'NYT' Editorial Explains Difference Between Plame and NSA Spying Leaks

[sabra]

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001773370

'NYT' Editorial Explains Difference Between Plame and NSA Spying Leaks


NEW YORK Declaring, "this seems a good moment to try to clear away the fog around this issue," a New York Times editorial for Wednesday attempted to describe the difference between radically different types of leaks.

Two of the newspaper's high-profile reporters, Judith Miller (who recently resigned) and James Risen, have been at the center of two very serious current leak probes.

"A democratic society cannot long survive if whistle-blowers are criminally punished for revealing what those in power don't want the public to know -- especially if it's unethical, illegal or unconstitutional behavior by top officials," the newspaper declares. "Reporters need to be able to protect these sources, regardless of whether the sources are motivated by policy disputes or nagging consciences."

The editorial then examines the Plame/CIA leak, citing "a world of difference between that case and a current one in which the administration is trying to find the sources of a New York Times report that President Bush secretly authorized spying on American citizens without warrants. The spying report was a classic attempt to give the public information it deserves to have. The Valerie Wilson case began with a cynical effort by the administration to deflect public attention from hyped prewar intelligence on Iraq. ...

[Ready4Change]

1. It can be said more simply.

Leaking Bush's orders to the NSA exposed a crime against our nation by it's highest official. This is whistleblowing.

Leaking Valery Plames covert CIA status was ITSELF a crime, and it exposed no other crime. This is treason.

[Supersedeas]

2. What about the leak of secret prisons

[gratuitous]

3. The difference is in who's investigating the leak

An independent prosecutor looking for evidence of a crime, or an administration embarrassed and potentially criminally compromised by the leak of the information?

This taketh not the wisdom of the ages, but it is a sure sign of how stupid our public discourse has gotten over the past 10 years that such an elementary point would so bamboozle so much of the populace.