Keeping Secrets in Congress

When it comes to secrecy, there are few places better at it than the CIA.  They protect their sources;  their reports are highly classified;  they are independent and don’t pretend otherwise, especially since Gina Haspel took over and things got back to normal. 

But, the culture of Washington is so corrupt these days that the CIA can brief Congress on Friday, and before close of business the Washington Post has the story and is running with it.  This was, of course, the killing of Jamal Khashoggi. 

These are Top Secret briefings (if not that should change) and the number of Congressmen is relatively small who have that level of clearance.  I know the public perception is that Congress gets access to anything that is in print because everyone over there has a security clearance, but that is absolutely wrong.  I spent the better part of two years trying to make sure the Defense Department understood that basic idea. 

Congress needs to have a review of their procedures to handle and safeguard classified information.  It is done often, but without much affect.  This time, the two parties must decide if their country’s security is on a par with the ability of some elected officials to grandstand their way to prominence with the press.  Congress knows who is doing this, and congress can stop it.