THE COST OF LEAKS – AT 11:14 A.M. ET:  We're told regularly by knowledgeable people that government leaks, especially as they involve national defense, have serious consequences.  But rarely do we actually see those consequences directly.  Now we have the chance.  From Fox: 

After the administration released details of the July mission to rescue journalist James Foley and others in Syria, intelligence suggests ISIS dispersed the remaining hostages to multiple locations, making them harder to locate, a military source told Fox News.

In addition, the source added, guard forces around the hostages doubled while widely publicized reporting about the scope of new aerial surveillance in the region caused ISIS to change its pattern of behavior on the ground.

"Any time you (disclose) very highly sensitive tactical information, you're giving away your road map if you will, your strategy," said Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, who as chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee receives regular intelligence briefings. "It's very highly damaging to the hostages."

The details about the rescue mission were released by the Defense Department and National Security Council one day after a video was posted online Aug. 19 of Foley’s execution.

The administration said its hand was forced because unnamed reporters had learned about the raid to rescue Foley and other hostages, believed to include Steven Sotloff, who was also later executed by ISIS.

Asked about the ramifications of providing the information in such a public way, Defense Department spokesman John Kirby said Friday it was still the right call.

"We regret it at the time we had to talk about this," Kirby said. "There was absolutely no intention of ever having to talk about that rescue attempt but because of leaks to certain reporters, it forced our hand to try and provide some context to that. So it's not about do I now regret it. We regret it at the time. We still regret that we had to talk about it."

The military source said the disclosures, which included specific details about the mission itself -- including personnel and hardware -- increased the risk for special operations forces in the future.

Two separate sources also told Fox the release of information was damaging because the Foley case was considered "an ongoing mission" after the raid did not locate him and the others near the ISIS stronghold of Raqaa, Syria.

Some Republicans, including McCaul, believe the administration shoulders some of the blame.

"It's all because the administration leaked this information that is highly sensitive,” he said. “And quite frankly is in violation of the law."

COMMENT:  The damage is done.  There is a history of terrible irresponsibility by some journalists in the handling of classified information.  Information that is legally and properly classified is the property of the American people.  It is entrusted to our elected representatives and those whom they appoint.  Those people don't always act wisely or patriotically themselves.  Some leaks come as a result of careerism.  And, yes, some material is illegally or improperly classified to protect the guilty.

The press has a perfect right to try to uncover government secrets that cover up bad stuff.  The press does not have a right to publish classified information that is being kept secret to protect the nation.  We are remarkable in that we rarely if ever prosecute journalists for publishing leaks.  But that could, sadly, change if some real damage is done and can be proved.

September 13, 2014