How many times has the Bush Administration gone into flaming fuchsia alert because leaks to the media are enabling the terrorists? I know I’m stricken with the fainting vapors at the very thought. First the NYT has a big leak about data mining that appear to clear Abu of lying to Congress (though as Glenn Greenwald points out, it most certainly does not). Now it looks like the DoJ may have tipped off Ted Stevens before his house was raided by the FBI.

Michael Froomkin (brother o’Dan) Is That Legal:

What’s striking is this tidbit in today’s WaPo:

Stevens said in a statement that his attorneys were advised of the impending search yesterday morning.

I spent nearly 9 years as a federal prosecutor. I’m not aware of a single instance when any prosecutor or agent told anyone outside the Justice Department that a search warrant was going to be executed later in the day. Telling outsiders — especially lawyers for the person whose property will be searched — defeats one of the principal purposes of a search warrant: SURPRISE to ensure the integrity of the evidence field.

Let’s recall what Dubya said about the NYT reporters who reported on the existence of the NSA wiretaps:

Yesterday, the existence of this secret program was revealed in media reports after being improperly provided to news organizations. As a result, our enemies have learned information they should not have.

And the unauthorized disclosure of this effort damages our national security and puts our citizens at risk. Revealing classified information is illegal, alerts our enemies and endangers our country.

Considering the screeching terror and global annihilation we all face at the hands of the swarthy hoard, I’m sure this kind of leak could mean the end of democracy as we know it. No doubt Commander Codpiece and the Gang that Couldn’t Shoot Straight will be all over it like a cheap suit in the rain.