Blair Warns Bush About Intelligence Leaks in US

During a telephone conversation between British Prime Minister Tony Blair and President George W. Bush regarding the terrorist plot and arrests in the United Kingdom, Blair warned Bush about possible intelligence leaks in the US, according to Fox News.

There is fear that the ongoing investigation into a large-scale terrorist attack on airline flights between the UK and US will be compromised by leakers and the American news media, who in the past have compromised national security.

Fox News said that President Bush assured Blair that he warned his intelligence and law enforcement directors to secure classified information involving the UK terrorism investigation.

So far, Britain's Scotland Yard has arrested over 20 suspected terrorists involved in a plot to use liquid explosives on airline flights leaving London's Heathrow Airport destined for US cities.

For some US officials, Blair's reservations about US agencies' ability to keep secrets is an embarrassment. Blair's fears stem from a series of news stories that have exposed US counterterrorism operations and the potential for politically-motivated leaks.

Meanwhile, according to a source in the FBI, the directors of the CIA, FBI, NSA and other agencies have been briefed about the UK situation by White House officials. During the briefing, they were  cautioned to prevent any breaches in the security of classified information.

Britain's Sky News reports that President Bush was apprised of the ongoing UK investigation of the terrorist days ago as were members of the FBI counterterrorism unit and the CIA.

One intelligence source told this writer that there is apprehension on the part of foreign intelligence services to share their information with US agencies based on the history of leaks in the United States by politicians and intelligence operatives with a political agenda.

"Would any sane intelligence chief trust someone such as Senator Patrick "Leaky" Leahy with their secrets?" he asked.

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police and he's a staff writer for the New Media Alliance