The firing of Mary McCarthy, a CIA official who gave classified
information about secret prisons to media, has provoked a political
stir in the US.
McCarthy acknowledged she gave classified information to a
reporter without authorization, and violated the secrecy agreement
signed upon working for the CIA. On the surface, this is an issue
of discipline, occupation ethics and breach of working agreement.
But the leak itself reflects her political concepts and motives.
And the dismissal of McCarthy is obviously driven by political
motive. The incident is essentially a political incident.
Secret prison is a component of US' Iraqi War and the war
against terrorism. It unavoidablely bears strong political flavor
for it involves arguments about US foreign policies, and political
ethics. Right after the dismissal of McCarthy, the Democrats
criticized the White House for exercising double standards over
leaks: It sacked McCarthy, but kept silence over officials in White
House who leaked information intentionally.
Coming alongside with the incident is a difficult political
problem: Whether the public has the right to know about the truth
about governmental decisions and acts. Vigilance against power
abuse and black box operation always exist in the culture of
American politics, which makes the public sympathize with those
officials that reveal the truth. Public opinion poll has shown the
Iraqi War policy has sparked great controversy in the American
society. The policy has been questioned and criticized by the
majority of people. Under such circumstances, the dismissed
McCarthy will become a political symbol that knocks on the gate of
the White House.
It is reported that the CIA launched a massive internal check
after the exposure of secret prison. Even the Chief of CIA himself
received polygraph exam. The supreme intelligence agency of the US
spares no efforts clearing its organization. This smells too
political and even constitutes impact on the constitutional system
of the US.
On the other hand, journalist Priest of the Washington
Post won the Pulitzer Prize for her coverage of secret prisons
and gained increasing reputation.
The sharp contrast shows US society's increased divergence on
the Iraqi War, and even on the political appraisal of governmental
behaviors.
(People's Daily Online April 28, 2006)
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