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Former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld on the impact of intelligence leaks on U.S. military and foreign relations.
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The Obama administration today insisting recent intelligence leaks reported in the New York Times in particular.
Did not come from the White House attorney general Eric Holder announcing an investigation into those leaks of classified information.
On -- cyber attack against Iran is nuclear program.
And recent drone strikes joining me now for more on these leaks and this world as we find it today Donald Rumsfeld serving four US presidents during critical foreign policy challenges.
Ranging from Vietnam to September 11 the wars in Iraq Afghanistan.
A distinguished career public service.
Author of the bestselling memoir known and unknown now in paperback and mr.
secretary let me say -- you.
I complimented you on the on the hardcover edition I now -- to compliment you on.
The largest paperback edition of the could -- -- worth every page of that I issue either sure our audience great to have you with.
Thank you so much Lou good to be with you.
-- let -- turn first to these.
These leaks and whether they be about the killing of Osama bin Laden whether they be about.
Cyber warfare.
It runs the gamut.
What are your thoughts your concerns.
The first of all it seems to me that we have to think about two things when one considers the stream of of three or 45 leaks out of the government.
-- they certainly looked like they came out of the White House I suppose it's not an accident that they ended up in the administration's favorite newspaper.
But but what I worry about is two things number one.
In the men and women in uniform and our intelligence agents who put their lives at risk.
And to the extent bringing government of the United States -- gorges information about how we do things.
It puts people's lives at risk.
Second.
We ask other countries and individuals from other countries to help us.
And to provide us information and to provide -- assistant.
And to the extent we are on disciplined and out of our government come in pieces of information scraps of information.
That Ken points the foreign countries towards who assisted us who gave us information.
Then those people are put in jeopardy their lives are put in jeopardy their families are put in jeopardy.
And and I have to believe that the people in the Pentagon.
Are grinding their teeth over this.
Notably.
Undisciplined behavior pattern that we've seen from this administration.
And I would guess the same thing would be true of the people in the Central Intelligence Agency.
And our various intelligence elements throughout the government.
And and our allies.
Including.
Arguably.
Of them -- in and published reports.
The -- very upset -- this administration's this White House this president.
Over making claims about cyber warfare particular the -- that was launched against.
The Iranians.
Some years ago in fact that would have been launched during the Bush Administration would it not.
I am I but I don't discuss these things.
I -- it seems to me that what we need to do is to.
Try to sensitize people in government.
Who are.
Clearly behaving in an amateurish way.
About the dangers to human lives want one has to wonder if anyone would do that if their son or daughter.
We're engaged in activities on behalf of our country.
That would be put in jeopardy by these things.
I ask you that way because the book that I will not mention the title fob written by the author who works for the New York Times contemporaneously.
Launched.
-- a new book on the fifth of this month.
Contemporaneous with these reports about the leaks.
That were somehow conveniently aligned with the compendium.
Which is frankly an analysis of strategy.
And -- master nations of this administration.
And frankly if it's just striking.
Crass commercialism and alliance with political purpose it could be charged.
Directed at furthering the president's political agenda rather than the national interest.
I I don't know if the reports are true but but it it from the press reads as though there are now going to be a series of movies.
That will do exactly the same thing.
