Say Anything Blog

From the New York Times comes this long overdue story:

The CIA has fired an employee for leaking classified information to the news media, including details about secret CIA prisons in Eastern Europe, officials said Friday.

A federal criminal investigation has also been opened.

CIA spokesman Paul Gimigliano said an officer had been fired for having unauthorized contacts with the media and disclosing classified information to reporters, including details about intelligence operations.

''The officer has acknowledged unauthorized discussions with the media and the unauthorized sharing of classified information,'' Gimigliano said. ''That is a violation of the secrecy agreement that everyone signs as a condition of employment with the CIA.''

Citing the Privacy Act, the CIA would not disclose any details about the officer's identity or what he might have told the news media.

However, a law enforcement official confirmed there was a criminal investigation under way and said the CIA officer had provided information that contributed to a Washington Post story last year saying there were secret U.S. prisons in Eastern Europe. The law enforcement official spoke only on condition of anonymity, citing the sensitivity of the matter.

Two things come to mind here:

First, its about damn time! And I would hope, parenthetically, that those involved in the leak of the NSA surveillance story, information that was undoubtedly classified "TOP SECRET/.Codeword", should be next on the list.

Second is a question. I wonder how long it will take the the left-leaning MSM, what Rush is pleased to call the "Drive-by Media," to identify the individual CIA officer involved and publish his name... despite the illegality, as noted above, of doing so.