How many times, as children, did we hear something along the lines of "Knock it off! You're begging for it!" where "it" is a spanking or some other punishment? Children who lack positive attention will settle for negative, when the alternative is no attention at all. So it is with the Times. Every month their numbers slip a little further, and they lean further and further left to placate what little audience they have. They would be delighted with a spanking from the federal government. It would solidify their liberal street creds even further, and rally the left to them in a way that nothing else can at this point. You'll see Kos Kids subscribing just to vote with their wallets. There will be buttons popping up on blogs to support the Times, with a link to the subscribe page. Even moderates who believe the Times was wrong will rally around the banner of the free press because of the slippery slope argument. Representative Peter King (NY) is playing right into their bloody, treasonous hands by calling for an investigation. The actual law is irrelevant. The facts in this case, as in the rest of this war, are irrelevant, because they will be drowned out by half-truths, lies and irrelevancies from the anti-war leftist media. In short, if they get the attention they want, they win.

If you want to prosecute someone, get the leakers. Treason, espionage, sedition, conspiracy - some charge will apply. Some people will rally around them and call them whistleblowers, but it will be much harder to find support for people who violated the security clearances they agreed to than it will to find support for prosecuting anyone in the media, however justified. Prosecute them, and if they are guilty, apply the maximum penalty, and find some way to stop them from writing a book and making money from their crimes.

In the meantime, the press has the right to try to find things out, not the right to be told. Take back their press passes. Lock the Times and the other publishers of classified information out of every official government press conference on any subject. Never let them see the inside of Air Force One again. If they want to cover a Presidential trip, they can fly commercial. If they want to report on government activities, they can regurgitate the coverage of the media who obeyed the law. For those who obeyed the law, open the door wide. Give them every consideration. Refurbish the press room at the White House, invite them to special events, do everything possible to show appreciation for the fact that they declined to publish information that will hurt the war effort.

It may not be the legal justice that the Times deserves, but it's a practical, achievable win, and it needs to be done.