More On The CIA Leaker

Peter Brookes of the Heritage Foundation explains why the charges against Mary McCarthy are "deadly serious." This paragraph is key, in my opinion:

The fact that McCarthy is accused of leaking operational (as opposed to analytical intelligence such as that which was contained in the Iraq NIE) is especially egregious. Most serious: The disclosure of operational information (e.g., intelligence sources and methods) can put American operatives as well as our foreign agents in danger. The bad guys read the press, especially the American press, which — unfortunately — is rife with sensitive information. Moreover, since operational information is so sensitive, its disclosure makes friendly foreign-intelligence partners reluctant to share information with the U.S. That can really hurt with the war on terror and the Iranian nuclear program still on the boil.

Read the whole thing.

Also, Andrew McCarthy asked yesterday, "Why Isn't She In Cuffs?" I don't know. (See also, McCarthy's related blog entry at The Corner.)