ShaneHarris.com » Politics

Plugging the Leaks

admin — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 14:48:30 +0000

“They already know who it is.” That’s how one former U.S. official responded the Justice Department’s years-long investigation of a suspected leaker of classified intelligence. So, why are prosecutors trying to force a well-known journalist to identify this suspect before a federal grand jury? And what does it mean for the future of a free press in the Obama administration? Read all about it in “Plugging the Leaks,” my latest feature for Washingtonian magazine. It’s on stands now and available online.

WikiLeaks vs. the Media (and Washington)

admin — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 20:36:12 +0000

The relationship between a national security reporter and a confidential source is one of the most guarded and prized in Washington. Now, an audacious Web site is upending the way sensitive leaks find their way to daylight, and with it, the media’s influence over information. Is the Obama administration taking notice? Read my new piece in Washingtonian.

Why Nick Clegg is right–and a radical.

admin — Mon, 24 May 2010 16:11:16 +0000

Nick Clegg is taking on the U.K.’s police state. Here’s my analysis for The Daily Beast on what it means for U.S. politicians.

Time to Scrap the DNI

admin — Mon, 24 May 2010 16:07:40 +0000

Here’s my take on why President Obama fired Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair, and why the president should consider getting rid of the spy post altogether.

C-SPAN Book TV

admin — Mon, 17 May 2010 14:22:42 +0000

C-SPAN has been re-airing my book talk from the International Spy Museum in Washington. This was on February 18, publication day for The Watchers.

Obama administration has a legal position on drones…finally.

admin — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:53:58 +0000

Here’s a departure from all the talk of surveillance and book tours. I was at a breakfast yesterday morning with Harold Koh, the State Department’s legal adviser, and had a chance to ask him where he stands on the use of unmmanned drones to kill suspected terrorists. I wrote a lenghty piece about this issue in National Journal in January, but Koh declined my interview request. You can read his response to my question here.

The Watchers in the New York Times

admin — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 13:45:40 +0000

The New York Times review is in today’s paper. Eric Lichtblau, no stranger to the opaque world of surveillance, gave it strong praise:

“it uses smart technical analysis and crisp writing to put the reader inside the room with the watchers and to help better understand the mind-set that gave rise to the modern surveillance state.”

“At its best ‘The Watchers’ provides an insightful glimpse into how Washington works and how ideas are marketed and sold in the back rooms of power, whether the product being peddled is widgets or a radical model for intelligence gathering.”

Hacking the Hill

admin — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 19:48:00 +0000

The cover story of today’s National Journal features a narrative about an unidentified hacker (or perhaps hackers) who compromised the computers of eight members of Congress and seven committees in the House of Representatives. Some members publicly blame China for the incident, and one calls it a case of “overseas espionage.” The story shows how House information security personnel discovered the penetration and worked to contain it.

Homeland Security Council Out?

admin — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:04:00 +0000

In today’s National Journal, I have a story about the incoming Obama administration’s plans for the White House Homeland Security Council. The president-elect’s team is considering changes that could dramatically enhance the influence of the president’s national security adviser, giving him a primary role in shaping disaster management and counter-terrorism policy within the United States.

Intel Officials Make Their Case

admin — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 21:05:00 +0000

Senior officials are making their case that the two Mikes–McConnell and Hayden–should stay at the helm of the intelligence community.