The release of the latest Osama bin Laden’s tape last week declaring that preparations for another attack against the United States are under way has apparently motivated

ABC News has an “exclusive,” based on Pakistani military sources, that a U.S. bombing raid killed al Qaeda number two Ayman al-Zawahiri. Jan. 13, 2006 — Today, according to Pakistani military sources, U.S. aircraft attacked a compound known to be frequented by high-level al Qaeda operatives. Pakistani officials tell ABC News that al Qaeda leader [...]

Joe Klein has a TIME editiorial entitled, ” Joe Klein: How to Stay Out of Power – Why liberal democrats are playing too fast and too loose with issues of war and peace.” He notes that top Democrats, notably House minority leader Nancy Pelosi, are misleading the public about the nature of the NSA data [...]

Scott Johnson has an extensive analysis of the laws applicable in the NSA surveillance matter. He examines 18 U.S.C. § 798. It is entitled “Disclosure of classified information” and falls under Chapter 37 “ESPIONAGE AND CENSORSHIP.” That the leakers violated the law here is rather obvious and not worthy of much discussion. Of far more [...]

The New York Times has a rather self-serving editorial today arguing that

The Justice Department is investigating the leaks to the New York Times over the NSA’s secret electronic surveillance program. Justice Department Probing Domestic Spying Leak (AP) The Justice Department has opened an investigation into the leak of classified information about President Bush’s secret domestic spying program, Justice officials said Friday. The officials, who requested anonymity [...]

Howie Kurtz says that the White House has been lobbying newspaper editors to hold back coverage of stories that might damage counterterrorism efforts, with little success. President Bush has been summoning newspaper editors lately in an effort to prevent publication of stories he considers damaging to national security. The efforts have failed, but the rare [...]

George Will asks a question that has surely occured to most of us: Why didn’t President Bush ask Congress to expand his authority to conduct domestic spying, removing all doubt as to whether he had the authority? Without more information than can be publicly available concerning threats from enemies operating in America, the executive branch [...]

In his weekly radio address, President Bush acknowledged that he had ordered the NSA to conduct domestic eavesdropping against terrorist suspects. Bush Acknowledges Approving Eavesdropping President Bush said Saturday he has no intention of stopping his personal authorizations of a post-Sept. 11 secret eavesdropping program in the U.S., lashing out at those involved in revealing [...]

Lost in the media storms surrounding the Libby indictment and appointment of Sam Alito to the Supreme Court is a rather strong escalation of tensions between the United States and Syria. Syria accuses US of launching lethal raids over its borders (London Sunday Telegraph) Syria has accused the United States of launching lethal military raids [...]

The leaks surrounding the CIA leak investigation have proved correct: Scooter Libby has been indicted and Karl Rove has not, although the investigation into him will continue, according to CBS radio reports. So far, the online sources I’m finding are only reporting on the Rove non-indictment. CBS: Libby to be Indicted (WTOP) CBS News has [...]

All the major papers are speculating about indictments coming down today in the Novak-Plame-Libby-Rove affair, with most focused on Vice President Cheney’s chief of staff, Scooter Libby. The most interesting, and damning, piece comes from National Journal. Cheney, Libby Blocked Papers To Senate Intelligence Panel Vice President Cheney and his chief of staff, I. Lewis [...]

As noted here earlier, Kay Bailey Hutchinson and other Republicans are arguing that perjury isn’t a real crime, at least in the context of the Novak-Plame-Rove-Libby affair. As clumsily presented over the weekend, that approach is both wrongheaded and insulting. However, I’ve subsequently read two very eloquent pieces taking a more nuanced approach. Michael Barone [...]

CNN Breaking News: “House Majority Leader Tom DeLay indicted on one count of criminal conspiracy by Texas grand jury, according to Travis County clerk’s office.” More: DeLay Indicted in Campaign Finance Probe (AP) [WaPo] A Texas grand jury on Wednesday charged Rep. Tom DeLay and two political associates with conspiracy in a campaign finance scheme, [...]