GOP chair urges Biden to declassify intel on "serious national security threat"

[brooklynite]

Source: Axios

Congressional leaders are set to be briefed on what House Intelligence Committee Chair Mike Turner (R-Ohio) called a "serious national security threat" on Wednesday.

Why it matters: Turner's cryptic statement is a rare example of a top House official calling for the president to declassify information about an ongoing threat.

"Today, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence has made available to all Members of Congress information concerning a serious national security threat," Turner said.

"I am requesting that President Biden declassify all information relating to this threat so that Congress, the Administration, and our allies can openly discuss the actions necessary to respond to this threat."

Read more: https://www.axios.com/2024/02/14/congress-national-security-threat-classified-biden

[brooklynite]

1. UPDATE: Republican warning of 'national security threat' is about Russia wanting nuke in space: Sources

ABC News

The White House's national security adviser said Wednesday that he had already scheduled a classified meeting with congressional leadership before a top House Republican requested that President Joe Biden "declassify all information" that relates to "serious national security threat."

Two sources familiar with deliberations on Capitol Hill said the intelligence has to do with the Russians wanting to put a nuclear weapon into space.

This is not to drop a nuclear weapon onto Earth but rather to possibly use against satellites.

"It is very concerning and very sensitive," said one source, who called it "a big deal."

[SunSeeker]

3. If he's so concerned about Putin, why doesn't he push for the Ukraine aid package?

[Bernardo de La Paz]

4. A nuke going off in orbit above the US could set off an EMP

EMP is ElectroMagnetic Pulse. If it is big enough, it can fry a lot of electronics devices, crippling daily life for millions of people.

So the anti-satellite angle is perhaps less worrisome to me. Though of course, an EMP would also fry many satellites in line of sight or range, which might be a large range. That would seem to be destructive of any Russian satellites around and it might be hard for them
to choose a moment when none of theirs are around.

[Lulu KC]

9. Oh, man

That is one thing I hadn't even thought to worry about yet. But where do they get the $$$$$?

[BlueNIndiana]

15. This idea is not "new" it is just "new" to him.

It is just something "new" to "Blame Biden" for.

The idea of nukes in space has been around since satellites have been around.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starfish_Prime

[SunSeeker]

2. Everyone already knows about the threat Trump poses, Mr. Turner.

Now go pass the Ukraine/Israel aid package, you worthless bag of meat.

[PTL_Mancuso]

19. I really worry when Turner refers to "our allies". WHO does he have in mind?

NETAR! (Never Ever Trust A Repugnican!)

[machoneman]

5. Another bullshit distraction! Anything but why TFG is the major threat to all US citizens and the world!

[Think. Again.]

6. This guy should stop...

...screaming for media attention and let the adults handle important matters.

[lonely bird]

7. Don't worry

Trump will fellate Putin and everything will be unicorns farting rainbows.

[DoBW]

8. see right through that BS

yeah declassify, and give Putin our intel -- the GOP will hand it right over -- Putin's b*tches

[Captain Zero]

10. Maybe Trump is implicated in the threat??

Maybe it's about some documents that passed through the MaraLoco stash? If Biden declassified it then shitstain would be off the hook.

I say no it needs to be dealt with as a classified matter first.

Probably all the Repubs want is to be able to use it in campaign smears against Biden.

[republianmushroom]

11. The biggest threat to this country has been walking free for 36 months and counting.

[LaMouffette]

12. It's more Trump/Republican fear mongering. Fear is the only arrow they've got in their quiver. After their defeat in New

York, they really have to scare the pants off their voters now!

[brooklynite]

13. If there was nothing behind the warning, Democratic Congresspeople would have said so.

Also, I doubt Republicans would dream up a threat from Russia.

[harumph]

17. Uh, no. It's been a possibility for awhile.

However, it's a known risk with low probability. This is a tempest in a teapot that serves to mitigate (they think) the reasonable impression that the Republicans are soft on Russia. Are Americans stupid enough to fall for it - probably 30% or so. That percentage comes up a lot.

[Mawspam2]

14. Not to worry. We have Joe Biden starring in...

...Space Cowboys 2
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51B2JMP7KPL._AC_UF894,1000_QL80_.jpg

[Martin68]

16. The threat is the MAGA plot to install a dictatorship in the US government.

[Kablooie]

18. Isn't this essentially revealing state secrets?

To announce this publicly, even without specifics, should be illegal.

Of course now it's all over the headlines and details will come out but he had no legal right to release this info.

[SunSeeker]

20. Yes, that is why he was being cryptic - and got others to leak the details.

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-white-house-responds-to-house-intelligence-committee-chairs-warning-over-security-threat

BTW, Turner is a political hack, like all Republicans. He tried to defend Trump's theft of top secret nuclear documents as being just for use to write a memoir, but accused Biden of being a "serial classified document hoarder" (all Biden took were his hand written notes, which he really did use to write a memoir). https://www.businessinsider.com/gop-mike-turner-calls-biden-serial-classified-document-hoarder-2023-1

[Calista241]

21. Anyone else surprised this is the 'threat' that's so earth shaking?

I mean, didn’t we have the Star Wars program in the 1980’s? I’d be shocked if both the US and the USSR didn’t have nukes in space going back to the 70’s. There’s a non-zero chance we (the US) have nuclear weapons in space right now, today.