Stephen F. Kislock, III – 7/6/06

This page was last updated on July 6, 2006.

Santorum divulged secrets; Stephen F. Kislock, III; Beaver County Times; July 6, 2006.

Based on this letter, I would call Mr. Kislock a liar except for the fact I don’t know where he gets his “news.” That said, this is not the first truth-challenged letter from Mr. Kislock.

Most of Mr. Kislock’s minimum of 14 letters over the last two years have been Republican-bashing exercises.

Below is a detailed critique of the letter.

“The Bush Congress is gearing up for a war against the First Amendment, and especially the New York Times for its story on the administration’s illegal reading of International Banking Transfer Information.”

[RWC] The New York Times article that disclosed this formerly classified information did not imply the program was illegal or had been used improperly. Indeed, in a September 2001 editorial, the NY Times lobbied for such a program.

What was the NY Times’ justification for publishing details of a classified program? The executive editor said because the program “is a matter of public interest.”

“Does freedom of the press apply to U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum having and showing classified documents on the Iraqi’s weapons of mass destruction on a Fox news program?

“If the Congress is to start a war on publicly broadcasting and printing of classified information, it should start at home with Santorum.

“I have a call into the U.S. Attorney General’s office in Pittsburgh about charging Santorum with divulging states [sic] secrets on TV.”

[RWC] Another false statement. Every report I heard, read, and saw stipulated the information presented by Sen. Santorum and Rep. Peter Hoekstra (R-MI) was from declassified portions of classified documents. In fact, here is the declassified information as provided to the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence by the Director of National Intelligence, John Negroponte.

Does Mr. Kislock get his “news” from KNN (Kook News Network)?