Letter: Leakers, Times betraying U.S.

Sunday, Jan. 8, 2006 | 8:13 a.m.

What damage was done to America's security by those who leaked to a major newspaper a highly secret program conducted by President Bush and the National Security Agency? The program was wiretap surveillance of communications between al-Qaida agents in foreign countries to residents here in America.

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales opened a criminal investigation to learn who committed the crime of leaking to The New York Times, saying it was highly classified information. But will the identity of those who leaked ever be known? Or will another news reporter go to prison for refusing to disclose his source of his information, leaving the identity of the sources unknown? More than that, is America more vulnerable to al-Qaida because of the leak?

The Times said its sources telling about the secret program were "nearly a dozen current and former officials." That could cover current or former officials in the Bush administration or senators or congressmen. But what officials would callously disclose highly classified information critical to our defense against further al-Qaida attacks and thereby endanger American citizens?

The secret program that intercepted al-Qaida's plans, along with all other efforts, has prevented further massacres of Americans for over four years.

Adopting new tactics, al-Qaida will cause our defenses to adjust, perhaps with harmful delay. Also, evidence that was developing through wiretapping may now be destroyed. What faces us Americans?

Both leakers and the Times have betrayed America.

Paul L. Larsen

Las Vegas