Hallelujah!

Could it be that the administration is finally catching on? Bill Bennett pointed out here the hypocrisy of the Washington Post exposing leaked classified information about prisons that the U.S. military operates abroad–information that, unlike the bogus Plame leak, actually will damage a covert CIA operation. We added:

I like the precedent established by the Plame investigation. I think that CIA leaks of classified information should be investigated, and the leakers should be prosecuted. I want the Post and Times reporters who wrote these stories subpoenaed and questioned about their sources. If they won’t answer, they should go to jail. The leakers can be caught, and when caught, they should be prosecuted.

Maybe someone was listening. The AP reported just a few minutes ago that Bill Frist and Dennis Hastert are calling for an investigation into the disclosure of the secret detention sites. Their letter calling for the investigation said in part:

If accurate, such an egregious disclosure could have long-term and far-reaching damaging and dangerous consequences, and will imperil our efforts to protect the American people and our homeland from terrorist attacks.

What is the actual and potential damage done to the national security of the United States and our partners in the global war on terror?

The letter says the leaking of classified information by employees of the U.S. government appears to have increased in recent years, “establishing a dangerous trend that, if not addressed swiftly and firmly, likely will worsen.”

I don’t know whether this will go anywhere, but I’m glad they finally noticed.