And while we're on the subject of patriotism, let's talk about the affair of Joseph Wilson's wife. Mr. Wilson is the former ambassador who was sent to Niger by the C.I.A. to investigate reports of attempted Iraqi uranium purchases and who recently went public with his findings. Since then administration allies have sought to discredit him — it's unpleasant stuff. But here's the kicker: both the columnist Robert Novak and Time magazine say that administration officials told them that they believed that Mr. Wilson had been chosen through the influence of his wife, whom they identified as a C.I.A. operative.
Think about that: if their characterization of Mr. Wilson's wife is true (he refuses to confirm or deny it), Bush administration officials have exposed the identity of a covert operative. That happens to be a criminal act; it's also definitely unpatriotic.
Well, well, well ... Any lawyers among us who can cite the relevant statute?
UPDATE: Alert reader Bill directs us to David Corn's fine article in The Nation. Corn says the statute is the Intelligence Identities Protection Act of 1982.
NOTE: Thanks to Jennifer for "GOPranos." I've been hoarding it for awhile. Corn concludes: "With this gang, politics trumps national security." "Gang" being the operative word.