In an effort to bolster his own national security credentials in the midst of "Sniper-gate," Congressman Patrick McHenry (R-NC) gave away intelligence information last week that could have aided Shi'ite militias and/or other terrorist organizations in targeting the Green Zone. Only two days after McHenry promoted a video of himself in the Green Zone describing in detail the effectiveness of the rocket attacks on Easter Sunday, the area was hit with a barrage that killed two U.S. soldiers and wounded 17 others. It was the deadliest attack on the Green Zone so far this year.
The information McHenry divulged in a video on his official Congressional website on Friday was critical for a number of reasons. Here it is, along with the transcript below:
McHENRY: Good morning. You see, right over my back here (points), there was a rocket attack this morning. According to our folks here, there were eleven rockets, uh, one hit just over my head, another hit a parking lot, and another hit the gym. Well, interestingly enough, I wasn't able to get into the gym this morning because I didn't have an ID that was appropriate. And so I was escorted back to the room and just a few minutes later, that's when the rocket attacks occurred. So, uh, small wonders. . .what a small blessing. . .a big blessing on Easter Sunday morning. So, thanks so much.
This quote, coupled with McHenry's comment about the "two-bit security guard" on March 29th, is not good. The bottom line is that whoever launched that strike could take the information McHenry provided and use it to kill Americans in the Green Zone. This is why professionals operating in a combat zone are trained not to reveal any battle damage after an attack. You never want the enemy to know whether or not he's been successful. In this case, Congressman McHenry very clearly broke "operations security" (OPSEC) by revealing "critical information" as defined in Army regulations.
On Saturday, I communicated with one military officer currently in the Green Zone who stated that this was "undoubtedly a violation of OPSEC." On Sunday evening, I spoke with a senior intelligence official in Washington who seemed dumbfounded by McHenry's remarks. Asked whether he considered this a breach of operations security, the official shouted over the phone at me, "Of course! He's helping to dial them in." He meant the people firing the rockets.
Unfortunately, only two days after the bellicose, yet clueless, Congressman McHenry posted the video, more rockets rained down on the Green Zone--this time killing two U.S. soldiers and wounding 17 in the most damaging attack on U.S. forces in the Green Zone since last year.
What the tubby little warmonger did on Easter Sunday is, at the very least, not cool. If it were to be exploited, it would be unforgivable--considering we're five years into this war. That's why America and its military must realize that wannabe tough guys like Patrick McHenry--who, at only 32 years of age, could very easily be serving in this war he so much adores--are the worst thing to have happened to the military in 40 years.
This guy needs to be reprimanded by his peers in Congress and he needs to be voted out of office by his constituents in North Carolina. The military doesn't deserve assholes like this hovering over it.
UPDATE: It appears that Rep. McHenry doesn't like when government officials release sensitive information to the enemy. ABC reported this last June:
In a carefully worded request, seven House GOP lawmakers led by Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., asked the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee to "look into the releasing of sensitive information and its impact on the security of our nation, the performance of our government agencies, and the viability of our diplomatic relationships overseas."
McHenry's letter went on to say:
"We have an obligation to ensure the offenders are held accountable."
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