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He exposed cold-blooded murder of innocent civilians and reporters, the perpetrators laughing on video like it was a game - the public unaware that Pentagon rules-of-engagement (ROEs) target Iraqi and Afghan civilians as well as alleged combatants.
On June 11, New York Times writer Scott Shane headlined, "Obama Takes a Hard Line Against Leaks to Press," saying:
"In 17 months in office, President Obama has already outdone every previous president in pursuing leak prosecutions," citing actions against Thomas A. Drake (discussed below), and Times columnist James Risen, subpoenaed (by Bush and Obama) to disclose his sources for his book, "State of War: The Secret History of the CIA and the Bush Administration."
Lucy Dalglish, executive director for Reporters Committee for Freedom, explained:
"The message they are sending to everyone is 'You leak to the media, we will get you.' As far as I can tell there is absolutely no difference (between Bush and Obama), and (he) seems to be paying more attention to it. This is going to get nasty."
Attorney General Eric Holder approved the subpoena, his Justice Department spokesman, Matthew Miller, saying: "As a general matter, we have consistently said that leaks of classified information are something we take extremely seriously."
Risen's lawyer, Joel Kurtzberg, explained that the subpoena relates to his report about covert CIA measures to subvert Iran's alleged nuclear weapons program. "We will be fighting to quash" it, he said. "Jim is the highest calibre of reporter and adhered to the highest standards of his profession. And he intends to honor the promise of confidentiality he made to (his) source or sources."
Risen's publisher, Simon and Schuster, is handling the matter, but a Times statement said:
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