There is a line somewhere between the ability of a free press to gather newsworthy info about what the govt is doing and passing it on to the public versus the need for national security. Nowadays that line has become blury, murky, difuse even.

Is the report by the NYT that international bank data has been mined for terrorist activity in the public interest or national security? How about the attempt by the National Security Archive to gain info on Taliban leaders from the CIA, only to be obstructed by said agency? Is this info greater utilized to protect the public or to be more news to keep us in the know (since the Bush admin doesn't tell us didly). The above article mentioned another example, that of Henry Kinsinger discussions with chinese leaders about the fate of vietnam in '72. That was 34 years ago and not so relevant to the national security. But the Taliban info request is very current and potentially impacting. Maybe caldistine operations and secret informatino should remain just that, secret.