Protect us from all Evil

I am always amazed at the constant argument of who has the right to do and say what they want, based on their 1st. Amendment rights to a free press. What is a free press anyhow? And who gets to say what is free?

I have the right to sit here and voice my opinion on what I think is the truth. But where does opinion become inflammatory? And where does a free press which we all enjoy, become dangerous to others? There is a line that is becoming far too often crossed and the reasons for crossing it do not seem to have the best interest of ANYONE at heart.

I am, of course, speaking of the New York Times most recent outing of the governments most secret efforts of checking foreign, (off-shore) banking transactions in the search for enemy activity. Where in the constitution or the free press rights do we glean the assumption that we have the right to purposely endanger the lives of millions of Americans as well as our allies in the pursuit of a "hot scoop"? Do we really have the right to know EVERYTHING?

It is my personal opinion that the New York Times and those employees involved should be prosecuted for treason to the fullest extent possible. Our country is at war. This is not a game and it is not a test of what we can or should be able to get away with under our so called freedoms. We do not have the right to undermine the efforts of our government who is desperately trying to thwart the efforts of a dangerous enemy that is using every means at their disposal to try and do great harm to our country and our men and women in uniform.

There has been a saying in use for many years that was taught to us when I was in the Navy, that "loose lips sink ships". This is a very true and real situation that holds true in everything we do regarding national security. During times of war, there are very real laws that apply to those that work against our government and cause harm to our ability to wage war, and that offer aid and comfort to our enemies, which is exactly what the New York times has done.

Funny thing though, this is not the first time this so called "news" paper has gone out of it's way to try and undermine the efforts of our government by revealing secret information that has been highly classified. There was the phone records program that was reported and many others. This banking information is just the latest in a long line of efforts to try and embarrass the President and his Administration. But these efforts are purely political in nature and have no place being exposed. The damage done by this type of reporting will undoubtedly be felt for many years to come and the repercussions will be wide spread.

Treason is an ugly and damaging label to wear, but it is time for the government to step up and put a stop to this type of damaging reporting. And their efforts need to include finding those officials inside the government that gave the classified information to the press. They need to be put away and never see the light of day again. And if the reporters refuse to give up the names of those treasonous government employees, then the reporters should be held in contempt of court and the key thrown away, in addition to the charges they face.

This is a serious situation and it is this writers hope that our government flexes it's muscle and weeds out those who would dare to put their ratings above the lives of those who willingly volunteer to serve and protect the lives and rights of all Americans, here in our own country and those serving abroad.