*EPF202 10/09/01
Bush Limits Secret War Information to Eight Members of Congress
(Done to save lives, Fleischer says at October 9 briefing) (650)
By Wendy S. Ross
Washington File White House Correspondent

Washington - President Bush has decided for national security reasons to dramatically limit the number of people in the U.S. Congress who can receive administration briefings that include classified information on the war against terrorism.

White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer told reporters October 9 that from now on only eight members of Congress will receive this information. They are the four leaders of the House and Senate, and the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate Intelligence Committees.

The decision, Fleischer said, reflects "the fact that our nation is now at war and the rules have changed. It's a reflection of the reality that the disclosure of information in a time of war is far different from an inadvertent disclosure at a time of peace. It could literally mean the loss of lives of people who are embarking on missions."

Bush made the determination "that in a time of war, the usual rules do not apply," and he "wants to make certain that every step is taken so that there cannot be a loss of life as a result of an inadvertent release of information," Fleischer said.

The President stated the new policy in a memo to members of his Cabinet who routinely brief Congress about military and intelligence matters, said Fleischer.

The memo states that 'this administration will continue to work to inform the leadership of the Congress about the course of and important developments in our military, intelligence, and law enforcement operations. At the same time, we have an obligation to protect military operational security, intelligence sources and methods, and sensitive law enforcement investigations,'" Fleischer said, in reading from the memo.

The memo makes very clear, said the Press Secretary, that "it still is important to share information with the Congress, to discuss matters with the Congress, and that still will be done.

"The question is discussion of any information that is of such a classified nature that it would not be germane to members who are not listed as the Speaker, the Minority Leader, the Majority Leader, or the chair or the ranking members of the Intelligence Committee."

"It's an effort to make certain that Congress has the information that it needs, while making certain that nobody is put in a position where they inadvertently give any information that could harm anybody's life as a very sensitive military campaign is underway."

Asked what prompted the memo, Fleischer said that "It's an overall concern to make certain that information is protected to save lives and to not put anybody in danger."

"The President has done it deliberately because this is a time of war, and in his judgment, this is the best way to save lives, protect the lives of the people that he is putting in harm's way in the course of this war. Yes, this is a determined decision by the President," Fleischer said.

In other developments, Fleischer told reporters that President Bush called President Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal October 9.

"President Wade expressed his solidarity and support for the global anti-terrorism campaign that was launched by President Bush," said Fleischer, and expressed his belief "about the importance of bringing peace to the region." Wade also told Bush "that Islam is a peaceful religion and that all democracies have a common cause in eradicating terrorism."

The President was to meet later in the day, October 9, in the Oval Office with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, Fleischer said, and will welcome NATO Secretary-General Lord Robertson for a meeting October 10.

(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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