Wednesday, March 29, 2006

A Situation Calculated Wonderfully To Concentrate The Mind


Let us imagine that you are Eric Lichtblau, a reporter of some renown for the New York Times, mentioned by name in a very long piece in Commentary, rather disconcertingly entitleed "Has the New York Times Violated the Espionage Act?". Immediately after reading the article you do some research and find that TITLE 18 PART I CHAPTER 37 § 798 carries a sentence of ten years - and worse yet seems to fit your situation rather closely. Your mind drifts to some unsettling images and you begin having some difficulty in obtaining a good night's rest.

It would be reasonable under such circumstances for your work to suffer, let us be charitable, somewhat more than slightly. Your mind may be concentrated but you appear to have forgotten that it is the truth that sets one free. Another lie printed in The New York Times is unlikely to be of much help.

Ten years isn't a long time, Eric, and some very close relationships have flowered in prisons, so try and keep an open mind.

(ht PW where Jeff has his usual interesting take on the matter.

5 comments:

cf said...

If only I believed that the AG had the guts to do it.

Rick Ballard said...

I believe that he may do it. Pinch and Keller ignoring the President's direct appeal to not publish should make the difference.

I don't believe that Tice will be the only person charged in this matter.

Unknown said...

david:

I would like to think that, but I fear there will be protestations of Hitlerism on the part of the press.

First they came after the NYT.....

Eric said...

I so wish they indict somebody for this crap.

Rick Ballard said...

Tookie was in a state pen - like Mumia. Now, if Moussaoui doesn't happen to be selected as a needle recipient, he'll be available. There are also several hundred thousand drug dealers/murderers who would make fine bunkies. They come up with some rather inventive ways to pass those long hopeless nights. Possibilities abound for turning a confining experience into an opportunity for the expansion of personal horizons.