Leak not destroy? - Who pays for this?

White House on Bin Laden: Leak not destroy? - MSNBC Video

If you have not seen this video from MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann, you need to watch it now. You may remember that the White House recently released the tape of Osama bin Laden's latest video. In fact, they released it days before Osama did! Incredible coup, right?

Well, the video was actually obtained by a private security firm that had found a "back door" to an extremist Islamist web site used by al Qaeda. Doing the right thing, the firm turned the video over to the White House, asking that the video and its source be kept private.

In an apparent attempt to deflect attention from inconvenient news that week - namely, the less than stellar report on Iraq by Gen. Petraeus - the White House leaked the video to Fox News Channel (surprise!). It should come as no shock that al Qaeda subsequently shut downt he web site.

So let's get this straight - the Bush White House compromised a potentially invaluable source on America's #1 enemy - al Qaeda - in order to diminish criticism about its failures in Iraq. Doesn't that sound like treason? I know that's a strong word, but our national security was compromised. What if that web site could have been a source of information on the plans for a future attack here in the US? What if innocent lives are lost as a result? We'll never know for sure the cost of this selfish and stupid act by the White House, but it sure looks like it could be potentialy devastating.

Someone whould be punished, right? Is this an impeachable offense?

We seem so tolerant of our leaders and their dishonorable acts these days. Clinton got reelected in spite of complicity in two genocides (Bosnia and Rwanda). He survived an impeachment trial in spite of committing perjury. bush got reelected in spite of allowing America to get attacked on 9/11, failing to defeat al Qaeda and capture bin Laden, and launching a disastrous war in Iraq. And he survives still - continuing his failed policies and seemingly making America less secure every day! - with over a year left to go...

When will we get fed up as a nation and finally hold our leaders accountable for their errors and crimes? We truly do get the leaders we deserve...