It's headline news: the Washington Post is upset about leaks to the press. Let us rephrase that: the Post is upset about leaks to its competitor, the Washington Times. Specifically, Post columnist David Ignatius is concerned that Times national security correspondent Bill Gertz is disclosing classified information that jeoparidizes the sources and methods of the intelligence community. His July 2nd column was headline, "When Does Blowing Secrets Cross the Line?" Ignatius reveals that the Justice Department considered wiretapping Gertz to find out where he was getting his information.

His basic point -- that reporters can harm national security -- is legitimate. The problem in this case is that it's the Clinton Administration which is damaging national security. Gertz is merely disclosing the damage that has been caused. For example, Ignatius gripes about a recent Gertz story on Chinese missile cooperation with Libya. Gertz cited a top-secret report by the director of the National Security Agency revealing that the director of Libya's missile program is going to China sometime this month. The implication is that the Clinton Administration is doing nothing about this problem. Indeed, Clinton continues to cooperate with China and even Libya.

Ignatius called this story and others "good scoops." But he adds that "...the NSA may have a bit more difficulty collecting similiar information in the future...Unless people overseas are very stupid, they'll realize someone is reading their mail." But those people would have to be stupid not to know this without the benefit of Gertz's stories. The NSA is known to engage in the collection of intelligence information through various means. This is no secret. Gertz did not disclose how the information was precisely obtained; he didn't reveal sources or methods. What's more, the story of China-Libya cooperation is an old one. The British confiscated missile parts from China to Libya last year.

Ignatius did a Nexis data base search of Gertz' stories, finding that he mentioned the NSA 132 times. This is supposed to be troubling information. But this is an agency that does exist. Is Ignatius suggesting that this particular government agency should be spared media scrutiny? That would be a rather odd position for a journalist to take.

Ignatius also complains about another Gertz story claiming satellite photographs had disclosed the existence of a Chinese missile base. But it's widely known that we have satellites taking such pictures. This is nothing new. On the other hand, Ignatius defends publication of the classified Pentagon Papers back during the Nixon years, saying the public had a "right to know" and "there was a vital public interest in their publication." He seems to be saying that when the Post and New York Times publicize secrets, that's okay. But when a conservative newspaper does it, that's objectionable.

Gertz, the author of a book on Clinton's betrayal of our national security, has made the Administration and its sycophants in the media look bad. The Ignatius story was an apparent attempt to intimidate Gertz and suggest he may come under surveillance by the Administration if he persists in embarassing Clinton's foreign policy team. Ignatius is performing damage control for Clinton. (30)

 

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