Nelson: Leaker ‘should be tried for treason'

WASHINGTON — A traitor who should be hauled up on charges of treason — that's how Sen. Ben Nelson views whoever leaked secret military documents about U.S. operations in Afghanistan.

“It would be beyond unfortunate if any of these documents ended up costing Americans or our allies their lives,” Nelson, D-Neb., told The World-Herald on Tuesday. “Whoever leaked it, with the level of security clearance that they would have to be able to do this, is a traitor and should be tried for treason.”

Nelson, a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said that although the leaked documents contain little new information, their release highlights the potential for future leaks of materials even more sensitive.

He said the Pentagon's investigation into the leaks could include examining what level of classification is applied to certain materials and who has access.

Sen. Mike Johanns, R-Neb., said it would be up to a prosecutor to determine whether the person behind the leaks committed a treasonous act and said whoever is responsible should be prosecuted if the law was broken.

“We just continue slipping down this pathway of nothing is protected by a concept of national security,” Johanns said, “and ... when you're in war, that jeopardizes lives or at least has the potential to do that, and I think that's the tragedy of all of this.”

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, called the release of the documents a serious matter while U.S. troops are fighting abroad.

“I can't understand why any patriotic American would want to show our enemies our national secrets and threaten the safety of our men and women fighting for freedom,” Grassley said.

Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, said he would like the Obama administration to take a hard look at the situation on the ground.

“These leaked documents confirm serious doubts the public has about our policy and engagement in Afghanistan,” Harkin said.

The leaked documents include indications that Pakistan has been aiding the Afghan insurgency. Nelson said suspicions along those lines already existed, but the documents indicate that along with the smoke “there may have been fire.”

Nelson said he plans to have Pakistan's ambassador come by for a chat.

“I don't think either Pakistan or the United States or our allies are well-served if there's double-dealing,” Nelson said, “and I'd like to get to the bottom of that — to the extent that I can.”

The senator said he disagrees with those who argue that the documents bolster the case for an immediate U.S. withdrawal.

“The truth of the matter is,” Nelson said, “that walking away from Afghanistan creates the risk that we will be back where we were before, with a safe haven for al-Qaida and other terrorists.”

Contact the writer:

202-662-7270, joe.morton@owh.com

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