Republicans, the WSJ, NYT and National Security

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The Republican majority in Congress has passed a resolution condemning "certain media organizations" for disclosing how the Bush Administration follows terrorist money. Today's Wall Street Journal weighs in with an editorial attacking the New York Times for "obstructing" the war on terror. But in a Times op-ed, former national security aides say the paper just printed "a secret the terrorists already knew." The argument is as old as the First Amendment: when does a free press endanger national security? Are politicians bashing the media for political gain? We talk with journalists, journalists who cover the journalists and media ethicists. (An extended version of this discussion originally aired earlier today on To the Point.)

Wall Street Journal

New York Times editorial, 'A Secret the Terrorists Already Knew'

Sulzberger responds to Wall Street Journal editorial slamming New York Times

Espionage Act of 1917

HR (895) supporting intelligence, law enforcement programs to track terrorists, terrorist finances

Office of Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald

Schoenberg's commentary on whether the NY Times has violated the Espionage Act

Vennochi's article on White House's win in diverting the message

York's article on New York Times' exposure of terrorist-finance program

Credits

Host:

Warren Olney

Producer:

Frances Anderton