Has the New York Times weakened the ability of the U.S. to effectively execute the War on Terrorism?

Question

Although the New York Times was within its First Amendment privileges, was it right to publish an article exposing a secret program to monitor terrorist financial activity overseas?

Answer 1

Not in my opinion. I mean, come on, if you're a terrorist, you've got to know that financial transactions are already being monitored. How secret could this really have been? I read the NYT article and wasn't even remotely surprised - actually I had to admit I was kind of impressed by the scope of the program (i.e., overseas wire transactions) and how long it had been going on. It seems to be pretty effective, and there appear to be safeguards in place to prevent abuses in terms of privacy protection. Plus it's not like they're doing the wiretap thing where they're sifting a lot of data indiscriminately - in this case it seems like the intelligence agencies are pinpointing what they're looking for before they do their data mining.

And the NYT has known about this for some time. The editor-in-chief was clear about his motives, to inform the public and let us make our own decisions about what's appropriate. Ain't that kinda what a democracy is about?

Again, as far as weakening our ability to fight terrorism, well, I think it's completely naive to believe that terrorists aren't already aware of the monitoring programs set up to investigate potential
terrorist activity. The really smart ones have already figured out ways around it - financial disguises, as it were - and they've doubtless got brilliant (if misguided) minds on their payroll to launder the money.

So the program is probably weeding out the idiots, and teaching us more about how money is transferred. I seriously doubt that the exposure of the program itself (which you may have noticed was NOT specific in terms of logistics, identities, and procedures) will have any effect at all on our ability to prevent and prosecute terrorist activities.

If someone can present a cogent, objective, polite argument as to how exactly this article threatens national security, by all means please share it.

Answer 2

Yes, the New York Times has weakened the ability of the U.S. to effectively execute the War on Terrorism, by making public programs that the government has been using against the terrorists. The Times says they published the story in "the public interest"--well, I'll bet terrorists were VERY interested in that info...

Answer 3

Yes, they were wrong to publish this and any other articles that put our security at risk. I think they owe the American citizens, our government, and our troops an apology, with a promise not to do that again.

The media has threatened our security, belittled our troops, our government, and our president on a daily basis, since the beginning of the war.

Answer 4

Has NYT weakened US effectiveness in War on Terror?

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

Clear and simple.

Answer 5

Of course! All the media is run by the left and bent on the ruin of this country and what ever America wants to do that is upright.

Answer 6

I don't think it will weaken our defenses. in this case, I don't think the NY Times is at fault. everyone knows the media will print whatever they hear.
the real bad guy is the person who told the press about it. that, to me, it a treasonable act. they told the media because they knew the media would publish it, no other reason for them to bring it up.

Answer 7

They, and every other liberal socialist paper has been continually undermining the ability of the government since before the situation in Iraq..but they were way out of line here...and I hope they get sanctioned for it.

Answer 8

All they care about is getting their out agenda . They weaken this nation almost daily.

Answer 9

wish reporters would learn to use some common sense, thought, and restraint when writing an article. just because you can doesn't mean that you should.

Answer 10

Yes and the editor should be charged with treason