Why Did the Obama Administration Leak the Details of Signals Intercepts Pointing to an Attack Which Is Still Threatened?

Marc Ambinder asks a libertarian-flavored question -- why should we trust the government's say-so that Snowden leaked crucial secret information when the government is leaking about Sources and Methods during a lockdown for an anticipated terrorist attack?

Reporters at McClatchky and Eli Lake have reported all about the intelligence that led to the current embassy lockdown.

The intercept provided the U.S. intelligence community with a rare glimpse into how al Qaeda’s leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri, manages a global organization that includes affiliates in Africa, the Middle East, and southwest and southeast Asia.

Several news outlets reported Monday on an intercepted communication last week between Zawahiri and Nasser al-Wuhayshi, the leader of al Qaeda’s affiliate based in Yemen. But The Daily Beast has learned that the discussion between the two al Qaeda leaders happened in a conference call that included the leaders or representatives of the top leadership of al Qaeda and its affiliates calling in from different locations, according to three U.S. officials familiar with the intelligence. All told, said one U.S. intelligence official, more than 20 al Qaeda operatives were on the call.

Gee that really seems like the sort of thing we'd not want Zawahiri to know. But here are people on Team Obama blabbing it out all over the world yet again.

They have a real pattern with this. They leaked a lot of important details with regard to Seal Team Six, too. Basically, any time our intelligence or military boys are doing something Manful and Cool, the Obama folks want to talk it up to bask in the glow of other people's achievements.

But when you ask them about Benghazi, State Secrets Serious You Guys.

Also, when you ask about Fast and Furious and the IRS. Serious You Guys Can't Comment on an Ongoing Investigation.

But they have no problem spilling actual national security secrets.

posted by Ace at 12:23 PM

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