Shame On WaPo, Again

The Libby Trial Is Serious Business

Wednesday, February 21, 2007; A14

Shame on The Post for publishing Victoria Toensing's irrelevant opinings ["Trial in Error," Outlook, Feb. 18] as the case against I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby goes to the jury.

My issue is not legal. My issue is the extreme damage that occurs when CIA identities are bandied about by political hacks and the newspapers that cheer them on.

These leaks violate the code of blood honor of the CIA, MI-6, Mossad and every clandestine officer. Real people die. Real heroes are exposed and murdered. Real intelligence is lost. Real sources lose trust in our honor and refuse to cooperate. Real wars are fought mistakenly. Real troops are endangered. Real damage is done to U.S. credibility throughout the world.

War is not a dinner party for ideologues. Espionage is not a 007 movie. The lives of covert operatives are not petty cash to be bartered for spin.

If Mr. Libby is acquitted, God bless him. If he is convicted, President Bush should immediately renounce a pardon. Our heroes deserve a standing ovation, not a stab in the back.

BRENT BUDOWSKY
Washington

The writer served as an aide to former senator Lloyd Bentsen (D-Tex.), sponsor of the Intelligence Identities Protection Act.


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The Nazis, Fascists and Communists were political parties before they became enemies of liberty and mass murderers.