“It's very difficult to do an honest appraisal of a lot of people's personal and professional performance without demeaning them, and to do it fairly and in hindsight.”
“I don't take the turmoil as unexpected, ... For people who created the culture at the C.I.A. that gave us the information about Al Qaeda, who gave us the information about Iraq, the kinds of changes that Porter is making may be uncomfortable, and they may be making the right decision: they're leaving.”
“[The classification process will also be covered, because] too much information is classified and more should be declassified, ... We probably have some overclassification situations of our own.”
“[He said others have tried to put together legislation on leaks and failed.] It may be very difficult, ... If Hoekstra and Harman can agree, it might get done. At least we will give it an honest shot.”
“he said. Asked why he, along with other members, refused to identify the panel's first witness, Hoekstra said, ''We probably have some overclassification situations of our own.”
“[Such shield laws] could have serious implications if passed without exceptions for those occasions when our national security is at risk, ... The time has come for a comprehensive law that will make it easier for the government to prosecute wrongdoers and increase the penalties which hopefully will act as a deterrent for people thinking about disclosing information.”
“This is not where we normally get information, ... But Porter is more than willing ? and encouraging ? to take a serious look at these sources to see what value they might have.”
