Here are a few excerpts from today's press briefing with Press Secretary Scott McClellan, quoted from the non-partisan periodical Editor & Publisher:
Now, before anyone jumps down my throat, I am NOT saying that this is a problem endemic to the current administration. All politicians try to bend time (and sometimes space) to fit their needs. Certainly the previous administration did so as well. But I would say that the political movers and shakers of the present administration have perfected the art of political manipulation to a finer degree then we have ever seen before.Q Can I ask you a question about the timing of the speech today? Why now, given the ongoing discussion that is taking place about tactics in fighting the war on terror, why did the President seek to disclose the details today, specifically?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, for the reasons I just stated. This is a speech that we have been working on for the last few weeks. The President has been having an ongoing discussion with the American people about the war on terrorism. This is the nation's highest priority. It's the President's top priority. It's about protecting the American people. And we're always looking for ways to inform the American people about our efforts and provide them additional information.
As you know, it takes time to declassify information. And as time goes by, you might be in position to share more information about plots that were disrupted. Remember, back in October, the President talked about, I think it was, 10 or so plots that were disrupted or broken up. And we provided some general information at that time. One of these was the plot that the President talked about today.
But I think it's -- what he was highlighting -- the purpose of the speech was to highlight the strong international cooperation that is going on.
Q But is it just a coincidence? You had February 6th circled on the calendar for the hearings, the NSA hearings. Is it just a pure coincidence that this comes out today?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, you're talking about the -- let me mention, the terrorist surveillance program is a vital program, and it's been a very valuable tool. I'm not going to get into discussing any of the tools that may have been used when it comes to disrupting this plot. We provided you some additional information about this plot. But the purpose of this speech is the way I stated it. And I would discourage you from suggesting otherwise….
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Q Scott, I apologize if I'm still confused, but I wonder if you could tell us a bit more specifically what has changed since October, when we were told that discussing details of this plot was inappropriate, and today? What has actually changed since October in that regard?
MR. McCLELLAN: I think I described it to you; I don't know how I can be more clear to you. This is something that we had been talking about with the intelligence community in looking for a good example to highlight for the American people about the type of international cooperation that goes on that helps us disrupt plots. I think that's important for the American people to have a clear understanding of, so they have a clear and better understanding of the threats we face and they have a better understanding of the efforts that are going on around the world to disrupt plots. So that's what this was.
And as time goes by and you continue to look at this and take into account the sensitivity of sources and methods and ongoing counterterrorism efforts, you are able to provide more information.
Q So sources and methods would have been compromised in October, but not today?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, Peter, we're always looking for ways to provide the American people with more information and that's what I said to you earlier -- maybe you didn't quite hear all that -- but we're always looking to keep the American people informed about the threats we face and provide them better context and better understanding of what we are doing to confront those threats. So that's what this was about, and so that's something we're always looking at.
Q But that wasn't actually the question. The question was, would sources and methods have been compromised in October, but wouldn't be today?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, the intelligence community said that it was okay to talk about the information that we provided you today and the President spoke about. So like I said, there is ongoing efforts that we look at to provide the information to the American people, and this was --
Q It was not okay in October to talk about that level of detail?
MR. McCLELLAN: I didn't say that. What I said was that they said that it was okay now to talk further about this specific plot.
Q Would it have been okay in October, but you chose not to?
MR. McCLELLAN: I don't know how many times you're going to keep asking the same question.
Q As soon as I get an answer.
MR. McCLELLAN: I think I've answered the question.
Q Can you say when you started trying to get it declassified so you could talk about it?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, when we were talking about doing this speech, we were looking for a specific plot that we could talk about in more detail?
Q So two weeks ago?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, the speech has been in the works, as I say, for at least three weeks.
Q So three weeks ago you decided you wanted to try and declassify this particular --
MR. McCLELLAN: Martha, I can't tell you the specific time. But, again, two things -- one, we're always looking to keep the American people informed and provide them additional information like this. Two, we were looking to give this speech and talk about the international cooperation that's going on and how successful that is and how important that is to confronting the threats we face. So in that context, we were also talking in the intelligence community, is there additional information we can provide. And I think a good starting point was some of the plots that we had talked about last year, in a general sense.
And that is really the point that I want to make.
It seems to me that in order obtain and keep power in this day and age politicians need to continue to perfect this type of thing to a greater and greater degree. And I see no real hope in reversing this dangerous trend, regardless of which party prevails in elections in the near future, including the U.S. congressional elections this year and presidential election in 2008.
Uggghhh! What a depressing topic this is turning out to be. Am I really going to post this? I guess I am, on the off chance that maybe someone has something genuinely hopeful to say in response to this. We need to find a way to break this odious pattern or we are going to be in big trouble.