Treason of the Times
The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and other publications, have come under severe criticism for disclosing secret information. The information published revealed details, accurately or inaccurately, about overseas programs which have uncovered details of currency transfers to terrorist organizations. Often, the media refer to such revelations as "leaking." Disclosing classified information is not "leaking," it is essentially spying on behalf of an enemy in a time of war. Disclosing classified information that has helped to find and apprehend terrorists and their supporters is "giving aid and comfort" to our enemies. Even the insufficient excuse that the public "needs to know" does not pertain; as, there is no illegality implied, and no compromise of privacy asserted. The sole justification is that the editorial staffs involved, by their own admissions, believe that no harm will result.
But, the editorial staffs have not been elected by anyone to make these decisions; we have a duly elected and re-elected Commander-in-Chief, who is the one person legally entitled to direct these intelligence gathering activities, as part of a multi-pronged attack on those sworn to destroy us.
The excuse asserted by the editors of the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times is that the public has a "right to know," and that the editors have decided that disclosure will not harm our military personnel or our fight against terrorists. That claim is outrageous, as is their claim that the terrorists already knew what we were doing. Bill Keller, executive editor of the New York Times, asserts in a defensive editorial that the program disclosed was common knowledge, and that it was a secret program that needed to be disclosed. The secret and effective program was referred to as "secret" several times in the New York Times article which infamously revealed the program. Therefore, the assertions that it was already known, and therefore could be disclosed without consequence, and that it was important to reveal, because it was unknown, and worthy of publication on the front page of the most influential paper in the nation, are self-contradictory in the extreme. In an unprecedented fashion, the executive editor of the New York Times has joined forces with the editor of the Los Angeles Times, Dean Baquet, to circle their editorial wagons for their common defense in the scandal. That is not a sign of strength; it is a sign of great weakness.
When the name of Valerie Plame, a CIA analyst, was “leaked,” and published, the hue and cry from the media was deafening, including the media discussed here. A special prosecutor was demanded, and appointed. He found no crime committed; and, is currently pursuing a charge of perjury in a case involving no other alleged wrongdoing. In fact, it was not an illegal “outing,” as the person in question was not and had not been a clandestine operative for over eight years. Indeed, her identity was by no means a secret, as she was well known in Washington circles. And no one was assisted in breaking the law by publication of her name, in reporting that she influenced the choice of her husband, to be sent on a “fact finding” mission. The mission had the ulterior motive of discrediting an administration which her husband passionately opposed. Yet, the two editors of two of the most influential newspapers in the United States of America assert that it is fine judgment on their parts to publish confidential information regarding details of our tactics in the war against terrorists.
The excuses, analyses, and subsequent interviews, as on Sunday's Face the Nation program, reveal upon careful consideration only the latest manifestation of media hubris, arrogance, and a sense of unbridled ability to publish whatever may promote partisan agendas and sell newspapers. The New York Times has evidently learned nothing from the recent scandals surrounding faked "news" at CBS News, NBC News, and the New York Times itself. Indeed, the present managing editor at the forefront of the current scandal has obtained his appointment to an esteemed position at the "Newspaper of Record" due to the disgrace and resignation of his predecessor, who was in charge when at least two reporters repeatedly published "news" stories which subsequently were found to be works of fiction. The one common denominator, in addition to editorial irresponsibility, has been the presence of the current publisher, Arthur O. Sulzberger, Jr., AKA “Pinch,” who inherited his position. His tenure is maintained through family ownership of a substantial interest in the stock of the Times. The results are predictable, following his known demonstrations of lack of intellectual ability, and his various comments defending the even more serious Times revelations of the successful secret NSA program.
It is clear that the agents of the United States government who passed the information to the newspaper reporters have committed treasonous acts, as common spies. They should be vigorously pursued and prosecuted. The editors and publishers may or may not have committed crimes; but, the seriousness of their reckless acts warrants a vigorous investigation and thorough prosecution.
The motto of the New York Times is, "All the news that's fit to print." Unfortunately, under the direction of the Publisher, "Pinch" Sulzberger, the news published in several notable recent instances is "All the news that's NOT fit to print."
But, the editorial staffs have not been elected by anyone to make these decisions; we have a duly elected and re-elected Commander-in-Chief, who is the one person legally entitled to direct these intelligence gathering activities, as part of a multi-pronged attack on those sworn to destroy us.
The excuse asserted by the editors of the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times is that the public has a "right to know," and that the editors have decided that disclosure will not harm our military personnel or our fight against terrorists. That claim is outrageous, as is their claim that the terrorists already knew what we were doing. Bill Keller, executive editor of the New York Times, asserts in a defensive editorial that the program disclosed was common knowledge, and that it was a secret program that needed to be disclosed. The secret and effective program was referred to as "secret" several times in the New York Times article which infamously revealed the program. Therefore, the assertions that it was already known, and therefore could be disclosed without consequence, and that it was important to reveal, because it was unknown, and worthy of publication on the front page of the most influential paper in the nation, are self-contradictory in the extreme. In an unprecedented fashion, the executive editor of the New York Times has joined forces with the editor of the Los Angeles Times, Dean Baquet, to circle their editorial wagons for their common defense in the scandal. That is not a sign of strength; it is a sign of great weakness.
When the name of Valerie Plame, a CIA analyst, was “leaked,” and published, the hue and cry from the media was deafening, including the media discussed here. A special prosecutor was demanded, and appointed. He found no crime committed; and, is currently pursuing a charge of perjury in a case involving no other alleged wrongdoing. In fact, it was not an illegal “outing,” as the person in question was not and had not been a clandestine operative for over eight years. Indeed, her identity was by no means a secret, as she was well known in Washington circles. And no one was assisted in breaking the law by publication of her name, in reporting that she influenced the choice of her husband, to be sent on a “fact finding” mission. The mission had the ulterior motive of discrediting an administration which her husband passionately opposed. Yet, the two editors of two of the most influential newspapers in the United States of America assert that it is fine judgment on their parts to publish confidential information regarding details of our tactics in the war against terrorists.
The excuses, analyses, and subsequent interviews, as on Sunday's Face the Nation program, reveal upon careful consideration only the latest manifestation of media hubris, arrogance, and a sense of unbridled ability to publish whatever may promote partisan agendas and sell newspapers. The New York Times has evidently learned nothing from the recent scandals surrounding faked "news" at CBS News, NBC News, and the New York Times itself. Indeed, the present managing editor at the forefront of the current scandal has obtained his appointment to an esteemed position at the "Newspaper of Record" due to the disgrace and resignation of his predecessor, who was in charge when at least two reporters repeatedly published "news" stories which subsequently were found to be works of fiction. The one common denominator, in addition to editorial irresponsibility, has been the presence of the current publisher, Arthur O. Sulzberger, Jr., AKA “Pinch,” who inherited his position. His tenure is maintained through family ownership of a substantial interest in the stock of the Times. The results are predictable, following his known demonstrations of lack of intellectual ability, and his various comments defending the even more serious Times revelations of the successful secret NSA program.
It is clear that the agents of the United States government who passed the information to the newspaper reporters have committed treasonous acts, as common spies. They should be vigorously pursued and prosecuted. The editors and publishers may or may not have committed crimes; but, the seriousness of their reckless acts warrants a vigorous investigation and thorough prosecution.
The motto of the New York Times is, "All the news that's fit to print." Unfortunately, under the direction of the Publisher, "Pinch" Sulzberger, the news published in several notable recent instances is "All the news that's NOT fit to print."
posted by ~~Robert at
4.7.06
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