Journalists report on terror surveillance program

New York Times, followed by the Wall Street Journal and the Los Angeles Times have published a news story that according to government officials have tampered with our country’s security. The New York Times is going under investigation for the violation the Espionage act, because of a published article that could aid the enemy at a time of war. Dean Baquet, editor of the Los Angeles Times explained that his decision to publish the article was not taken lightly, but felt that the press has the obligation to cover the government and help citizens make their on decisions on activities that can threat civil liberties. Sheryl Stoleberg wrote in the New York times that Attorney general Alberto Gonzales believes the article alerted al Queda to the National Security Agency’s electronic surveillance act, and now could have injured the United States. However, Baquet states that covering these issues is “the role of the press in our democracy.”

Later the house voted to condemn the leaks of the news reports, Wall Street Journal reporter Sarah Lueck said. Lawmakers approved a resolution saying that news reporters should cooperate with the government to protect the lives of the American people. The report also stated that Executive editor of the new York Times said in a statement that the Bush administration did not make it very convincing by saying that the financial-tracking program presented such a danger.