason. Karma's a *****.

 

[Dragonlady]

The idiots in obama's intelligence agencies leaked the Flynn information....and since they have to protect the identity of Americans when they are surveilling foreign assets........there are very few people who would have had access to the Flynn recordings......and they all belong to obama.....and now, they can go and get them ......

Catherine Herridge has high level sources......

We are talking jail time for the leakers when they are caught.......

Top House Republican wants FBI 'assessment' on Trump-related leaks

But the release of information from the Flynn phone calls also appears especially problematic, because when the intelligence community captures phone calls of an American inside the U.S., even if the discussion involves a foreign national (in this case an ambassador), steps must be taken to shield the American caller's identity.

"If [the conversation] was picked up inadvertently, then that would have had to been approved by someone in the last administration to actually unmask his name so that the FBI or intelligence officials knew who it was on the other end of the phone talking to the Russian ambassador," Nunes explained.

"If in fact the press reports are right, someone made the decision to deliberately listen to General Flynn's phone calls and that is, I think, unprecedented, unwarranted, and flat-out wrong."

Former NSA analyst and whistleblower Bill Binney confirmed to Fox News that surveillance programs that touch on leadership are highly restricted.

"I think it is compartmentalized, meaning a small circle, less than 100 [people would have access to the intelligence]," Binney said. "They are supposed to minimize the American side. ... All presumed U.S. citizens have rights under the Fourth Amendment."

Nunes said the timing may be significant because the authorization to unmask Flynn was likely taken under the Obama administration, as the phone calls occurred in December.

The committee chairman said the issue goes beyond politics because it is also undermining the relationship between a president and world leaders.

"I think all foreign leaders now are going to be worried that this is going to somehow leak out. I think it has done tremendous damage to [America's] reputation around the world, and no one's talking about it -- and this is because someone in the national security apparatus decided to leak this out. It's very, very serious," he said.

Simply revealing the contents of the calls can have the effect of what the intelligence community calls "burning the source," because the parties involved know beyond a doubt the U.S. government has the ability to track the conversations.

The leaking of information about the investigation into Russian interference in the U.S. race points to the possible compromise of even more sensitive collection sources.

I said it from the beginning. This was a trap coordinated between Obama and the previous CIA leader and his underlings, as payback for losing the election, and Flynn, a career officer with decades of experience, stepped right into it. There should definitely be some heads rolling in the CIA now.

The last time I looked, there were no CIA agents selling out the American people to the Putin and the Russians. That would be members of the Trump Administration. It's THEIR heads which are starting to roll.

This doesn't end here. Congress is talking about appointing a Special Prosecutor for this one.

 

[JimBowie1958]

Double standard.

NO it isn't you dumb ******* c unt.

You are right in your points, but calling one of the better liberals on this board a kunt is unnecessary, dont you think?