WASHINGTON?Pentagon leaks of military secrets to news organizations are hurting the war on terrorism and endangering American lives, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld told senior officials.

In an internal memo, Rumsfeld lamented a “damaging lack of professionalism we continue to see on a daily basis,” referring to a willingness of some defense officials to provide classified information to reporters.

Rumsfeld mentioned no specific example of a news leak, but his July 12 memo was written a week after The New York Times reported on a classified military planning document that outlined aspects of a “concept” for a U.S. war against Iraq. The document was not an actual war plan.

On July 11, a USA Today report cited a draft Iraqi invasion plan specifying the use of up to 300,000 U.S. troops.

“The disclosure of classified information is damaging our country’s ability to stop terrorist acts,” Rumsfeld wrote.