White House Leak Defends Leaks

The White House once again saws the branch off behind Scott McClellan after pushing him out on the limb. From the New York Times: A senior administration official confirmed for the first time on Sunday that President Bush had ordered the declassification of parts of a prewar intelligence report on Iraq in an effort to rebut critics who said the administration had exaggerated the nuclear threat posed by Saddam Hussein. But the official said that Mr. Bush did not designate Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff, I. Lewis Libby Jr., or anyone else, to release the information to reporters. Then later on... The official declined to be named, because of an administration policy of not commenting on issues now in court. Isn't this what got them into trouble in the first place? Commenting is obviously no problem--clearly the policy is not to answer any questions about issues now in court. If the White House press corps had even a modicum of self-respect they'd demand Scott McClellan explain why the administration is commenting in a forum where accountability is nil, as opposed to a White House presser where, in theory if not in fact, they can be held accountable for disseminating gratuitous misinformation.