The Libby Indictment

   The indictment of "Scooter" Libby for lying to FBI investigators and to the grand jury is a bad thing.

   Libby was indicted in connection with a leak of classified information.  If Libby is tried, reporters will be the key witnesses at his trial.

   The indictment will make government officials, high and low, reluctant to disclose classified information to reporters.

   The trial will make reporters less enthusiastic about publishing classified information received from government officials.

   The federal government routinely classifies information that should not, in fact, be secret.  Much, if not most of the most important information in your daily newspaper about the federal government--and particularly about its foreign and energy policies--is classified. 

   A reduction in classified information in the daily newspaper means a reduction in the useful information in the hands and minds of the voting public, and a reduction in the scrutiny perceived by government officials who, absent that scrutiny, are almost certain to get into mischief.

   So, although lying to the FBI, the grand jury, and your mother is a bad thing, this indictment is worse.

   Besides, if Scooter is to be indicted on any charge, it should be for criminal stupidity.  What kind of idiot concocts a completely implausible story that involves reporters, then waives any confidentiality that might have prevented the reporters from revealing that the story was false?